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diff --git a/5160-0.txt b/5160-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4335a6a --- /dev/null +++ b/5160-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9913 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Mabinogion, by Lady Charlotte Guest + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and +most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms +of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at +www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you +will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before +using this eBook. + +Title: The Mabinogion + +Author: Lady Charlotte Guest + +Release Date: May 22, 2002 [eBook #5160] +[Most recently updated: October 4, 2021] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +Produced by: David Price + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MABINOGION *** + + + + + THE MABINOGION + + + TRANSLATED BY LADY CHARLOTTE GUEST + + + + +CONTENTS + +Introduction +The Lady of the Fountain +Peredur the Son of Evrawc +Geraint the son of Erbin +Kilhwch and Olwen +The dream of Rhonabwy +Pwyll Prince of Dyved +Branwen the daughter of Llyr +Manawyddan the son of Llyr +Math the son of Mathonwy +The dream of Maxen Wledig +The story of Lludd and Llevelys +Taliesin + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +Whilst engaged on the Translations contained in these volumes, and on the +Notes appended to the various Tales, I have found myself led unavoidably +into a much more extensive course of reading than I had originally +contemplated, and one which in great measure bears directly upon the +earlier Mediæval Romance. + +Before commencing these labours, I was aware, generally, that there +existed a connexion between the Welsh Mabinogion and the Romance of the +Continent; but as I advanced, I became better acquainted with the +closeness and extent of that connexion, its history, and the proofs by +which it is supported. + +At the same time, indeed, I became aware, and still strongly feel, that +it is one thing to collect facts, and quite another to classify and draw +from them their legitimate conclusions; and though I am loth that what +has been collected with some pains, should be entirely thrown away, it is +unwillingly, and with diffidence, that I trespass beyond the acknowledged +province of a translator. + +In the twelfth and thirteenth centuries there arose into general +notoriety in Europe, a body of “Romance,” which in various forms retained +its popularity till the Reformation. In it the plot, the incidents, the +characters, were almost wholly those of Chivalry, that bond which united +the warriors of France, Spain, and Italy, with those of pure Teutonic +descent, and embraced more or less firmly all the nations of Europe, +excepting only the Slavonic races, not yet risen to power, and the Celts, +who had fallen from it. It is not difficult to account for this latter +omission. The Celts, driven from the plains into the mountains and +islands, preserved their liberty, and hated their oppressors with fierce, +and not causeless, hatred. A proud and free people, isolated both in +country and language, were not likely to adopt customs which implied +brotherhood with their foes. + +Such being the case, it is remarkable that when the chief romances are +examined, the name of many of the heroes and their scenes of action are +found to be Celtic, and those of persons and places famous in the +traditions of Wales and Brittany. Of this the romances of Ywaine and +Gawaine, Sir Perceval de Galles, Eric and Enide, Mort d’Arthur, Sir +Lancelot, Sir Tristan, the Graal, &c., may be cited as examples. In some +cases a tendency to triads, and other matters of internal evidence, point +in the same direction. + +It may seem difficult to account for this. Although the ancient dominion +of the Celts over Europe is not without enduring evidence in the names of +the mountains and streams, the great features of a country, yet the loss +of their prior language by the great mass of the Celtic nations in +Southern Europe (if indeed their successors in territory be at all of +their blood), prevents us from clearly seeing, and makes us wonder, how +stories, originally embodied in the Celtic dialects of Great Britain and +France, could so influence the literature of nations to whom the Celtic +languages were utterly unknown. Whence then came these internal marks, +and these proper names of persons and places, the features of a story +usually of earliest date and least likely to change? + +These romances were found in England, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, +and even Iceland, as early as the beginning of the thirteenth and end of +the twelfth century. The Germans, who propagated them through the +nations of the North, derived them certainly from France. Robert Wace +published his Anglo-Norman Romance of the Brut d’Angleterre about 1155. +Sir Tristan was written in French prose in 1170; and The Chevalier au +Lion, Chevalier de l’Epée, and Sir Lancelot du Lac, in metrical French, +by Chrestien de Troyes, before 1200. + +From these facts it is to be argued that the further back these romances +are traced, the more clearly does it appear that they spread over the +Continent from the North-west of France. The older versions, it may be +remarked, are far more simple than the later corruptions. In them there +is less allusion to the habits and usages of Chivalry, and the Welsh +names and elements stand out in stronger relief. It is a great step to +be able to trace the stocks of these romances back to Wace, or to his +country and age. For Wace’s work was not original. He himself, a native +of Jersey, appears to have derived much of it from the “Historia +Britonum” of Gruffydd ab Arthur, commonly known as “Geoffrey of +Monmouth,” born 1128, who himself professes to have translated from a +British original. It is, however, very possible that Wace may have had +access, like Geoffrey, to independent sources of information. + +To the claims set up on behalf of Wace and Geoffrey, to be regarded as +the channels by which the Cymric tales passed into the Continental +Romance, may be added those of a third almost contemporary author. +Layamon, a Saxon priest, dwelling, about 1200, upon the banks of the +upper Severn, acknowledges for the source of his British history, the +_English_ Bede, the _Latin_ Albin, and the _French_ Wace. The last-named +however is by very much his chief, and, for Welsh matters, his only +avowed authority. His book, nevertheless, contains a number of names and +stories relating to Wales, of which no traces appear in Wace, or indeed +in Geoffrey, but which he was certainly in a very favourable position to +obtain for himself. Layamon, therefore, not only confirms Geoffrey in +some points, but it is clear, that, professing to follow Wace, he had +independent access to the great body of Welsh literature then current. +Sir F. Madden has put this matter very clearly, in his recent edition of +Layamon. The Abbé de la Rue, also, was of opinion that Gaimar, an +Anglo-Norman, in the reign of Stephen, usually regarded as a translator +of Geoffrey of Monmouth, had access to a Welsh independent authority. + +In addition to these, is to be mentioned the English version of Sir +Tristrem, which Sir Walter Scott considered to be derived from a distinct +Celtic source, and not, like the later Amadis, Palmerin, and Lord +Berners’s Canon of Romance, imported into English literature by +translation from the French. For the Auntours of Arthur, recently +published by the Camden Society, their Editor, Mr. Robson, seems to hint +at a similar claim. + +Here then are various known channels, by which portions of Welsh and +Armoric fiction crossed the Celtic border, and gave rise to the more +ornate, and widely-spread romance of the Age of Chivalry. It is not +improbable that there may have existed many others. It appears then that +a large portion of the stocks of Mediæval Romance proceeded from Wales. +We have next to see in what condition they are still found in that +country. + +That Wales possessed an ancient literature, containing various lyric +compositions, and certain triads, in which are arranged historical facts +or moral aphorisms, has been shown by Sharon Turner, who has established +the high antiquity of many of these compositions. + +The more strictly Romantic Literature of Wales has been less fortunate, +though not less deserving of critical attention. Small portions only of +it have hitherto appeared in print, the remainder being still hidden in +the obscurity of ancient Manuscripts: of these the chief is supposed to +be the Red Book of Hergest, now in the Library of Jesus College, Oxford, +and of the fourteenth century. This contains, besides poems, the prose +romances known as Mabinogion. The Black Book of Caermarthen, preserved +at Hengwrt, and considered not to be of later date than the twelfth +century, is said to contain poems only. {1} + +The Mabinogion, however, though thus early recorded in the Welsh tongue, +are in their existing form by no means wholly Welsh. They are of two +tolerably distinct classes. Of these, the older contains few allusions +to Norman customs, manners, arts, arms, and luxuries. The other, and +less ancient, are full of such allusions, and of ecclesiastical terms. +Both classes, no doubt, are equally of Welsh root, but the former are not +more overlaid or corrupted, than might have been expected, from the +communication that so early took place between the Normans and the Welsh; +whereas the latter probably migrated from Wales, and were brought back +and re-translated after an absence of centuries, with a load of Norman +additions. Kilhwch and Olwen, and the dream of Rhonabwy, may be cited as +examples of the older and purer class; the Lady of the Fountain, Peredur, +and Geraint ab Erbin, of the later, or decorated. + +Besides these, indeed, there are a few tales, as Amlyn and Amic, Sir +Bevis of Hamtoun, the Seven Wise Masters, and the story of Charlemagne, +so obviously of foreign extraction, and of late introduction into Wales, +not presenting even a Welsh name, or allusion, and of such very slender +intrinsic merit, that although comprised in the Llyvr Coch, they have not +a shadow of claim to form part of the Canon of Welsh Romance. Therefore, +although I have translated and examined them, I have given them no place +in these volumes. + +There is one argument in favour of the high antiquity in Wales of many of +the Mabinogion, which deserves to be mentioned here. This argument is +founded on the topography of the country. It is found that Saxon names +of places are very frequently definitions of the nature of the locality +to which they are attached, as Clifton, Deepden, Bridge-ford, Thorpe, +Ham, Wick, and the like; whereas those of Wales are more frequently +commemorative of some event, real or supposed, said to have happened on +or near the spot, or bearing allusion to some person renowned in the +story of the country or district. Such are “Llyn y Morwynion,” the Lake +of the Maidens; “Rhyd y Bedd,” the Ford of the Grave; “Bryn Cyfergyr,” +the Hill of Assault; and so on. But as these names could not have +preceded the events to which they refer, the events themselves must be +not unfrequently as old as the early settlement in the country. And as +some of these events and fictions are the subjects of, and are explained +by, existing Welsh legends, it follows that the legends must be, in some +shape or other, of very remote antiquity. It will be observed that this +argument supports _remote_ antiquity only for such legends as are +connected with the greater topographical features, as mountains, lakes, +rivers, seas, which must have been named at an early period in the +inhabitation of the country by man. But there exist, also, legends +connected with the lesser features, as pools, hills, detached rocks, +caves, fords, and the like, places not necessarily named by the earlier +settlers, but the names of which are, nevertheless, probably very old, +since the words of which they are composed are in many cases not retained +in the colloquial tongue, in which they must once have been included, and +are in some instances lost from the language altogether, so much so as to +be only partially explicable even by scholars. The argument applies +likewise, in their degree, to camps, barrows, and other artificial +earth-works. + +Conclusions thus drawn, when established, rest upon a very firm basis. +They depend upon the number and appositeness of the facts, and it would +be very interesting to pursue this branch of evidence in detail. In +following up this idea, the names to be sought for might thus be +classed:— + +I. Names of the great features, involving proper names and actions. + +Cadair Idris and Cadair Arthur both involve more than a mere name. Idris +and Arthur must have been invested with heroic qualifications to have +been placed in such “seats.” + +II. Names of lesser features, as “Bryn y Saeth,” Hill of the Dart; “Llyn +Llyngclys,” Lake of the Engulphed Court; “Ceven y Bedd,” the Ridge of the +Grave; “Rhyd y Saeson,” the Saxons’ Ford. + +III. Names of mixed natural and artificial objects, as “Coeten Arthur,” +Arthur’s Coit; “Cerrig y Drudion,” the Crag of the Heroes; which involve +actions. And such as embody proper names only, as “Cerrig Howell,” the +Crag of Howell; “Caer Arianrod,” the Camp of Arianrod; “Bron Goronwy,” +the Breast (of the Hill) of Goronwy; “Castell mab Wynion,” the Castle of +the son of Wynion; “Nant Gwrtheyrn,” the Rill of Vortigern. + +The selection of names would demand much care and discretion. The +translations should be indisputable, and, where known, the connexion of a +name with a legend should be noted. Such a name as “Mochdrev,” +Swine-town, would be valueless unless accompanied by a legend. + +It is always valuable to find a place or work called after an individual, +because it may help to support some tradition of his existence or his +actions. But it is requisite that care be taken not to push the +etymological dissection too far. Thus, “Caer Arianrod” should be taken +simply as the “Camp of Arianrod,” and not rendered the “Camp of the +silver circle,” because the latter, though it might possibly have +something to do with the reason for which the name was borne by Arianrod +herself, had clearly no reference to its application to her camp. + +It appears to me, then, looking back upon what has been advanced:— + +I. That we have throughout Europe, at an early period, a great body of +literature, known as Mediæval Romance, which, amidst much that is wholly +of Teutonic origin and character, includes certain well-marked traces of +an older Celtic nucleus. + +II. Proceeding backwards in time, we find these romances, their +ornaments falling away at each step, existing towards the twelfth +century, of simpler structure, and with less encumbered Celtic features, +in the works of Wace, and other Bards of the Langue d’Oil. + +III. We find that Geoffrey of Monmouth, Layamon, and other early British +and Anglo-Saxon historians, and minstrels, on the one hand, transmitted +to Europe the rudiments of its after romance, much of which, on the other +hand, they drew from Wales. + +IV. Crossing into Wales we find, in the Mabinogion, the evident +counterpart of the Celtic portion of the continental romance, mixed up, +indeed, with various reflex additions from beyond the border, but still +containing ample internal evidence of a Welsh original. + +V. Looking at the connexion between divers of the more ancient +Mabinogion, and the topographical nomenclature of part of the country, we +find evidence of the great, though indefinite, antiquity of these tales, +and of an origin, which, if not indigenous, is certainly derived from no +European nation. + +It was with a general belief in some of these conclusions, that I +commenced my labours, and I end them with my impressions strongly +confirmed. The subject is one not unworthy of the talents of a Llwyd or +a Prichard. It might, I think, be shown, by pursuing the inquiry, that +the Cymric nation is not only, as Dr. Prichard has proved it to be, an +early offshoot of the Indo-European family, and a people of unmixed +descent, but that when driven out of their conquests by the later +nations, the names and exploits of their heroes, and the compositions of +their bards, spread far and wide among the invaders, and affected +intimately their tastes and literature for many centuries, and that it +has strong claims to be considered the cradle of European Romance. + + C. E. G. + +DOWLAIS, _August 29th_, _1848_. + + + + +THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN + + +King Arthur was at Caerlleon upon Usk; and one day he sat in his chamber; +and with him were Owain the son of Urien, and Kynon the son of Clydno, +and Kai the son of Kyner; and Gwenhwyvar and her handmaidens at +needlework by the window. And if it should be said that there was a +porter at Arthur’s palace, there was none. Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr was +there, acting as porter, to welcome guests and strangers, and to receive +them with honour, and to inform them of the manners and customs of the +Court; and to direct those who came to the Hall or to the +presence-chamber, and those who came to take up their lodging. + +In the centre of the chamber King Arthur sat upon a seat of green rushes, +over which was spread a covering of flame-coloured satin, and a cushion +of red satin was under his elbow. + +Then Arthur spoke, “If I thought you would not disparage me,” said he, “I +would sleep while I wait for my repast; and you can entertain one another +with relating tales, and can obtain a flagon of mead and some meat from +Kai.” And the King went to sleep. And Kynon the son of Clydno asked Kai +for that which Arthur had promised them. “I, too, will have the good +tale which he promised to me,” said Kai. “Nay,” answered Kynon, “fairer +will it be for thee to fulfill Arthur’s behest, in the first place, and +then we will tell thee the best tale that we know.” So Kai went to the +kitchen and to the mead-cellar, and returned bearing a flagon of mead and +a golden goblet, and a handful of skewers, upon which were broiled +collops of meat. Then they ate the collops and began to drink the mead. +“Now,” said Kai, “it is time for you to give me my story.” “Kynon,” said +Owain, “do thou pay to Kai the tale that is his due.” “Truly,” said +Kynon, “thou are older, and art a better teller of tales, and hast seen +more marvellous things than I; do thou therefore pay Kai his tale.” +“Begin thyself,” quoth Owain, “with the best that thou knowest.” “I will +do so,” answered Kynon. + +“I was the only son of my mother and father, and I was exceedingly +aspiring, and my daring was very great. I thought there was no +enterprise in the world too mighty for me, and after I had achieved all +the adventures that were in my own country, I equipped myself, and set +forth to journey through deserts and distant regions. And at length it +chanced that I came to the fairest valley in the world, wherein were +trees of equal growth; and a river ran through the valley, and a path was +by the side of the river. And I followed the path until mid-day, and +continued my journey along the remainder of the valley until the evening; +and at the extremity of a plain I came to a large and lustrous Castle, at +the foot of which was a torrent. And I approached the Castle, and there +I beheld two youths with yellow curling hair, each with a frontlet of +gold upon his head, and clad in a garment of yellow satin, and they had +gold clasps upon their insteps. In the hand of each of them was an ivory +bow, strung with the sinews of the stag; and their arrows had shafts of +the bone of the whale, and were winged with peacock’s feathers; the +shafts also had golden heads. And they had daggers with blades of gold, +and with hilts of the bone of the whale. And they were shooting their +daggers. + +“And a little way from them I saw a man in the prime of life, with his +beard newly shorn, clad in a robe and a mantle of yellow satin; and round +the top of his mantle was a band of gold lace. On his feet were shoes of +variegated leather, fastened by two bosses of gold. When I saw him, I +went towards him and saluted him, and such was his courtesy that he no +sooner received my greeting than he returned it. And he went with me +towards the Castle. Now there were no dwellers in the Castle except +those who were in one hall. And there I saw four-and-twenty damsels, +embroidering satin at a window. And this I tell thee, Kai, that the +least fair of them was fairer than the fairest maid thou hast ever beheld +in the Island of Britain, and the least lovely of them was more lovely +than Gwenhwyvar, the wife of Arthur, when she has appeared loveliest at +the Offering, on the day of the Nativity, or at the feast of Easter. +They rose up at my coming, and six of them took my horse, and divested me +of my armour; and six others took my arms, and washed them in a vessel +until they were perfectly bright. And the third six spread cloths upon +the tables and prepared meat. And the fourth six took off my soiled +garments, and placed others upon me; namely, an under-vest and a doublet +of fine linen, and a robe, and a surcoat, and a mantle of yellow satin +with a broad gold band upon the mantle. And they placed cushions both +beneath and around me, with coverings of red linen; and I sat down. Now +the six maidens who had taken my horse, unharnessed him, as well as if +they had been the best squires in the Island of Britain. Then, behold, +they brought bowls of silver wherein was water to wash, and towels of +linen, some green and some white; and I washed. And in a little while +the man sat down to the table. And I sat next to him, and below me sat +all the maidens, except those who waited on us. And the table was of +silver, and the cloths upon the table were of linen; and no vessel was +served upon the table that was not either of gold or of silver, or of +buffalo-horn. And our meat was brought to us. And verily, Kai, I saw +there every sort of meat and every sort of liquor that I have ever seen +elsewhere; but the meat and the liquor were better served there than I +have ever seen them in any other place. + +“Until the repast was half over, neither the man nor any one of the +damsels spoke a single word to me; but when the man perceived that it +would be more agreeable to me to converse than to eat any more, he began +to inquire of me who I was. I said I was glad to find that there was +some one who would discourse with me, and that it was not considered so +great a crime at that Court for people to hold converse together. +‘Chieftain,’ said the man, ‘we would have talked to thee sooner, but we +feared to disturb thee during thy repast; now, however, we will +discourse.’ Then I told the man who I was, and what was the cause of my +journey; and said that I was seeking whether any one was superior to me, +or whether I could gain the mastery over all. The man looked upon me, +and he smiled and said, ‘If I did not fear to distress thee too much, I +would show thee that which thou seekest.’ Upon this I became anxious and +sorrowful, and when the man perceived it, he said, ‘If thou wouldest +rather that I should show thee thy disadvantage than thine advantage, I +will do so. Sleep here to-night, and in the morning arise early, and +take the road upwards through the valley until thou reachest the wood +through which thou camest hither. A little way within the wood thou wilt +meet with a road branching off to the right, by which thou must proceed, +until thou comest to a large sheltered glade with a mound in the centre. +And thou wilt see a black man of great stature on the top of the mound. +He is not smaller in size than two of the men of this world. He has but +one foot; and one eye in the middle of his forehead. And he has a club +of iron, and it is certain that there are no two men in the world who +would not find their burden in that club. And he is not a comely man, +but on the contrary he is exceedingly ill-favoured; and he is the +woodward of that wood. And thou wilt see a thousand wild animals grazing +around him. Inquire of him the way out of the glade, and he will reply +to thee briefly, and will point out the road by which thou shalt find +that which thou art in quest of.’ + +“And long seemed that night to me. And the next morning I arose and +equipped myself, and mounted my horse, and proceeded straight through the +valley to the wood; and I followed the cross-road which the man had +pointed out to me, till at length I arrived at the glade. And there was +I three times more astonished at the number of wild animals that I +beheld, than the man had said I should be. And the black man was there, +sitting upon the top of the mound. Huge of stature as the man had told +me that he was, I found him to exceed by far the description he had given +me of him. As for the iron club which the man had told me was a burden +for two men, I am certain, Kai, that it would be a heavy weight for four +warriors to lift; and this was in the black man’s hand. And he only +spoke to me in answer to my questions. Then I asked him what power he +held over those animals. ‘I will show thee, little man,’ said he. And he +took his club in his hand, and with it he struck a stag a great blow so +that he brayed vehemently, and at his braying the animals came together, +as numerous as the stars in the sky, so that it was difficult for me to +find room in the glade to stand among them. There were serpents, and +dragons, and divers sorts of animals. And he looked at them, and bade +them go and feed; and they bowed their heads, and did him homage as +vassals to their lord. + +“Then the black man said to me, ‘Seest thou now, little man, what power I +hold over these animals?’ Then I inquired of him the way, and he became +very rough in his manner to me; however, he asked me whither I would go? +And when I told him who I was and what I sought, he directed me. ‘Take,’ +said he, ‘that path that leads towards the head of the glade, and ascend +the wooded steep until thou comest to its summit; and there thou wilt +find an open space like to a large valley, and in the midst of it a tall +tree, whose branches are greener than the greenest pine-trees. Under +this tree is a fountain, and by the side of the fountain a marble slab, +and on the marble slab a silver bowl, attached by a chain of silver, so +that it may not be carried away. Take the bowl and throw a bowlful of +water upon the slab, and thou wilt hear a mighty peal of thunder, so that +thou wilt think that heaven and earth are trembling with its fury. With +the thunder there will come a shower so severe that it will be scarce +possible for thee to endure it and live. And the shower will be of +hailstones; and after the shower, the weather will become fair, but every +leaf that was upon the tree will have been carried away by the shower. +Then a flight of birds will come and alight upon the tree; and in thine +own country thou didst never hear a strain so sweet as that which they +will sing. And at the moment thou art most delighted with the song of +the birds, thou wilt hear a murmuring and complaining coming towards thee +along the valley. And thou wilt see a knight upon a coal-black horse, +clothed in black velvet, and with a pennon of black linen upon his lance; +and he will ride unto thee to encounter thee with the utmost speed. If +thou fleest from him he will overtake thee, and if thou abidest there, as +sure as thou art a mounted knight, he will leave thee on foot. And if +thou dost not find trouble in that adventure, thou needest not seek it +during the rest of thy life.’ + +“So I journeyed on, until I reached the summit of the steep, and there I +found everything as the black man had described it to me. And I went up +to the tree, and beneath it I saw the fountain, and by its side the +marble slab, and the silver bowl fastened by the chain. Then I took the +bowl, and cast a bowlful of water upon the slab; and thereupon, behold, +the thunder came, much more violent than the black man had led me to +expect; and after the thunder came the shower; and of a truth I tell +thee, Kai, that there is neither man nor beast that can endure that +shower and live. For not one of those hailstones would be stopped, +either by the flesh or by the skin, until it had reached the bone. I +turned my horse’s flank towards the shower, and placed the beak of my +shield over his head and neck, while I held the upper part of it over my +own head. And thus I withstood the shower. When I looked on the tree +there was not a single leaf upon it, and then the sky became clear, and +with that, behold the birds lighted upon the tree, and sang. And truly, +Kai, I never heard any melody equal to that, either before or since. And +when I was most charmed with listening to the birds, lo, a murmuring +voice was heard through the valley, approaching me and saying, ‘Oh, +Knight, what has brought thee hither? What evil have I done to thee, +that thou shouldst act towards me and my possessions as thou hast this +day? Dost thou not know that the shower to-day has left in my dominions +neither man nor beast alive that was exposed to it?’ And thereupon, +behold, a Knight on a black horse appeared, clothed in jet-black velvet, +and with a tabard of black linen about him. And we charged each other, +and, as the onset was furious, it was not long before I was overthrown. +Then the Knight passed the shaft of his lance through the bridle rein of +my horse, and rode off with the two horses, leaving me where I was. And +he did not even bestow so much notice upon me as to imprison me, nor did +he despoil me of my arms. So I returned along the road by which I had +come. And when I reached the glade where the black man was, I confess to +thee, Kai, it is a marvel that I did not melt down into a liquid pool, +through the shame that I felt at the black man’s derision. And that +night I came to the same castle where I had spent the night preceding. +And I was more agreeably entertained that night than I had been the night +before; and I was better feasted, and I conversed freely with the inmates +of the castle, and none of them alluded to my expedition to the fountain, +neither did I mention it to any; and I remained there that night. When I +arose on the morrow, I found, ready saddled, a dark bay palfrey, with +nostrils as red as scarlet; and after putting on my armour, and leaving +there my blessing, I returned to my own Court. And that horse I still +possess, and he is in the stable yonder. And I declare that I would not +part with him for the best palfrey in the Island of Britain. + +“Now of a truth, Kai, no man ever before confessed to an adventure so +much to his own discredit, and verily it seems strange to me, that +neither before nor since have I heard of any person besides myself who +knew of this adventure, and that the subject of it should exist within +King Arthur’s dominions, without any other person lighting upon it.” + +“Now,” quoth Owain, “would it not be well to go and endeavour to discover +that place?” + +“By the hand of my friend,” said Kai, “often dost thou utter that with +thy tongue which thou wouldst not make good with thy deeds.” + +“In very truth,” said Gwenhwyvar, “it were better thou wert hanged, Kai, +than to use such uncourteous speech towards a man like Owain.” + +“By the hand of my friend, good Lady,” said Kai, “thy praise of Owain is +not greater than mine.” + +With that Arthur awoke, and asked if he had not been sleeping a little. + +“Yes, Lord,” answered Owain, “thou hast slept awhile.” + +“Is it time for us to go to meat?” + +“It is, Lord,” said Owain. + +Then the horn for washing was sounded, and the King and all his household +sat down to eat. And when the meal was ended, Owain withdrew to his +lodging, and made ready his horse and his arms. + +On the morrow, with the dawn of day, he put on his armour, and mounted +his charger, and travelled through distant lands and over desert +mountains. And at length he arrived at the valley which Kynon had +described to him; and he was certain that it was the same that he sought. +And journeying along the valley by the side of the river, he followed its +course till he came to the plain and within sight of the Castle. When he +approached the Castle, he saw the youths shooting their daggers in the +place where Kynon had seen them, and the yellow man, to whom the Castle +belonged, standing hard by. And no sooner had Owain saluted the yellow +man than he was saluted by him in return. + +And he went forward towards the Castle, and there he saw the chamber, and +when he had entered the chamber he beheld the maidens working at satin +embroidery, in chairs of gold. And their beauty and their comeliness +seemed to Owain far greater than Kynon had represented to him. And they +rose to wait upon Owain, as they had done to Kynon, and the meal which +they set before him gave more satisfaction to Owain than it had done to +Kynon. + +About the middle of the repast, the yellow man asked Owain the object of +his journey. And Owain made it known to him, and said, “I am in quest of +the Knight who guards the fountain.” Upon this the yellow man smiled, +and said that he was as loth to point out that adventure to Owain as he +had been to Kynon. However, he described the whole to Owain, and they +retired to rest. + +The next morning Owain found his horse made ready for him by the damsels, +and he set forward and came to the glade where the black man was. And +the stature of the black man seemed more wonderful to Owain than it had +done to Kynon, and Owain asked of him his road, and he showed it to him. +And Owain followed the road, as Kynon had done, till he came to the green +tree; and he beheld the fountain, and the slab beside the fountain, with +the bowl upon it. And Owain took the bowl, and threw a bowlful of water +upon the slab. And, lo, the thunder was heard, and after the thunder +came the shower, much more violent than Kynon had described, and after +the shower the sky became bright. And when Owain looked at the tree, +there was not one leaf upon it. And immediately the birds came, and +settled upon the tree, and sang. And when their song was most pleasing +to Owain, he beheld a Knight coming towards him through the valley, and +he prepared to receive him; and encountered him violently. Having broken +both their lances, they drew their swords, and fought blade to blade. +Then Owain struck the Knight a blow through his helmet, head-piece and +visor, and through the skin, and the flesh, and the bone, until it +wounded the very brain. Then the black Knight felt that he had received +a mortal wound, upon which he turned his horse’s head, and fled. And +Owain pursued him, and followed close upon him, although he was not near +enough to strike him with his sword. Thereupon Owain descried a vast and +resplendent Castle. And they came to the Castle gate. And the black +Knight was allowed to enter, and the portcullis was let fall upon Owain; +and it struck his horse behind the saddle, and cut him in two, and +carried away the rowels of the spurs that were upon Owain’s heels. And +the portcullis descended to the floor. And the rowels of the spurs and +part of the horse were without, and Owain with the other part of the +horse remained between the two gates, and the inner gate was closed, so +that Owain could not go thence; and Owain was in a perplexing situation. +And while he was in this state, he could see through an aperture in the +gate, a street facing him, with a row of houses on each side. And he +beheld a maiden, with yellow curling hair, and a frontlet of gold upon +her head; and she was clad in a dress of yellow satin, and on her feet +were shoes of variegated leather. And she approached the gate, and +desired that it should be opened. “Heaven knows, Lady,” said Owain, “it +is no more possible for me to open to thee from hence, than it is for +thee to set me free.” “Truly,” said the damsel, “it is very sad that +thou canst not be released, and every woman ought to succour thee, for I +never saw one more faithful in the service of ladies than thou. As a +friend thou art the most sincere, and as a lover the most devoted. +Therefore,” quoth she, “whatever is in my power to do for thy release, I +will do it. Take this ring and put it on thy finger, with the stone +inside thy hand; and close thy hand upon the stone. And as long as thou +concealest it, it will conceal thee. When they have consulted together, +they will come forth to fetch thee, in order to put thee to death; and +they will be much grieved that they cannot find thee. And I will await +thee on the horseblock yonder; and thou wilt be able to see me, though I +cannot see thee; therefore come and place thy hand upon my shoulder, that +I may know that thou art near me. And by the way that I go hence, do +thou accompany me.” + +Then she went away from Owain, and he did all that the maiden had told +him. And the people of the Castle came to seek Owain, to put him to +death, and when they found nothing but the half of his horse, they were +sorely grieved. + +And Owain vanished from among them, and went to the maiden, and placed +his hand upon her shoulder; whereupon she set off, and Owain followed +her, until they came to the door of a large and beautiful chamber, and +the maiden opened it, and they went in, and closed the door. And Owain +looked around the chamber, and behold there was not even a single nail in +it that was not painted with gorgeous colours; and there was not a single +panel that had not sundry images in gold portrayed upon it. + +The maiden kindled a fire, and took water in a silver bowl, and put a +towel of white linen on her shoulder, and gave Owain water to wash. Then +she placed before him a silver table, inlaid with gold; upon which was a +cloth of yellow linen; and she brought him food. And of a truth, Owain +had never seen any kind of meat that was not there in abundance, but it +was better cooked there than he had ever found it in any other place. +Nor did he ever see so excellent a display of meat and drink, as there. +And there was not one vessel from which he was served, that was not of +gold or of silver. And Owain ate and drank, until late in the afternoon, +when lo, they heard a mighty clamour in the Castle; and Owain asked the +maiden what that outcry was. “They are administering extreme unction,” +said she, “to the Nobleman who owns the Castle.” And Owain went to +sleep. + +The couch which the maiden had prepared for him was meet for Arthur +himself; it was of scarlet, and fur, and satin, and sendal, and fine +linen. In the middle of the night they heard a woful outcry. “What +outcry again is this?” said Owain. “The Nobleman who owned the Castle is +now dead,” said the maiden. And a little after daybreak, they heard an +exceeding loud clamour and wailing. And Owain asked the maiden what was +the cause of it. “They are bearing to the church the body of the +Nobleman who owned the Castle.” + +And Owain rose up, and clothed himself, and opened a window of the +chamber, and looked towards the Castle; and he could see neither the +bounds, nor the extent of the hosts that filled the streets. And they +were fully armed; and a vast number of women were with them, both on +horseback and on foot; and all the ecclesiastics in the city, singing. +And it seemed to Owain that the sky resounded with the vehemence of their +cries, and with the noise of the trumpets, and with the singing of the +ecclesiastics. In the midst of the throng, he beheld the bier, over +which was a veil of white linen; and wax tapers were burning beside and +around it, and none that supported the bier was lower in rank than a +powerful Baron. + +Never did Owain see an assemblage so gorgeous with satin, and silk, and +sendal. And following the train, he beheld a lady with yellow hair +falling over her shoulders, and stained with blood; and about her a dress +of yellow satin, which was torn. Upon her feet were shoes of variegated +leather. And it was a marvel that the ends of her fingers were not +bruised, from the violence with which she smote her hands together. +Truly she would have been the fairest lady Owain ever saw, had she been +in her usual guise. And her cry was louder than the shout of the men, or +the clamour of the trumpets. No sooner had he beheld the lady, than he +became inflamed with her love, so that it took entire possession of him. + +Then he inquired of the maiden who the lady was. “Heaven knows,” replied +the maiden, “she may be said to be the fairest, and the most chaste, and +the most liberal, and the wisest, and the most noble of women. And she +is my mistress; and she is called the Countess of the Fountain, the wife +of him whom thou didst slay yesterday.” “Verily,” said Owain, “she is +the woman that I love best.” “Verily,” said the maiden, “she shall also +love thee not a little.” + +And with that the maid arose, and kindled a fire, and filled a pot with +water, and placed it to warm; and she brought a towel of white linen, and +placed it around Owain’s neck; and she took a goblet of ivory, and a +silver basin, and filled them with warm water, wherewith she washed +Owain’s head. Then she opened a wooden casket, and drew forth a razor, +whose haft was of ivory, and upon which were two rivets of gold. And she +shaved his beard, and she dried his head, and his throat, with the towel. +Then she rose up from before Owain, and brought him to eat. And truly +Owain had never so good a meal, nor was he ever so well served. + +When he had finished his repast, the maiden arranged his couch. “Come +here,” said she, “and sleep, and I will go and woo for thee.” And Owain +went to sleep, and the maiden shut the door of the chamber after her, and +went towards the Castle. When she came there, she found nothing but +mourning, and sorrow; and the Countess in her chamber could not bear the +sight of any one through grief. Luned came and saluted her, but the +Countess answered her not. And the maiden bent down towards her, and +said, “What aileth thee, that thou answerest no one to-day?” “Luned,” +said the Countess, “what change hath befallen thee, that thou hast not +come to visit me in my grief? It was wrong in thee, and I having made +thee rich; it was wrong in thee that thou didst not come to see me in my +distress. That was wrong in thee.” “Truly,” said Luned, “I thought thy +good sense was greater than I find it to be. Is it well for thee to +mourn after that good man, or for anything else, that thou canst not +have?” “I declare to heaven,” said the Countess, “that in the whole +world there is not a man equal to him.” “Not so,” said Luned, “for an +ugly man would be as good as, or better than he.” “I declare to heaven,” +said the Countess, “that were it not repugnant to me to cause to be put +to death one whom I have brought up, I would have thee executed, for +making such a comparison to me. As it is, I will banish thee.” “I am +glad,” said Luned, “that thou hast no other cause to do so, than that I +would have been of service to thee where thou didst not know what was to +thine advantage. And henceforth evil betide whichever of us shall make +the first advance towards reconciliation to the other; whether I should +seek an invitation from thee, or thou of thine own accord shouldst send +to invite me.” + +With that Luned went forth: and the Countess arose and followed her to +the door of the chamber, and began coughing loudly. And when Luned +looked back, the Countess beckoned to her; and she returned to the +Countess. “In truth,” said the Countess, “evil is thy disposition; but +if thou knowest what is to my advantage, declare it to me.” “I will do +so,” quoth she. + +“Thou knowest that except by warfare and arms it is impossible for thee +to preserve thy possessions; delay not, therefore, to seek some one who +can defend them.” “And how can I do that?” said the Countess. “I will +tell thee,” said Luned. “Unless thou canst defend the fountain, thou +canst not maintain thy dominions; and no one can defend the fountain, +except it be a knight of Arthur’s household; and I will go to Arthur’s +Court, and ill betide me, if I return thence without a warrior who can +guard the fountain as well as, or even better than, he who defended it +formerly.” “That will be hard to perform,” said the Countess. “Go, +however, and make proof of that which thou hast promised.” + +Luned set out, under the pretence of going to Arthur’s Court; but she +went back to the chamber where she had left Owain; and she tarried there +with him as long as it might have taken her to have travelled to the +Court of King Arthur. And at the end of that time, she apparelled +herself and went to visit the Countess. And the Countess was much +rejoiced when she saw her, and inquired what news she brought from the +Court. “I bring thee the best of news,” said Luned, “for I have +compassed the object of my mission. When wilt thou, that I should +present to thee the chieftain who has come with me hither?” “Bring him +here to visit me to-morrow, at mid-day,” said the Countess, “and I will +cause the town to be assembled by that time.” + +And Luned returned home. And the next day, at noon, Owain arrayed +himself in a coat, and a surcoat, and a mantle of yellow satin, upon +which was a broad band of gold lace; and on his feet were high shoes of +variegated leather, which were fastened by golden clasps, in the form of +lions. And they proceeded to the chamber of the Countess. + +Right glad was the Countess of their coming, and she gazed steadfastly +upon Owain, and said, “Luned, this knight has not the look of a +traveller.” “What harm is there in that, lady?” said Luned. “I am +certain,” said the Countess, “that no other man than this chased the soul +from the body of my lord.” “So much the better for thee, lady,” said +Luned, “for had he not been stronger than thy lord he could not have +deprived him of life. There is no remedy for that which is past, be it +as it may.” “Go back to thine abode,” said the Countess, “and I will +take counsel.” + +The next day the Countess caused all her subjects to assemble, and showed +them that her earldom was left defenceless, and that it could not be +protected but with horse and arms, and military skill. “Therefore,” said +she, “this is what I offer for your choice: either let one of you take +me, or give your consent for me to take a husband from elsewhere to +defend my dominions.” + +So they came to the determination that it was better that she should have +permission to marry some one from elsewhere; and, thereupon, she sent for +the bishops and archbishops to celebrate her nuptials with Owain. And +the men of the earldom did Owain homage. + +And Owain defended the Fountain with lance and sword. And this is the +manner in which he defended it: Whensoever a knight came there he +overthrew him, and sold him for his full worth, and what he thus gained +he divided among his barons and his knights; and no man in the whole +world could be more beloved than he was by his subjects. And it was thus +for the space of three years. + + * * * * * + +It befell that as Gwalchmai went forth one day with King Arthur, he +perceived him to be very sad and sorrowful. And Gwalchmai was much +grieved to see Arthur in this state; and he questioned him, saying, “Oh, +my lord! what has befallen thee?” “In sooth, Gwalchmai,” said Arthur, “I +am grieved concerning Owain, whom I have lost these three years, and I +shall certainly die if the fourth year passes without my seeing him. Now +I am sure, that it is through the tale which Kynon the son of Clydno +related, that I have lost Owain.” “There is no need for thee,” said +Gwalchmai, “to summon to arms thy whole dominions on this account, for +thou thyself and the men of thy household will be able to avenge Owain, +if he be slain; or to set him free, if he be in prison; and, if alive, to +bring him back with thee.” And it was settled according to what +Gwalchmai had said. + +Then Arthur and the men of his household prepared to go and seek Owain, +and their number was three thousand, besides their attendants. And Kynon +the son of Clydno acted as their guide. And Arthur came to the Castle +where Kynon had been before, and when he came there the youths were +shooting in the same place, and the yellow man was standing hard by. +When the yellow man saw Arthur he greeted him, and invited him to the +Castle; and Arthur accepted his invitation, and they entered the Castle +together. And great as was the number of his retinue, their presence was +scarcely observed in the Castle, so vast was its extent. And the maidens +rose up to wait on them, and the service of the maidens appeared to them +all to excel any attendance they had ever met with; and even the pages +who had charge of the horses were no worse served, that night, than +Arthur himself would have been in his own palace. + +The next morning Arthur set out thence, with Kynon for his guide, and +came to the place where the black man was. And the stature of the black +man was more surprising to Arthur than it had been represented to him. +And they came to the top of the wooded steep, and traversed the valley +till they reached the green tree, where they saw the fountain, and the +bowl, and the slab. And upon that, Kai came to Arthur and spoke to him. +“My lord,” said he, “I know the meaning of all this, and my request is, +that thou wilt permit me to throw the water on the slab, and to receive +the first adventure that may befall.” And Arthur gave him leave. + +Then Kai threw a bowlful of water upon the slab, and immediately there +came the thunder, and after the thunder the shower. And such a +thunderstorm they had never known before, and many of the attendants who +were in Arthur’s train were killed by the shower. After the shower had +ceased the sky became clear; and on looking at the tree they beheld it +completely leafless. Then the birds descended upon the tree, and the +song of the birds was far sweeter than any strain they had ever heard +before. Then they beheld a knight on a coal-black horse, clothed in +black satin, coming rapidly towards them. And Kai met him and +encountered him, and it was not long before Kai was overthrown. And the +knight withdrew, and Arthur and his host encamped for the night. + +And when they arose in the morning, they perceived the signal of combat +upon the lance of the Knight. And Kai came to Arthur, and spoke to him: +“My lord,” said he, “though I was overthrown yesterday, if it seem good +to thee, I would gladly meet the Knight again to-day.” “Thou mayst do +so,” said Arthur. And Kai went towards the Knight. And on the spot he +overthrew Kai, and struck him with the head of his lance in the forehead, +so that it broke his helmet and the head-piece, and pierced the skin and +the flesh, the breadth of the spear-head, even to the bone. And Kai +returned to his companions. + +After this, all the household of Arthur went forth, one after the other, +to combat the Knight, until there was not one that was not overthrown by +him, except Arthur and Gwalchmai. And Arthur armed himself to encounter +the Knight. “Oh, my lord,” said Gwalchmai, “permit me to fight with him +first.” And Arthur permitted him. And he went forth to meet the Knight, +having over himself and his horse a satin robe of honour which had been +sent him by the daughter of the Earl of Rhangyw, and in this dress he was +not known by any of the host. And they charged each other, and fought +all that day until the evening, and neither of them was able to unhorse +the other. + +The next day they fought with strong lances, and neither of them could +obtain the mastery. + +And the third day they fought with exceeding strong lances. And they +were incensed with rage, and fought furiously, even until noon. And they +gave each other such a shock that the girths of their horses were broken, +so that they fell over their horses’ cruppers to the ground. And they +rose up speedily, and drew their swords, and resumed the combat; and the +multitude that witnessed their encounter felt assured that they had never +before seen two men so valiant or so powerful. And had it been midnight, +it would have been light from the fire that flashed from their weapons. +And the Knight gave Gwalchmai a blow that turned his helmet from off his +face, so that the Knight knew that it was Gwalchmai. Then Owain said, +“My lord Gwalchmai, I did not know thee for my cousin, owing to the robe +of honour that enveloped thee; take my sword and my arms.” Said +Gwalchmai, “Thou, Owain, art the victor; take thou my sword.” And with +that Arthur saw that they were conversing, and advanced towards them. +“My lord Arthur,” said Gwalchmai, “here is Owain, who has vanquished me, +and will not take my arms.” “My lord,” said Owain, “it is he that has +vanquished me, and he will not take my sword.” “Give me your swords,” +said Arthur, “and then neither of you has vanquished the other.” Then +Owain put his arms around Arthur’s neck, and they embraced. And all the +host hurried forward to see Owain, and to embrace him; and there was nigh +being a loss of life, so great was the press. + +And they retired that night, and the next day Arthur prepared to depart. +“My lord,” said Owain, “this is not well of thee; for I have been absent +from thee these three years, and during all that time, up to this very +day, I have been preparing a banquet for thee, knowing that thou wouldst +come to seek me. Tarry with me, therefore, until thou and thy attendants +have recovered the fatigues of the journey, and have been anointed.” + +And they all proceeded to the Castle of the Countess of the Fountain, and +the banquet which had been three years preparing was consumed in three +months. Never had they a more delicious or agreeable banquet. And +Arthur prepared to depart. Then he sent an embassy to the Countess, to +beseech her to permit Owain to go with him for the space of three months, +that he might show him to the nobles and the fair dames of the Island of +Britain. And the Countess gave her consent, although it was very painful +to her. So Owain came with Arthur to the Island of Britain. And when he +was once more amongst his kindred and friends, he remained three years, +instead of three months, with them. + + * * * * * + +And as Owain one day sat at meat, in the city of Caerlleon upon Usk, +behold a damsel entered upon a bay horse, with a curling mane and covered +with foam, and the bridle and so much as was seen of the saddle were of +gold. And the damsel was arrayed in a dress of yellow satin. And she +came up to Owain, and took the ring from off his hand. “Thus,” said she, +“shall be treated the deceiver, the traitor, the faithless, the +disgraced, and the beardless.” And she turned her horse’s head and +departed. + +Then his adventure came to Owain’s remembrance, and he was sorrowful; and +having finished eating he went to his own abode and made preparations +that night. And the next day he arose but did not go to the Court, but +wandered to the distant parts of the earth and to uncultivated mountains. +And he remained there until all his apparel was worn out, and his body +was wasted away, and his hair was grown long. And he went about with the +wild beasts and fed with them, until they became familiar with him; but +at length he grew so weak that he could no longer bear them company. +Then he descended from the mountains to the valley, and came to a park +that was the fairest in the world, and belonged to a widowed Countess. + +One day the Countess and her maidens went forth to walk by a lake, that +was in the middle of the park. And they saw the form of a man. And they +were terrified. Nevertheless they went near him, and touched him, and +looked at him. And they saw that there was life in him, though he was +exhausted by the heat of the sun. And the Countess returned to the +Castle, and took a flask full of precious ointment, and gave it to one of +her maidens. “Go with this,” said she, “and take with thee yonder horse +and clothing, and place them near the man we saw just now. And anoint +him with this balsam, near his heart; and if there is life in him, he +will arise through the efficacy of this balsam. Then watch what he will +do.” + +And the maiden departed from her, and poured the whole of the balsam upon +Owain, and left the horse and the garments hard by, and went a little way +off, and hid herself to watch him. In a short time she saw him begin to +move his arms; and he rose up, and looked at his person, and became +ashamed of the unseemliness of his appearance. Then he perceived the +horse and the garments that were near him. And he crept forward till he +was able to draw the garments to him from off the saddle. And he clothed +himself, and with difficulty mounted the horse. Then the damsel +discovered herself to him, and saluted him. And he was rejoiced when he +saw her, and inquired of her, what land and what territory that was. +“Truly,” said the maiden, “a widowed Countess owns yonder Castle; at the +death of her husband, he left her two Earldoms, but at this day she has +but this one dwelling that has not been wrested from her by a young Earl, +who is her neighbour, because she refused to become his wife.” “That is +pity,” said Owain. And he and the maiden proceeded to the Castle; and he +alighted there, and the maiden conducted him to a pleasant chamber, and +kindled a fire and left him. + +And the maiden came to the Countess, and gave the flask into her hand. +“Ha! maiden,” said the Countess, “where is all the balsam?” “Have I not +used it all?” said she. “Oh, maiden,” said the Countess, “I cannot +easily forgive thee this; it is sad for me to have wasted seven-score +pounds’ worth of precious ointment upon a stranger whom I know not. +However, maiden, wait thou upon him, until he is quite recovered.” + +And the maiden did so, and furnished him with meat and drink, and fire, +and lodging, and medicaments, until he was well again. And in three +months he was restored to his former guise, and became even more comely +than he had ever been before. + +One day Owain heard a great tumult, and a sound of arms in the Castle, +and he inquired of the maiden the cause thereof. “The Earl,” said she, +“whom I mentioned to thee, has come before the Castle, with a numerous +army, to subdue the Countess.” And Owain inquired of her whether the +Countess had a horse and arms in her possession. “She has the best in +the world,” said the maiden. “Wilt thou go and request the loan of a +horse and arms for me,” said Owain, “that I may go and look at this +army?” “I will,” said the maiden. + +And she came to the Countess, and told her what Owain had said. And the +Countess laughed. “Truly,” said she, “I will even give him a horse and +arms for ever; such a horse and such arms had he never yet, and I am glad +that they should be taken by him to-day, lest my enemies should have them +against my will to-morrow. Yet I know not what he would do with them.” + +The Countess bade them bring out a beautiful black steed, upon which was +a beechen saddle, and a suit of armour, for man and horse. And Owain +armed himself, and mounted the horse, and went forth, attended by two +pages completely equipped, with horses and arms. And when they came near +to the Earl’s army, they could see neither its extent nor its extremity. +And Owain asked the pages in which troop the Earl was. “In yonder +troop,” said they, “in which are four yellow standards. Two of them are +before, and two behind him.” “Now,” said Owain, “do you return and await +me near the portal of the Castle.” So they returned, and Owain pressed +forward until he met the Earl. And Owain drew him completely out of his +saddle, and turned his horse’s head towards the Castle, and though it was +with difficulty, he brought the Earl to the portal, where the pages +awaited him. And in they came. And Owain presented the Earl as a gift +to the Countess. And said to her, “Behold a requital to thee for thy +blessed balsam.” + +The army encamped around the Castle. And the Earl restored to the +Countess the two Earldoms he had taken from her, as a ransom for his +life; and for his freedom he gave her the half of his own dominions, and +all his gold, and his silver, and his jewels, besides hostages. + +And Owain took his departure. And the Countess and all her subjects +besought him to remain, but Owain chose rather to wander through distant +lands and deserts. + +And as he journeyed, he heard a loud yelling in a wood. And it was +repeated a second and a third time. And Owain went towards the spot, and +beheld a huge craggy mound, in the middle of the wood; on the side of +which was a grey rock. And there was a cleft in the rock, and a serpent +was within the cleft. And near the rock stood a black lion, and every +time the lion sought to go thence, the serpent darted towards him to +attack him. And Owain unsheathed his sword, and drew near to the rock; +and as the serpent sprang out, he struck him with his sword, and cut him +in two. And he dried his sword, and went on his way, as before. But +behold the lion followed him, and played about him, as though it had been +a greyhound that he had reared. + +They proceeded thus throughout the day, until the evening. And when it +was time for Owain to take his rest, he dismounted, and turned his horse +loose in a flat and wooded meadow. And he struck fire, and when the fire +was kindled, the lion brought him fuel enough to last for three nights. +And the lion disappeared. And presently the lion returned, bearing a +fine large roebuck. And he threw it down before Owain, who went towards +the fire with it. + +And Owain took the roebuck, and skinned it, and placed collops of its +flesh upon skewers, around the fire. The rest of the buck he gave to the +lion to devour. While he was doing this, he heard a deep sigh near him, +and a second, and a third. And Owain called out to know whether the sigh +he heard proceeded from a mortal; and he received answer that it did. +“Who art thou?” said Owain. “Truly,” said the voice, “I am Luned, the +handmaiden of the Countess of the Fountain.” “And what dost thou here?” +said Owain. “I am imprisoned,” said she, “on account of the knight who +came from Arthur’s Court, and married the Countess. And he stayed a +short time with her, but he afterwards departed for the Court of Arthur, +and has not returned since. And he was the friend I loved best in the +world. And two of the pages in the Countess’s chamber traduced him, and +called him a deceiver. And I told them that they two were not a match +for him alone. So they imprisoned me in the stone vault, and said that I +should be put to death, unless he came himself to deliver me, by a +certain day; and that is no further off than the day after to-morrow. +And I have no one to send to seek him for me. And his name is Owain the +son of Urien.” “And art thou certain that if that knight knew all this, +he would come to thy rescue?” “I am most certain of it,” said she. + +When the collops were cooked, Owain divided them into two parts, between +himself and the maiden; and after they had eaten, they talked together, +until the day dawned. And the next morning Owain inquired of the damsel, +if there was any place where he could get food and entertainment for that +night. “There is, Lord,” said she; “cross over yonder, and go along the +side of the river, and in a short time thou wilt see a great Castle, in +which are many towers, and the Earl who owns that Castle is the most +hospitable man in the world. There thou mayst spend the night.” + +Never did sentinel keep stricter watch over his lord, than the lion that +night over Owain. + +And Owain accoutred his horse, and passed across by the ford, and came in +sight of the Castle. And he entered it, and was honourably received. +And his horse was well cared for, and plenty of fodder was placed before +him. Then the lion went and lay down in the horse’s manger; so that none +of the people of the Castle dared to approach him. The treatment which +Owain met with there was such as he had never known elsewhere, for every +one was as sorrowful as though death had been upon him. And they went to +meat; and the Earl sat upon one side of Owain, and on the other side his +only daughter. And Owain had never seen any more lovely than she. Then +the lion came and placed himself between Owain’s feet, and he fed him +with every kind of food that he took himself. And he never saw anything +equal to the sadness of the people. + +In the middle of the repast the Earl began to bid Owain welcome. “Then,” +said Owain, “behold, it is time for thee to be cheerful.” “Heaven +knows,” said the Earl, “that it is not thy coming that makes us +sorrowful, but we have cause enough for sadness and care.” “What is +that?” said Owain. “I have two sons,” replied the Earl, “and yesterday +they went to the mountains to hunt. Now there is on the mountain a +monster who kills men and devours them, and he seized my sons; and +to-morrow is the time he has fixed to be here, and he threatens that he +will then slay my sons before my eyes, unless I will deliver into his +hands this my daughter. He has the form of a man, but in stature he is +no less than a giant.” + +“Truly,” said Owain, “that is lamentable. And which wilt thou do?” +“Heaven knows,” said the Earl, “it will be better that my sons should be +slain against my will, than that I should voluntarily give up my daughter +to him to ill-treat and destroy.” Then they talked about other things, +and Owain stayed there that night. + +The next morning they heard an exceeding great clamour, which was caused +by the coming of the giant with the two youths. And the Earl was anxious +both to protect his Castle and to release his two sons. Then Owain put +on his armour and went forth to encounter the giant, and the lion +followed him. And when the giant saw that Owain was armed, he rushed +towards him and attacked him. And the lion fought with the giant much +more fiercely than Owain did. “Truly,” said the giant, “I should find no +difficulty in fighting with thee, were it not for the animal that is with +thee.” Upon that Owain took the lion back to the Castle and shut the +gate upon him, and then he returned to fight the giant, as before. And +the lion roared very loud, for he heard that it went hard with Owain. +And he climbed up till he reached the top of the Earl’s hall, and thence +he got to the top of the Castle, and he sprang down from the walls and +went and joined Owain. And the lion gave the giant a stroke with his +paw, which tore him from his shoulder to his hip, and his heart was laid +bare, and the giant fell down dead. Then Owain restored the two youths +to their father. + +The Earl besought Owain to remain with him, and he would not, but set +forward towards the meadow where Luned was. And when he came there he +saw a great fire kindled, and two youths with beautiful curling auburn +hair were leading the maiden to cast her into the fire. And Owain asked +them what charge they had against her. And they told him of the compact +that was between them, as the maiden had done the night before. “And,” +said they, “Owain has failed her, therefore we are taking her to be +burnt.” “Truly,” said Owain, “he is a good knight, and if he knew that +the maiden was in such peril, I marvel that he came not to her rescue; +but if you will accept me in his stead, I will do battle with you.” “We +will,” said the youths, “by him who made us.” + +And they attacked Owain, and he was hard beset by them. And with that +the lion came to Owain’s assistance, and they two got the better of the +young men. And they said to him, “Chieftain, it was not agreed that we +should fight save with thyself alone, and it is harder for us to contend +with yonder animal than with thee.” And Owain put the lion in the place +where the maiden had been imprisoned, and blocked up the door with +stones, and he went to fight with the young men, as before. But Owain +had not his usual strength, and the two youths pressed hard upon him. +And the lion roared incessantly at seeing Owain in trouble; and he burst +through the wall until he found a way out, and rushed upon the young men, +and instantly slew them. So Luned was saved from being burned. + +Then Owain returned with Luned to the dominions of the Countess of the +Fountain. And when he went thence he took the Countess with him to +Arthur’s Court, and she was his wife as long as she lived. + + * * * * * + +And then he took the road that led to the Court of the savage black man, +and Owain fought with him, and the lion did not quit Owain until he had +vanquished him. And when he reached the Court of the savage black man he +entered the hall, and beheld four-and-twenty ladies, the fairest that +could be seen. And the garments which they had on were not worth +four-and-twenty pence, and they were as sorrowful as death. And Owain +asked them the cause of their sadness. And they said, “We are the +daughters of Earls, and we all came here with our husbands, whom we +dearly loved. And we were received with honour and rejoicing. And we +were thrown into a state of stupor, and while we were thus, the demon who +owns this Castle slew all our husbands, and took from us our horses, and +our raiment, and our gold, and our silver; and the corpses of our +husbands are still in this house, and many others with them. And this, +Chieftain, is the cause of our grief, and we are sorry that thou art come +hither, lest harm should befall thee.” + +And Owain was grieved when he heard this. And he went forth from the +Castle, and he beheld a knight approaching him, who saluted him in a +friendly and cheerful manner, as if he had been a brother. And this was +the savage black man. “In very sooth,” said Owain, “it is not to seek +thy friendship that I am here.” “In sooth,” said he, “thou shalt not +find it then.” And with that they charged each other, and fought +furiously. And Owain overcame him, and bound his hands behind his back. +Then the black savage besought Owain to spare his life, and spoke thus: +“My lord Owain,” said he, “it was foretold that thou shouldst come hither +and vanquish me, and thou hast done so. I was a robber here, and my +house was a house of spoil; but grant me my life, and I will become the +keeper of an Hospice, and I will maintain this house as an Hospice for +weak and for strong, as long as I live, for the good of thy soul.” And +Owain accepted this proposal of him, and remained there that night. + +And the next day he took the four-and-twenty ladies, and their horses, +and their raiment, and what they possessed of goods and jewels, and +proceeded with them to Arthur’s Court. And if Arthur was rejoiced when +he saw him, after he had lost him the first time, his joy was now much +greater. And of those ladies, such as wished to remain in Arthur’s Court +remained there, and such as wished to depart departed. + +And thenceforward Owain dwelt at Arthur’s Court greatly beloved, as the +head of his household, until he went away with his followers; and those +were the army of three hundred ravens which Kenverchyn had left him. And +wherever Owain went with these he was victorious. + +And this is the tale of THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN. + + + + +PEREDUR THE SON OF EVRAWC + + +Earl Evrawc owned the Earldom of the North. And he had seven sons. And +Evrawc maintained himself not so much by his own possessions as by +attending tournaments, and wars, and combats. And, as it often befalls +those who join in encounters and wars, he was slain, and six of his sons +likewise. Now the name of his seventh son was Peredur, and he was the +youngest of them. And he was not of an age to go to wars and encounters, +otherwise he might have been slain as well as his father and brothers. +His mother was a scheming and thoughtful woman, and she was very +solicitous concerning this her only son and his possessions. So she took +counsel with herself to leave the inhabited country, and to flee to the +deserts and unfrequented wildernesses. And she permitted none to bear +her company thither but women and boys, and spiritless men, who were both +unaccustomed and unequal to war and fighting. And none dared to bring +either horses or arms where her son was, lest he should set his mind upon +them. And the youth went daily to divert himself in the forest, by +flinging sticks and staves. And one day he saw his mother’s flock of +goats, and near the goats two hinds were standing. And he marvelled +greatly that these two should be without horns, while the others had +them. And he thought they had long run wild, and on that account they +had lost their horns. And by activity and swiftness of foot, he drove +the hinds and the goats together into the house which there was for the +goats at the extremity of the forest. Then Peredur returned to his +mother. “Ah, mother,” said he, “a marvellous thing have I seen in the +wood; two of thy goats have run wild, and lost their horns, through their +having been so long missing in the wood. And no man had ever more +trouble than I had to drive them in.” Then they all arose and went to +see. And when they beheld the hinds they were greatly astonished. + +And one day they saw three knights coming along the horse-road on the +borders of the forest. And the three knights were Gwalchmai the son of +Gwyar, and Geneir Gwystyl, and Owain the son of Urien. And Owain kept on +the track of the knight who had divided the apples in Arthur’s Court, +whom they were in pursuit of. “Mother,” said Peredur, “what are those +yonder?” “They are angels, my son,” said she. “By my faith,” said +Peredur, “I will go and become an angel with them.” And Peredur went to +the road, and met them. “Tell me, good soul,” said Owain, “sawest thou a +knight pass this way, either to-day or yesterday?” “I know not,” +answered he, “what a knight is.” “Such an one as I am,” said Owain. “If +thou wilt tell me what I ask thee, I will tell thee that which thou +askest me.” “Gladly will I do so,” replied Owain. “What is this?” +demanded Peredur, concerning the saddle. “It is a saddle,” said Owain. +Then he asked about all the accoutrements which he saw upon the men, and +the horses, and the arms, and what they were for, and how they were used. +And Owain shewed him all these things fully, and told him what use was +made of them. “Go forward,” said Peredur, “for I saw such an one as thou +inquirest for, and I will follow thee.” + +Then Peredur returned to his mother and her company, and he said to her, +“Mother, those were not angels, but honourable knights.” Then his mother +swooned away. And Peredur went to the place where they kept the horses +that carried firewood, and that brought meat and drink from the inhabited +country to the desert. And he took a bony piebald horse, which seemed to +him the strongest of them. And he pressed a pack into the form of a +saddle, and with twisted twigs he imitated the trappings which he had +seen upon the horses. And when Peredur came again to his mother, the +Countess had recovered from her swoon. “My son,” said she, “desirest +thou to ride forth?” “Yes, with thy leave,” said he. “Wait, then, that +I may counsel thee before thou goest.” “Willingly,” he answered; “speak +quickly.” “Go forward, then,” she said, “to the Court of Arthur, where +there are the best, and the boldest, and the most bountiful of men. And +wherever thou seest a church, repeat there thy Paternoster unto it. And +if thou see meat and drink, and have need of them, and none have the +kindness or the courtesy to give them to thee, take them thyself. If +thou hear an outcry, proceed towards it, especially if it be the outcry +of a woman. If thou see a fair jewel, possess thyself of it, and give it +to another, for thus thou shalt obtain praise. If thou see a fair woman, +pay thy court to her, whether she will or no; for thus thou wilt render +thyself a better and more esteemed man than thou wast before.” + +After this discourse, Peredur mounted the horse, and taking a handful of +sharp-pointed forks in his hand, he rode forth. And he journeyed two +days and two nights in the woody wildernesses, and in desert places, +without food and without drink. And then he came to a vast wild wood, +and far within the wood he saw a fair even glade, and in the glade he saw +a tent, and the tent seeming to him to be a church, he repeated his +Paternoster to it. And he went towards it, and the door of the tent was +open. And a golden chair was near the door. And on the chair sat a +lovely auburn-haired maiden, with a golden frontlet on her forehead, and +sparkling stones in the frontlet, and with a large gold ring on her hand. +And Peredur dismounted, and entered the tent. And the maiden was glad at +his coming, and bade him welcome. At the entrance of the tent he saw +food, and two flasks full of wine, and two loaves of fine wheaten flour, +and collops of the flesh of the wild boar. “My mother told me,” said +Peredur, “wheresoever I saw meat and drink, to take it.” “Take the meat +and welcome, chieftain,” said she. So Peredur took half of the meat and +of the liquor himself, and left the rest to the maiden. And when Peredur +had finished eating, he bent upon his knee before the maiden. “My +mother,” said he, “told me, wheresoever I saw a fair jewel, to take it.” +“Do so, my soul,” said she. So Peredur took the ring. And he mounted +his horse, and proceeded on his journey. + +After this, behold the knight came to whom the tent belonged; and he was +the Lord of the Glade. And he saw the track of the horse, and he said to +the maiden, “Tell me who has been here since I departed.” “A man,” said +she, “of wonderful demeanour.” And she described to him what Peredur’s +appearance and conduct had been. “Tell me,” said he, “did he offer thee +any wrong?” “No,” answered the maiden, “by my faith, he harmed me not.” +“By my faith, I do not believe thee; and until I can meet with him, and +revenge the insult he has done me, and wreak my vengeance upon him, thou +shalt not remain two nights in the same house.” And the knight arose, +and set forth to seek Peredur. + +Meanwhile Peredur journeyed on towards Arthur’s Court. And before he +reached it, another knight had been there, who gave a ring of thick gold +at the door of the gate for holding his horse, and went into the Hall +where Arthur and his household, and Gwenhwyvar and her maidens, were +assembled. And the page of the chamber was serving Gwenhwyvar with a +golden goblet. Then the knight dashed the liquor that was therein upon +her face, and upon her stomacher, and gave her a violent blow on the +face, and said, “If any have the boldness to dispute this goblet with me, +and to revenge the insult to Gwenhwyvar, let him follow me to the meadow, +and there I will await him.” So the knight took his horse, and rode to +the meadow. And all the household hung down their heads, lest any of +them should be requested to go and avenge the insult to Gwenhwyvar. For +it seemed to them, that no one would have ventured on so daring an +outrage, unless he possessed such powers, through magic or charms, that +none could be able to take vengeance upon him. Then, behold, Peredur +entered the Hall, upon the bony piebald horse, with the uncouth trappings +upon it; and in this way he traversed the whole length of the Hall. In +the centre of the Hall stood Kai. “Tell me, tall man,” said Peredur, “is +that Arthur yonder?” “What wouldest thou with Arthur?” asked Kai. “My +mother told me to go to Arthur, and receive the honour of knighthood.” +“By my faith,” said he, “thou art all too meanly equipped with horse and +with arms.” Thereupon he was perceived by all the household, and they +threw sticks at him. Then, behold, a dwarf came forward. He had already +been a year at Arthur’s Court, both he and a female dwarf. They had +craved harbourage of Arthur, and had obtained it; and during the whole +year, neither of them had spoken a single word to any one. When the +dwarf beheld Peredur, “Haha!” said he, “the welcome of Heaven be unto +thee, goodly Peredur, son of Evrawc, the chief of warriors, and flower of +knighthood.” “Truly,” said Kai, “thou art ill-taught to remain a year +mute at Arthur’s Court, with choice of society; and now, before the face +of Arthur and all his household, to call out, and declare such a man as +this the chief of warriors, and the flower of knighthood.” And he gave +him such a box on the ear that he fell senseless to the ground. Then +exclaimed the female dwarf, “Haha! goodly Peredur, son of Evrawc; the +welcome of Heaven be unto thee, flower of knights, and light of +chivalry.” “Of a truth, maiden,” said Kai, “thou art ill-bred to remain +mute for a year at the Court of Arthur, and then to speak as thou dost of +such a man as this.” And Kai kicked her with his foot, so that she fell +to the ground senseless. “Tall man,” said Peredur, “shew me which is +Arthur.” “Hold thy peace,” said Kai, “and go after the knight who went +hence to the meadow, and take from him the goblet, and overthrow him, and +possess thyself of his horse and arms, and then thou shalt receive the +order of knighthood.” “I will do so, tall man,” said Peredur. So he +turned his horse’s head towards the meadow. And when he came there, the +knight was riding up and down, proud of his strength, and valour, and +noble mien. “Tell me,” said the knight, “didst thou see any one coming +after me from the Court?” “The tall man that was there,” said he, +“desired me to come, and overthrow thee, and to take from thee the +goblet, and thy horse and thy armour for myself.” “Silence!” said the +knight; “go back to the Court, and tell Arthur, from me, either to come +himself, or to send some other to fight with me; and unless he do so +quickly, I will not wait for him.” “By my faith,” said Peredur, “choose +thou whether it shall be willingly or unwillingly, but I will have the +horse, and the arms, and the goblet.” And upon this the knight ran at +him furiously, and struck him a violent blow with the shaft of his spear, +between the neck and the shoulder. “Haha! lad,” said Peredur, “my +mother’s servants were not used to play with me in this wise; therefore, +thus will I play with thee.” And thereupon he struck him with a +sharp-pointed fork, and it hit him in the eye, and came out at the back +of his neck, so that he instantly fell down lifeless. + +“Verily,” said Owain the son of Urien to Kai, “thou wert ill-advised, +when thou didst send that madman after the knight. For one of two things +must befall him. He must either be overthrown, or slain. If he is +overthrown by the knight, he will be counted by him to be an honourable +person of the Court, and an eternal disgrace will it be to Arthur and his +warriors. And if he is slain, the disgrace will be the same, and +moreover, his sin will be upon him; therefore will I go to see what has +befallen him.” So Owain went to the meadow, and he found Peredur +dragging the man about. “What art thou doing thus?” said Owain. “This +iron coat,” said Peredur, “will never come from off him; not by my +efforts, at any rate.” And Owain unfastened his armour and his clothes. +“Here, my good soul,” said he, “is a horse and armour better than thine. +Take them joyfully, and come with me to Arthur, to receive the order of +knighthood, for thou dost merit it.” “May I never shew my face again if +I go,” said Peredur; “but take thou the goblet to Gwenhwyvar, and tell +Arthur, that wherever I am, I will be his vassal, and will do him what +profit and service I am able. And say that I will not come to his Court +until I have encountered the tall man that is there, to revenge the +injury he did to the dwarf and dwarfess.” And Owain went back to the +Court, and related all these things to Arthur and Gwenhwyvar, and to all +the household. + +And Peredur rode forward. And as he proceeded, behold a knight met him. +“Whence comest thou?” said the knight. “I come from Arthur’s Court,” +said Peredur. “Art thou one of his men?” asked he. “Yes, by my faith,” +he answered. “A good service, truly, is that of Arthur.” “Wherefore +sayest thou so?” said Peredur. “I will tell thee,” said he; “I have +always been Arthur’s enemy, and all such of his men as I have ever +encountered I have slain.” And without further parlance they fought, and +it was not long before Peredur brought him to the ground, over his +horse’s crupper. Then the knight besought his mercy. “Mercy thou shalt +have,” said Peredur, “if thou wilt make oath to me, that thou wilt go to +Arthur’s Court, and tell him that it was I that overthrew thee, for the +honour of his service; and say, that I will never come to the Court until +I have avenged the insult offered to the dwarf and dwarfess.” The knight +pledged him his faith of this, and proceeded to the Court of Arthur, and +said as he had promised, and conveyed the threat to Kai. + +And Peredur rode forward. And within that week he encountered sixteen +knights, and overthrew them all shamefully. And they all went to +Arthur’s Court, taking with them the same message which the first knight +had conveyed from Peredur, and the same threat which he had sent to Kai. +And thereupon Kai was reproved by Arthur; and Kai was greatly grieved +thereat. + +And Peredur rode forward. And he came to a vast and desert wood, on the +confines of which was a lake. And on the other side was a fair castle. +And on the border of the lake he saw a venerable, hoary-headed man, +sitting upon a velvet cushion, and having a garment of velvet upon him. +And his attendants were fishing in the lake. When the hoary-headed man +beheld Peredur approaching, he arose and went towards the castle. And +the old man was lame. Peredur rode to the palace, and the door was open, +and he entered the hall. And there was the hoary-headed man sitting on a +cushion, and a large blazing fire burning before him. And the household +and the company arose to meet Peredur, and disarrayed him. And the man +asked the youth to sit on the cushion; and they sat down, and conversed +together. When it was time, the tables were laid, and they went to meat. +And when they had finished their meal, the man inquired of Peredur if he +knew well how to fight with the sword. “I know not,” said Peredur, “but +were I to be taught, doubtless I should.” “Whoever can play well with +the cudgel and shield, will also be able to fight with a sword.” And the +man had two sons; the one had yellow hair, and the other auburn. “Arise, +youths,” said he, “and play with the cudgel and the shield.” And so did +they. “Tell me, my soul,” said the man, “which of the youths thinkest +thou plays best.” “I think,” said Peredur, “that the yellow-haired youth +could draw blood from the other, if he chose.” “Arise thou, my life, and +take the cudgel and the shield from the hand of the youth with the auburn +hair, and draw blood from the yellow-haired youth if thou canst.” So +Peredur arose, and went to play with the yellow-haired youth; and he +lifted up his arm, and struck him such a mighty blow, that his brow fell +over his eye, and the blood flowed forth. “Ah, my life,” said the man, +“come now, and sit down, for thou wilt become the best fighter with the +sword of any in this island; and I am thy uncle, thy mother’s brother. +And with me shalt thou remain a space, in order to learn the manners and +customs of different countries, and courtesy, and gentleness, and noble +bearing. Leave, then, the habits and the discourse of thy mother, and I +will be thy teacher; and I will raise thee to the rank of knight from +this time forward. And thus do thou. If thou seest aught to cause thee +wonder, ask not the meaning of it; if no one has the courtesy to inform +thee, the reproach will not fall upon thee, but upon me that am thy +teacher.” And they had abundance of honour and service. And when it was +time they went to sleep. At the break of day, Peredur arose, and took +his horse, and with his uncle’s permission he rode forth. And he came to +a vast desert wood, and at the further end of the wood was a meadow, and +on the other side of the meadow he saw a large castle. And thitherward +Peredur bent his way, and he found the gate open, and he proceeded to the +hall. And he beheld a stately hoary-headed man sitting on one side of +the hall, and many pages around him, who arose to receive and to honour +Peredur. And they placed him by the side of the owner of the palace. +Then they discoursed together; and when it was time to eat, they caused +Peredur to sit beside the nobleman during the repast. And when they had +eaten and drunk as much as they desired, the nobleman asked Peredur +whether he could fight with a sword? “Were I to receive instruction,” +said Peredur, “I think I could.” Now, there was on the floor of the hall +a huge staple, as large as a warrior could grasp. “Take yonder sword,” +said the man to Peredur, “and strike the iron staple.” So Peredur arose +and struck the staple, so that he cut it in two; and the sword broke into +two parts also. “Place the two parts together, and reunite them,” and +Peredur placed them together, and they became entire as they were before. +And a second time he struck upon the staple, so that both it and the +sword broke in two, and as before they reunited. And the third time he +gave a like blow, and placed the broken parts together, and neither the +staple nor the sword would unite as before. “Youth,” said the nobleman, +“come now, and sit down, and my blessing be upon thee. Thou fightest +best with the sword of any man in the kingdom. Thou hast arrived at +two-thirds of thy strength, and the other third thou hast not yet +obtained; and when thou attainest to thy full power, none will be able to +contend with thee. I am thy uncle, thy mother’s brother, and I am +brother to the man in whose house thou wast last night.” Then Peredur +and his uncle discoursed together, and he beheld two youths enter the +hall, and proceed up to the chamber, bearing a spear of mighty size, with +three streams of blood flowing from the point to the ground. And when +all the company saw this, they began wailing and lamenting. But for all +that, the man did not break off his discourse with Peredur. And as he +did not tell Peredur the meaning of what he saw, he forbore to ask him +concerning it. And when the clamour had a little subsided, behold two +maidens entered, with a large salver between them, in which was a man’s +head, surrounded by a profusion of blood. And thereupon the company of +the court made so great an outcry, that it was irksome to be in the same +hall with them. But at length they were silent. And when time was that +they should sleep, Peredur was brought into a fair chamber. + +And the next day, with his uncle’s permission, he rode forth. And he +came to a wood, and far within the wood he heard a loud cry, and he saw a +beautiful woman with auburn hair, and a horse with a saddle upon it, +standing near her, and a corpse by her side. And as she strove to place +the corpse upon the horse, it fell to the ground, and thereupon she made +a great lamentation. “Tell me, sister,” said Peredur, “wherefore art +thou bewailing?” “Oh! accursed Peredur, little pity has my ill-fortune +ever met with from thee.” “Wherefore,” said Peredur, “am I accursed?” +“Because thou wast the cause of thy mother’s death; for when thou didst +ride forth against her will, anguish seized upon her heart, so that she +died; and therefore art thou accursed. And the dwarf and the dwarfess +that thou sawest at Arthur’s Court were the dwarfs of thy father and +mother; and I am thy foster-sister, and this was my wedded husband, and +he was slain by the knight that is in the glade in the wood; and do not +thou go near him, lest thou shouldest be slain by him likewise.” “My +sister, thou dost reproach me wrongfully; through my having so long +remained amongst you, I shall scarcely vanquish him; and had I continued +longer, it would, indeed, be difficult for me to succeed. Cease, +therefore, thy lamenting, for it is of no avail, and I will bury the +body, and then I will go in quest of the knight, and see if I can do +vengeance upon him.” And when he had buried the body, they went to the +place where the knight was, and found him riding proudly along the glade; +and he inquired of Peredur whence he came. “I come from Arthur’s Court.” +“And art thou one of Arthur’s men?” “Yes, by my faith.” “A profitable +alliance, truly, is that of Arthur.” And without further parlance, they +encountered one another, and immediately Peredur overthrew the knight, +and he besought mercy of Peredur. “Mercy shalt thou have,” said he, +“upon these terms, that thou take this woman in marriage, and do her all +the honour and reverence in thy power, seeing thou hast, without cause, +slain her wedded husband; and that thou go to Arthur’s Court, and shew +him that it was I that overthrew thee, to do him honour and service; and +that thou tell him that I will never come to his Court again until I have +met with the tall man that is there, to take vengeance upon him for his +insult to the dwarf and dwarfess.” And he took the knight’s assurance, +that he would perform all this. Then the knight provided the lady with a +horse and garments that were suitable for her, and took her with him to +Arthur’s Court. And he told Arthur all that had occurred, and gave the +defiance to Kai. And Arthur and all his household reproved Kai, for +having driven such a youth as Peredur from his Court. + +Said Owain the son of Urien, “This youth will never come into the Court +until Kai has gone forth from it.” “By my faith,” said Arthur, “I will +search all the deserts in the Island of Britain, until I find Peredur, +and then let him and his adversary do their utmost to each other.” + +Then Peredur rode forward. And he came to a desert wood, where he saw +not the track either of men or animals, and where there was nothing but +bushes and weeds. And at the upper end of the wood he saw a vast castle, +wherein were many strong towers; and when he came near the gate, he found +the weeds taller than he had seen them elsewhere. And he struck the gate +with the shaft of his lance, and thereupon behold a lean, auburn-haired +youth came to an opening in the battlements. “Choose thou, chieftain,” +said he, “whether shall I open the gate unto thee, or shall I announce +unto those that are chief, that thou art at the gateway?” “Say that I am +here,” said Peredur, “and if it is desired that I should enter, I will go +in.” And the youth came back, and opened the gate for Peredur. And when +he went into the hall, he beheld eighteen youths, lean and red-headed, of +the same height, and of the same aspect, and of the same dress, and of +the same age as the one who had opened the gate for him. And they were +well skilled in courtesy and in service. And they disarrayed him. Then +they sat down to discourse. Thereupon, behold five maidens came from the +chamber into the hall. And Peredur was certain that he had never seen +another of so fair an aspect as the chief of the maidens. And she had an +old garment of satin upon her, which had once been handsome, but was then +so tattered, that her skin could be seen through it. And whiter was her +skin than the bloom of crystal, and her hair and her two eyebrows were +blacker than jet, and on her cheeks were two red spots, redder than +whatever is reddest. And the maiden welcomed Peredur, and put her arms +about his neck, and made him sit down beside her. Not long after this he +saw two nuns enter, and a flask full of wine was borne by one, and six +loaves of white bread by the other. “Lady,” said they, “Heaven is +witness, that there is not so much of food and liquor as this left in +yonder Convent this night.” Then they went to meat, and Peredur observed +that the maiden wished to give more of the food and of the liquor to him +than to any of the others. “My sister,” said Peredur, “I will share out +the food and the liquor.” “Not so, my soul,” said she. “By my faith but +I will.” So Peredur took the bread, and he gave an equal portion of it +to each alike, as well as a cup full of the liquor. And when it was time +for them to sleep, a chamber was prepared for Peredur, and he went to +rest. + +“Behold, sister,” said the youths to the fairest and most exalted of the +maidens, “we have counsel for thee.” “What may it be?” she inquired. +“Go to the youth that is in the upper chamber, and offer to become his +wife, or the lady of his love, if it seem well to him.” “That were +indeed unfitting,” said she. “Hitherto I have not been the lady-love of +any knight, and to make him such an offer before I am wooed by him, that, +truly, can I not do.” “By our confession to Heaven, unless thou actest +thus, we will leave thee here to thy enemies, to do as they will with +thee.” And through fear of this, the maiden went forth; and shedding +tears, she proceeded to the chamber. And with the noise of the door +opening, Peredur awoke; and the maiden was weeping and lamenting. “Tell +me, my sister,” said Peredur, “wherefore dost thou weep?” “I will tell +thee, lord,” said she. “My father possessed these dominions as their +chief, and this palace was his, and with it he held the best earldom in +the kingdom; then the son of another earl sought me of my father, and I +was not willing to be given unto him, and my father would not give me +against my will, either to him or any earl in the world. And my father +had no child except myself. And after my father’s death, these dominions +came into my own hands, and then was I less willing to accept him than +before. So he made war upon me, and conquered all my possessions, except +this one house. And through the valour of the men whom thou hast seen, +who are my foster-brothers, and the strength of the house, it can never +be taken while food and drink remain. And now our provisions are +exhausted; but, as thou hast seen, we have been fed by the nuns, to whom +the country is free. And at length they also are without supply of food +or liquor. And at no later date than to-morrow, the earl will come +against this place with all his forces; and if I fall into his power, my +fate will be no better than to be given over to the grooms of his horses. +Therefore, lord, I am come to offer to place myself in thy hands, that +thou mayest succour me, either by taking me hence, or by defending me +here, whichever may seem best unto thee.” “Go, my sister,” said he, “and +sleep; nor will I depart from thee until I do that which thou requirest, +or prove whether I can assist thee or not.” The maiden went again to +rest; and the next morning she came to Peredur, and saluted him. “Heaven +prosper thee, my soul, and what tidings dost thou bring?” “None other, +than that the earl and all his forces have alighted at the gate, and I +never beheld any place so covered with tents, and thronged with knights +challenging others to the combat.” “Truly,” said Peredur, “let my horse +be made ready.” So his horse was accoutred, and he arose and sallied +forth to the meadow. And there was a knight riding proudly along the +meadow, having raised the signal for battle. And they encountered, and +Peredur threw the knight over his horse’s crupper to the ground. And at +the close of the day, one of the chief knights came to fight with him, +and he overthrew him also, so that he besought his mercy. “Who art +thou?” said Peredur. “Verily,” said he, “I am Master of the Household to +the earl.” “And how much of the countess’s possessions is there in thy +power?” “The third part, verily,” answered he. “Then,” said Peredur, +“restore to her the third of her possessions in full, and all the profit +thou hast made by them, and bring meat and drink for a hundred men, with +their horses and arms, to her court this night. And thou shalt remain +her captive, unless she wish to take thy life.” And this he did +forthwith. And that night the maiden was right joyful, and they fared +plenteously. + +And the next day Peredur rode forth to the meadow; and that day he +vanquished a multitude of the host. And at the close of the day, there +came a proud and stately knight, and Peredur overthrew him, and he +besought his mercy. “Who art thou?” said Peredur. “I am Steward of the +Palace,” said he. “And how much of the maiden’s possessions are under +thy control?” “One-third part,” answered he. “Verily,” said Peredur, +“thou shalt fully restore to the maiden her possessions, and, moreover, +thou shalt give her meat and drink for two hundred men, and their horses +and their arms. And for thyself, thou shalt be her captive.” And +immediately it was so done. + +And the third day Peredur rode forth to the meadow; and he vanquished +more that day than on either of the preceding. And at the close of the +day, an earl came to encounter him, and he overthrew him, and he besought +his mercy. “Who art thou?” said Peredur. “I am the earl,” said he. “I +will not conceal it from thee.” “Verily,” said Peredur, “thou shalt +restore the whole of the maiden’s earldom, and shalt give her thine own +earldom in addition thereto, and meat and drink for three hundred men, +and their horses and arms, and thou thyself shalt remain in her power.” +And thus it was fulfilled. And Peredur tarried three weeks in the +country, causing tribute and obedience to be paid to the maiden, and the +government to be placed in her hands. “With thy leave,” said Peredur, “I +will go hence.” “Verily, my brother, desirest thou this?” “Yes, by my +faith; and had it not been for love of thee, I should not have been here +thus long.” “My soul,” said she, “who art thou?” “I am Peredur the son +of Evrawc from the North; and if ever thou art in trouble or in danger, +acquaint me therewith, and if I can, I will protect thee.” + +So Peredur rode forth. And far thence there met him a lady, mounted on a +horse that was lean, and covered with sweat; and she saluted the youth. +“Whence comest thou, my sister?” Then she told him the cause of her +journey. Now she was the wife of the Lord of the Glade. “Behold,” said +he, “I am the knight through whom thou art in trouble, and he shall +repent it, who has treated thee thus.” Thereupon, behold a knight rode +up, and he inquired of Peredur, if he had seen a knight such as he was +seeking. “Hold thy peace,” said Peredur, “I am he whom thou seekest; and +by my faith, thou deservest ill of thy household for thy treatment of the +maiden, for she is innocent concerning me.” So they encountered, and +they were not long in combat ere Peredur overthrew the knight, and he +besought his mercy. “Mercy thou shalt have,” said Peredur, “so thou wilt +return by the way thou camest, and declare that thou holdest the maiden +innocent, and so that thou wilt acknowledge unto her the reverse thou +hast sustained at my hands.” And the knight plighted him his faith +thereto. + +Then Peredur rode forward. And above him he beheld a castle, and +thitherward he went. And he struck upon the gate with his lance, and +then, behold, a comely auburn-haired youth opened the gate, and he had +the stature of a warrior, and the years of a boy. And when Peredur came +into the hall, there was a tall and stately lady sitting in a chair, and +many handmaidens around her; and the lady rejoiced at his coming. And +when it was time, they went to meat. And after their repast was +finished, “It were well for thee, chieftain,” said she, “to go elsewhere +to sleep.” “Wherefore can I not sleep here?” said Peredur. “Nine +sorceresses are here, my soul, of the sorceresses of Gloucester, and +their father and their mother are with them; and unless we can make our +escape before daybreak, we shall be slain; and already they have +conquered and laid waste all the country, except this one dwelling.” +“Behold,” said Peredur, “I will remain here to-night, and if you are in +trouble, I will do you what service I can; but harm shall you not receive +from me.” So they went to rest. And with the break of day, Peredur +heard a dreadful outcry. And he hastily arose, and went forth in his +vest and his doublet, with his sword about his neck, and he saw a +sorceress overtake one of the watch, who cried out violently. Peredur +attacked the sorceress, and struck her upon the head with his sword, so +that he flattened her helmet and her head-piece like a dish upon her +head. “Thy mercy, goodly Peredur, son of Evrawc, and the mercy of +Heaven.” “How knowest thou, hag, that I am Peredur?” “By destiny, and +the foreknowledge that I should suffer harm from thee. And thou shalt +take a horse and armour of me; and with me thou shalt go to learn +chivalry and the use of thy arms.” Said Peredur, “Thou shalt have mercy, +if thou pledge thy faith thou wilt never more injure the dominions of the +Countess.” And Peredur took surety of this, and with permission of the +Countess, he set forth with the sorceress to the palace of the +sorceresses. And there he remained for three weeks, and then he made +choice of a horse and arms, and went his way. + +And in the evening he entered a valley, and at the head of the valley he +came to a hermit’s cell, and the hermit welcomed him gladly, and there he +spent the night. And in the morning he arose, and when he went forth, +behold a shower of snow had fallen the night before, and a hawk had +killed a wild fowl in front of the cell. And the noise of the horse +scared the hawk away, and a raven alighted upon the bird. And Peredur +stood, and compared the blackness of the raven and the whiteness of the +snow, and the redness of the blood, to the hair of the lady that best he +loved, which was blacker than jet, and to her skin which was whiter than +the snow, and to the two red spots upon her cheeks, which were redder +than the blood upon the snow appeared to be. + +Now Arthur and his household were in search of Peredur. “Know ye,” said +Arthur, “who is the knight with the long spear that stands by the brook +up yonder?” “Lord,” said one of them, “I will go and learn who he is.” +So the youth came to the place where Peredur was, and asked him what he +did thus, and who he was. And from the intensity with which he thought +upon the lady whom best he loved, he gave him no answer. Then the youth +thrust at Peredur with his lance, and Peredur turned upon him, and struck +him over his horse’s crupper to the ground. And after this, +four-and-twenty youths came to him, and he did not answer one more than +another, but gave the same reception to all, bringing them with one +single thrust to the ground. And then came Kai, and spoke to Peredur +rudely and angrily; and Peredur took him with his lance under the jaw, +and cast him from him with a thrust, so that he broke his arm and his +shoulder-blade, and he rode over him one-and-twenty times. And while he +lay thus, stunned with the violence of the pain that he had suffered, his +horse returned back at a wild and prancing pace. And when the household +saw the horse come back without his rider, they rode forth in haste to +the place where the encounter had been. And when they first came there, +they thought that Kai was slain; but they found that if he had a skilful +physician, he yet might live. And Peredur moved not from his meditation, +on seeing the concourse that was around Kai. And Kai was brought to +Arthur’s tent, and Arthur caused skilful physicians to come to him. And +Arthur was grieved that Kai had met with this reverse, for he loved him +greatly. + +“Then,” said Gwalchmai, “it is not fitting that any should disturb an +honourable knight from his thought unadvisedly; for either he is +pondering some damage that he has sustained, or he is thinking of the +lady whom best he loves. And through such ill-advised proceeding, +perchance this misadventure has befallen him who last met with him. And +if it seem well to thee, lord, I will go and see if this knight hath +changed from his thought; and if he has, I will ask him courteously to +come and visit thee.” Then Kai was wroth, and he spoke angry and +spiteful words. “Gwalchmai,” said he, “I know that thou wilt bring him +because he is fatigued. Little praise and honour, nevertheless, wilt +thou have from vanquishing a weary knight, who is tired with fighting. +Yet thus hast thou gained the advantage over many. And while thy speech +and thy soft words last, a coat of thin linen were armour sufficient for +thee, and thou wilt not need to break either lance or sword in fighting +with the knight in the state he is in.” Then said Gwalchmai to Kai, +“Thou mightest use more pleasant words, wert thou so minded: and it +behoves thee not upon me to wreak thy wrath and thy displeasure. +Methinks I shall bring the knight hither with me without breaking either +my arm or my shoulder.” Then said Arthur to Gwalchmai, “Thou speakest +like a wise and prudent man; go, and take enough of armour about thee, +and choose thy horse.” And Gwalchmai accoutred himself and rode forward +hastily to the place where Peredur was. + +And Peredur was resting on the shaft of his spear, pondering the same +thought, and Gwalchmai came to him without any signs of hostility, and +said to him, “If I thought that it would be as agreeable to thee as it +would be to me, I would converse with thee. I have also a message from +Arthur unto thee, to pray thee to come and visit him. And two men have +been before on this errand.” “That is true,” said Peredur, “and +uncourteously they came. They attacked me, and I was annoyed thereat, +for it was not pleasing to me to be drawn from the thought that I was in, +for I was thinking of the lady whom best I love, and thus was she brought +to my mind:—I was looking upon the snow, and upon the raven, and upon the +drops of the blood of the bird that the hawk had killed upon the snow. +And I bethought me that her whiteness was like that of the snow, and that +the blackness of her hair and her eyebrows like that of the raven, and +that the two red spots upon her cheeks were like the two drops of blood.” +Said Gwalchmai, “This was not an ungentle thought, and I should marvel if +it were pleasant to thee to be drawn from it.” “Tell me,” said Peredur, +“is Kai in Arthur’s Court?” “He is,” said he, “and behold he is the +knight that fought with thee last; and it would have been better for him +had he not come, for his arm and his shoulder-blade were broken with the +fall which he had from thy spear.” “Verily,” said Peredur, “I am not +sorry to have thus begun to avenge the insult to the dwarf and dwarfess.” +Then Gwalchmai marvelled to hear him speak of the dwarf and the dwarfess; +and he approached him, and threw his arms around his neck, and asked him +what was his name. “Peredur the son of Evrawc am I called,” said he; +“and thou, Who art thou?” “I am called Gwalchmai,” he replied. “I am +right glad to meet with thee,” said Peredur, “for in every country where +I have been I have heard of thy fame for prowess and uprightness, and I +solicit thy fellowship.” “Thou shalt have it, by my faith, and grant me +thine,” said he, “Gladly will I do so,” answered Peredur. + +So they rode forth together joyfully towards the place where Arthur was, +and when Kai saw them coming, he said, “I knew that Gwalchmai needed not +to fight the knight. And it is no wonder that he should gain fame; more +can he do by his fair words than I by the strength of my arm.” And +Peredur went with Gwalchmai to his tent, and they took off their armour. +And Peredur put on garments like those that Gwalchmai wore, and they went +together unto Arthur, and saluted him. “Behold, lord,” said Gwalchmai, +“him whom thou hast sought so long.” “Welcome unto thee, chieftain,” +said Arthur. “With me thou shalt remain; and had I known thy valour had +been such, thou shouldst not have left me as thou didst; nevertheless, +this was predicted of thee by the dwarf and the dwarfess, whom Kai +ill-treated and whom thou hast avenged.” And hereupon, behold there came +the Queen and her handmaidens, and Peredur saluted them. And they were +rejoiced to see him, and bade him welcome. And Arthur did him great +honour and respect, and they returned towards Caerlleon. + +And the first night Peredur came to Caerlleon to Arthur’s Court, and as +he walked in the city after his repast, behold, there met him Angharad +Law Eurawc. “By my faith, sister,” said Peredur, “thou art a beauteous +and lovely maiden; and, were it pleasing to thee, I could love thee above +all women.” “I pledge my faith,” said she, “that I do not love thee, nor +will I ever do so.” “I also pledge my faith,” said Peredur, “that I will +never speak a word to any Christian again, until thou come to love me +above all men.” + +The next day Peredur went forth by the high road, along a mountain-ridge, +and he saw a valley of a circular form, the confines of which were rocky +and wooded. And the flat part of the valley was in meadows, and there +were fields betwixt the meadows and the wood. And in the bosom of the +wood he saw large black houses of uncouth workmanship. And he +dismounted, and led his horse towards the wood. And a little way within +the wood he saw a rocky ledge, along which the road lay. And upon the +ledge was a lion bound by a chain, and sleeping. And beneath the lion he +saw a deep pit of immense size, full of the bones of men and animals. +And Peredur drew his sword and struck the lion, so that he fell into the +mouth of the pit and hung there by the chain; and with a second blow he +struck the chain and broke it, and the lion fell into the pit; and +Peredur led his horse over the rocky ledge, until he came into the +valley. And in the centre of the valley he saw a fair castle, and he +went towards it. And in the meadow by the castle he beheld a huge grey +man sitting, who was larger than any man he had ever before seen. And +two young pages were shooting the hilts of their daggers, of the bone of +the sea-horse. And one of the pages had red hair, and the other auburn. +And they went before him to the place where the grey man was, and Peredur +saluted him. And the grey man said, “Disgrace to the beard of my +porter.” Then Peredur understood that the porter was the lion.—And the +grey man and the pages went together into the castle, and Peredur +accompanied them; and he found it a fair and noble place. And they +proceeded to the hall, and the tables were already laid, and upon them +was abundance of food and liquor. And thereupon he saw an aged woman and +a young woman come from the chamber; and they were the most stately women +he had ever seen. Then they washed and went to meat, and the grey man +sat in the upper seat at the head of the table, and the aged woman next +to him. And Peredur and the maiden were placed together, and the two +young pages served them. And the maiden gazed sorrowfully upon Peredur, +and Peredur asked the maiden wherefore she was sad. “For thee, my soul; +for, from when I first beheld thee, I have loved thee above all men. And +it pains me to know that so gentle a youth as thou should have such a +doom as awaits thee to-morrow. Sawest thou the numerous black houses in +the bosom of the wood? All these belong to the vassals of the grey man +yonder, who is my father. And they are all giants. And to-morrow they +will rise up against thee, and will slay thee. And the Round Valley is +this valley called.” “Listen, fair maiden, wilt thou contrive that my +horse and arms be in the same lodging with me to-night?” “Gladly will I +cause it so to be, by Heaven, if I can.” + +And when it was time for them to sleep rather than to carouse, they went +to rest. And the maiden caused Peredur’s horse and arms to be in the +same lodging with him. And the next morning Peredur heard a great tumult +of men and horses around the castle. And Peredur arose, and armed +himself and his horse, and went to the meadow. Then the aged woman and +the maiden came to the grey man: “Lord,” said they, “take the word of the +youth, that he will never disclose what he has seen in this place, and we +will be his sureties that he keep it.” “I will not do so, by my faith,” +said the grey man. So Peredur fought with the host, and towards evening +he had slain the one-third of them without receiving any hurt himself. +Then said the aged woman, “Behold, many of thy host have been slain by +the youth; do thou, therefore, grant him mercy.” “I will not grant it, +by my faith,” said he. And the aged woman and the fair maiden were upon +the battlements of the castle, looking forth. And at that juncture, +Peredur encountered the yellow-haired youth and slew him. “Lord,” said +the maiden, “grant the young man mercy.” “That will I not do, by +Heaven,” he replied; and thereupon Peredur attacked the auburn-haired +youth, and slew him likewise. “It were better that thou hadst accorded +mercy to the youth before he had slain thy two sons; for now scarcely +wilt thou thyself escape from him.” “Go, maiden, and beseech the youth +to grant mercy unto us, for we yield ourselves into his hands.” So the +maiden came to the place where Peredur was, and besought mercy for her +father, and for all such of his vassals as had escaped alive. “Thou +shalt have it, on condition that thy father and all that are under him go +and render homage to Arthur, and tell him that it was his vassal Peredur +that did him this service.” “This will we do willingly, by Heaven.” +“And you shall also receive baptism; and I will send to Arthur, and +beseech him to bestow this valley upon thee and upon thy heirs after thee +for ever.” Then they went in, and the grey man and the tall woman +saluted Peredur. And the grey man said unto him, “Since I have possessed +this valley I have not seen any Christian depart with his life, save +thyself. And we will go to do homage to Arthur, and to embrace the faith +and be baptized.” Then said Peredur, “To Heaven I render thanks that I +have not broken my vow to the lady that best I love, which was, that I +would not speak one word unto any Christian.” + +That night they tarried there. And the next day, in the morning, the +grey man, with his company, set forth to Arthur’s Court; and they did +homage unto Arthur, and he caused them to be baptized. And the grey man +told Arthur that it was Peredur that had vanquished them. And Arthur +gave the valley to the grey man and his company, to hold it of him as +Peredur had besought. And with Arthur’s permission, the grey man went +back to the Round Valley. + +Peredur rode forward next day, and he traversed a vast tract of desert, +in which no dwellings were. And at length he came to a habitation, mean +and small. And there he heard that there was a serpent that lay upon a +gold ring, and suffered none to inhabit the country for seven miles +around. And Peredur came to the place where he heard the serpent was. +And angrily, furiously, and desperately fought he with the serpent; and +at last he killed it, and took away the ring. And thus he was for a long +time without speaking a word to any Christian. And therefrom he lost his +colour and his aspect, through extreme longing after the Court of Arthur, +and the society of the lady whom best he loved, and of his companions. +Then he proceeded forward to Arthur’s Court, and on the road there met +him Arthur’s household going on a particular errand, with Kai at their +head. And Peredur knew them all, but none of the household recognized +him. “Whence comest thou, chieftain?” said Kai. And this he asked him +twice and three times, and he answered him not. And Kai thrust him +through the thigh with his lance. And lest he should be compelled to +speak, and to break his vow, he went on without stopping. “Then,” said +Gwalchmai, “I declare to Heaven, Kai, that thou hast acted ill in +committing such an outrage on a youth like this, who cannot speak.” + +And Gwalchmai returned back to Arthur’s Court. “Lady,” said he to +Gwenhwyvar, “seest thou how wicked an outrage Kai has committed upon this +youth who cannot speak; for Heaven’s sake, and for mine, cause him to +have medical care before I come back, and I will repay thee the charge.” + +And before the men returned from their errand, a knight came to the +meadow beside Arthur’s Palace, to dare some one to the encounter. And +his challenge was accepted; and Peredur fought with him, and overthrew +him. And for a week he overthrew one knight every day. + +And one day, Arthur and his household were going to Church, and they +beheld a knight who had raised the signal for combat. “Verily,” said +Arthur, “by the valour of men, I will not go hence until I have my horse +and my arms to overthrow yonder boor.” Then went the attendants to fetch +Arthur’s horse and arms. And Peredur met the attendants as they were +going back, and he took the horse and arms from them, and proceeded to +the meadow; and all those who saw him arise and go to do battle with the +knight, went upon the tops of the houses, and the mounds, and the high +places, to behold the combat. And Peredur beckoned with his hand to the +knight to commence the fight. And the knight thrust at him, but he was +not thereby moved from where he stood. And Peredur spurred his horse, +and ran at him wrathfully, furiously, fiercely, desperately, and with +mighty rage, and he gave him a thrust, deadly-wounding, severe, furious, +adroit, and strong, under his jaw, and raised him out of his saddle, and +cast him a long way from him. And Peredur went back, and left the horse +and the arms with the attendant as before, and he went on foot to the +Palace. + +Then Peredur went by the name of the Dumb Youth. And behold, Angharad +Law Eurawc met him. “I declare to Heaven, chieftain,” said she, “woful +is it that thou canst not speak; for couldst thou speak, I would love +thee best of all men; and by my faith, although thou canst not, I do love +thee above all.” “Heaven reward thee, my sister,” said Peredur, “by my +faith I also do love thee.” Thereupon it was known that he was Peredur. +And then he held fellowship with Gwalchmai, and Owain the son of Urien, +and all the household, and he remained in Arthur’s Court. + + * * * * * + +Arthur was in Caerlleon upon Usk; and he went to hunt, and Peredur went +with him. And Peredur let loose his dog upon a hart, and the dog killed +the hart in a desert place. And a short space from him he saw signs of a +dwelling, and towards the dwelling he went, and he beheld a hall, and at +the door of the hall he found bald swarthy youths playing at chess. And +when he entered, he beheld three maidens sitting on a bench, and they +were all clothed alike, as became persons of high rank. And he came, and +sat by them upon the bench; and one of the maidens looked steadfastly +upon Peredur, and wept. And Peredur asked her wherefore she was weeping. +“Through grief, that I should see so fair a youth as thou art, slain.” +“Who will slay me?” inquired Peredur. “If thou art so daring as to +remain here to-night, I will tell thee.” “How great soever my danger may +be from remaining here, I will listen unto thee.” “This Palace is owned +by him who is my father,” said the maiden, “and he slays every one who +comes hither without his leave.” “What sort of a man is thy father, that +he is able to slay every one thus?” “A man who does violence and wrong +unto his neighbours, and who renders justice unto none.” And hereupon he +saw the youths arise and clear the chessmen from the board. And he heard +a great tumult; and after the tumult there came in a huge black one-eyed +man, and the maidens arose to meet him. And they disarrayed him, and he +went and sat down; and after he had rested and pondered awhile, he looked +at Peredur, and asked who the knight was. “Lord,” said one of the +maidens, “he is the fairest and gentlest youth that ever thou didst see. +And for the sake of Heaven, and of thine own dignity, have patience with +him.” “For thy sake I will have patience, and I will grant him his life +this night.” Then Peredur came towards them to the fire, and partook of +food and liquor, and entered into discourse with the ladies. And being +elated with the liquor, he said to the black man, “It is a marvel to me, +so mighty as thou sayest thou art, who could have put out thine eye.” +“It is one of my habits,” said the black man, “that whosoever puts to me +the question which thou hast asked, shall not escape with his life, +either as a free gift or for a price.” “Lord,” said the maiden, +“whatsoever he may say to thee in jest, and through the excitement of +liquor, make good that which thou saidst and didst promise me just now.” +“I will do so, gladly, for thy sake,” said he. “Willingly will I grant +him his life this night.” And that night thus they remained. + +And the next day the black man got up, and put on his armour, and said to +Peredur, “Arise, man, and suffer death.” And Peredur said unto him, “Do +one of two things, black man; if thou wilt fight with me, either throw +off thy own armour, or give arms to me, that I may encounter thee.” “Ha, +man,” said he, “couldst thou fight, if thou hadst arms? Take, then, what +arms thou dost choose.” And thereupon the maiden came to Peredur with +such arms as pleased him; and he fought with the black man, and forced +him to crave his mercy. “Black man, thou shalt have mercy, provided thou +tell me who thou art, and who put out thine eye.” “Lord, I will tell +thee; I lost it in fighting with the Black Serpent of the Carn. There is +a mound, which is called the Mound of Mourning; and on the mound there is +a carn, and in the carn there is a serpent, and on the tail of the +serpent there is a stone, and the virtues of the stone are such, that +whosoever should hold it in one hand, in the other he will have as much +gold as he may desire. And in fighting with this serpent was it that I +lost my eye. And the Black Oppressor am I called. And for this reason I +am called the Black Oppressor, that there is not a single man around me +whom I have not oppressed, and justice have I done unto none.” “Tell +me,” said Peredur, “how far is it hence?” “The same day that thou +settest forth, thou wilt come to the Palace of the Sons of the King of +the Tortures.” “Wherefore are they called thus?” “The Addanc of the +Lake slays them once every day. When thou goest thence, thou wilt come +to the Court of the Countess of the Achievements.” “What achievements +are there?” asked Peredur. “Three hundred men there are in her +household, and unto every stranger that comes to the Court, the +achievements of her household are related. And this is the manner of +it,—the three hundred men of the household sit next unto the Lady; and +that not through disrespect unto the guests, but that they may relate the +achievements of the household. And the day that thou goest thence, thou +wilt reach the Mound of Mourning, and round about the mound there are the +owners of three hundred tents guarding the serpent.” “Since thou hast, +indeed, been an oppressor so long,” said Peredur, “I will cause that thou +continue so no longer.” So he slew him. + +Then the maiden spoke, and began to converse with him. “If thou wast +poor when thou camest here, henceforth thou wilt be rich through the +treasure of the black man whom thou hast slain. Thou seest the many +lovely maidens that there are in this Court; thou shalt have her whom +thou best likest for the lady of thy love.” “Lady, I came not hither +from my country to woo; but match yourselves as it liketh you with the +comely youths I see here; and none of your goods do I desire, for I need +them not.” Then Peredur rode forward, and he came to the Palace of the +Sons of the King of the Tortures; and when he entered the Palace, he saw +none but women; and they rose up, and were joyful at his coming; and as +they began to discourse with him, he beheld a charger arrive, with a +saddle upon it, and a corpse in the saddle. And one of the women arose, +and took the corpse from the saddle, and anointed it in a vessel of warm +water, which was below the door, and placed precious balsam upon it; and +the man rose up alive, and came to the place where Peredur was, and +greeted him, and was joyful to see him. And two other men came in upon +their saddles, and the maiden treated these two in the same manner as she +had done the first. Then Peredur asked the chieftain wherefore it was +thus. And they told him, that there was an Addanc in a cave, which slew +them once every day. And thus they remained that night. + +And next morning the youths arose to sally forth, and Peredur besought +them, for the sake of the ladies of their love, to permit him to go with +them; but they refused him, saying, “If thou shouldst be slain there, +thou hast none to bring thee back to life again.” And they rode forward, +and Peredur followed after them; and, after they had disappeared out of +his sight, he came to a mound, whereon sat the fairest lady he had ever +beheld. “I know thy quest,” said she; “thou art going to encounter the +Addanc, and he will slay thee, and that not by courage, but by craft. He +has a cave, and at the entrance of the cave there is a stone pillar, and +he sees every one that enters, and none see him; and from behind the +pillar he slays every one with a poisonous dart. And if thou wouldst +pledge me thy faith to love me above all women, I would give thee a +stone, by which thou shouldst see him when thou goest in, and he should +not see thee.” “I will, by my troth,” said Peredur, “for when first I +beheld thee I loved thee; and where shall I seek thee?” “When thou +seekest me, seek towards India.” And the maiden vanished, after placing +the stone in Peredur’s hand. + +And he came towards a valley, through which ran a river; and the borders +of the valley were wooded, and on each side of the river were level +meadows. And on one side of the river he saw a flock of white sheep, and +on the other a flock of black sheep. And whenever one of the white sheep +bleated, one of the black sheep would cross over and become white; and +when one of the black sheep bleated, one of the white sheep would cross +over and become black. And he saw a tall tree by the side of the river, +one half of which was in flames from the root to the top, and the other +half was green and in full leaf. And nigh thereto he saw a youth sitting +upon a mound, and two greyhounds, white-breasted and spotted, in leashes, +lying by his side. And certain was he that he had never seen a youth of +so royal a bearing as he. And in the wood opposite he heard hounds +raising a herd of deer. And Peredur saluted the youth, and the youth +greeted him in return. And there were three roads leading from the +mound; two of them were wide roads, and the third was more narrow. And +Peredur inquired where the three roads went. “One of them goes to my +palace,” said the youth; “and one of two things I counsel thee to do; +either to proceed to my palace, which is before thee, and where thou wilt +find my wife, or else to remain here to see the hounds chasing the roused +deer from the wood to the plain. And thou shalt see the best greyhounds +thou didst ever behold, and the boldest in the chase, kill them by the +water beside us; and when it is time to go to meat, my page will come +with my horse to meet me, and thou shalt rest in my palace to-night.” +“Heaven reward thee; but I cannot tarry, for onward must I go.” “The +other road leads to the town, which is near here, and wherein food and +liquor may be bought; and the road which is narrower than the others goes +towards the cave of the Addanc.” “With thy permission, young man, I will +go that way.” + +And Peredur went towards the cave. And he took the stone in his left +hand, and his lance in his right. And as he went in he perceived the +Addanc, and he pierced him through with his lance, and cut off his head. +And as he came from the cave, behold the three companions were at the +entrance; and they saluted Peredur, and told him that there was a +prediction that he should slay that monster. And Peredur gave the head +to the young men, and they offered him in marriage whichever of the three +sisters he might choose, and half their kingdom with her. “I came not +hither to woo,” said Peredur, “but if peradventure I took a wife, I +should prefer your sister to all others.” And Peredur rode forward, and +he heard a noise behind him. And he looked back, and saw a man upon a +red horse, with red armour upon him; and the man rode up by his side, and +saluted him, and wished him the favour of Heaven and of man. And Peredur +greeted the youth kindly. “Lord, I come to make a request unto thee.” +“What wouldest thou?” “That thou shouldest take me as thine attendant.” +“Whom then should I take as my attendant, if I did so?” “I will not +conceal from thee what kindred I am of. Etlym Gleddyv Coch am I called, +an Earl from the East Country.” “I marvel that thou shouldest offer to +become attendant to a man whose possessions are no greater than thine +own; for I have but an earldom like thyself. But since thou desirest to +be my attendant, I will take thee joyfully.” + +And they went forward to the Court of the Countess, and all they of the +Court were glad at their coming; and they were told it was not through +disrespect they were placed below the household, but that such was the +usage of the Court. For, whoever should overthrow the three hundred men +of her household, would sit next the Countess, and she would love him +above all men. And Peredur having overthrown the three hundred men of +her household, sat down beside her, and the Countess said, “I thank +Heaven that I have a youth so fair and so valiant as thou, since I have +not obtained the man whom best I love.” “Who is he whom best thou +lovest?” “By my faith, Etlym Gleddyv Coch is the man whom I love best, +and I have never seen him.” “Of a truth, Etlym is my companion; and +behold here he is, and for his sake did I come to joust with thy +household. And he could have done so better than I, had it pleased him. +And I do give thee unto him.” “Heaven reward thee, fair youth, and I +will take the man whom I love above all others.” And the Countess became +Etlym’s bride from that moment. + +And the next day Peredur set forth towards the Mound of Mourning. “By +thy hand, lord, but I will go with thee,” said Etlym. Then they went +forwards till they came in sight of the mound and the tents. “Go unto +yonder men,” said Peredur to Etlym, “and desire them to come and do me +homage.” So Etlym went unto them, and said unto them thus,—“Come and do +homage to my lord.” “Who is thy lord?” said they. “Peredur with the +long lance is my lord,” said Etlym. “Were it permitted to slay a +messenger, thou shouldest not go back to thy lord alive, for making unto +Kings, and Earls, and Barons so arrogant a demand as to go and do him +homage.” Peredur desired him to go back to them, and to give them their +choice, either to do him homage, or to do battle with him. And they +chose rather to do battle. And that day Peredur overthrew the owners of +a hundred tents; and the next day he overthrew the owners of a hundred +more; and the third day the remaining hundred took counsel to do homage +to Peredur. And Peredur inquired of them, wherefore they were there. +And they told him they were guarding the serpent until he should die. +“For then should we fight for the stone among ourselves, and whoever +should be conqueror among us would have the stone.” “Await here,” said +Peredur, “and I will go to encounter the serpent.” “Not so, lord,” said +they; “we will go altogether to encounter the serpent.” “Verily,” said +Peredur, “that will I not permit; for if the serpent be slain, I shall +derive no more fame therefrom than one of you.” Then he went to the +place where the serpent was, and slew it, and came back to them, and +said, “Reckon up what you have spent since you have been here, and I will +repay you to the full.” And he paid to each what he said was his claim. +And he required of them only that they should acknowledge themselves his +vassals. And he said to Etlym, “Go back unto her whom thou lovest best, +and I will go forwards, and I will reward thee for having been my +attendant.” And he gave Etlym the stone. “Heaven repay thee and prosper +thee,” said Etlym. + +And Peredur rode thence, and he came to the fairest valley he had ever +seen, through which ran a river; and there he beheld many tents of +various colours. And he marvelled still more at the number of +water-mills and of wind-mills that he saw. And there rode up with him a +tall auburn-haired man, in workman’s garb, and Peredur inquired of him +who he was. “I am the chief miller,” said he, “of all the mills yonder.” +“Wilt thou give me lodging?” said Peredur. “I will, gladly,” he +answered. And Peredur came to the miller’s house, and the miller had a +fair and pleasant dwelling. And Peredur asked money as a loan from the +miller, that he might buy meat and liquor for himself and for the +household, and he promised that he would pay him again ere he went +thence. And he inquired of the miller, wherefore such a multitude was +there assembled. Said the miller to Peredur, “One thing is certain: +either thou art a man from afar, or thou art beside thyself. The Empress +of Cristinobyl the Great is here; and she will have no one but the man +who is most valiant; for riches does she not require. And it was +impossible to bring food for so many thousands as are here, therefore +were all these mills constructed.” And that night they took their rest. + +And the next day Peredur arose, and he equipped himself and his horse for +the tournament. And among the other tents he beheld one, which was the +fairest he had ever seen. And he saw a beauteous maiden leaning her head +out of a window of the tent, and he had never seen a maiden more lovely +than she. And upon her was a garment of satin. And he gazed fixedly on +the maiden, and began to love her greatly. And he remained there, gazing +upon the maiden from morning until mid-day, and from mid-day until +evening; and then the tournament was ended and he went to his lodging and +drew off his armour. Then he asked money of the miller as a loan, and +the miller’s wife was wroth with Peredur; nevertheless, the miller lent +him the money. And the next day he did in like manner as he had done the +day before. And at night he came to his lodging, and took money as a +loan from the miller. And the third day, as he was in the same place, +gazing upon the maiden, he felt a hard blow between the neck and the +shoulder, from the edge of an axe. And when he looked behind him, he saw +that it was the miller; and the miller said to him, “Do one of two +things: either turn thy head from hence, or go to the tournament.” And +Peredur smiled on the miller, and went to the tournament; and all that +encountered him that day he overthrew. And as many as he vanquished he +sent as a gift to the Empress, and their horses and arms he sent as a +gift to the wife of the miller, in payment of the borrowed money. +Peredur attended the tournament until all were overthrown, and he sent +all the men to the prison of the Empress, and the horses and arms to the +wife of the miller, in payment of the borrowed money. And the Empress +sent to the Knight of the Mill, to ask him to come and visit her. And +Peredur went not for the first nor for the second message. And the third +time she sent a hundred knights to bring him against his will, and they +went to him and told him their mission from the Empress. And Peredur +fought well with them, and caused them to be bound like stags, and thrown +into the mill-dyke. And the Empress sought advice of a wise man who was +in her counsel; and he said to her, “With thy permission, I will go to +him myself.” So he came to Peredur, and saluted him, and besought him, +for the sake of the lady of his love, to come and visit the Empress. And +they went, together with the miller. And Peredur went and sat down in +the outer chamber of the tent, and she came and placed herself by his +side. And there was but little discourse between them. And Peredur took +his leave, and went to his lodging. + +And the next day he came to visit her, and when he came into the tent +there was no one chamber less decorated than the others. And they knew +not where he would sit. And Peredur went and sat beside the Empress, and +discoursed with her courteously. And while they were thus, they beheld a +black man enter with a goblet full of wine in his hand. And he dropped +upon his knee before the Empress, and besought her to give it to no one +who would not fight with him for it. And she looked upon Peredur. +“Lady,” said he, “bestow on me the goblet.” And Peredur drank the wine, +and gave the goblet to the miller’s wife. And while they were thus, +behold there entered a black man of larger stature than the other, with a +wild beast’s claw in his hand, wrought into the form of a goblet and +filled with wine. And he presented it to the Empress, and besought her +to give it to no one but the man who would fight with him. “Lady,” said +Peredur, “bestow it on me.” And she gave it to him. And Peredur drank +the wine, and sent the goblet to the wife of the miller. And while they +were thus, behold a rough-looking, crisp-haired man, taller than either +of the others, came in with a bowl in his hand full of wine; and he bent +upon his knee, and gave it into the hands of the Empress, and he besought +her to give it to none but him who would fight with him for it; and she +gave it to Peredur, and he sent it to the miller’s wife. And that night +Peredur returned to his lodging; and the next day he accoutred himself +and his horse, and went to the meadow and slew the three men. Then +Peredur proceeded to the tent, and the Empress said to him, “Goodly +Peredur, remember the faith thou didst pledge me when I gave thee the +stone, and thou didst kill the Addanc.” “Lady,” answered he, “thou +sayest truth, I do remember it.” And Peredur was entertained by the +Empress fourteen years, as the story relates. + + * * * * * + +Arthur was at Caerlleon upon Usk, his principal palace; and in the centre +of the floor of the hall were four men sitting on a carpet of velvet, +Owain the son of Urien, and Gwalchmai the son of Gwyar, and Howel the son +of Emyr Llydaw, and Peredur of the long lance. And thereupon they saw a +black curly-headed maiden enter, riding upon a yellow mule, with jagged +thongs in her hand to urge it on; and having a rough and hideous aspect. +Blacker were her face and her two hands than the blackest iron covered +with pitch; and her hue was not more frightful than her form. High +cheeks had she, and a face lengthened downwards, and a short nose with +distended nostrils. And one eye was of a piercing mottled grey, and the +other was as black as jet, deep-sunk in her head. And her teeth were +long and yellow, more yellow were they than the flower of the broom. And +her stomach rose from the breast-bone, higher than her chin. And her +back was in the shape of a crook, and her legs were large and bony. And +her figure was very thin and spare, except her feet and her legs, which +were of huge size. And she greeted Arthur and all his household except +Peredur. And to Peredur she spoke harsh and angry words. “Peredur, I +greet thee not, seeing that thou dost not merit it. Blind was fate in +giving thee fame and favour. When thou wast in the Court of the Lame +King, and didst see there the youth bearing the streaming spear, from the +points of which were drops of blood flowing in streams, even to the hand +of the youth, and many other wonders likewise, thou didst not inquire +their meaning nor their cause. Hadst thou done so, the King would have +been restored to health, and his dominions to peace. Whereas from +henceforth, he will have to endure battles and conflicts, and his knights +will perish, and wives will be widowed, and maidens will be left +portionless, and all this is because of thee.” Then said she unto +Arthur, “May it please thee, lord, my dwelling is far hence, in the +stately castle of which thou hast heard, and therein are five hundred and +sixty-six knights of the order of Chivalry, and the lady whom best he +loves with each; and whoever would acquire fame in arms, and encounters, +and conflicts, he will gain it there, if he deserve it. And whoso would +reach the summit of fame and of honour, I know where he may find it. +There is a castle on a lofty mountain, and there is a maiden therein, and +she is detained a prisoner there, and whoever shall set her free will +attain the summit of the fame of the world.” And thereupon she rode +away. + +Said Gwalchmai, “By my faith, I will not rest tranquilly until I have +proved if I can release the maiden.” And many of Arthur’s household +joined themselves with him. Then, likewise, said Peredur, “By my faith, +I will not rest tranquilly until I know the story and the meaning of the +lance whereof the black maiden spoke.” And while they were equipping +themselves, behold a knight came to the gate. And he had the size and +the strength of a warrior, and was equipped with arms and habiliments. +And he went forward, and saluted Arthur and all his household, except +Gwalchmai. And the knight had upon his shoulder a shield, ingrained with +gold, with a fesse of azure blue upon it, and his whole armour was of the +same hue. And he said to Gwalchmai, “Thou didst slay my lord by thy +treachery and deceit, and that will I prove upon thee.” Then Gwalchmai +rose up. “Behold,” said he, “here is my gage against thee, to maintain, +either in this place or wherever else thou wilt, that I am not a traitor +or deceiver.” “Before the King whom I obey, will I that my encounter +with thee take place,” said the knight. “Willingly,” said Gwalchmai; “go +forward, and I will follow thee.” So the knight went forth, and +Gwalchmai accoutred himself, and there was offered unto him abundance of +armour, but he would take none but his own. And when Gwalchmai and +Peredur were equipped, they set forth to follow him, by reason of their +fellowship and of the great friendship that was between them. And they +did not go after him in company together, but each went his own way. + +At the dawn of day Gwalchmai came to a valley, and in the valley he saw a +fortress, and within the fortress a vast palace and lofty towers around +it. And he beheld a knight coming out to hunt from the other side, +mounted on a spirited black snorting palfrey, that advanced at a prancing +pace, proudly stepping, and nimbly bounding, and sure of foot; and this +was the man to whom the palace belonged. And Gwalchmai saluted him. +“Heaven prosper thee, chieftain,” said he, “and whence comest thou?” “I +come,” answered Gwalchmai, “from the Court of Arthur.” “And art thou +Arthur’s vassal?” “Yes, by my faith,” said Gwalchmai. “I will give thee +good counsel,” said the knight. “I see that thou art tired and weary; go +unto my palace, if it may please thee, and tarry there to-night.” +“Willingly, lord,” said he, “and Heaven reward thee.” “Take this ring as +a token to the porter, and go forward to yonder tower, and therein thou +wilt find my sister.” And Gwalchmai went to the gate, and showed the +ring, and proceeded to the tower. And on entering he beheld a large +blazing fire, burning without smoke and with a bright and lofty flame, +and a beauteous and stately maiden was sitting on a chair by the fire. +And the maiden was glad at his coming, and welcomed him, and advanced to +meet him. And he went and sat beside the maiden, and they took their +repast. And when their repast was over, they discoursed pleasantly +together. And while they were thus, behold there entered a venerable +hoary-headed man. “Ah! base girl,” said he, “if thou didst think it was +right for thee to entertain and to sit by yonder man, thou wouldest not +do so.” And he withdrew his head, and went forth. “Ah! chieftain,” said +the maiden, “if thou wilt do as I counsel thee, thou wilt shut the door, +lest the man should have a plot against thee.” Upon that Gwalchmai +arose, and when he came near unto the door, the man, with sixty others, +fully armed, were ascending the tower. And Gwalchmai defended the door +with a chessboard, that none might enter until the man should return from +the chase. And thereupon, behold the Earl arrived. “What is all this?” +asked he. “It is a sad thing,” said the hoary-headed man; “the young +girl yonder has been sitting and eating with him who slew your father. +He is Gwalchmai, the son of Gwyar.” “Hold thy peace, then,” said the +Earl, “I will go in.” And the Earl was joyful concerning Gwalchmai. +“Ha! chieftain,” said he, “it was wrong of thee to come to my court, when +thou knewest that thou didst slay my father; and though we cannot avenge +him, Heaven will avenge him upon thee.” “My soul,” said Gwalchmai, “thus +it is: I came not here either to acknowledge or to deny having slain thy +father; but I am on a message from Arthur, and therefore do I crave the +space of a year until I shall return from my embassy, and then, upon my +faith, I will come back unto this palace, and do one of two things, +either acknowledge it, or deny it.” And the time was granted him +willingly; and he remained there that night. And the next morning he +rode forth. And the story relates nothing further of Gwalchmai +respecting this adventure. + +And Peredur rode forward. And he wandered over the whole island, seeking +tidings of the black maiden, and he could meet with none. And he came to +an unknown land, in the centre of a valley, watered by a river. And as +he traversed the valley he beheld a horseman coming towards him, and +wearing the garments of a priest; and he besought his blessing. +“Wretched man,” said he, “thou meritest no blessing, and thou wouldest +not be profited by one, seeing that thou art clad in armour on such a day +as this.” “And what day is to-day?” said Peredur. “To-day is Good +Friday,” he answered. “Chide me not that I knew not this, seeing that it +is a year to-day since I journeyed forth from my country.” Then he +dismounted, and led his horse in his hand. And he had not proceeded far +along the high road before he came to a cross road, and the cross road +traversed a wood. And on the other side of the wood he saw an +unfortified castle, which appeared to be inhabited. And at the gate of +the castle there met him the priest whom he had seen before, and he asked +his blessing. “The blessing of Heaven be unto thee,” said he, “it is +more fitting to travel in thy present guise than as thou wast erewhile; +and this night thou shalt tarry with me.” So he remained there that +night. + +And the next day Peredur sought to go forth. “To-day may no one journey. +Thou shalt remain with me to-day and to-morrow, and the day following, +and I will direct thee as best I may to the place which thou art +seeking.” And the fourth day Peredur sought to go forth, and he +entreated the priest to tell him how he should find the Castle of +Wonders. “What I know thereof I will tell thee,” he replied. “Go over +yonder mountain, and on the other side of the mountain thou wilt come to +a river, and in the valley wherein the river runs is a King’s palace, +wherein the King sojourned during Easter. And if thou mayest have +tidings anywhere of the Castle of Wonders, thou wilt have them there.” + +Then Peredur rode forward. And he came to the valley in which was the +river, and there met him a number of men going to hunt, and in the midst +of them was a man of exalted rank, and Peredur saluted him. “Choose, +chieftain,” said the man, “whether thou wilt go with me to the chase, or +wilt proceed to my palace, and I will dispatch one of my household to +commend thee to my daughter, who is there, and who will entertain thee +with food and liquor until I return from hunting; and whatever may be +thine errand, such as I can obtain for thee thou shalt gladly have.” And +the King sent a little yellow page with him as an attendant; and when +they came to the palace the lady had arisen, and was about to wash before +meat. Peredur went forward, and she saluted him joyfully, and placed him +by her side. And they took their repast. And whatsoever Peredur said +unto her, she laughed loudly, so that all in the palace could hear. Then +spoke the yellow page to the lady. “By my faith,” said he, “this youth +is already thy husband; or if he be not, thy mind and thy thoughts are +set upon him.” And the little yellow page went unto the King, and told +him that it seemed to him that the youth whom he had met with was his +daughter’s husband, or if he were not so already that he would shortly +become so unless he were cautious. “What is thy counsel in this matter, +youth?” said the King. “My counsel is,” he replied, “that thou set +strong men upon him, to seize him, until thou hast ascertained the truth +respecting this.” So he set strong men upon Peredur, who seized him and +cast him into prison. And the maiden went before her father, and asked +him wherefore he had caused the youth from Arthur’s Court to be +imprisoned. “In truth,” he answered, “he shall not be free to-night, nor +to-morrow, nor the day following, and he shall not come from where he +is.” She replied not to what the King had said, but she went to the +youth. “Is it unpleasant to thee to be here?” said she. “I should not +care if I were not,” he replied. “Thy couch and thy treatment shall be +in no wise inferior to that of the King himself, and thou shalt have the +best entertainment that the palace affords. And if it were more pleasing +to thee that my couch should be here, that I might discourse with thee, +it should be so, cheerfully.” “This can I not refuse,” said Peredur. +And he remained in prison that night. And the maiden provided all that +she had promised him. + +And the next day Peredur heard a tumult in the town. “Tell me, fair +maiden, what is that tumult?” said Peredur. “All the King’s hosts and +his forces have come to the town to-day.” “And what seek they here?” he +inquired. “There is an Earl near this place who possesses two Earldoms, +and is as powerful as a King; and an engagement will take place between +them to-day.” “I beseech thee,” said Peredur, “to cause a horse and arms +to be brought, that I may view the encounter, and I promise to come back +to my prison again.” “Gladly,” said she, “will I provide thee with horse +and arms.” So she gave him a horse and arms, and a bright scarlet robe +of honour over his armour, and a yellow shield upon his shoulder. And he +went to the combat; and as many of the Earl’s men as encountered him that +day he overthrew; and he returned to his prison. And the maiden asked +tidings of Peredur, and he answered her not a word. And she went and +asked tidings of her father, and inquired who had acquitted himself best +of the household. And he said that he knew not, but that it was a man +with a scarlet robe of honour over his armour, and a yellow shield upon +his shoulder. Then she smiled, and returned to where Peredur was, and +did him great honour that night. And for three days did Peredur slay the +Earl’s men; and before any one could know who he was, he returned to his +prison. And the fourth day Peredur slew the Earl himself. And the +maiden went unto her father, and inquired of him the news. “I have good +news for thee,” said the King; “the Earl is slain, and I am the owner of +his two Earldoms.” “Knowest thou, lord, who slew him?” “I do not know,” +said the King. “It was the knight with the scarlet robe of honour and +the yellow shield.” “Lord,” said she, “I know who that is.” “By +Heaven!” he exclaimed, “who is he?” “Lord,” she replied, “he is the +knight whom thou hast imprisoned.” Then he went unto Peredur, and +saluted him, and told him that he would reward the service he had done +him, in any way he might desire. And when they went to meat, Peredur was +placed beside the King, and the maiden on the other side of Peredur. “I +will give thee,” said the King, “my daughter in marriage, and half my +kingdom with her, and the two Earldoms as a gift.” “Heaven reward thee, +lord,” said Peredur, “but I came not here to woo.” “What seekest thou +then, chieftain?” “I am seeking tidings of the Castle of Wonders.” “Thy +enterprise is greater, chieftain, than thou wilt wish to pursue,” said +the maiden, “nevertheless, tidings shalt thou have of the Castle, and +thou shalt have a guide through my father’s dominions, and a sufficiency +of provisions for thy journey, for thou art, O chieftain, the man whom +best I love.” Then she said to him, “Go over yonder mountain, and thou +wilt find a lake, and in the middle of the lake there is a Castle, and +that is the Castle that is called the Castle of Wonders; and we know not +what wonders are therein, but thus is it called.” + +And Peredur proceeded towards the Castle, and the gate of the Castle was +open. And when he came to the hall, the door was open, and he entered. +And he beheld a chessboard in the hall, and the chessmen were playing +against each other, by themselves. And the side that he favoured lost +the game, and thereupon the others set up a shout, as though they had +been living men. And Peredur was wroth, and took the chessmen in his +lap, and cast the chessboard into the lake. And when he had done thus, +behold the black maiden came in, and she said to him, “The welcome of +Heaven be not unto thee. Thou hadst rather do evil than good.” “What +complaint hast thou against me, maiden?” said Peredur. “That thou hast +occasioned unto the Empress the loss of her chessboard, which she would +not have lost for all her empire. And the way in which thou mayest +recover the chessboard is, to repair to the Castle of Ysbidinongyl, where +is a black man, who lays waste the dominions of the Empress; and if thou +canst slay him, thou wilt recover the chessboard. But if thou goest +there, thou wilt not return alive.” “Wilt thou direct me thither?” said +Peredur. “I will show thee the way,” she replied. So he went to the +Castle of Ysbidinongyl, and he fought with the black man. And the black +man besought mercy of Peredur. “Mercy will I grant thee,” said he, “on +condition that thou cause the chessboard to be restored to the place +where it was when I entered the hall.” Then the maiden came to him, and +said, “The malediction of Heaven attend thee for thy work, since thou +hast left that monster alive, who lays waste all the possessions of the +Empress.” “I granted him his life,” said Peredur, “that he might cause +the chessboard to be restored.” “The chessboard is not in the place +where thou didst find it; go back, therefore, and slay him,” answered +she. So Peredur went back, and slew the black man. And when he returned +to the palace, he found the black maiden there. “Ah! maiden,” said +Peredur, “where is the Empress?” “I declare to Heaven that thou wilt not +see her now, unless thou dost slay the monster that is in yonder forest.” +“What monster is there?” “It is a stag that is as swift as the swiftest +bird; and he has one horn in his forehead, as long as the shaft of a +spear, and as sharp as whatever is sharpest. And he destroys the +branches of the best trees in the forest, and he kills every animal that +he meets with therein; and those that he doth not slay perish of hunger. +And what is worse than that, he comes every night, and drinks up the +fish-pond, and leaves the fishes exposed, so that for the most part they +die before the water returns again.” “Maiden,” said Peredur, “wilt thou +come and show me this animal?” “Not so,” said the maiden, “for he has +not permitted any mortal to enter the forest for above a twelvemonth. +Behold, here is a little dog belonging to the Empress, which will rouse +the stag, and will chase him towards thee, and the stag will attack +thee.” Then the little dog went as a guide to Peredur, and roused the +stag, and brought him towards the place where Peredur was. And the stag +attacked Peredur, and he let him pass by him, and as he did so, he smote +off his head with his sword. And while he was looking at the head of the +stag, he saw a lady on horseback coming towards him. And she took the +little dog in the lappet of her cap, and the head and the body of the +stag lay before her. And around the stag’s neck was a golden collar. +“Ha! chieftain,” said she, “uncourteously hast thou acted in slaying the +fairest jewel that was in my dominions.” “I was entreated so to do; and +is there any way by which I can obtain thy friendship?” “There is,” she +replied. “Go thou forward unto yonder mountain, and there thou wilt find +a grove; and in the grove there is a cromlech; do thou there challenge a +man three times to fight, and thou shalt have my friendship.” + +So Peredur proceeded onward, and came to the side of the grove, and +challenged any man to fight. And a black man arose from beneath the +cromlech, mounted upon a bony horse, and both he and his horse were clad +in huge rusty armour. And they fought. And as often as Peredur cast the +black man to the earth, he would jump again into his saddle. And Peredur +dismounted, and drew his sword; and thereupon the black man disappeared +with Peredur’s horse and his own, so that he could not gain sight of him +a second time. And Peredur went along the mountain, and on the other +side of the mountain he beheld a castle in the valley, wherein was a +river. And he went to the castle; and as he entered it, he saw a hall, +and the door of the hall was open, and he went in. And there he saw a +lame grey-headed man sitting on one side of the hall, with Gwalchmai +beside him. And Peredur beheld his horse, which the black man had taken, +in the same stall with that of Gwalchmai. And they were glad concerning +Peredur. And he went and seated himself on the other side of the +hoary-headed man. Then, behold a yellow-haired youth came, and bent upon +the knee before Peredur, and besought his friendship. “Lord,” said the +youth, “it was I that came in the form of the black maiden to Arthur’s +Court, and when thou didst throw down the chessboard, and when thou didst +slay the black man of Ysbidinongyl, and when thou didst slay the stag, +and when thou didst go to fight the black man of the cromlech. And I +came with the bloody head in the salver, and with the lance that streamed +with blood from the point to the hand, all along the shaft; and the head +was thy cousin’s, and he was killed by the sorceresses of Gloucester, who +also lamed thine uncle; and I am thy cousin. And there is a prediction +that thou art to avenge these things.” Then Peredur and Gwalchmai took +counsel, and sent to Arthur and his household, to beseech them to come +against the sorceresses. And they began to fight with them; and one of +the sorceresses slew one of Arthur’s men before Peredur’s face, and +Peredur bade her forbear. And the sorceress slew a man before Peredur’s +face a second time, and a second time he forbad her. And the third time +the sorceress slew a man before the face of Peredur; and then Peredur +drew his sword, and smote the sorceress on the helmet; and all her +head-armour was split in two parts. And she set up a cry, and desired +the other sorceresses to flee, and told them that this was Peredur, the +man who had learnt Chivalry with them, and by whom they were destined to +be slain. Then Arthur and his household fell upon the sorceresses, and +slew the sorceresses of Gloucester every one. And thus is it related +concerning the Castle of Wonders. + + + + +GERAINT THE SON OF ERBIN + + +Arthur was accustomed to hold his Court at Caerlleon upon Usk. And there +he held it seven Easters and five Christmases. And once upon a time he +held his Court there at Whitsuntide. For Caerlleon was the place most +easy of access in his dominions, both by sea and by land. And there were +assembled nine crowned kings, who were his tributaries, and likewise +earls and barons. For they were his invited guests at all the high +festivals, unless they were prevented by any great hindrance. And when +he was at Caerlleon, holding his Court, thirteen churches were set apart +for mass. And thus were they appointed: one church for Arthur, and his +kings, and his guests; and the second for Gwenhwyvar and her ladies; and +the third for the Steward of the Household and the suitors; and the +fourth for the Franks and the other officers; and the other nine churches +were for the nine Masters of the Household and chiefly for Gwalchmai; for +he, from the eminence of his warlike fame, and from the nobleness of his +birth, was the most exalted of the nine. And there was no other +arrangement respecting the churches than that which we have mentioned +above. + +Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr was the chief porter; but he did not himself perform +the office, except at one of the three high festivals, for he had seven +men to serve him, and they divided the year amongst them. They were +Grynn, and Pen Pighon, and Llaes Cymyn, and Gogyfwlch, and Gwrdnei with +cat’s eyes, who could see as well by night as by day, and Drem the son of +Dremhitid, and Clust the son of Clustveinyd; and these were Arthur’s +guards. And on Whit-Tuesday, as the King sat at the banquet, lo! there +entered a tall, fair-headed youth, clad in a coat and a surcoat of +diapered satin, and a golden-hilted sword about his neck, and low shoes +of leather upon his feet. And he came, and stood before Arthur. “Hail +to thee, Lord!” said he. “Heaven prosper thee,” he answered, “and be +thou welcome. Dost thou bring any new tidings?” “I do, Lord,” he said. +“I know thee not,” said Arthur. “It is a marvel to me that thou dost not +know me. I am one of thy foresters, Lord, in the Forest of Dean, and my +name is Madawc, the son of Twrgadarn.” “Tell me thine errand,” said +Arthur. “I will do so, Lord,” said he. “In the Forest I saw a stag, the +like of which beheld I never yet.” “What is there about him,” asked +Arthur, “that thou never yet didst see his like?” “He is of pure white, +Lord, and he does not herd with any other animal through stateliness and +pride, so royal is his bearing. And I come to seek thy counsel, Lord, +and to know thy will concerning him.” “It seems best to me,” said +Arthur, “to go and hunt him to-morrow at break of day; and to cause +general notice thereof to be given to-night in all quarters of the +Court.” And Arryfuerys was Arthur’s chief huntsman, and Arelivri was his +chief page. And all received notice; and thus it was arranged. And they +sent the youth before them. Then Gwenhwyvar said to Arthur, “Wilt thou +permit me, Lord,” said she, “to go to-morrow to see and hear the hunt of +the stag of which the young man spoke?” “I will gladly,” said Arthur. +“Then will I go,” said she. And Gwalchmai said to Arthur, “Lord, if it +seem well to thee, permit that into whose hunt soever the stag shall +come, that one, be he a knight, or one on foot, may cut off his head, and +give it to whom he pleases, whether to his own lady-love, or to the lady +of his friend.” “I grant it gladly,” said Arthur, “and let the Steward +of the Household be chastised, if all are not ready to-morrow for the +chase.” + +And they passed the night with songs, and diversions, and discourse, and +ample entertainment. And when it was time for them all to go to sleep, +they went. And when the next day came, they arose; and Arthur called the +attendants, who guarded his couch. And these were four pages, whose +names were Cadyrnerth the son of Porthawr Gandwy, and Ambreu the son of +Bedwor, and Amhar the son of Arthur, and Goreu the son of Custennin. And +these men came to Arthur and saluted him, and arrayed him in his +garments. And Arthur wondered that Gwenhwyvar did not awake, and did not +move in her bed; and the attendants wished to awaken her. “Disturb her +not,” said Arthur, “for she had rather sleep than go to see the hunting.” + +Then Arthur went forth, and he heard two horns sounding, one from near +the lodging of the chief huntsman, and the other from near that of the +chief page. And the whole assembly of the multitudes came to Arthur, and +they took the road to the Forest. + +And after Arthur had gone forth from the palace, Gwenhwyvar awoke, and +called to her maidens, and apparelled herself. “Maidens,” said she, “I +had leave last night to go and see the hunt. Go one of you to the +stable, and order hither a horse such as a woman may ride.” And one of +them went, and she found but two horses in the stable, and Gwenhwyvar and +one of her maidens mounted them, and went through the Usk, and followed +the track of the men and the horses. And as they rode thus, they heard a +loud and rushing sound; and they looked behind them, and beheld a knight +upon a hunter foal of mighty size; and the rider was a fair-haired youth, +bare-legged, and of princely mien, and a golden-hilted sword was at his +side, and a robe and a surcoat of satin were upon him, and two low shoes +of leather upon his feet; and around him was a scarf of blue purple, at +each corner of which was a golden apple. And his horse stepped stately, +and swift, and proud; and he overtook Gwenhwyvar, and saluted her. +“Heaven prosper thee, Geraint,” said she, “I knew thee when first I saw +thee just now. And the welcome of Heaven be unto thee. And why didst +thou not go with thy lord to hunt?” “Because I knew not when he went,” +said he. “I marvel, too,” said she, “how he could go unknown to me.” +“Indeed, lady,” said he. “I was asleep, and knew not when he went; but +thou, O young man, art the most agreeable companion I could have in the +whole kingdom; and it may be, that I shall be more amused with the +hunting than they; for we shall hear the horns when they sound, and we +shall hear the dogs when they are let loose, and begin to cry.” So they +went to the edge of the Forest, and there they stood. “From this place,” +said she, “we shall hear when the dogs are let loose.” And thereupon, +they heard a loud noise, and they looked towards the spot whence it came, +and they beheld a dwarf riding upon a horse, stately, and foaming, and +prancing, and strong, and spirited. And in the hand of the dwarf was a +whip. And near the dwarf they saw a lady upon a beautiful white horse, +of steady and stately pace; and she was clothed in a garment of gold +brocade. And near her was a knight upon a warhorse of large size, with +heavy and bright armour both upon himself and upon his horse. And truly +they never before saw a knight, or a horse, or armour, of such remarkable +size. And they were all near to each other. + +“Geraint,” said Gwenhwyvar, “knowest thou the name of that tall knight +yonder?” “I know him not,” said he, “and the strange armour that he +wears prevents my either seeing his face or his features.” “Go, maiden,” +said Gwenhwyvar, “and ask the dwarf who that knight is.” Then the maiden +went up to the dwarf; and the dwarf waited for the maiden, when he saw +her coming towards him. And the maiden inquired of the dwarf who the +knight was. “I will not tell thee,” he answered. “Since thou art so +churlish as not to tell me,” said she, “I will ask him himself.” “Thou +shalt not ask him, by my faith,” said he. “Wherefore?” said she. +“Because thou art not of honour sufficient to befit thee to speak to my +Lord.” Then the maiden turned her horse’s head towards the knight, upon +which the dwarf struck her with the whip that was in his hand across the +face and the eyes, until the blood flowed forth. And the maiden, through +the hurt she received from the blow, returned to Gwenhwyvar, complaining +of the pain. “Very rudely has the dwarf treated thee,” said Geraint. “I +will go myself to know who the knight is.” “Go,” said Gwenhwyvar. And +Geraint went up to the dwarf. “Who is yonder knight?” said Geraint. “I +will not tell thee,” said the dwarf. “Then will I ask him himself,” said +he. “That wilt thou not, by my faith,” said the dwarf, “thou art not +honourable enough to speak with my Lord.” Said Geraint, “I have spoken +with men of equal rank with him.” And he turned his horse’s head towards +the knight; but the dwarf overtook him, and struck him as he had done the +maiden, so that the blood coloured the scarf that Geraint wore. Then +Geraint put his hand upon the hilt of his sword, but he took counsel with +himself, and considered that it would be no vengeance for him to slay the +dwarf, and to be attacked unarmed by the armed knight, so he returned to +where Gwenhwyvar was. + +“Thou hast acted wisely and discreetly,” said she. “Lady,” said he, “I +will follow him yet, with thy permission; and at last he will come to +some inhabited place, where I may have arms either as a loan or for a +pledge, so that I may encounter the knight.” “Go,” said she, “and do not +attack him until thou hast good arms, and I shall be very anxious +concerning thee, until I hear tidings of thee.” “If I am alive,” said +he, “thou shalt hear tidings of me by to-morrow afternoon;” and with that +he departed. + +And the road they took was below the palace of Caerlleon, and across the +ford of the Usk; and they went along a fair, and even, and lofty ridge of +ground, until they came to a town, and at the extremity of the town they +saw a Fortress and a Castle. And they came to the extremity of the town. +And as the knight passed through it, all the people arose, and saluted +him, and bade him welcome. And when Geraint came into the town, he +looked at every house, to see if he knew any of those whom he saw. But +he knew none, and none knew him to do him the kindness to let him have +arms either as a loan or for a pledge. And every house he saw was full +of men, and arms, and horses. And they were polishing shields, and +burnishing swords, and washing armour, and shoeing horses. And the +knight, and the lady, and the dwarf rode up to the Castle that was in the +town, and every one was glad in the Castle. And from the battlements and +the gates they risked their necks, through their eagerness to greet them, +and to show their joy. + +Geraint stood there to see whether the knight would remain in the Castle; +and when he was certain that he would do so, he looked around him; and at +a little distance from the town he saw an old palace in ruins, wherein +was a hall that was falling to decay. And as he knew not any one in the +town, he went towards the old palace; and when he came near to the +palace, he saw but one chamber, and a bridge of marble-stone leading to +it. And upon the bridge he saw sitting a hoary-headed man, upon whom +were tattered garments. And Geraint gazed steadfastly upon him for a +long time. Then the hoary-headed man spoke to him. “Young man,” he +said, “wherefore art thou thoughtful?” “I am thoughtful,” said he, +“because I know not where to go to-night.” “Wilt thou come forward this +way, chieftain?” said he, “and thou shalt have of the best that can be +procured for thee.” So Geraint went forward. And the hoary-headed man +preceded him into the hall. And in the hall he dismounted, and he left +there his horse. Then he went on to the upper chamber with the +hoary-headed man. And in the chamber he beheld an old decrepit woman, +sitting on a cushion, with old, tattered garments of satin upon her; and +it seemed to him that he had never seen a woman fairer than she must have +been, when in the fulness of youth. And beside her was a maiden, upon +whom were a vest and a veil, that were old, and beginning to be worn out. +And truly, he never saw a maiden more full of comeliness, and grace, and +beauty than she. And the hoary-headed man said to the maiden, “There is +no attendant for the horse of this youth but thyself.” “I will render +the best service I am able,” said she, “both to him and to his horse.” +And the maiden disarrayed the youth, and then she furnished his horse +with straw and with corn. And she went to the hall as before, and then +she returned to the chamber. And the hoary-headed man said to the +maiden, “Go to the town,” said he, “and bring hither the best that thou +canst find both of food and of liquor.” “I will, gladly, Lord,” said +she. And to the town went the maiden. And they conversed together while +the maiden was at the town. And, behold! the maiden came back, and a +youth with her, bearing on his back a costrel full of good purchased +mead, and a quarter of a young bullock. And in the hands of the maiden +was a quantity of white bread, and she had some manchet bread in her +veil, and she came into the chamber. “I could not obtain better than +this,” said she, “nor with better should I have been trusted.” “It is +good enough,” said Geraint. And they caused the meat to be boiled; and +when their food was ready, they sat down. And it was on this wise; +Geraint sat between the hoary-headed man and his wife, and the maiden +served them. And they ate and drank. + +And when they had finished eating, Geraint talked with the hoary-headed +man, and he asked him in the first place, to whom belonged the palace +that he was in. “Truly,” said he, “it was I that built it, and to me +also belonged the city and the castle which thou sawest.” “Alas!” said +Geraint, “how is it that thou hast lost them now?” “I lost a great +Earldom as well as these,” said he; “and this is how I lost them. I had +a nephew, the son of my brother, and I took his possessions to myself; +and when he came to his strength, he demanded of me his property, but I +withheld it from him. So he made war upon me, and wrested from me all +that I possessed.” “Good Sir,” said Geraint, “wilt thou tell me +wherefore came the knight, and the lady, and the dwarf, just now into the +town, and what is the preparation which I saw, and the putting of arms in +order?” “I will do so,” said he. “The preparations are for the game +that is to be held to-morrow by the young Earl, which will be on this +wise. In the midst of a meadow which is here, two forks will be set up, +and upon the two forks a silver rod, and upon the silver rod a +Sparrow-Hawk, and for the Sparrow-Hawk there will be a tournament. And +to the tournament will go all the array thou didst see in the city, of +men, and of horses, and of arms. And with each man will go the lady he +loves best; and no man can joust for the Sparrow-Hawk, except the lady he +loves best be with him. And the knight that thou sawest has gained the +Sparrow-Hawk these two years; and if he gains it the third year, they +will, from that time, send it every year to him, and he himself will come +here no more. And he will be called the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk from +that time forth.” “Sir,” said Geraint, “what is thy counsel to me +concerning this knight, on account of the insult which I received from +the dwarf, and that which was received by the maiden of Gwenhwyvar, the +wife of Arthur?” And Geraint told the hoary-headed man what the insult +was that he had received. “It is not easy to counsel thee, inasmuch as +thou hast neither dame nor maiden belonging to thee, for whom thou canst +joust. Yet, I have arms here, which thou couldest have; and there is my +horse also, if he seem to thee better than thine own.” “Ah! Sir,” said +he, “Heaven reward thee. But my own horse, to which I am accustomed, +together with thy arms, will suffice me. And if, when the appointed time +shall come to-morrow, thou wilt permit me, Sir, to challenge for yonder +maiden that is thy daughter, I will engage, if I escape from the +tournament, to love the maiden as long as I live; and if I do not escape, +she will remain unsullied as before.” “Gladly will I permit thee,” said +the hoary-headed man, “and since thou dost thus resolve, it is necessary +that thy horse and arms should be ready to-morrow at break of day. For +then the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk will make proclamation, and ask the +lady he loves best to take the Sparrow-Hawk. ‘For,’ will he say to her, +‘thou art the fairest of women, and thou didst possess it last year, and +the year previous; and if any deny it thee to-day, by force will I defend +it for thee.’ And therefore,” said the hoary-headed man, “it is needful +for thee to be there at daybreak; and we three will be with thee.” And +thus was it settled. + +And at night, lo! they went to sleep; and before the dawn they arose, and +arrayed themselves; and by the time that it was day, they were all four +in the meadow. And there was the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk making the +proclamation, and asking his lady-love to fetch the Sparrow-Hawk. “Fetch +it not,” said Geraint, “for there is here a maiden, who is fairer, and +more noble, and more comely, and who has a better claim to it than thou.” +“If thou maintainest the Sparrow-Hawk to be due to her, come forward, and +do battle with me.” And Geraint went forward to the top of the meadow, +having upon himself and upon his horse armour which was heavy, and rusty, +and worthless, and of uncouth shape. Then they encountered each other, +and they broke a set of lances, and they broke a second set, and a third. +And thus they did at every onset, and they broke as many lances as were +brought to them. And when the Earl and his company saw the Knight of the +Sparrow-Hawk gaining the mastery, there was shouting, and joy, and mirth +amongst them. And the hoary-headed man, and his wife, and his daughter +were sorrowful. And the hoary-headed man served Geraint lances as often +as he broke them, and the dwarf served the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk. +Then the hoary-headed man came to Geraint. “Oh! chieftain,” said he, +“since no other will hold with thee, behold, here is the lance which was +in my hand on the day when I received the honour of knighthood; and from +that time to this I never broke it. And it has an excellent point.” +Then Geraint took the lance, thanking the hoary-headed man. And +thereupon the dwarf also brought a lance to his lord. “Behold, here is a +lance for thee, not less good than his,” said the dwarf. “And bethink +thee, that no knight ever withstood thee before so long as this one has +done.” “I declare to Heaven,” said Geraint, “that unless death takes me +quickly hence, he shall fare never the better for thy service.” And +Geraint pricked his horse towards him from afar, and warning him, he +rushed upon him, and gave him a blow so severe, and furious, and fierce, +upon the face of his shield, that he cleft it in two, and broke his +armour, and burst his girths, so that both he and his saddle were borne +to the ground over the horse’s crupper. And Geraint dismounted quickly. +And he was wroth, and he drew his sword, and rushed fiercely upon him. +Then the knight also arose, and drew his sword against Geraint. And they +fought on foot with their swords until their arms struck sparks of fire +like stars from one another; and thus they continued fighting until the +blood and sweat obscured the light from their eyes. And when Geraint +prevailed, the hoary-headed man, and his wife, and his daughter were +glad; and when the knight prevailed, it rejoiced the Earl and his party. +Then the hoary-headed man saw Geraint receive a severe stroke, and he +went up to him quickly, and said to him, “Oh, chieftain, remember the +treatment which thou hadst from the dwarf; and wilt thou not seek +vengeance for the insult to thyself, and for the insult to Gwenhwyvar the +wife of Arthur!” And Geraint was roused by what he said to him, and he +called to him all his strength, and lifted up his sword, and struck the +knight upon the crown of his head, so that he broke all his head-armour, +and cut through all the flesh and the skin, even to the skull, until he +wounded the bone. + +Then the knight fell upon his knees, and cast his sword from his hand, +and besought mercy of Geraint. “Of a truth,” said he, “I relinquish my +overdaring and my pride in craving thy mercy; and unless I have time to +commit myself to Heaven for my sins, and to talk with a priest, thy mercy +will avail me little.” “I will grant thee grace upon this condition,” +said Geraint, “that thou wilt go to Gwenhwyvar the wife of Arthur, to do +her satisfaction for the insult which her maiden received from thy dwarf. +As to myself, for the insult which I received from thee and thy dwarf, I +am content with that which I have done unto thee. Dismount not from the +time thou goest hence until thou comest into the presence of Gwenhwyvar, +to make her what atonement shall be adjudged at the Court of Arthur.” +“This will I do gladly. And who art thou?” said he. “I am Geraint the +son of Erbin. And declare thou also who thou art.” “I am Edeyrn the son +of Nudd.” Then he threw himself upon his horse, and went forward to +Arthur’s Court, and the lady he loved best went before him and the dwarf, +with much lamentation. And thus far this story up to that time. + + * * * * * + +Then came the little Earl and his hosts to Geraint, and saluted him, and +bade him to his castle. “I may not go,” said Geraint, “but where I was +last night, there will I be to-night also.” “Since thou wilt none of my +inviting, thou shalt have abundance of all that I can command for thee, +in the place thou wast last night. And I will order ointment for thee, +to recover thee from thy fatigues, and from the weariness that is upon +thee.” “Heaven reward thee,” said Geraint, “and I will go to my +lodging.” And thus went Geraint, and Earl Ynywl, and his wife, and his +daughter. And when they reached the chamber, the household servants and +attendants of the young Earl had arrived at the Court, and they arranged +all the houses, dressing them with straw and with fire; and in a short +time the ointment was ready, and Geraint came there, and they washed his +head. Then came the young Earl, with forty honourable knights from among +his attendants, and those who were bidden to the tournament. And Geraint +came from the anointing. And the Earl asked him to go to the hall to +eat. “Where is the Earl Ynywl,” said Geraint, “and his wife, and his +daughter?” “They are in the chamber yonder,” said the Earl’s +chamberlain, “arraying themselves in garments which the Earl has caused +to be brought for them.” “Let not the damsel array herself,” said he, +“except in her vest and her veil, until she come to the Court of Arthur, +to be clad by Gwenhwyvar in such garments as she may choose.” So the +maiden did not array herself. + +Then they all entered the hall, and they washed, and went, and sat down +to meat. And thus were they seated. On one side of Geraint sat the +young Earl, and Earl Ynywl beyond him; and on the other side of Geraint +were the maiden and her mother. And after these all sat according to +their precedence in honour. And they ate. And they were served +abundantly, and they received a profusion of divers kind of gifts. Then +they conversed together. And the young Earl invited Geraint to visit him +next day. “I will not, by Heaven,” said Geraint. “To the Court of +Arthur will I go with this maiden to-morrow. And it is enough for me, as +long as Earl Ynywl is in poverty and trouble; and I go chiefly to seek to +add to his maintenance.” “Ah, chieftain,” said the young Earl, “it is +not by my fault that Earl Ynywl is without his possessions.” “By my +faith,” said Geraint, “he shall not remain without them, unless death +quickly takes me hence.” “Oh, chieftain,” said he, “with regard to the +disagreement between me and Ynywl, I will gladly abide by thy counsel, +and agree to what thou mayest judge right between us.” “I but ask thee,” +said Geraint, “to restore to him what is his, and what he should have +received from the time he lost his possessions, even until this day.” +“That I will do gladly, for thee,” answered he. “Then,” said Geraint, +“whosoever is here who owes homage to Ynywl, let him come forward, and +perform it on the spot.” And all the men did so. And by that treaty +they abided. And his castle, and his town, and all his possessions were +restored to Ynywl. And he received back all that he had lost, even to +the smallest jewel. + +Then spoke Earl Ynywl to Geraint. “Chieftain,” said he, “behold the +maiden for whom thou didst challenge at the tournament, I bestow her upon +thee.” “She shall go with me,” said Geraint, “to the Court of Arthur; +and Arthur and Gwenhwyvar they shall dispose of her as they will.” And +the next day they proceeded to Arthur’s Court. So far concerning +Geraint. + + * * * * * + +Now, this is how Arthur hunted the stag. The men and the dogs were +divided into hunting parties, and the dogs were let loose upon the stag. +And the last dog that was let loose was the favourite dog of Arthur. +Cavall was his name. And he left all the other dogs behind him, and +turned the stag. And at the second turn, the stag came towards the +hunting party of Arthur. And Arthur set upon him. And before he could +be slain by any other, Arthur cut off his head. Then they sounded the +death horn for slaying, and they all gathered round. + +Then came Kadyrieith to Arthur, and spoke to him. “Lord,” said he, +“behold, yonder is Gwenhwyvar, and none with her save only one maiden.” +“Command Gildas the son of Caw, and all the scholars of the Court,” said +Arthur, “to attend Gwenhwyvar to the palace.” And they did so. + +Then they all set forth, holding converse together concerning the head of +the stag, to whom it should be given. One wished that it should be given +to the lady best beloved by him, and another to the lady whom he loved +best. And all they of the household, and the knights, disputed sharply +concerning the head. And with that they came to the palace. And when +Arthur and Gwenhwyvar heard them disputing about the head of the stag, +Gwenhwyvar said to Arthur, “My lord, this is my counsel concerning the +stag’s head; let it not be given away until Geraint the son of Erbin +shall return from the errand he is upon.” And Gwenhwyvar told Arthur +what that errand was. “Right gladly shall it be so,” said Arthur. And +thus it was settled. And the next day Gwenhwyvar caused a watch to be +set upon the ramparts for Geraint’s coming. And after mid-day they +beheld an unshapely little man upon a horse, and after him, as they +supposed, a dame or a damsel, also on horseback, and after her a knight +of large stature, bowed down, and hanging his head low and sorrowfully, +and clad in broken and worthless armour. + +And before they came near to the gate, one of the watch went to +Gwenhwyvar, and told her what kind of people they saw, and what aspect +they bore. “I know not who they are,” said he. “But I know,” said +Gwenhwyvar; “this is the knight whom Geraint pursued, and methinks that +he comes not here by his own free will. But Geraint has overtaken him, +and avenged the insult to the maiden to the uttermost.” And thereupon, +behold a porter came to the spot where Gwenhwyvar was. “Lady,” said he, +“at the gate there is a knight, and I saw never a man of so pitiful an +aspect to look upon as he. Miserable and broken is the armour that he +wears, and the hue of blood is more conspicuous upon it than its own +colour.” “Knowest thou his name?” said she. “I do,” said he; “he tells +me that he is Edeyrn the son of Nudd.” Then she replied, “I know him +not.” + +So Gwenhwyvar went to the gate to meet him, and he entered. And +Gwenhwyvar was sorry when she saw the condition he was in, even though he +was accompanied by the churlish dwarf. Then Edeyrn saluted Gwenhwyvar. +“Heaven protect thee,” said she. “Lady,” said he, “Geraint the son of +Erbin, thy best and most valiant servant, greets thee.” “Did he meet +thee?” she asked. “Yes,” said he, “and it was not to my advantage; and +that was not his fault, but mine, Lady. And Geraint greets thee well; +and in greeting thee he compelled me to come hither to do thy pleasure +for the insult which thy maiden received from the dwarf. He forgives the +insult to himself, in consideration of his having put me in peril of my +life. And he imposed on me a condition, manly, and honourable, and +warrior-like, which was to do thee justice, Lady.” “Now, where did he +overtake thee?” “At the place where we were jousting, and contending for +the Sparrow-Hawk, in the town which is now called Cardiff. And there +were none with him save three persons, of a mean and tattered condition. +And these were an aged, hoary-headed man, and a woman advanced in years, +and a fair young maiden, clad in worn-out garments. And it was for the +avouchment of the love of that maiden that Geraint jousted for the +Sparrow-Hawk at the tournament, for he said that that maiden was better +entitled to the Sparrow-Hawk than this maiden who was with me. And +thereupon we encountered each other, and he left me, Lady, as thou +seest.” “Sir,” said she, “when thinkest thou that Geraint will be here?” +“To-morrow, Lady, I think he will be here with the maiden.” + +Then Arthur came to him, and he saluted Arthur; and Arthur gazed a long +time upon him, and was amazed to see him thus. And thinking that he knew +him, he inquired of him, “Art thou Edeyrn the son of Nudd?” “I am, +Lord,” said he, “and I have met with much trouble, and received wounds +unsupportable.” Then he told Arthur all his adventure. “Well,” said +Arthur, “from what I hear, it behoves Gwenhwyvar to be merciful towards +thee.” “The mercy which thou desirest, Lord,” said she, “will I grant to +him, since it is as insulting to thee that an insult should be offered to +me as to thyself.” “Thus will it be best to do,” said Arthur; “let this +man have medical care until it be known whether he may live. And if he +live, he shall do such satisfaction as shall be judged best by the men of +the Court; and take thou sureties to that effect. And if he die, too +much will be the death of such a youth as Edeyrn for an insult to a +maiden.” “This pleases me,” said Gwenhwyvar. And Arthur became surety +for Edeyrn, and Caradawc the son of Llyr, Gwallawg the son of Llenawg, +and Owain the son of Nudd, and Gwalchmai, and many others with them. And +Arthur caused Morgan Tud to be called to him. He was the chief +physician. “Take with thee Edeyrn the son of Nudd, and cause a chamber +to be prepared for him, and let him have the aid of medicine as thou +wouldst do unto myself, if I were wounded, and let none into his chamber +to molest him, but thyself and thy disciples, to administer to him +remedies.” “I will do so gladly, Lord,” said Morgan Tud. Then said the +steward of the household, “Whither is it right, Lord, to order the +maiden?” “To Gwenhwyvar and her handmaidens,” said he. And the steward +of the household so ordered her. Thus far concerning them. + + * * * * * + +The next day came Geraint towards the Court; and there was a watch set on +the ramparts by Gwenhwyvar, lest he should arrive unawares. And one of +the watch came to the place where Gwenhwyvar was. “Lady,” said he, +“methinks that I see Geraint, and the maiden with him. He is on +horseback, but he has his walking gear upon him, and the maiden appears +to be in white, seeming to be clad in a garment of linen.” “Assemble all +the women,” said Gwenhwyvar, “and come to meet Geraint, to welcome him, +and wish him joy.” And Gwenhwyvar went to meet Geraint and the maiden. +And when Geraint came to the place where Gwenhwyvar was, he saluted her. +“Heaven prosper thee,” said she, “and welcome to thee. And thy career +has been successful, and fortunate, and resistless, and glorious. And +Heaven reward thee, that thou hast so proudly caused me to have +retribution.” “Lady,” said he, “I earnestly desired to obtain thee +satisfaction according to thy will; and, behold, here is the maiden +through whom thou hadst thy revenge.” “Verily,” said Gwenhwyvar, “the +welcome of Heaven be unto her; and it is fitting that we should receive +her joyfully.” Then they went in, and dismounted. And Geraint came to +where Arthur was, and saluted him. “Heaven protect thee,” said Arthur, +“and the welcome of Heaven be unto thee. And since Edeyrn the son of +Nudd has received his overthrow and wounds from thy hands, thou hast had +a prosperous career.” “Not upon me be the blame,” said Geraint, “it was +through the arrogance of Edeyrn the son of Nudd himself that we were not +friends. I would not quit him until I knew who he was, and until the one +had vanquished the other.” “Now,” said Arthur, “where is the maiden for +whom I heard thou didst give challenge?” “She is gone with Gwenhwyvar to +her chamber.” + +Then went Arthur to see the maiden. And Arthur, and all his companions, +and his whole Court, were glad concerning the maiden. And certain were +they all, that had her array been suitable to her beauty, they had never +seen a maid fairer than she. And Arthur gave away the maiden to Geraint. +And the usual bond made between two persons was made between Geraint and +the maiden, and the choicest of all Gwenhwyvar’s apparel was given to the +maiden; and thus arrayed, she appeared comely and graceful to all who +beheld her. And that day and that night were spent in abundance of +minstrelsy, and ample gifts of liquor, and a multitude of games. And +when it was time for them to go to sleep, they went. And in the chamber +where the couch of Arthur and Gwenhwyvar was, the couch of Geraint and +Enid was prepared. And from that time she became his bride. And the +next day Arthur satisfied all the claimants upon Geraint with bountiful +gifts. And the maiden took up her abode in the palace; and she had many +companions, both men and women, and there was no maiden more esteemed +than she in the Island of Britain. + +Then spake Gwenhwyvar. “Rightly did I judge,” said she, “concerning the +head of the stag, that it should not be given to any until Geraint’s +return; and, behold, here is a fit occasion for bestowing it. Let it be +given to Enid the daughter of Ynywl, the most illustrious maiden. And I +do not believe that any will begrudge it her, for between her and every +one here there exists nothing but love and friendship.” Much applauded +was this by them all, and by Arthur also. And the head of the stag was +given to Enid. And thereupon her fame increased, and her friends +thenceforward became more in number than before. And Geraint from that +time forth loved the stag, and the tournament, and hard encounters; and +he came victorious from them all. And a year, and a second, and a third, +he proceeded thus, until his fame had flown over the face of the kingdom. + + * * * * * + +And once upon a time Arthur was holding his Court at Caerlleon upon Usk, +at Whitsuntide. And, behold, there came to him ambassadors, wise and +prudent, full of knowledge, and eloquent of speech, and they saluted +Arthur. “Heaven prosper you,” said Arthur, “and the welcome of Heaven be +unto you. And whence do you come?” “We come, Lord,” said they, “from +Cornwall; and we are ambassadors from Erbin the son of Custennin, thy +uncle, and our mission is unto thee. And he greets thee well, as an +uncle should greet his nephew, and as a vassal should greet his lord. +And he represents unto thee that he waxes heavy and feeble, and is +advancing in years. And the neighbouring chiefs, knowing this, grow +insolent towards him, and covet his land and possessions. And he +earnestly beseeches thee, Lord, to permit Geraint his son to return to +him, to protect his possessions, and to become acquainted with his +boundaries. And unto him he represents that it were better for him to +spend the flower of his youth and the prime of his age in preserving his +own boundaries, than in tournaments, which are productive of no profit, +although he obtains glory in them.” + +“Well,” said Arthur, “go, and divest yourselves of your accoutrements, +and take food, and refresh yourselves after your fatigues; and before you +go forth hence you shall have an answer.” And they went to eat. And +Arthur considered that it would go hard with him to let Geraint depart +from him and from his Court; neither did he think it fair that his cousin +should be restrained from going to protect his dominions and his +boundaries, seeing that his father was unable to do so. No less was the +grief and regret of Gwenhwyvar, and all her women, and all her damsels, +through fear that the maiden would leave them. And that day and that +night were spent in abundance of feasting. And Arthur showed Geraint the +cause of the mission, and of the coming of the ambassadors to him out of +Cornwall. “Truly,” said Geraint, “be it to my advantage or disadvantage, +Lord, I will do according to thy will concerning this embassy.” +“Behold,” said Arthur, “though it grieves me to part with thee, it is my +counsel that thou go to dwell in thine own dominions, and to defend thy +boundaries, and to take with thee to accompany thee as many as thou wilt +of those thou lovest best among my faithful ones, and among thy friends, +and among thy companions in arms.” “Heaven reward thee; and this will I +do,” said Geraint. “What discourse,” said Gwenhwyvar, “do I hear between +you? Is it of those who are to conduct Geraint to his country?” “It +is,” said Arthur. “Then it is needful for me to consider,” said she, +“concerning companions and a provision for the lady that is with me?” +“Thou wilt do well,” said Arthur. + +And that night they went to sleep. And the next day the ambassadors were +permitted to depart, and they were told that Geraint should follow them. +And on the third day Geraint set forth, and many went with him. +Gwalchmai the son of Gwyar, and Riogonedd the son of the king of Ireland, +and Ondyaw the son of the duke of Burgundy, Gwilim the son of the ruler +of the Franks, Howel the son of Emyr of Brittany, Elivry, and Nawkyrd, +Gwynn the son of Tringad, Goreu the son of Custennin, Gweir Gwrhyd Vawr, +Garannaw the son of Golithmer, Peredur the son of Evrawc, Gwynnllogell, +Gwyr a judge in the Court of Arthur, Dyvyr the son of Alun of Dyved, +Gwrei Gwalstawd Ieithoedd, Bedwyr the son of Bedrawd, Hadwry the son of +Gwryon, Kai the son of Kynyr, Odyar the Frank, the Steward of Arthur’s +Court, and Edeyrn the son of Nudd. Said Geraint, “I think that I shall +have enough of knighthood with me.” “Yes,” said Arthur, “but it will not +be fitting for thee to take Edeyrn with thee, although he is well, until +peace shall be made between him and Gwenhwyvar.” “Gwenhwyvar can permit +him to go with me, if he give sureties.” “If she please, she can let him +go without sureties, for enough of pain and affliction has he suffered +for the insult which the maiden received from the dwarf.” “Truly,” said +Gwenhwyvar, “since it seems well to thee and to Geraint, I will do this +gladly, Lord.” Then she permitted Edeyrn freely to depart. And many +there were who accompanied Geraint, and they set forth; and never was +there seen a fairer host journeying towards the Severn. And on the other +side of the Severn were the nobles of Erbin the son of Custennin, and his +foster-father at their head, to welcome Geraint with gladness; and many +of the women of the Court, with his mother, came to receive Enid the +daughter of Ynywl, his wife. And there was great rejoicing and gladness +throughout the whole Court, and throughout all the country, concerning +Geraint, because of the greatness of their love towards him, and of the +greatness of the fame which he had gained since he went from amongst +them, and because he was come to take possession of his dominions and to +preserve his boundaries. And they came to the Court. And in the Court +they had ample entertainment, and a multitude of gifts and abundance of +liquor, and a sufficiency of service, and a variety of minstrelsy and of +games. And to do honour to Geraint, all the chief men of the country +were invited that night to visit him. And they passed that day and that +night in the utmost enjoyment. And at dawn next day Erbin arose, and +summoned to him Geraint, and the noble persons who had borne him company. +And he said to Geraint, “I am a feeble and aged man, and whilst I was +able to maintain the dominion for thee and for myself, I did so. But +thou art young, and in the flower of thy vigour and of thy youth; +henceforth do thou preserve thy possessions.” “Truly,” said Geraint, +“with my consent thou shalt not give the power over thy dominions at this +time into my hands, and thou shalt not take me from Arthur’s Court.” +“Into thy hands will I give them,” said Erbin, “and this day also shalt +thou receive the homage of thy subjects.” + +Then said Gwalchmai, “It were better for thee to satisfy those who have +boons to ask, to-day, and to-morrow thou canst receive the homage of thy +dominions.” So all that had boons to ask were summoned into one place. +And Kadyrieith came to them, to know what were their requests. And every +one asked that which he desired. And the followers of Arthur began to +make gifts, and immediately the men of Cornwall came, and gave also. And +they were not long in giving, so eager was every one to bestow gifts. +And of those who came to ask gifts, none departed unsatisfied. And that +day and that night were spent in the utmost enjoyment. + +And the next day, at dawn, Erbin desired Geraint to send messengers to +the men, to ask them whether it was displeasing to them that he should +come to receive their homage, and whether they had anything to object to +him. Then Geraint sent ambassadors to the men of Cornwall, to ask them +this. And they all said that it would be the fulness of joy and honour +to them for Geraint to come and receive their homage. So he received the +homage of such as were there. And they remained with him till the third +night. And the day after the followers of Arthur intended to go away. +“It is too soon for you to go away yet,” said he, “stay with me until I +have finished receiving the homage of my chief men, who have agreed to +come to me.” And they remained with him until he had done so. Then they +set forth towards the Court of Arthur; and Geraint went to bear them +company, and Enid also, as far as Diganhwy: there they parted. Then +Ondyaw the son of the duke of Burgundy said to Geraint, “Go first of all +and visit the uppermost parts of thy dominions, and see well to the +boundaries of thy territories; and if thou hast any trouble respecting +them, send unto thy companions.” “Heaven reward thee,” said Geraint, +“and this will I do.” And Geraint journeyed to the uttermost part of his +dominions. And experienced guides, and the chief men of his country, +went with him. And the furthermost point that they showed him he kept +possession of. + +And, as he had been used to do when he was at Arthur’s Court, he +frequented tournaments. And he became acquainted with valiant and mighty +men, until he had gained as much fame there as he had formerly done +elsewhere. And he enriched his Court, and his companions, and his +nobles, with the best horses and the best arms, and with the best and +most valuable jewels, and he ceased not until his fame had flown over the +face of the whole kingdom. And when he knew that it was thus, he began +to love ease and pleasure, for there was no one who was worth his +opposing. And he loved his wife, and liked to continue in the palace, +with minstrelsy and diversions. And for a long time he abode at home. +And after that he began to shut himself up in the chamber of his wife, +and he took no delight in anything besides, insomuch that he gave up the +friendship of his nobles, together with his hunting and his amusements, +and lost the hearts of all the host in his Court; and there was murmuring +and scoffing concerning him among the inhabitants of the palace, on +account of his relinquishing so completely their companionship for the +love of his wife. And these tidings came to Erbin. And when Erbin had +heard these things, he spoke unto Enid, and inquired of her whether it +was she that had caused Geraint to act thus, and to forsake his people +and his hosts. “Not I, by my confession unto Heaven,” said she, “there +is nothing more hateful to me than this.” And she knew not what she +should do, for, although it was hard for her to own this to Geraint, yet +was it not more easy for her to listen to what she heard, without warning +Geraint concerning it. And she was very sorrowful. + +And one morning in the summer time, they were upon their couch, and +Geraint lay upon the edge of it. And Enid was without sleep in the +apartment, which had windows of glass. And the sun shone upon the couch. +And the clothes had slipped from off his arms and his breast, and he was +asleep. Then she gazed upon the marvellous beauty of his appearance, and +she said, “Alas, and am I the cause that these arms and this breast have +lost their glory and the warlike fame which they once so richly enjoyed!” +And as she said this, the tears dropped from her eyes, and they fell upon +his breast. And the tears she shed, and the words she had spoken, awoke +him; and another thing contributed to awaken him, and that was the idea +that it was not in thinking of him that she spoke thus, but that it was +because she loved some other man more than him, and that she wished for +other society, and thereupon Geraint was troubled in his mind, and he +called his squire; and when he came to him, “Go quickly,” said he, “and +prepare my horse and my arms, and make them ready. And do thou arise,” +said he to Enid, “and apparel thyself; and cause thy horse to be +accoutred, and clothe thee in the worst riding-dress that thou hast in +thy possession. And evil betide me,” said he, “if thou returnest here +until thou knowest whether I have lost my strength so completely as thou +didst say. And if it be so, it will then be easy for thee to seek the +society thou didst wish for of him of whom thou wast thinking.” So she +arose, and clothed herself in her meanest garments. “I know nothing, +Lord,” said she, “of thy meaning.” “Neither wilt thou know at this +time,” said he. + +Then Geraint went to see Erbin. “Sir,” said he, “I am going upon a +quest, and I am not certain when I may come back. Take heed, therefore, +unto thy possessions, until my return.” “I will do so,” said he, “but it +is strange to me that thou shouldest go so suddenly. And who will +proceed with thee, since thou art not strong enough to traverse the land +of Lloegyr alone?” “But one person only will go with me.” “Heaven +counsel thee, my son,” said Erbin, “and may many attach themselves to +thee in Lloegyr.” Then went Geraint to the place where his horse was, +and it was equipped with foreign armour, heavy and shining. And he +desired Enid to mount her horse, and to ride forward, and to keep a long +way before him. “And whatever thou mayest see, and whatever thou mayest +hear concerning me,” said he, “do thou not turn back. And unless I speak +unto thee, say not thou one word either.” And they set forward. And he +did not choose the pleasantest and most frequented road, but that which +was the wildest and most beset by thieves, and robbers, and venomous +animals. And they came to a high road, which they followed till they saw +a vast forest, and they went towards it, and they saw four armed horsemen +come forth from the forest. When the horsemen had beheld them, one of +them said to the others, “Behold, here is a good occasion for us to +capture two horses and armour, and a lady likewise; for this we shall +have no difficulty in doing against yonder single knight, who hangs his +head so pensively and heavily.” And Enid heard this discourse, and she +knew not what she should do through fear of Geraint, who had told her to +be silent. “The vengeance of Heaven be upon me,” she said, “if I would +not rather receive my death from his hand than from the hand of any +other; and though he should slay me yet will I speak to him, lest I +should have the misery to witness his death.” So she waited for Geraint +until he came near to her. “Lord,” said she, “didst thou hear the words +of those men concerning thee?” Then he lifted up his eyes, and looked at +her angrily. “Thou hadst only,” said he, “to hold thy peace as I bade +thee. I wish but for silence, and not for warning. And though thou +shouldest desire to see my defeat and my death by the hands of those men, +yet do I feel no dread.” Then the foremost of them couched his lance, +and rushed upon Geraint. And he received him, and that not feebly. But +he let the thrust go by him, while he struck the horseman upon the centre +of his shield in such a manner that his shield was split, and his armour +broken, and so that a cubit’s length of the shaft of Geraint’s lance +passed through his body, and sent him to the earth, the length of the +lance over his horse’s crupper. Then the second horseman attacked him +furiously, being wroth at the death of his companion. But with one +thrust Geraint overthrew him also, and killed him as he had done the +other. Then the third set upon him, and he killed him in like manner. +And thus also he slew the fourth. Sad and sorrowful was the maiden as +she saw all this. Geraint dismounted from his horse, and took the arms +of the men he had slain, and placed them upon their saddles, and tied +together the reins of their horses, and he mounted his horse again. +“Behold what thou must do,” said he; “take the four horses, and drive +them before thee, and proceed forward, as I bade thee just now. And say +not one word unto me, unless I speak first unto thee. And I declare unto +Heaven,” said he, “if thou doest not thus, it will be to thy cost.” “I +will do, as far as I can, Lord,” said she, “according to thy desire.” +Then they went forward through the forest; and when they left the forest, +they came to a vast plain, in the centre of which was a group of thickly +tangled copse-wood; and from out thereof they beheld three horsemen +coming towards them, well equipped with armour, both they and their +horses. Then the maiden looked steadfastly upon them; and when they had +come near, she heard them say one to another, “Behold, here is a good +arrival for us; here are coming for us four horses and four suits of +armour. We shall easily obtain them spite of yonder dolorous knight, and +the maiden also will fall into our power.” “This is but too true,” said +she to herself, “for my husband is tired with his former combat. The +vengeance of Heaven will be upon me, unless I warn him of this.” So the +maiden waited until Geraint came up to her. “Lord,” said she, “dust thou +not hear the discourse of yonder men concerning thee?” “What was it?” +asked he. “They say to one another, that they will easily obtain all +this spoil.” “I declare to Heaven,” he answered, “that their words are +less grievous to me than that thou wilt not be silent, and abide by my +counsel.” “My Lord,” said she, “I feared lest they should surprise thee +unawares.” “Hold thy peace, then,” said he, “do not I desire silence?” +And thereupon one of the horsemen couched his lance, and attacked +Geraint. And he made a thrust at him, which he thought would be very +effective; but Geraint received it carelessly, and struck it aside, and +then he rushed upon him, and aimed at the centre of his person, and from +the shock of man and horse, the quantity of his armour did not avail him, +and the head of the lance and part of the shaft passed through him, so +that he was carried to the ground an arm and a spear’s length over the +crupper of his horse. And both the other horsemen came forward in their +turn, but their onset was not more successful than that of their +companion. And the maiden stood by, looking at all this; and on the one +hand she was in trouble lest Geraint should be wounded in his encounter +with the men, and on the other hand she was joyful to see him victorious. +Then Geraint dismounted, and bound the three suits of armour upon the +three saddles, and he fastened the reins of all the horses together, so +that he had seven horses with him. And he mounted his own horse, and +commanded the maiden to drive forward the others. “It is no more use for +me to speak to thee than to refrain, for thou wilt not attend to my +advice.” “I will do so, as far as I am able, Lord,” said she; “but I +cannot conceal from thee the fierce and threatening words which I may +hear against thee, Lord, from such strange people as those that haunt +this wilderness.” “I declare to Heaven,” said he, “that I desire nought +but silence; therefore, hold thy peace.” “I will, Lord, while I can.” +And the maiden went on with the horses before her, and she pursued her +way straight onwards. And from the copse-wood already mentioned, they +journeyed over a vast and dreary open plain. And at a great distance +from them they beheld a wood, and they could see neither end nor boundary +to the wood, except on that side that was nearest to them, and they went +towards it. Then there came from out the wood five horsemen, eager, and +bold, and mighty, and strong, mounted upon chargers that were powerful, +and large of bone, and high-mettled, and proudly snorting, and both the +men and the horses were well equipped with arms. And when they drew near +to them, Enid heard them say, “Behold, here is a fine booty coming to us, +which we shall obtain easily and without labour, for we shall have no +trouble in taking all those horses and arms, and the lady also, from +yonder single knight, so doleful and sad.” + +Sorely grieved was the maiden upon hearing this discourse, so that she +knew not in the world what she should do. At last, however, she +determined to warn Geraint; so she turned her horse’s head towards him. +“Lord,” said she, “if thou hadst heard as I did what yonder horsemen said +concerning thee, thy heaviness would be greater than it is.” Angrily and +bitterly did Geraint smile upon her, and he said, “Thee do I hear doing +everything that I forbade thee; but it may be that thou will repent this +yet.” And immediately, behold, the men met them, and victoriously and +gallantly did Geraint overcome them all five. And he placed the five +suits of armour upon the five saddles, and tied together the reins of the +twelve horses, and gave them in charge to Enid. “I know not,” said he, +“what good it is for me to order thee; but this time I charge thee in an +especial manner.” So the maiden went forward towards the wood, keeping +in advance of Geraint, as he had desired her; and it grieved him as much +as his wrath would permit, to see a maiden so illustrious as she having +so much trouble with the care of the horses. Then they reached the wood, +and it was both deep and vast; and in the wood night overtook them. “Ah, +maiden,” said he, “it is vain to attempt proceeding forward!” “Well, +Lord,” said she, “whatsoever thou wishest, we will do.” “It will be best +for us,” he answered, “to turn out of the wood, and to rest, and wait for +the day, in order to pursue our journey.” “That will we, gladly,” said +she. And they did so. Having dismounted himself, he took her down from +her horse. “I cannot, by any means, refrain from sleep, through +weariness,” said he. “Do thou, therefore, watch the horses, and sleep +not.” “I will, Lord,” said she. Then he went to sleep in his armour, +and thus passed the night, which was not long at that season. And when +she saw the dawn of day appear, she looked around her, to see if he were +waking, and thereupon he woke. “My Lord,” she said, “I have desired to +awake thee for some time.” But he spake nothing to her about fatigue, as +he had desired her to be silent. Then he arose, and said unto her, “Take +the horses, and ride on; and keep straight on before thee as thou didst +yesterday.” And early in the day they left the wood, and they came to an +open country, with meadows on one hand, and mowers mowing the meadows. +And there was a river before them, and the horses bent down, and drank +the water. And they went up out of the river by a lofty steep; and there +they met a slender stripling, with a satchel about his neck, and they saw +that there was something in the satchel, but they knew not what it was. +And he had a small blue pitcher in his hand, and a bowl on the mouth of +the pitcher. And the youth saluted Geraint. “Heaven prosper thee,” said +Geraint, “and whence dost thou come?” “I come,” said he, “from the city +that lies before thee. My Lord,” he added, “will it be displeasing to +thee if I ask whence thou comest also?” “By no means—through yonder wood +did I come.” “Thou camest not through the wood to-day.” “No,” he +replied, “we were in the wood last night.” “I warrant,” said the youth, +“that thy condition there last night was not the most pleasant, and that +thou hadst neither meat nor drink.” “No, by my faith,” said he. “Wilt +thou follow my counsel,” said the youth, “and take thy meal from me?” +“What sort of meal?” he inquired. “The breakfast which is sent for +yonder mowers, nothing less than bread and meat and wine; and if thou +wilt, Sir, they shall have none of it.” “I will,” said he, “and Heaven +reward thee for it.” + +So Geraint alighted, and the youth took the maiden from off her horse. +Then they washed, and took their repast. And the youth cut the bread in +slices, and gave them drink, and served them withal. And when they had +finished, the youth arose, and said to Geraint, “My Lord, with thy +permission, I will now go and fetch some food for the mowers.” “Go, +first, to the town,” said Geraint, “and take a lodging for me in the best +place that thou knowest, and the most commodious one for the horses, and +take thou whichever horse and arms thou choosest in payment for thy +service and thy gift.” “Heaven reward thee, Lord,” said the youth, “and +this would be ample to repay services much greater than those I have +rendered unto thee.” And to the town went the youth, and he took the +best and the most pleasant lodgings that he knew; and after that he went +to the palace, having the horse and armour with him, and proceeded to the +place where the Earl was, and told him all his adventure. “I go now, +Lord,” said he, “to meet the young man, and to conduct him to his +lodging.” “Go, gladly,” said the Earl, “and right joyfully shall he be +received here, if he so come.” And the youth went to meet Geraint, and +told him that he would be received gladly by the Earl in his own palace; +but he would go only to his lodgings. And he had a goodly chamber, in +which was plenty of straw, and drapery, and a spacious and commodious +place he had for the horses; and the youth prepared for them plenty of +provender. And after they had disarrayed themselves, Geraint spoke thus +to Enid: “Go,” said he, “to the other side of the chamber, and come not +to this side of the house; and thou mayest call to thee the woman of the +house, if thou wilt.” “I will do, Lord,” said she, “as thou sayest.” +And thereupon the man of the house came to Geraint, and welcomed him. +“Oh, chieftain,” he said, “hast thou taken thy meal?” “I have,” said he. +Then the youth spoke to him, and inquired if he would not drink something +before he met the Earl. “Truly I will,” said he. So the youth went into +the town, and brought them drink. And they drank. “I must needs sleep,” +said Geraint. “Well,” said the youth; “and whilst thou sleepest, I will +go to see the Earl.” “Go, gladly,” he said, “and come here again when I +require thee.” And Geraint went to sleep; and so did Enid also. + +And the youth came to the place where the Earl was, and the Earl asked +him where the lodgings of the knight were, and he told him. “I must go,” +said the youth, “to wait on him in the evening.” “Go,” answered the +Earl, “and greet him well from me, and tell him that in the evening I +will go to see him.” “This will I do,” said the youth. So he came when +it was time for them to awake. And they arose, and went forth. And when +it was time for them to take their food, they took it. And the youth +served them. And Geraint inquired of the man of the house, whether there +were any of his companions that he wished to invite to him, and he said +that there were. “Bring them hither, and entertain them at my cost with +the best thou canst buy in the town.” + +And the man of the house brought there those whom he chose, and feasted +them at Geraint’s expense. Thereupon, behold, the Earl came to visit +Geraint, and his twelve honourable knights with him. And Geraint rose +up, and welcomed him. “Heaven preserve thee,” said the Earl. Then they +all sat down according to their precedence in honour. And the Earl +conversed with Geraint, and inquired of him the object of his journey. +“I have none,” he replied, “but to seek adventures, and to follow my own +inclination.” Then the Earl cast his eye upon Enid, and he looked at her +steadfastly. And he thought he had never seen a maiden fairer or more +comely than she. And he set all his thoughts and his affections upon +her. Then he asked of Geraint, “Have I thy permission to go and converse +with yonder maiden, for I see that she is apart from thee?” “Thou hast +it gladly,” said he. So the Earl went to the place where the maiden was, +and spake with her. “Ah, maiden,” said he, “it cannot be pleasant to +thee to journey thus with yonder man!” “It is not unpleasant to me,” +said she, “to journey the same road that he journeys.” “Thou hast +neither youths nor maidens to serve thee,” said he. “Truly,” she +replied, “it is more pleasant for me to follow yonder man, than to be +served by youths and maidens.” “I will give thee good counsel,” said he. +“All my Earldom will I place in thy possession, if thou wilt dwell with +me.” “That will I not, by Heaven,” she said; “yonder man was the first +to whom my faith was ever pledged; and shall I prove inconstant to him!” +“Thou art in the wrong,” said the Earl; “if I slay the man yonder, I can +keep thee with me as long as I choose; and when thou no longer pleasest +me I can turn thee away. But if thou goest with me by thine own good +will, I protest that our union shall continue eternal and undivided as +long as I remain alive.” Then she pondered these words of his, and she +considered that it was advisable to encourage him in his request. +“Behold, then, chieftain, this is most expedient for thee to do to save +me any needless imputation; come here to-morrow, and take me away as +though I knew nothing thereof.” “I will do so,” said he. So he arose, +and took his leave, and went forth with his attendants. And she told not +then to Geraint any of the conversation which she had had with the Earl, +lest it should rouse his anger, and cause him uneasiness and care. + +And at the usual hour they went to sleep. And at the beginning of the +night Enid slept a little; and at midnight she arose, and placed all +Geraint’s armour together, so that it might be ready to put on. And +although fearful of her errand, she came to the side of Geraint’s bed; +and she spoke to him softly and gently, saying, “My Lord, arise, and +clothe thyself, for these were the words of the Earl to me, and his +intention concerning me.” So she told Geraint all that had passed. And +although he was wroth with her, he took warning, and clothed himself. +And she lighted a candle, that he might have light to do so. “Leave +there the candle,” said he, “and desire the man of the house to come +here.” Then she went, and the man of the house came to him. “Dost thou +know how much I owe thee?” asked Geraint. “I think thou owest but +little.” “Take the eleven horses and the eleven suits of armour.” +“Heaven reward thee, lord,” said he, “but I spent not the value of one +suit of armour upon thee.” “For that reason,” said he, “thou wilt be the +richer. And now, wilt thou come to guide me out of the town?” “I will, +gladly,” said he, “and in which direction dost thou intend to go?” “I +wish to leave the town by a different way from that by which I entered +it.” So the man of the lodgings accompanied him as far as he desired. +Then he bade the maiden to go on before him; and she did so, and went +straight forward, and his host returned home. And he had only just +reached his house, when, behold, the greatest tumult approached that was +ever heard. And when he looked out, he saw fourscore knights in complete +armour around the house, with the Earl Dwnn at their head. “Where is the +knight that was here?” said the Earl. “By thy hand,” said he, “he went +hence some time ago.” “Wherefore, villain,” said he, “didst thou let him +go without informing me?” “My Lord, thou didst not command me to do so, +else would I not have allowed him to depart.” “What way dost thou think +that he took?” “I know not, except that he went along the high road.” +And they turned their horses’ heads that way, and seeing the tracks of +the horses upon the high road, they followed. And when the maiden beheld +the dawning of the day, she looked behind her, and saw vast clouds of +dust coming nearer and nearer to her. And thereupon she became uneasy, +and she thought that it was the Earl and his host coming after them. And +thereupon she beheld a knight appearing through the mist. “By my faith,” +said she, “though he should slay me, it were better for me to receive my +death at his hands, than to see him killed without warning him. My +Lord,” she said to him, “seest thou yonder man hastening after thee, and +many others with him?” “I do see him,” said he; “and in despite of all +my orders, I see that thou wilt never keep silence.” Then he turned upon +the knight, and with the first thrust he threw him down under his horse’s +feet. And as long as there remained one of the fourscore knights, he +overthrew every one of them at the first onset. And from the weakest to +the strongest, they all attacked him one after the other, except the +Earl: and last of all the Earl came against him also. And he broke his +lance, and then he broke a second. But Geraint turned upon him, and +struck him with his lance upon the centre of his shield, so that by that +single thrust the shield was split, and all his armour broken, and he +himself was brought over his horse’s crupper to the ground, and was in +peril of his life. And Geraint drew near to him; and at the noise of the +trampling of his horse the Earl revived. “Mercy, Lord,” said he to +Geraint. And Geraint granted him mercy. But through the hardness of the +ground where they had fallen, and the violence of the stroke which they +had received, there was not a single knight amongst them that escaped +without receiving a fall, mortally severe, and grievously painful, and +desperately wounding, from the hand of Geraint. + +And Geraint journeyed along the high road that was before him, and the +maiden went on first; and near them they beheld a valley which was the +fairest ever seen, and which had a large river running through it; and +there was a bridge over the river, and the high road led to the bridge. +And above the bridge upon the opposite side of the river, they beheld a +fortified town, the fairest ever seen. And as they approached the +bridge, Geraint saw coming towards him from a thick copse a man mounted +upon a large and lofty steed, even of pace and spirited though tractable. +“Ah, knight,” said Geraint, “whence comest thou?” “I come,” said he, +“from the valley below us.” “Canst thou tell me,” said Geraint, “who is +the owner of this fair valley and yonder walled town?” “I will tell +thee, willingly,” said he. “Gwiffert Petit he is called by the Franks, +but the Cymry call him the Little King.” “Can I go by yonder bridge,” +said Geraint, “and by the lower highway that is beneath the town?” Said +the knight, “Thou canst not go by his tower on the other side of the +bridge, unless thou dost intend to combat him; because it is his custom +to encounter every knight that comes upon his lands.” “I declare to +Heaven,” said Geraint, “that I will, nevertheless, pursue my journey that +way.” “If thou dost so,” said the knight, “thou wilt probably meet with +shame and disgrace in reward for thy daring.” Then Geraint proceeded +along the road that led to the town, and the road brought him to a ground +that was hard, and rugged, and high, and ridgy. And as he journeyed +thus, he beheld a knight following him upon a warhorse, strong, and +large, and proudly-stepping, and wide-hoofed, and broad-chested. And he +never saw a man of smaller stature than he who was upon the horse. And +both he and his horse were completely armed. When he had overtaken +Geraint, he said to him, “Tell me, chieftain, whether it is through +ignorance or through presumption that thou seekest to insult my dignity, +and to infringe my rules.” “Nay,” answered Geraint, “I knew not this +road was forbid to any.” “Thou didst know it,” said the other; “come +with me to my Court, to give me satisfaction.” “That will I not, by my +faith,” said Geraint; “I would not go even to thy Lord’s Court, excepting +Arthur were thy Lord.” “By the hand of Arthur himself,” said the knight, +“I will have satisfaction of thee, or receive my overthrow at thy hands.” +And immediately they charged one another. And a squire of his came to +serve him with lances as he broke them. And they gave each other such +hard and severe strokes that their shields lost all their colour. But it +was very difficult for Geraint to fight with him on account of his small +size, for he was hardly able to get a full aim at him with all the +efforts he could make. And they fought thus until their horses were +brought down upon their knees; and at length Geraint threw the knight +headlong to the ground; and then they fought on foot, and they gave one +another blows so boldly fierce, so frequent, and so severely powerful, +that their helmets were pierced, and their skullcaps were broken, and +their arms were shattered, and the light of their eyes was darkened by +sweat and blood. At the last Geraint became enraged, and he called to +him all his strength; and boldly angry, and swiftly resolute, and +furiously determined, he lifted up his sword, and struck him on the crown +of his head a blow so mortally painful, so violent, so fierce, and so +penetrating, that it cut through all his head armour, and his skin, and +his flesh, until it wounded the very bone, and the sword flew out of the +hand of the Little King to the furthest end of the plain, and he besought +Geraint that he would have mercy and compassion upon him. “Though thou +hast been neither courteous nor just,” said Geraint, “thou shalt have +mercy, upon condition that thou wilt become my ally, and engage never to +fight against me again, but to come to my assistance whenever thou +hearest of my being in trouble.” “This will I do, gladly, Lord,” said +he. So he pledged him his faith thereof. “And now, Lord, come with me,” +said he, “to my Court yonder, to recover from thy weariness and fatigue.” +“That will I not, by Heaven,” said he. + +Then Gwiffert Petit beheld Enid where she stood, and it grieved him to +see one of her noble mien appear so deeply afflicted. And he said to +Geraint, “My Lord, thou doest wrong not to take repose, and refresh +thyself awhile; for, if thou meetest with any difficulty in thy present +condition, it will not be easy for thee to surmount it.” But Geraint +would do no other than proceed on his journey, and he mounted his horse +in pain, and all covered with blood. And the maiden went on first, and +they proceeded towards the wood which they saw before them. + +And the heat of the sun was very great, and through the blood and sweat, +Geraint’s armour cleaved to his flesh; and when they came into the wood, +he stood under a tree, to avoid the sun’s heat; and his wounds pained him +more than they had done at the time when he received them. And the +maiden stood under another tree. And lo! they heard the sound of horns, +and a tumultuous noise; and the occasion of it was, that Arthur and his +company had come down to the wood. And while Geraint was considering +which way he should go to avoid them, behold, he was espied by a +foot-page, who was an attendant on the Steward of the Household; and he +went to the Steward, and told him what kind of man he had seen in the +wood. Then the Steward caused his horse to be saddled, and he took his +lance and his shield, and went to the place where Geraint was. “Ah, +knight!” said he, “what dost thou here?” “I am standing under a shady +tree, to avoid the heat and the rays of the sun.” “Wherefore is thy +journey, and who art thou?” “I seek adventures, and go where I list.” +“Indeed,” said Kai; “then come with me to see Arthur, who is here hard +by.” “That will I not, by Heaven,” said Geraint. “Thou must needs +come,” said Kai. Then Geraint knew who he was, but Kai did not know +Geraint. And Kai attacked Geraint as best he could. And Geraint became +wroth, and he struck him with the shaft of his lance, so that he rolled +headlong to the ground. But chastisement worse than this would he not +inflict on him. + +Scared and wildly Kai arose, and he mounted his horse, and went back to +his lodging. And thence he proceeded to Gwalchmai’s tent. “Oh, Sir,” +said he to Gwalchmai, “I was told by one of the attendants, that he saw +in the wood above a wounded knight, having on battered armour; and if +thou dost right, thou wilt go and see if this be true.” “I care not if I +do so,” said Gwalchmai. “Take, then, thy horse, and some of thy armour,” +said Kai; “for I hear that he is not over courteous to those who approach +him.” So Gwalchmai took his spear and his shield, and mounted his horse, +and came to the spot where Geraint was. “Sir Knight,” said he, +“wherefore is thy journey?” “I journey for my own pleasure, and to seek +the adventures of the world.” “Wilt thou tell me who thou art; or wilt +thou come and visit Arthur, who is near at hand?” “I will make no +alliance with thee, nor will I go and visit Arthur,” said he. And he +knew that it was Gwalchmai, but Gwalchmai knew him not. “I purpose not +to leave thee,” said Gwalchmai, “till I know who thou art.” And he +charged him with his lance, and struck him on his shield, so that the +shaft was shivered into splinters, and their horses were front to front. +Then Gwalchmai gazed fixedly upon him, and he knew him. “Ah, Geraint,” +said he, “is it thou that art here?” “I am not Geraint,” said he. +“Geraint thou art, by Heaven,” he replied, “and a wretched and insane +expedition is this.” Then he looked around, and beheld Enid, and he +welcomed her gladly. “Geraint,” said Gwalchmai, “come thou and see +Arthur; he is thy lord and thy cousin.” “I will not,” said he, “for I am +not in a fit state to go and see any one.” Thereupon, behold, one of the +pages came after Gwalchmai to speak to him. So he sent him to apprise +Arthur that Geraint was there wounded, and that he would not go to visit +him, and that it was pitiable to see the plight that he was in. And this +he did without Geraint’s knowledge, inasmuch as he spoke in a whisper to +the page. “Entreat Arthur,” said he, “to have his tent brought near to +the road, for he will not meet him willingly, and it is not easy to +compel him in the mood he is in.” So the page came to Arthur, and told +him this. And he caused his tent to be removed unto the side of the +road. And the maiden rejoiced in her heart. And Gwalchmai led Geraint +onwards along the road, till they came to the place where Arthur was +encamped, and the pages were pitching his tent by the roadside. “Lord,” +said Geraint, “all hail unto thee.” “Heaven prosper thee; and who art +thou?” said Arthur. “It is Geraint,” said Gwalchmai, “and of his own +free will would he not come to meet thee.” “Verily,” said Arthur, “he is +bereft of his reason.” Then came Enid, and saluted Arthur. “Heaven +protect thee,” said he. And thereupon he caused one of the pages to take +her from her horse. “Alas! Enid,” said Arthur, “what expedition is +this?” “I know not, Lord,” said she, “save that it behoves me to journey +by the same road that he journeys.” “My Lord,” said Geraint, “with thy +permission we will depart.” “Whither wilt thou go?” said Arthur. “Thou +canst not proceed now, unless it be unto thy death.” “He will not suffer +himself to be invited by me,” said Gwalchmai. “But by me he will,” said +Arthur; “and, moreover, he does not go from here until he is healed.” “I +had rather, Lord,” said Geraint, “that thou wouldest let me go forth.” +“That will I not, I declare to Heaven,” said he. Then he caused a maiden +to be sent for to conduct Enid to the tent where Gwenhwyvar’s chamber +was. And Gwenhwyvar and all her women were joyful at her coming; and +they took off her riding-dress, and placed other garments upon her. +Arthur also called Kadyrieith, and ordered him to pitch a tent for +Geraint and the physicians; and he enjoined him to provide him with +abundance of all that might be requisite for him. And Kadyrieith did as +he had commanded him. And Morgan Tud and his disciples were brought to +Geraint. + +And Arthur and his hosts remained there nearly a month, whilst Geraint +was being healed. And when he was fully recovered, Geraint came to +Arthur, and asked his permission to depart. “I know not if thou art +quite well.” “In truth I am, Lord,” said Geraint. “I shall not believe +thee concerning that, but the physicians that were with thee.” So Arthur +caused the physicians to be summoned to him, and asked them if it were +true. “It is true, Lord,” said Morgan Tud. So the next day Arthur +permitted him to go forth, and he pursued his journey. And on the same +day Arthur removed thence. And Geraint desired Enid to go on, and to +keep before him, as she had formerly done. And she went forward along +the high road. And as they journeyed thus, they heard an exceeding loud +wailing near to them. “Stay thou here,” said he, “and I will go and see +what is the cause of this wailing.” “I will,” said she. Then he went +forward unto an open glade that was near the road. And in the glade he +saw two horses, one having a man’s saddle, and the other a woman’s saddle +upon it. And, behold, there was a knight lying dead in his armour, and a +young damsel in a riding-dress standing over him, lamenting. “Ah! Lady,” +said Geraint, “what hath befallen thee?” “Behold,” she answered, “I +journeyed here with my beloved husband, when, lo! three giants came upon +us, and without any cause in the world, they slew him.” “Which way went +they hence?” said Geraint. “Yonder by the high road,” she replied. So +he returned to Enid. “Go,” said he, “to the lady that is below yonder, +and await me there till I come.” She was sad when he ordered her to do +thus, but nevertheless she went to the damsel, whom it was ruth to hear, +and she felt certain that Geraint would never return. Meanwhile Geraint +followed the giants, and overtook them. And each of them was greater of +stature than three other men, and a huge club was on the shoulder of +each. Then he rushed upon one of them, and thrust his lance through his +body. And having drawn it forth again, he pierced another of them +through likewise. But the third turned upon him, and struck him with his +club, so that he split his shield, and crushed his shoulder, and opened +his wounds anew, and all his blood began to flow from him. But Geraint +drew his sword, and attacked the giant, and gave him a blow on the crown +of his head so severe, and fierce, and violent, that his head and his +neck were split down to his shoulders, and he fell dead. So Geraint left +him thus, and returned to Enid. And when he saw her, he fell down +lifeless from his horse. Piercing, and loud, and thrilling was the cry +that Enid uttered. And she came and stood over him where he had fallen. +And at the sound of her cries came the Earl of Limours, and the host that +journeyed with him, whom her lamentations brought out of their road. And +the Earl said to Enid, “Alas, Lady, what hath befallen thee?” “Ah! good +Sir,” said she, “the only man I have loved, or ever shall love, is +slain.” Then he said to the other, “And what is the cause of thy grief?” +“They have slain my beloved husband also,” said she. “And who was it +that slew them?” “Some giants,” she answered, “slew my best-beloved, and +the other knight went in pursuit of them, and came back in the state thou +seest, his blood flowing excessively; but it appears to me that he did +not leave the giants without killing some of them, if not all.” The Earl +caused the knight that was dead to be buried, but he thought that there +still remained some life in Geraint; and to see if he yet would live, he +had him carried with him in the hollow of his shield, and upon a bier. +And the two damsels went to the Court; and when they arrived there, +Geraint was placed upon a litter-couch in front of the table that was in +the hall. Then they all took off their travelling gear, and the Earl +besought Enid to do the same, and to clothe herself in other garments. +“I will not, by Heaven,” said she. “Ah! Lady,” said he, “be not so +sorrowful for this matter.” “It were hard to persuade me to be +otherwise,” said she. “I will act towards thee in such wise, that thou +needest not be sorrowful, whether yonder knight live or die. Behold, a +good Earldom, together with myself, will I bestow on thee; be, therefore, +happy and joyful.” “I declare to Heaven,” said she, “that henceforth I +shall never be joyful while I live.” “Come, then,” said he, “and eat.” +“No, by Heaven, I will not,” she answered. “But, by Heaven, thou shalt,” +said he. So he took her with him to the table against her will, and many +times desired her to eat. “I call Heaven to witness,” said she, “that I +will not eat until the man that is upon yonder bier shall eat likewise.” +“Thou canst not fulfil that,” said the Earl, “yonder man is dead +already.” “I will prove that I can,” said she. Then he offered her a +goblet of liquor. “Drink this goblet,” he said, “and it will cause thee +to change thy mind.” “Evil betide me,” she answered, “if I drink aught +until he drink also.” “Truly,” said the Earl, “it is of no more avail +for me to be gentle with thee than ungentle.” And he gave her a box on +the ear. Thereupon she raised a loud and piercing shriek, and her +lamentations were much greater than they had been before, for she +considered in her mind that had Geraint been alive, he durst not have +struck her thus. But, behold, at the sound of her cry, Geraint revived +from his swoon, and he sat up on the bier, and finding his sword in the +hollow of his shield, he rushed to the place where the Earl was, and +struck him a fiercely-wounding, severely-venomous, and sternly-smiting +blow upon the crown of his head, so that he clove him in twain, until his +sword was stayed by the table. Then all left the board, and fled away. +And this was not so much through fear of the living as through the dread +they felt at seeing the dead man rise up to slay them. And Geraint +looked upon Enid, and he was grieved for two causes; one was, to see that +Enid had lost her colour and her wonted aspect, and the other, to know +that she was in the right. “Lady,” said he, “knowest thou where our +horses are?” “I know, Lord, where thy horse is,” she replied, “but I +know not where is the other. Thy horse is in the house yonder.” So he +went to the house, and brought forth his horse, and mounted him, and took +up Enid from the ground, and placed her upon the horse with him. And he +rode forward. And their road lay between two hedges. And the night was +gaining on the day. And lo! they saw behind them the shafts of spears +betwixt them and the sky, and they heard the trampling of horses, and the +noise of a host approaching. “I hear something following us,” said he, +“and I will put thee on the other side of the hedge.” And thus he did. +And thereupon, behold, a knight pricked towards him, and couched his +lance. When Enid saw this, she cried out, saying, “Oh! chieftain, +whoever thou art, what renown wilt thou gain by slaying a dead man?” +“Oh! Heaven,” said he, “is it Geraint?” “Yes, in truth,” said she. “And +who art thou?” “I am the Little King,” he answered, “coming to thy +assistance, for I heard that thou wast in trouble. And if thou hadst +followed my advice, none of these hardships would have befallen thee.” +“Nothing can happen,” said Geraint, “without the will of Heaven, though +much good results from counsel.” “Yes,” said the Little King, “and I +know good counsel for thee now. Come with me to the court of a +son-in-law of my sister, which is near here, and thou shalt have the best +medical assistance in the kingdom.” “I will do so gladly,” said Geraint. +And Enid was placed upon the horse of one of the Little King’s squires, +and they went forward to the Baron’s palace. And they were received +there with gladness, and they met with hospitality and attention. And +the next morning they went to seek physicians; and it was not long before +they came, and they attended Geraint until he was perfectly well. And +while Geraint was under medical care, the Little King caused his armour +to be repaired, until it was as good as it had ever been. And they +remained there a fortnight and a month. + +Then the Little King said to Geraint, “Now will we go towards my own +Court, to take rest, and amuse ourselves.” “Not so,” said Geraint, “we +will first journey for one day more, and return again.” “With all my +heart,” said the Little King, “do thou go then.” And early in the day +they set forth. And more gladly and more joyfully did Enid journey with +them that day than she had ever done. And they came to the main road. +And when they reached a place where the road divided in two, they beheld +a man on foot coming towards them along one of these roads, and Gwiffert +asked the man whence he came. “I come,” said he, “from an errand in the +country.” “Tell me,” said Geraint, “which is the best for me to follow +of these two roads?” “That is the best for thee to follow,” answered he, +“for if thou goest by this one, thou wilt never return. Below us,” said +he, “there is a hedge of mist, and within it are enchanted games, and no +one who has gone there has ever returned. And the Court of the Earl +Owain is there, and he permits no one to go to lodge in the town, except +he will go to his Court.” “I declare to Heaven,” said Geraint, “that we +will take the lower road.” And they went along it until they came to the +town. And they took the fairest and pleasantest place in the town for +their lodging. And while they were thus, behold, a young man came to +them, and greeted them. “Heaven be propitious to thee,” said they. +“Good Sirs,” said he, “what preparations are you making here?” “We are +taking up our lodging,” said they, “to pass the night.” “It is not the +custom with him who owns the town,” he answered, “to permit any of gentle +birth, unless they come to stay in his Court, to abide here; therefore, +come ye to the Court.” “We will come, gladly,” said Geraint. And they +went with the page, and they were joyfully received. And the Earl came +to the hall to meet them, and he commanded the tables to be laid. And +they washed, and sat down. And this is the order in which they sat: +Geraint on one side of the Earl, and Enid on the other side, and next to +Enid the Little King, and then the Countess next to Geraint; and all +after that as became their rank. Then Geraint recollected the games, and +thought that he should not go to them; and on that account he did not +eat. Then the Earl looked upon Geraint, and considered, and he bethought +him that his not eating was because of the games, and it grieved him that +he had ever established those games, were it only on account of losing +such a youth as Geraint. And if Geraint had asked him to abolish the +games, he would gladly have done so. Then the Earl said to Geraint, +“What thought occupies thy mind, that thou dost not eat? If thou +hesitatest about going to the games, thou shalt not go, and no other of +thy rank shall ever go either.” “Heaven reward thee,” said Geraint, “but +I wish nothing better than to go to the games, and to be shown the way +thither.” “If that is what thou dost prefer, thou shalt obtain it +willingly.” “I do prefer it, indeed,” said he. Then they ate, and they +were amply served, and they had a variety of gifts, and abundance of +liquor. And when they had finished eating they arose. And Geraint +called for his horse and his armour, and he accoutred both himself and +his horse. And all the hosts went forth until they came to the side of +the hedge, and the hedge was so lofty, that it reached as high as they +could see in the air, and upon every stake in the hedge, except two, +there was the head of a man, and the number of stakes throughout the +hedge was very great. Then said the Little King, “May no one go in with +the chieftain?” “No one may,” said Earl Owain. “Which way can I enter?” +inquired Geraint. “I know not,” said Owain, “but enter by the way that +thou wilt, and that seemeth easiest to thee.” + +Then fearlessly and unhesitatingly Geraint dashed forward into the mist. +And on leaving the mist, he came to a large orchard; and in the orchard +he saw an open space, wherein was a tent of red satin; and the door of +the tent was open, and an apple-tree stood in front of the door of the +tent; and on a branch of the apple-tree hung a huge hunting-horn. Then +he dismounted, and went into the tent; and there was no one in the tent +save one maiden sitting in a golden chair, and another chair was opposite +to her, empty. And Geraint went to the empty chair, and sat down +therein. “Ah! chieftain,” said the maiden, “I would not counsel thee to +sit in that chair.” “Wherefore?” said Geraint. “The man to whom that +chair belongs has never suffered another to sit in it.” “I care not,” +said Geraint, “though it displease him that I sit in the chair.” And +thereupon they heard a mighty tumult around the tent. And Geraint looked +to see what was the cause of the tumult. And he beheld without a knight +mounted upon a warhorse, proudly snorting, high-mettled, and large of +bone; and a robe of honour in two parts was upon him and upon his horse, +and beneath it was plenty of armour. “Tell me, chieftain,” said he to +Geraint, “who it was that bade thee sit there?” “Myself,” answered he. +“It was wrong of thee to do me this shame and disgrace. Arise, and do me +satisfaction for thine insolence.” Then Geraint arose; and they +encountered immediately; and they broke a set of lances, and a second +set, and a third; and they gave each other fierce and frequent strokes; +and at last Geraint became enraged, and he urged on his horse, and rushed +upon him, and gave him a thrust on the centre of his shield, so that it +was split, and so that the head of his lance went through his armour, and +his girths were broken, and he himself was borne headlong to the ground +the length of Geraint’s lance and arm, over his horse’s crupper. “Oh, my +Lord!” said he, “thy mercy, and thou shalt have what thou wilt.” “I only +desire,” said Geraint, “that this game shall no longer exist here, nor +the hedge of mist, nor magic, nor enchantment.” “Thou shalt have this +gladly, Lord,” he replied. “Cause, then, the mist to disappear from this +place,” said Geraint. “Sound yonder horn,” said he, “and when thou +soundest it, the mist will vanish; but it will not go hence unless the +horn be blown by the knight by whom I am vanquished.” And sad and +sorrowful was Enid where she remained, through anxiety concerning +Geraint. Then Geraint went and sounded the horn. And at the first blast +he gave, the mist vanished. And all the hosts came together, and they +all became reconciled to each other. And the Earl invited Geraint and +the Little King to stay with him that night. And the next morning they +separated. And Geraint went towards his own dominions; and thenceforth +he reigned prosperously, and his warlike fame and splendour lasted with +renown and honour both to him and to Enid from that time forth. + + + + +KILHWCH AND OLWEN +OR THE +TWRCH TRWYTH + + +Kilydd the son of Prince Kelyddon desired a wife as a helpmate, and the +wife that he chose was Goleuddydd, the daughter of Prince Anlawdd. And +after their union, the people put up prayers that they might have an +heir. And they had a son through the prayers of the people. From the +time of her pregnancy Goleuddydd became wild, and wandered about, without +habitation; but when her delivery was at hand, her reason came back to +her. Then she went to a mountain where there was a swineherd, keeping a +herd of swine. And through fear of the swine the queen was delivered. +And the swineherd took the boy, and brought him to the palace; and he was +christened, and they called him Kilhwch, because he had been found in a +swine’s burrow. Nevertheless the boy was of gentle lineage, and cousin +unto Arthur; and they put him out to nurse. + +After this the boy’s mother, Goleuddydd, the daughter of Prince Anlawdd, +fell sick. Then she called her husband unto her, and said to him, “Of +this sickness I shall die, and thou wilt take another wife. Now wives +are the gift of the Lord, but it would be wrong for thee to harm thy son. +Therefore I charge thee that thou take not a wife until thou see a briar +with two blossoms upon my grave.” And this he promised her. Then she +besought him to dress her grave every year, that nothing might grow +thereon. So the queen died. Now the king sent an attendant every +morning to see if anything were growing upon the grave. And at the end +of the seventh year the master neglected that which he had promised to +the queen. + +One day the king went to hunt, and he rode to the place of burial to see +the grave, and to know if it were time that he should take a wife; and +the king saw the briar. And when he saw it, the king took counsel where +he should find a wife. Said one of his counsellors, “I know a wife that +will suit thee well, and she is the wife of King Doged.” And they +resolved to go to seek her; and they slew the king, and brought away his +wife and one daughter that she had along with her. And they conquered +the king’s lands. + +On a certain day, as the lady walked abroad, she came to the house of an +old crone that dwelt in the town, and that had no tooth in her head. And +the queen said to her, “Old woman, tell me that which I shall ask thee, +for the love of Heaven. Where are the children of the man who has +carried me away by violence?” Said the crone, “He has not children.” +Said the queen, “Woe is me, that I should have come to one who is +childless!” Then said the hag, “Thou needest not lament on account of +that, for there is a prediction he shall have an heir by thee, and by +none other. Moreover, be not sorrowful, for he has one son.” + +The lady returned home with joy; and she asked her consort, “Wherefore +hast thou concealed thy children from me?” The king said, “I will do so +no longer.” And he sent messengers for his son, and he was brought to +the Court. His stepmother said unto him, “It were well for thee to have +a wife, and I have a daughter who is sought of every man of renown in the +world.” “I am not yet of an age to wed,” answered the youth. Then said +she unto him, “I declare to thee, that it is thy destiny not to be suited +with a wife until thou obtain Olwen, the daughter of Yspaddaden Penkawr.” +And the youth blushed, and the love of the maiden diffused itself through +all his frame, although he had never seen her. And his father inquired +of him, “What has come over thee, my son, and what aileth thee?” “My +stepmother has declared to me that I shall never have a wife until I +obtain Olwen, the daughter of Yspaddaden Penkawr.” “That will be easy +for thee,” answered his father. “Arthur is thy cousin. Go, therefore, +unto Arthur, to cut thy hair, and ask this of him as a boon.” + +And the youth pricked forth upon a steed with head dappled grey, of four +winters old, firm of limb, with shell-formed hoofs, having a bridle of +linked gold on his head, and upon him a saddle of costly gold. And in +the youth’s hand were two spears of silver, sharp, well-tempered, headed +with steel, three ells in length, of an edge to wound the wind, and cause +blood to flow, and swifter than the fall of the dewdrop from the blade of +reed-grass upon the earth when the dew of June is at the heaviest. A +gold-hilted sword was upon his thigh, the blade of which was of gold, +bearing a cross of inlaid gold of the hue of the lightning of heaven: his +war-horn was of ivory. Before him were two brindled white-breasted +greyhounds, having strong collars of rubies about their necks, reaching +from the shoulder to the ear. And the one that was on the left side +bounded across to the right side, and the one on the right to the left, +and like two sea-swallows sported around him. And his courser cast up +four sods with his four hoofs, like four swallows in the air, about his +head, now above, now below. About him was a four-cornered cloth of +purple, and an apple of gold was at each corner, and every one of the +apples was of the value of an hundred kine. And there was precious gold +of the value of three hundred kine upon his shoes, and upon his stirrups, +from his knee to the tip of his toe. And the blade of grass bent not +beneath him, so light was his courser’s tread as he journeyed towards the +gate of Arthur’s Palace. + +Spoke the youth, “Is there a porter?” “There is; and if thou holdest not +thy peace, small will be thy welcome. I am Arthur’s porter every first +day of January. And during every other part of the year but this, the +office is filled by Huandaw, and Gogigwc, and Llaeskenym, and +Pennpingyon, who goes upon his head to save his feet, neither towards the +sky nor towards the earth, but like a rolling stone upon the floor of the +court.” “Open the portal.” “I will not open it.” “Wherefore not?” +“The knife is in the meat, and the drink is in the horn, and there is +revelry in Arthur’s Hall, and none may enter therein but the son of a +king of a privileged country, or a craftsman bringing his craft. But +there will be refreshment for thy dogs, and for thy horses; and for thee +there will be collops cooked and peppered, and luscious wine and mirthful +songs, and food for fifty men shall be brought unto thee in the guest +chamber, where the stranger and the sons of other countries eat, who come +not unto the precincts of the Palace of Arthur. Thou wilt fare no worse +there than thou wouldest with Arthur in the Court. A lady shall smooth +thy couch, and shall lull thee with songs; and early to-morrow morning, +when the gate is open for the multitude that come hither to-day, for thee +shall it be opened first, and thou mayest sit in the place that thou +shalt choose in Arthur’s Hall, from the upper end to the lower.” Said +the youth, “That will I not do. If thou openest the gate, it is well. +If thou dost not open it, I will bring disgrace upon thy Lord, and evil +report upon thee. And I will set up three shouts at this very gate, than +which none were ever more deadly, from the top of Pengwaed in Cornwall to +the bottom of Dinsol, in the North, and to Esgair Oervel, in Ireland. +And all the women in this Palace that are pregnant shall lose their +offspring; and such as are not pregnant, their hearts shall be turned by +illness, so that they shall never bear children from this day forward.” +“What clamour soever thou mayest make,” said Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr, +“against the laws of Arthur’s Palace shalt thou not enter therein, until +I first go and speak with Arthur.” + +Then Glewlwyd went into the Hall. And Arthur said to him, “Hast thou +news from the gate?”—“Half of my life is past, and half of thine. I was +heretofore in Kaer Se and Asse, in Sach and Salach, in Lotor and Fotor; +and I have been heretofore in India the Great and India the Lesser; and I +was in the battle of Dau Ynyr, when the twelve hostages were brought from +Llychlyn. And I have also been in Europe, and in Africa, and in the +islands of Corsica, and in Caer Brythwch, and Brythach, and Verthach; and +I was present when formerly thou didst slay the family of Clis the son of +Merin, and when thou didst slay Mil Du the son of Ducum, and when thou +didst conquer Greece in the East. And I have been in Caer Oeth and +Annoeth, and in Caer Nevenhyr; nine supreme sovereigns, handsome men, saw +we there, but never did I behold a man of equal dignity with him who is +now at the door of the portal.” Then said Arthur, “If walking thou didst +enter in here, return thou running. And every one that beholds the +light, and every one that opens and shuts the eye, let them shew him +respect, and serve him, some with gold-mounted drinking-horns, others +with collops cooked and peppered, until food and drink can be prepared +for him. It is unbecoming to keep such a man as thou sayest he is, in +the wind and the rain.” Said Kai, “By the hand of my friend, if thou +wouldest follow my counsel, thou wouldest not break through the laws of +the Court because of him.” “Not so, blessed Kai. It is an honour to us +to be resorted to, and the greater our courtesy the greater will be our +renown, and our fame, and our glory.” + +And Glewlwyd came to the gate, and opened the gate before him; and +although all dismounted upon the horseblock at the gate, yet did he not +dismount, but rode in upon his charger. Then said Kilhwch, “Greeting be +unto thee, Sovereign Ruler of this Island; and be this greeting no less +unto the lowest than unto the highest, and be it equally unto thy guests, +and thy warriors, and thy chieftains—let all partake of it as completely +as thyself. And complete be thy favour, and thy fame, and thy glory, +throughout all this Island.” “Greeting unto thee also,” said Arthur; +“sit thou between two of my warriors, and thou shalt have minstrels +before thee, and thou shalt enjoy the privileges of a king born to a +throne, as long as thou remainest here. And when I dispense my presents +to the visitors and strangers in this Court, they shall be in thy hand at +my commencing.” Said the youth, “I came not here to consume meat and +drink; but if I obtain the boon that I seek, I will requite it thee, and +extol thee; and if I have it not, I will bear forth thy dispraise to the +four quarters of the world, as far as thy renown has extended.” Then +said Arthur, “Since thou wilt not remain here, chieftain, thou shalt +receive the boon whatsoever thy tongue may name, as far as the wind +dries, and the rain moistens, and the sun revolves, and the sea +encircles, and the earth extends; save only my ship; and my mantle; and +Caledvwlch, my sword; and Rhongomyant, my lance; and Wynebgwrthucher, my +shield; and Carnwenhau, my dagger; and Gwenhwyvar, my wife. By the truth +of Heaven, thou shalt have it cheerfully, name what thou wilt.” “I would +that thou bless my hair.” “That shall be granted thee.” + +And Arthur took a golden comb, and scissors, whereof the loops were of +silver, and he combed his hair. And Arthur inquired of him who he was. +“For my heart warms unto thee, and I know that thou art come of my blood. +Tell me, therefore, who thou art.” “I will tell thee,” said the youth. +“I am Kilhwch, the son of Kilydd, the son of Prince Kelyddon, by +Goleuddydd, my mother, the daughter of Prince Anlawdd.” “That is true,” +said Arthur; “thou art my cousin. Whatsoever boon thou mayest ask, thou +shalt receive, be it what it may that thy tongue shall name.” “Pledge +the truth of Heaven and the faith of thy kingdom thereof.” “I pledge it +thee, gladly.” “I crave of thee then, that thou obtain for me Olwen, the +daughter of Yspaddaden Penkawr; and this boon I likewise seek at the +hands of thy warriors. I seek it from Kai, and Bedwyr, and Greidawl +Galldonyd, and Gwythyr the son of Greidawl, and Greid the son of Eri, and +Kynddelig Kyvarwydd, and Tathal Twyll Goleu, and Maelwys the son of +Baeddan, and Crychwr the son of Nes, and Cubert the son of Daere, and +Percos the son of Poch, and Lluber Beuthach, and Corvil Bervach, and +Gwynn the son of Nudd, and Edeyrn the son of Nudd, and Gadwy the son of +Geraint, and Prince Fflewddur Fflam, and Ruawn Pebyr the son of Dorath, +and Bradwen the son of Moren Mynawc, and Moren Mynawc himself, and +Dalldav the son of Kimin Côv, and the son of Alun Dyved, and the son of +Saidi, and the son of Gwryon, and Uchtryd Ardywad Kad, and Kynwas +Curvagyl, and Gwrhyr Gwarthegvras, and Isperyr Ewingath, and Gallcoyt +Govynynat, and Duach, and Grathach, and Nerthach, the sons of Gwawrddur +Kyrvach (these men came forth from the confines of hell), and Kilydd +Canhastyr, and Canastyr Kanllaw, and Cors Cant-Ewin, and Esgeir Gulhwch +Govynkawn, and Drustwrn Hayarn, and Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr, and Lloch +Llawwynnyawc, and Aunwas Adeiniawc, and Sinnoch the son of Seithved, and +Gwennwynwyn the son of Naw, and Bedyw the son of Seithved, and Gobrwy the +son of Echel Vorddwyttwll, and Echel Vorddwyttwll himself, and Mael the +son of Roycol, and Dadweir Dallpenn, and Garwyli the son of Gwythawc +Gwyr, and Gwythawc Gwyr himself, and Gormant the son of Ricca, and Menw +the son of Teirgwaedd, and Digon the son of Alar, and Selyf the son of +Smoit, and Gusg the son of Atheu, and Nerth the son of Kedarn, and +Drudwas the son of Tryffin, and Twrch the son of Perif, and Twrch the son +of Annwas, and Iona king of France, and Sel the son of Selgi, and Teregud +the son of Iaen, and Sulyen the son of Iaen, and Bradwen the son of Iaen, +and Moren the son of Iaen, and Siawn the son of Iaen, and Cradawc the son +of Iaen. (They were men of Caerdathal, of Arthur’s kindred on his +father’s side.) Dirmyg the son of Kaw, and Justic the son of Kaw, and +Etmic the son of Kaw, and Anghawd the son of Kaw, and Ovan the son of +Kaw, and Kelin the son of Kaw, and Connyn the son of Kaw, and Mabsant the +son of Kaw, and Gwyngad the son of Kaw, and Llwybyr the son of Kaw, and +Coth the son of Kaw, and Meilic the son of Kaw, and Kynwas the son of +Kaw, and Ardwyad the son of Kaw, and Ergyryad the son of Kaw, and Neb the +son of Kaw, and Gilda the son of Kaw, and Calcas the son of Kaw, and +Hueil the son of Kaw (he never yet made a request at the hand of any +Lord). And Samson Vinsych, and Taliesin the chief of the bards, and +Manawyddan the son of Llyr, and Llary the son of Prince Kasnar, and +Ysperni the son of Fflergant king of Armorica, and Saranhon the son of +Glythwyr, and Llawr Eilerw, and Annyanniawc the son of Menw the son of +Teirgwaedd, and Gwynn the son of Nwyvre, and Fflam the son of Nwyvre, and +Geraint the son of Erbin, and Ermid the son of Erbin, and Dyvel the son +of Erbin, and Gwynn the son of Ermid, and Kyndrwyn the son of Ermid, and +Hyveidd Unllenn, and Eiddon Vawr Vrydic, and Reidwn Arwy, and Gormant the +son of Ricca (Arthur’s brother by his mother’s side; the Penhynev of +Cornwall was his father), and Llawnrodded Varvawc, and Nodawl Varyf +Twrch, and Berth the son of Kado, and Rheidwn the son of Beli, and +Iscovan Hael, and Iscawin the son of Panon, and Morvran the son of Tegid +(no one struck him in the battle of Camlan by reason of his ugliness; all +thought he was an auxiliary devil. Hair had he upon him like the hair of +a stag). And Sandde Bryd Angel (no one touched him with a spear in the +battle of Camlan because of his beauty; all thought he was a ministering +angel). And Kynwyl Sant (the third man that escaped from the battle of +Camlan, and he was the last who parted from Arthur on Hengroen his +horse). And Uchtryd the son of Erim, and Eus the son of Erim, and Henwas +Adeinawg the son of Erim, and Henbedestyr the son of Erim, and Sgilti +Yscawndroed the son of Erim. (Unto these three men belonged these three +qualities,—With Henbedestyr there was not any one who could keep pace, +either on horseback or on foot; with Henwas Adeinawg, no four-footed +beast could run the distance of an acre, much less could it go beyond it; +and as to Sgilti Yscawndroed, when he intended to go upon a message for +his Lord, he never sought to find a path, but knowing whither he was to +go, if his way lay through a wood he went along the tops of the trees. +During his whole life, a blade of reed grass bent not beneath his feet, +much less did one ever break, so lightly did he tread.) Teithi Hên the +son of Gwynhan (his dominions were swallowed up by the sea, and he +himself hardly escaped, and he came to Arthur; and his knife had this +peculiarity, that from the time that he came there no haft would ever +remain upon it, and owing to this a sickness came over him, and he pined +away during the remainder of his life, and of this he died). And +Carneddyr the son of Govynyon Hên, and Gwenwynwyn the son of Nav +Gyssevin, Arthur’s champion, and Llysgadrudd Emys, and Gwrbothu Hên +(uncles unto Arthur were they, his mother’s brothers). Kulvanawyd the +son of Goryon, and Llenlleawg Wyddel from the headland of Ganion, and +Dyvynwal Moel, and Dunard king of the North, Teirnon Twryf Bliant, and +Tegvan Gloff, and Tegyr Talgellawg, Gwrdinal the son of Ebrei, and +Morgant Hael, Gwystyl the son of Rhun the son of Nwython, and Llwyddeu +the son of Nwython, and Gwydre the son of Llwyddeu (Gwenabwy the daughter +of [Kaw] was his mother, Hueil his uncle stabbed him, and hatred was +between Hueil and Arthur because of the wound). Drem the son of Dremidyd +(when the gnat arose in the morning with the sun, he could see it from +Gelli Wic in Cornwall, as far off as Pen Blathaon in North Britain). And +Eidyol the son of Ner, and Glwyddyn Saer (who constructed Ehangwen, +Arthur’s Hall). Kynyr Keinvarvawc (when he was told he had a son born he +said to his wife, ‘Damsel, if thy son be mine, his heart will be always +cold, and there will be no warmth in his hands; and he will have another +peculiarity, if he is my son he will always be stubborn; and he will have +another peculiarity, when he carries a burden, whether it be large or +small, no one will be able to see it, either before him or at his back; +and he will have another peculiarity, no one will be able to resist fire +and water so well as he will; and he will have another peculiarity, there +will never be a servant or an officer equal to him’). Henwas, and +Henwyneb (an old companion to Arthur). Gwallgoyc (another; when he came +to a town, though there were three hundred houses in it, if he wanted +anything, he would not let sleep come to the eyes of any one whilst he +remained there). Berwyn the son of Gerenhir, and Paris king of France, +and Osla Gyllellvawr (who bore a short broad dagger. When Arthur and his +hosts came before a torrent, they would seek for a narrow place where +they might pass the water, and would lay the sheathed dagger across the +torrent, and it would form a bridge sufficient for the armies of the +three Islands of Britain, and of the three islands adjacent, with their +spoil). Gwyddawg the son of Menestyr (who slew Kai, and whom Arthur +slew, together with his brothers, to revenge Kai). Garanwyn the son of +Kai, and Amren the son of Bedwyr, and Ely Amyr, and Rheu Rhwyd Dyrys, and +Rhun Rhudwern, and Eli, and Trachmyr (Arthur’s chief huntsmen). And +Llwyddeu the son of Kelcoed, and Hunabwy the son of Gwryon, and Gwynn +Godyvron, and Gweir Datharwenniddawg, and Gweir the son of Cadell the son +of Talaryant, and Gweir Gwrhyd Ennwir, and Gweir Paladyr Hir (the uncles +of Arthur, the brothers of his mother). The sons of Llwch Llawwynnyawg +(from beyond the raging sea). Llenlleawg Wyddel, and Ardderchawg +Prydain. Cas the son of Saidi, Gwrvan Gwallt Avwyn, and Gwyllennhin the +king of France, and Gwittart the son of Oedd king of Ireland. Garselit +Wyddel, Panawr Pen Bagad, and Ffleudor the son of Nav, Gwynnhyvar mayor +of Cornwall and Devon (the ninth man that rallied the battle of Camlan). +Keli and Kueli, and Gilla Coes Hydd (he would clear three hundred acres +at one bound: the chief leaper of Ireland was he). Sol, and Gwadyn +Ossol, and Gwadyn Odyeith. (Sol could stand all day upon one foot. +Gwadyn Ossol, if he stood upon the top of the highest mountain in the +world, it would become a level plain under his feet. Gwadyn Odyeith, the +soles of his feet emitted sparks of fire when they struck upon things +hard, like the heated mass when drawn out of the forge. He cleared the +way for Arthur when he came to any stoppage.) Hirerwm and Hiratrwm. +(The day they went on a visit three Cantrevs provided for their +entertainment, and they feasted until noon and drank until night, when +they went to sleep. And then they devoured the heads of the vermin +through hunger, as if they had never eaten anything. When they made a +visit they left neither the fat nor the lean, neither the hot nor the +cold, the sour nor the sweet, the fresh nor the salt, the boiled nor the +raw.) Huarwar the son of Aflawn (who asked Arthur such a boon as would +satisfy him. It was the third great plague of Cornwall when he received +it. None could get a smile from him but when he was satisfied). Gware +Gwallt Euryn. The two cubs of Gast Rhymi, Gwyddrud and Gwyddneu Astrus. +Sugyn the son of Sugnedydd (who would suck up the sea on which were three +hundred ships so as to leave nothing but a dry strand. He was +broad-chested). Rhacymwri, the attendant of Arthur (whatever barn he was +shown, were there the produce of thirty ploughs within it, he would +strike it with an iron flail until the rafters, the beams, and the boards +were no better than the small oats in the mow upon the floor of the +barn). Dygyflwng and Anoeth Veidawg. And Hir Eiddyl, and Hir Amreu +(they were two attendants of Arthur). And Gwevyl the son of Gwestad (on +the day that he was sad, he would let one of his lips drop below his +waist, while he turned up the other like a cap upon his head). Uchtryd +Varyf Draws (who spread his red untrimmed beard over the eight-and-forty +rafters which were in Arthur’s Hall). Elidyr Gyvarwydd. Yskyrdav and +Yscudydd (two attendants of Gwenhwyvar were they. Their feet were swift +as their thoughts when bearing a message). Brys the son of Bryssethach +(from the Hill of the Black Fernbrake in North Britain). And Grudlwyn +Gorr. Bwlch, and Kyfwlch, and Sefwlch, the sons of Cleddyf Kyfwlch, the +grandsons of Cleddyf Difwlch. (Their three shields were three gleaming +glitterers; their three spears were three pointed piercers; their three +swords were three grinding gashers; Glas, Glessic, and Gleisad. Their +three dogs, Call, Cuall, and Cavall. Their three horses, Hwyrdyddwd, and +Drwgdyddwd, and Llwyrdyddwg. Their three wives, Och, and Garym, and +Diaspad. Their three grandchildren, Lluched, and Neved, and Eissiwed. +Their three daughters, Drwg, and Gwaeth, and Gwaethav Oll. Their three +hand-maids, Eheubryd the daughter of Kyfwlch, Gorascwrn the daughter of +Nerth, Ewaedan the daughter of Kynvelyn Keudawd Pwyll the half-man.) +Dwnn Diessic Unbenn, Eiladyr the son of Pen Llarcau, Kynedyr Wyllt the +son of Hettwn Talaryant, Sawyl Ben Uchel, Gwalchmai the son of Gwyar, +Gwalhaved the son of Gwyar, Gwrhyr Gwastawd Ieithoedd (to whom all +tongues were known), and Kethcrwm the Priest. Clust the son of +Clustveinad (though he were buried seven cubits beneath the earth, he +would hear the ant fifty miles off rise from her nest in the morning). +Medyr the son of Methredydd (from Gelli Wic he could, in a twinkling, +shoot the wren through the two legs upon Esgeir Oervel in Ireland). +Gwiawn Llygad Cath (who could cut a haw from the eye of the gnat without +hurting him). Ol the son of Olwydd (seven years before he was born his +father’s swine were carried off, and when he grew up a man he tracked the +swine, and brought them back in seven herds). Bedwini the Bishop (who +blessed Arthur’s meat and drink). For the sake of the golden-chained +daughters of this island. For the sake of Gwenhwyvar its chief lady, and +Gwennhwyach her sister, and Rathtyeu the only daughter of Clemenhill, and +Rhelemon the daughter of Kai, and Tannwen the daughter of Gweir +Datharwenîddawg. Gwenn Alarch the daughter of Kynwyl Canbwch. Eurneid +the daughter of Clydno Eiddin. Eneuawc the daughter of Bedwyr. Enrydreg +the daughter of Tudvathar. Gwennwledyr the daughter of Gwaledyr Kyrvach. +Erddudnid the daughter of Tryffin. Eurolwen the daughter of Gwdolwyn +Gorr. Teleri the daughter of Peul. Indeg the daughter of Garwy Hir. +Morvudd the daughter of Urien Rheged. Gwenllian Deg the majestic maiden. +Creiddylad the daughter of Lludd Llaw Ereint. (She was the most splendid +maiden in the three Islands of the mighty, and in the three Islands +adjacent, and for her Gwythyr the son of Greidawl and Gwynn the son of +Nudd fight every first of May until the day of doom.) Ellylw the +daughter of Neol Kynn-Crog (she lived three ages). Essyllt Vinwen and +Essyllt Vingul.” And all these did Kilhwch the son of Kilydd adjure to +obtain his boon. + +Then said Arthur, “Oh! chieftain, I have never heard of the maiden of +whom thou speakest, nor of her kindred, but I will gladly send messengers +in search of her. Give me time to seek her.” And the youth said, “I +will willingly grant from this night to that at the end of the year to do +so.” Then Arthur sent messengers to every land within his dominions to +seek for the maiden; and at the end of the year Arthur’s messengers +returned without having gained any knowledge or intelligence concerning +Olwen more than on the first day. Then said Kilhwch, “Every one has +received his boon, and I yet lack mine. I will depart and bear away thy +honour with me.” Then said Kai, “Rash chieftain! dost thou reproach +Arthur? Go with us, and we will not part until thou dost either confess +that the maiden exists not in the world, or until we obtain her.” +Thereupon Kai rose up. Kai had this peculiarity, that his breath lasted +nine nights and nine days under water, and he could exist nine nights and +nine days without sleep. A wound from Kai’s sword no physician could +heal. Very subtle was Kai. When it pleased him he could render himself +as tall as the highest tree in the forest. And he had another +peculiarity,—so great was the heat of his nature, that, when it rained +hardest, whatever he carried remained dry for a handbreadth above and a +handbreadth below his hand; and when his companions were coldest, it was +to them as fuel with which to light their fire. + +And Arthur called Bedwyr, who never shrank from any enterprise upon which +Kai was bound. None was equal to him in swiftness throughout this island +except Arthur and Drych Ail Kibddar. And although he was one-handed, +three warriors could not shed blood faster than he on the field of +battle. Another property he had; his lance would produce a wound equal +to those of nine opposing lances. + +And Arthur called to Kynddelig the Guide, “Go thou upon this expedition +with the chieftain.” For as good a guide was he in a land which he had +never seen as he was in his own. + +He called Gwrhyr Gwalstawt Ieithoedd, because he knew all tongues. + +He called Gwalchmai the son of Gwyar, because he never returned home +without achieving the adventure of which he went in quest. He was the +best of footmen and the best of knights. He was nephew to Arthur, the +son of his sister, and his cousin. + +And Arthur called Menw the son of Teirgwaedd, in order that if they went +into a savage country, he might cast a charm and an illusion over them, +so that none might see them whilst they could see every one. + +They journeyed until they came to a vast open plain, wherein they saw a +great castle, which was the fairest of the castles of the world. And +they journeyed that day until the evening, and when they thought they +were nigh to the castle, they were no nearer to it than they had been in +the morning. And the second and the third day they journeyed, and even +then scarcely could they reach so far. And when they came before the +castle, they beheld a vast flock of sheep, which was boundless and +without an end. And upon the top of a mound there was a herdsman, +keeping the sheep. And a rug made of skins was upon him; and by his side +was a shaggy mastiff, larger than a steed nine winters old. Never had he +lost even a lamb from his flock, much less a large sheep. He let no +occasion ever pass without doing some hurt and harm. All the dead trees +and bushes in the plain he burnt with his breath down to the very ground. + +Then said Kai, “Gwrhyr Gwalstawt Ieithoedd, go thou and salute yonder +man.” “Kai,” said he, “I engaged not to go further than thou thyself.” +“Let us go then together,” answered Kai. Said Menw the son of +Teirgwaedd, “Fear not to go thither, for I will cast a spell upon the +dog, so that he shall injure no one.” And they went up to the mound +whereon the herdsman was, and they said to him, “How dost thou fare, O +herdsman?” “No less fair be it to you than to me.” “Truly, art thou the +chief?” “There is no hurt to injure me but my own.” {5} “Whose are the +sheep that thou dost keep, and to whom does yonder castle belong?” +“Stupid are ye, truly! Through the whole world is it known that this is +the castle of Yspaddaden Penkawr.” “And who art thou?” “I am called +Custennin the son of Dyfnedig, and my brother Yspaddaden Penkawr +oppressed me because of my possessions. And ye also, who are ye?” “We +are an embassy from Arthur, come to seek Olwen the daughter of Yspaddaden +Penkawr.” “Oh men! the mercy of Heaven be upon you, do not that for all +the world. None who ever came hither on this quest has returned alive.” +And the herdsman rose up. And as he arose, Kilhwch gave unto him a ring +of gold. And he sought to put on the ring, but it was too small for him, +so he placed it in the finger of his glove. And he went home, and gave +the glove to his spouse to keep. And she took the ring from the glove +when it was given her, and she said, “Whence came this ring, for thou art +not wont to have good fortune?” “I went,” said he, “to the sea to seek +for fish, and lo, I saw a corpse borne by the waves. And a fairer corpse +than it did I never behold. And from its finger did I take this ring.” +“O man! does the sea permit its dead to wear jewels? Show me then this +body.” “Oh wife, him to whom this ring belonged thou shalt see here in +the evening.” “And who is he?” asked the woman, “Kilhwch the son of +Kilydd, the son of Prince Kelyddon, by Goleuddydd the daughter of Prince +Anlawdd, his mother, who is come to seek Olwen as his wife.” And when +she heard that, her feelings were divided between the joy that she had +that her nephew, the son of her sister, was coming to her, and sorrow +because she had never known any one depart alive who had come on that +quest. + +And they went forward to the gate of Custennin the herdsman’s dwelling. +And when she heard their footsteps approaching, she ran out with joy to +meet them. And Kai snatched a billet out of the pile. And when she met +them she sought to throw her arms about their necks. And Kai placed the +log between her two hands, and she squeezed it so that it became a +twisted coil. “Oh woman,” said Kai, “if thou hadst squeezed me thus, +none could ever again have set their affections on me. Evil love were +this.” They entered into the house, and were served; and soon after they +all went forth to amuse themselves. Then the woman opened a stone chest +that was before the chimney-corner, and out of it arose a youth with +yellow curling hair. Said Gwrhyr, “It is a pity to hide this youth. I +know that it is not his own crime that is thus visited upon him.” “This +is but a remnant,” said the woman. “Three-and-twenty of my sons has +Yspaddaden Penkawr slain, and I have no more hope of this one than of the +others.” Then said Kai, “Let him come and be a companion with me, and he +shall not be slain unless I also am slain with him.” And they ate. And +the woman asked them, “Upon what errand come you here?” “We come to seek +Olwen for this youth.” Then said the woman, “In the name of Heaven, +since no one from the castle hath yet seen you, return again whence you +came.” “Heaven is our witness, that we will not return until we have +seen the maiden.” Said Kai, “Does she ever come hither, so that she may +be seen?” “She comes here every Saturday to wash her head, and in the +vessel where she washes, she leaves all her rings, and she never either +comes herself or sends any messengers to fetch them.” + +“Will she come here if she is sent to?” “Heaven knows that I will not +destroy my soul, nor will I betray those that trust me; unless you will +pledge me your faith that you will not harm her, I will not send to her.” +“We pledge it,” said they. So a message was sent, and she came. + +The maiden was clothed in a robe of flame-coloured silk, and about her +neck was a collar of ruddy gold, on which were precious emeralds and +rubies. More yellow was her head than the flower of the broom, and her +skin was whiter than the foam of the wave, and fairer were her hands and +her fingers than the blossoms of the wood anemone amidst the spray of the +meadow fountain. The eye of the trained hawk, the glance of the +three-mewed falcon was not brighter than hers. Her bosom was more snowy +than the breast of the white swan, her cheek was redder than the reddest +roses. Whoso beheld her was filled with her love. Four white trefoils +sprung up wherever she trod. And therefore was she called Olwen. + +She entered the house, and sat beside Kilhwch upon the foremost bench; +and as soon as he saw her he knew her. And Kilhwch said unto her, “Ah! +maiden, thou art she whom I have loved; come away with me, lest they +speak evil of thee and of me. Many a day have I loved thee.” “I cannot +do this, for I have pledged my faith to my father not to go without his +counsel, for his life will last only until the time of my espousals. +Whatever is, must be. But I will give thee advice if thou wilt take it. +Go, ask me of my father, and that which he shall require of thee, grant +it, and thou wilt obtain me; but if thou deny him anything, thou wilt not +obtain me, and it will be well for thee if thou escape with thy life.” +“I promise all this, if occasion offer,” said he. + +She returned to her chamber, and they all rose up and followed her to the +castle. And they slew the nine porters that were at the nine gates in +silence. And they slew the nine watch-dogs without one of them barking. +And they went forward to the hall. + +“The greeting of Heaven and of man be unto thee, Yspaddaden Penkawr,” +said they. “And you, wherefore come you?” “We come to ask thy daughter +Olwen, for Kilhwch the son of Kilydd, the son of Prince Kelyddon.” +“Where are my pages and my servants? Raise up the forks beneath my two +eyebrows which have fallen over my eyes, that I may see the fashion of my +son-in-law.” And they did so. “Come hither to-morrow, and you shall +have an answer.” + +They rose to go forth, and Yspaddaden Penkawr seized one of the three +poisoned darts that lay beside him, and threw it after them. And Bedwyr +caught it, and flung it, and pierced Yspaddaden Penkawr grievously with +it through the knee. Then he said, “A cursed ungentle son-in-law, truly. +I shall ever walk the worse for his rudeness, and shall ever be without a +cure. This poisoned iron pains me like the bite of a gadfly. Cursed be +the smith who forged it, and the anvil whereon it was wrought! So sharp +is it!” + +That night also they took up their abode in the house of Custennin the +herdsman. The next day with the dawn they arrayed themselves in haste +and proceeded to the castle, and entered the hall, and they said, +“Yspaddaden Penkawr, give us thy daughter in consideration of her dower +and her maiden fee, which we will pay to thee and to her two kinswomen +likewise. And unless thou wilt do so, thou shalt meet with thy death on +her account.” Then he said, “Her four great-grandmothers, and her four +great-grandsires are yet alive, it is needful that I take counsel of +them.” “Be it so,” answered they, “we will go to meat.” As they rose +up, he took the second dart that was beside him, and cast it after them. +And Menw the son of Gwaedd caught it, and flung it back at him, and +wounded him in the centre of the breast, so that it came out at the small +of his back. “A cursed ungentle son-in-law, truly,” said he, “the hard +iron pains me like the bite of a horse-leech. Cursed be the hearth +whereon it was heated, and the smith who formed it! So sharp is it! +Henceforth, whenever I go up a hill, I shall have a scant in my breath, +and a pain in my chest, and I shall often loathe my food.” And they went +to meat. + +And the third day they returned to the palace. And Yspaddaden Penkawr +said to them, “Shoot not at me again unless you desire death. Where are +my attendants? Lift up the forks of my eyebrows which have fallen over +my eyeballs, that I may see the fashion of my son-in-law.” Then they +arose, and, as they did so, Yspaddaden Penkawr took the third poisoned +dart and cast it at them. And Kilhwch caught it and threw it vigorously, +and wounded him through the eyeball, so that the dart came out at the +back of his head. “A cursed ungentle son-in-law, truly! As long as I +remain alive, my eyesight will be the worse. Whenever I go against the +wind, my eyes will water; and peradventure my head will burn, and I shall +have a giddiness every new moon. Cursed be the fire in which it was +forged. Like the bite of a mad dog is the stroke of this poisoned iron.” +And they went to meat. + +And the next day they came again to the palace, and they said, “Shoot not +at us any more, unless thou desirest such hurt, and harm, and torture as +thou now hast, and even more.” “Give me thy daughter, and if thou wilt +not give her, thou shalt receive thy death because of her.” “Where is he +that seeks my daughter? Come hither where I may see thee.” And they +placed him a chair face to face with him. + +Said Yspaddaden Penkawr, “Is it thou that seekest my daughter?” “It is +I,” answered Kilhwch. “I must have thy pledge that thou wilt not do +towards me otherwise than is just, and when I have gotten that which I +shall name, my daughter thou shalt have.” “I promise thee that +willingly,” said Kilhwch, “name what thou wilt.” “I will do so,” said +he. + +“Seest thou yonder vast hill?” “I see it.” “I require that it be rooted +up, and that the grubbings be burned for manure on the face of the land, +and that it be ploughed and sown in one day, and in one day that the +grain ripen. And of that wheat I intend to make food and liquor fit for +the wedding of thee and my daughter. And all this I require done in one +day.” + +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that +it will not be easy.” + +“Though this be easy for thee, there is yet that which will not be so. +No husbandman can till or prepare this land, so wild is it, except +Amaethon the son of Don, and he will not come with thee by his own free +will, and thou wilt not be able to compel him.” + +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that +it will not be easy.” + +“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. +Govannon the son of Don to come to the headland to rid the iron, he will +do no work of his own good will except for a lawful king, and thou wilt +not be able to compel him.” + +“It will be easy for me to compass this.” + +“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get; the two +dun oxen of Gwlwlyd, both yoked together, to plough the wild land yonder +stoutly. He will not give them of his own free will, and thou wilt not +be able to compel him.” + +“It will be easy for me to compass this.” + +“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get; the +yellow and the brindled bull yoked together do I require.” + +“It will be easy for me to compass this.” + +“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get; the two +horned oxen, one of which is beyond, and the other this side of the +peaked mountain, yoked together in the same plough. And these are +Nynniaw and Peibaw whom God turned into oxen on account of their sins.” + +“It will be easy for me to compass this.” + +“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. Seest +thou yonder red tilled ground?” + +“I see it.” + +“When first I met the mother of this maiden, nine bushels of flax were +sown therein, and none has yet sprung up, neither white nor black; and I +have the measure by me still. I require to have the flax to sow in the +new land yonder, that when it grows up it may make a white wimple for my +daughter’s head, on the day of thy wedding.” + +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that +it will not be easy.” + +“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. Honey +that is nine times sweeter than the honey of the virgin swarm, without +scum and bees, do I require to make bragget for the feast.” + +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that +it will not be easy.” + +“The vessel of Llwyr the son of Llwyryon, which is of the utmost value. +There is no other vessel in the world that can hold this drink. Of his +free will thou wilt not get it, and thou canst not compel him.” + +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that +it will not be easy.” + +“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. The +basket of Gwyddneu Garanhir, if the whole world should come together, +thrice nine men at a time, the meat that each of them desired would be +found within it. I require to eat therefrom on the night that my +daughter becomes thy bride. He will give it to no one of his own free +will, and thou canst not compel him.” + +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that +it will not be easy.” + +“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. The +horn of Gwlgawd Gododin to serve us with liquor that night. He will not +give it of his own free will, and thou wilt not be able to compel him.” + +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that +it will not be easy.” + +“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. The +harp of Teirtu to play to us that night. When a man desires that it +should play, it does so of itself, and when he desires that it should +cease, it ceases. And this he will not give of his own free will, and +thou wilt not be able to compel him.” + +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that +it will not be easy.” + +“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. The +cauldron of Diwrnach Wyddel, the steward of Odgar the son of Aedd, king +of Ireland, to boil the meat for thy marriage feast.” + +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that +it will not be easy.” + +“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. It is +needful for me to wash my head, and shave my beard, and I require the +tusk of Yskithyrwyn Penbaedd to shave myself withal, neither shall I +profit by its use if it be not plucked alive out of his head.” + +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that +it will not be easy.” + +“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. There +is no one in the world that can pluck it out of his head except Odgar the +son of Aedd, king of Ireland.” + +“It will be easy for me to compass this.” + +“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. I will +not trust any one to keep the tusk except Gado of North Britain. Now the +threescore Cantrevs of North Britain are under his sway, and of his own +free will he will not come out of his kingdom, and thou wilt not be able +to compel him.” + +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that +it will not be easy.” + +“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. I must +spread out my hair in order to shave it, and it will never be spread out +unless I have the blood of the jet-black sorceress, the daughter of the +pure white sorceress, from Pen Nant Govid, on the confines of Hell.” + +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that +it will not be easy.” + +“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. I will +not have the blood unless I have it warm, and no vessels will keep warm +the liquid that is put therein except the bottles of Gwyddolwyd Gorr, +which preserve the heat of the liquor that is put into them in the east, +until they arrive at the west. And he will not give them of his own free +will, and thou wilt not be able to compel him.” + +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that +it will not be easy.” + +“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. Some +will desire fresh milk, and it will not be possible to have fresh milk +for all, unless we have the bottles of Rhinnon Rhin Barnawd, wherein no +liquor ever turns sour. And he will not give them of his own free will, +and thou wilt not be able to compel him.” + +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that +it will not be easy.” + +“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. +Throughout the world there is not a comb or scissors with which I can +arrange my hair, on account of its rankness, except the comb and scissors +that are between the two ears of Twrch Trwyth, the son of Prince Tared. +He will not give them of his own free will, and thou wilt not be able to +compel him.” + +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that +it will not be easy.” + +“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. It +will not be possible to hunt Twrch Trwyth without Drudwyn the whelp of +Greid, the son of Eri.” + +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that +it will not be easy.” + +“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. +Throughout the world there is not a leash that can hold him, except the +leash of Cwrs Cant Ewin.” + +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that +it will not be easy.” + +“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. +Throughout the world there is no collar that will hold the leash except +the collar of Canhastyr Canllaw.” + +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that +it will not be easy.” + +“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. The +chain of Kilydd Canhastyr to fasten the collar to the leash.” + +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that +it will not be easy.” + +“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. +Throughout the world there is not a huntsman who can hunt with this dog, +except Mabon the son of Modron. He was taken from his mother when three +nights old, and it is not known where he now is, nor whether he is living +or dead.” + +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that +it will not be easy.” + +“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. Gwynn +Mygdwn, the horse of Gweddw, that is as swift as the wave, to carry Mabon +the son of Modron to hunt the boar Trwyth. He will not give him of his +own free will, and thou wilt not be able to compel him.” + +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that +it will not be easy.” + +“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. Thou +wilt not get Mabon, for it is not known where he is, unless thou find +Eidoel, his kinsman in blood, the son of Aer. For it would be useless to +seek for him. He is his cousin.” + +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that +it will not be easy.” + +“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. +Garselit the Gwyddelian is the chief huntsman of Ireland; the Twrch +Trwyth can never be hunted without him.” + +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that +it will not be easy.” + +“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. A +leash made from the beard of Dillus Varvawc, for that is the only one +that can hold those two cubs. And the leash will be of no avail unless +it be plucked from his beard while he is alive, and twitched out with +wooden tweezers. While he lives he will not suffer this to be done to +him, and the leash will be of no use should he be dead, because it will +be brittle.” + +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that +it will not be easy.” + +“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. +Throughout the world there is no huntsman that can hold those two whelps +except Kynedyr Wyllt, the son of Hettwn Glafyrawc; he is nine times more +wild than the wildest beast upon the mountains. Him wilt thou never get, +neither wilt thou ever get my daughter.” + +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that +it will not be easy.” + +“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. It is +not possible to hunt the boar Trwyth without Gwynn the son of Nudd, whom +God has placed over the brood of devils in Annwvyn, lest they should +destroy the present race. He will never be spared thence.” + +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that +it will not be easy.” + +“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. There +is not a horse in the world that can carry Gwynn to hunt the Twrch +Trwyth, except Du, the horse of Mor of Oerveddawg.” + +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that +it will not be easy.” + +“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. Until +Gilennhin the king of France shall come, the Twrch Trwyth cannot be +hunted. It will be unseemly for him to leave his kingdom for thy sake, +and he will never come hither.” + +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that +it will not be easy.” + +“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. The +Twrch Trwyth can never be hunted without the son of Alun Dyved; he is +well skilled in letting loose the dogs.” + +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that +it will not be easy.” + +“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. The +Twrch Trwyth cannot be hunted unless thou get Aned and Aethlem. They are +as swift as the gale of wind, and they were never let loose upon a beast +that they did not kill him.” + +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that +it will not be easy.” + +“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get; Arthur +and his companions to hunt the Twrch Trwyth. He is a mighty man, and he +will not come for thee, neither wilt thou be able to compel him.” + +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that +it will not be easy.” + +“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. The +Twrch Trwyth cannot be hunted unless thou get Bwlch, and Kyfwlch [and +Sefwlch], the grandsons of Cleddyf Difwlch. Their three shields are +three gleaming glitterers. Their three spears are three pointed +piercers. Their three swords are three griding gashers, Glas, Glessic, +and Clersag. Their three dogs, Call, Cuall, and Cavall. Their three +horses, Hwyrdydwg, and Drwgdydwg, and Llwyrdydwg. Their three wives, +Och, and Garam, and Diaspad. Their three grandchildren, Lluched, and +Vyned, and Eissiwed. Their three daughters, Drwg, and Gwaeth, and +Gwaethav Oll. Their three hand-maids [Eheubryd, the daughter of Kyfwlch; +Gorasgwrn, the daughter of Nerth; and Gwaedan, the daughter of Kynvelyn]. +These three men shall sound the horn, and all the others shall shout, so +that all will think that the sky is falling to the earth.” + +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that +it will not be easy.” + +“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. The +sword of Gwrnach the Giant; he will never be slain except therewith. Of +his own free will he will not give it, either for a price or as a gift, +and thou wilt never be able to compel him.” + +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that +it will not be easy.” + +“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. +Difficulties shalt thou meet with, and nights without sleep, in seeking +this, and if thou obtain it not, neither shalt thou obtain my daughter.” + +“Horses shall I have, and chivalry; and my lord and kinsman Arthur will +obtain for me all these things. And I shall gain thy daughter, and thou +shalt lose thy life.” + +“Go forward. And thou shalt not be chargeable for food or raiment for my +daughter while thou art seeking these things; and when thou hast +compassed all these marvels, thou shalt have my daughter for thy wife.” + + * * * * * + +All that day they journeyed until the evening, and then they beheld a +vast castle, which was the largest in the world. And lo, a black man, +huger than three of the men of this world, came out from the castle. And +they spoke unto him, “Whence comest thou, O man?” “From the castle which +you see yonder.” “Whose castle is that?” asked they. “Stupid are ye +truly, O men. There is no one in the world that does not know to whom +this castle belongs. It is the castle of Gwrnach the Giant.” “What +treatment is there for guests and strangers that alight in that castle?” +“Oh! Chieftain, Heaven protect thee. No guest ever returned thence +alive, and no one may enter therein unless he brings with him his craft.” + +Then they proceeded towards the gate. Said Gwrhyr Gwalstawt Ieithoedd, +“Is there a porter?” “There is. And thou, if thy tongue be not mute in +thy head, wherefore dost thou call?” “Open the gate.” “I will not open +it.” “Wherefore wilt thou not?” “The knife is in the meat, and the +drink is in the horn, and there is revelry in the hall of Gwrnach the +Giant, and except for a craftsman who brings his craft, the gate will not +be opened to-night.” “Verily, porter,” then said Kai, “my craft bring I +with me.” “What is thy craft?” “The best burnisher of swords am I in +the world.” “I will go and tell this unto Gwrnach the Giant, and I will +bring thee an answer.” + +So the porter went in, and Gwrnach said to him, “Hast thou any news from +the gate?” “I have. There is a party at the door of the gate who desire +to come in.” “Didst thou inquire of them if they possessed any art?” “I +did inquire,” said he, “and one told me that he was well skilled in the +burnishing of swords.” “We have need of him then. For some time have I +sought for some one to polish my sword, and could find no one. Let this +man enter, since he brings with him his craft.” The porter thereupon +returned and opened the gate. And Kai went in by himself, and he saluted +Gwrnach the Giant. And a chair was placed for him opposite to Gwrnach. +And Gwrnach said to him, “Oh man! is it true that is reported of thee, +that thou knowest how to burnish swords?” “I know full well how to do +so,” answered Kai. Then was the sword of Gwrnach brought to him. And +Kai took a blue whetstone from under his arm, and asked him whether he +would have it burnished white or blue. “Do with it as it seems good to +thee, and as thou wouldest if it were thine own.” Then Kai polished one +half of the blade and put it in his hand. “Will this please thee?” asked +he. “I would rather than all that is in my dominions that the whole of +it were like unto this. It is a marvel to me that such a man as thou +should be without a companion.” “Oh! noble sir, I have a companion, +albeit he is not skilled in this art.” “Who may he be?” “Let the porter +go forth, and I will tell him whereby he may know him. The head of his +lance will leave its shaft, and draw blood from the wind, and will +descend upon its shaft again.” Then the gate was opened, and Bedwyr +entered. And Kai said, “Bedwyr is very skilful, although he knows not +this art.” + +And there was much discourse among those who were without, because that +Kai and Bedwyr had gone in. And a young man who was with them, the only +son of Custennin the herdsman, got in also. And he caused all his +companions to keep close to him as he passed the three wards, and until +he came into the midst of the castle. And his companions said unto the +son of Custennin, “Thou hast done this! Thou art the best of all men.” +And thenceforth he was called Goreu, the son of Custennin. Then they +dispersed to their lodgings, that they might slay those who lodged +therein, unknown to the Giant. + +The sword was now polished, and Kai gave it unto the hand of Gwrnach the +Giant, to see if he were pleased with his work. And the Giant said, “The +work is good, I am content therewith.” Said Kai, “It is thy scabbard +that hath rusted thy sword, give it to me that I may take out the wooden +sides of it and put in new ones.” And he took the scabbard from him, and +the sword in the other hand. And he came and stood over against the +Giant, as if he would have put the sword into the scabbard; and with it +he struck at the head of the Giant, and cut off his head at one blow. +Then they despoiled the castle, and took from it what goods and jewels +they would. And again on the same day, at the beginning of the year, +they came to Arthur’s Court, bearing with them the sword of Gwrnach the +Giant. + +Now, when they told Arthur how they had sped, Arthur said, “Which of +these marvels will it be best for us to seek first?” “It will be best,” +said they, “to seek Mabon the son of Modron; and he will not be found +unless we first find Eidoel the son of Aer, his kinsman.” Then Arthur +rose up, and the warriors of the Islands of Britain with him, to seek for +Eidoel; and they proceeded until they came before the Castle of Glivi, +where Eidoel was imprisoned. Glivi stood on the summit of his castle, +and he said, “Arthur, what requirest thou of me, since nothing remains to +me in this fortress, and I have neither joy nor pleasure in it; neither +wheat nor oats? Seek not therefore to do me harm.” Said Arthur, “Not to +injure thee came I hither, but to seek for the prisoner that is with +thee.” “I will give thee my prisoner, though I had not thought to give +him up to any one; and therewith shalt thou have my support and my aid.” + +His followers said unto Arthur, “Lord, go thou home, thou canst not +proceed with thy host in quest of such small adventures as these.” Then +said Arthur, “It were well for thee, Gwrhyr Gwalstawt Ieithoedd, to go +upon this quest, for thou knowest all languages, and art familiar with +those of the birds and the beasts. Thou, Eidoel, oughtest likewise to go +with my men in search of thy cousin. And as for you, Kai and Bedwyr, I +have hope of whatever adventure ye are in quest of, that ye will achieve +it. Achieve ye this adventure for me.” + +They went forward until they came to the Ousel of Cilgwri. And Gwrhyr +adjured her for the sake of Heaven, saying, “Tell me if thou knowest +aught of Mabon the son of Modron, who was taken when three nights old +from between his mother and the wall.” And the Ousel answered, “When I +first came here, there was a smith’s anvil in this place, and I was then +a young bird; and from that time no work has been done upon it, save the +pecking of my beak every evening, and now there is not so much as the +size of a nut remaining thereof; yet the vengeance of Heaven be upon me, +if during all that time I have ever heard of the man for whom you +inquire. Nevertheless I will do that which is right, and that which it +is fitting that I should do for an embassy from Arthur. There is a race +of animals who were formed before me, and I will be your guide to them.” + +So they proceeded to the place where was the Stag of Redynvre. “Stag of +Redynvre, behold we are come to thee, an embassy from Arthur, for we have +not heard of any animal older than thou. Say, knowest thou aught of +Mabon the son of Modron, who was taken from his mother when three nights +old?” The Stag said, “When first I came hither, there was a plain all +around me, without any trees save one oak sapling, which grew up to be an +oak with an hundred branches. And that oak has since perished, so that +now nothing remains of it but the withered stump; and from that day to +this I have been here, yet have I never heard of the man for whom you +inquire. Nevertheless, being an embassy from Arthur, I will be your +guide to the place where there is an animal which was formed before I +was.” + +So they proceeded to the place where was the Owl of Cwm Cawlwyd. “Owl of +Cwm Cawlwyd, here is an embassy from Arthur; knowest thou aught of Mabon +the son of Modron, who was taken after three nights from his mother?” +“If I knew I would tell you. When first I came hither, the wide valley +you see was a wooded glen. And a race of men came and rooted it up. And +there grew there a second wood; and this wood is the third. My wings, +are they not withered stumps? Yet all this time, even until to-day, I +have never heard of the man for whom you inquire. Nevertheless, I will +be the guide of Arthur’s embassy until you come to the place where is the +oldest animal in this world, and the one that has travelled most, the +Eagle of Gwern Abwy.” + +Gwrhyr said, “Eagle of Gwern Abwy, we have come to thee an embassy from +Arthur, to ask thee if thou knowest aught of Mabon the son of Modron, who +was taken from his mother when he was three nights old.” The Eagle said, +“I have been here for a great space of time, and when I first came hither +there was a rock here, from the top of which I pecked at the stars every +evening; and now it is not so much as a span high. From that day to this +I have been here, and I have never heard of the man for whom you inquire, +except once when I went in search of food as far as Llyn Llyw. And when +I came there, I struck my talons into a salmon, thinking he would serve +me as food for a long time. But he drew me into the deep, and I was +scarcely able to escape from him. After that I went with my whole +kindred to attack him, and to try to destroy him, but he sent messengers, +and made peace with me; and came and besought me to take fifty fish +spears out of his back. Unless he know something of him whom you seek, I +cannot tell who may. However, I will guide you to the place where he +is.” + +So they went thither; and the Eagle said, “Salmon of Llyn Llyw, I have +come to thee with an embassy from Arthur, to ask thee if thou knowest +aught concerning Mabon the son of Modron, who was taken away at three +nights old from his mother.” “As much as I know I will tell thee. With +every tide I go along the river upwards, until I come near to the walls +of Gloucester, and there have I found such wrong as I never found +elsewhere; and to the end that ye may give credence thereto, let one of +you go thither upon each of my two shoulders.” So Kai and Gwrhyr +Gwalstawt Ieithoedd went upon the two shoulders of the salmon, and they +proceeded until they came unto the wall of the prison, and they heard a +great wailing and lamenting from the dungeon. Said Gwrhyr, “Who is it +that laments in this house of stone?” “Alas, there is reason enough for +whoever is here to lament. It is Mabon the son of Modron who is here +imprisoned; and no imprisonment was ever so grievous as mine, neither +that of Lludd Llaw Ereint, nor that of Greid the son of Eri.” “Hast thou +hope of being released for gold or for silver, or for any gifts of +wealth, or through battle and fighting?” “By fighting will whatever I +may gain be obtained.” + +Then they went thence, and returned to Arthur, and they told him where +Mabon the son of Modron was imprisoned. And Arthur summoned the warriors +of the Island, and they journeyed as far as Gloucester, to the place +where Mabon was in prison. Kai and Bedwyr went upon the shoulders of the +fish, whilst the warriors of Arthur attacked the castle. And Kai broke +through the wall into the dungeon, and brought away the prisoner upon his +back, whilst the fight was going on between the warriors. And Arthur +returned home, and Mabon with him at liberty. + + * * * * * + +Said Arthur, “Which of the marvels will it be best for us now to seek +first?” “It will be best to seek for the two cubs of Gast Rhymhi.” “Is +it known,” asked Arthur, “where she is?” “She is in Aber Deu Cleddyf,” +said one. Then Arthur went to the house of Tringad, in Aber Cleddyf, and +he inquired of him whether he had heard of her there. “In what form may +she be?” “She is in the form of a she-wolf,” said he; “and with her +there are two cubs.” “She has often slain my herds, and she is there +below in a cave in Aber Cleddyf.” + +So Arthur went in his ship Prydwen by sea, and the others went by land, +to hunt her. And they surrounded her and her two cubs, and God did +change them again for Arthur into their own form. And the host of Arthur +dispersed themselves into parties of one and two. + + * * * * * + +On a certain day, as Gwythyr the son of Greidawl was walking over a +mountain, he heard a wailing and a grievous cry. And when he heard it, +he sprang forward, and went towards it. And when he came there, he drew +his sword, and smote off an ant-hill close to the earth, whereby it +escaped being burned in the fire. And the ants said to him, “Receive +from us the blessing of Heaven, and that which no man can give we will +give thee.” Then they fetched the nine bushels of flax-seed which +Yspaddaden Penkawr had required of Kilhwch, and they brought the full +measure without lacking any, except one flax-seed, and that the lame +pismire brought in before night. + + * * * * * + +As Kai and Bedwyr sat on a beacon carn on the summit of Plinlimmon, in +the highest wind that ever was in the world, they looked around them, and +saw a great smoke towards the south, afar off, which did not bend with +the wind. Then said Kai, “By the hand of my friend, behold, yonder is +the fire of a robber!” Then they hastened towards the smoke, and they +came so near to it, that they could see Dillus Varvawc scorching a wild +boar. “Behold, yonder is the greatest robber that ever fled from +Arthur,” said Bedwyr unto Kai. “Dost thou know him?” “I do know him,” +answered Kai, “he is Dillus Varvawc, and no leash in the world will be +able to hold Drudwyn, the cub of Greid the son of Eri, save a leash made +from the beard of him thou seest yonder. And even that will be useless, +unless his beard be plucked alive with wooden tweezers; for if dead, it +will be brittle.” “What thinkest thou that we should do concerning +this?” said Bedwyr. “Let us suffer him,” said Kai, “to eat as much as he +will of the meat, and after that he will fall asleep.” And during that +time they employed themselves in making the wooden tweezers. And when +Kai knew certainly that he was asleep, he made a pit under his feet, the +largest in the world, and he struck him a violent blow, and squeezed him +into the pit. And there they twitched out his beard completely with the +wooden tweezers; and after that they slew him altogether. + +And from thence they both went to Gelli Wic, in Cornwall, and took the +leash made of Dillus Varvawc’s beard with them, and they gave it into +Arthur’s hand. Then Arthur composed this Englyn— + + Kai made a leash + Of Dillus son of Eurei’s beard. + Were he alive, thy death he’d be. + +And thereupon Kai was wroth, so that the warriors of the Island could +scarcely make peace between Kai and Arthur. And thenceforth, neither in +Arthur’s troubles, nor for the slaying of his men, would Kai come forward +to his aid for ever after. + + * * * * * + +Said Arthur, “Which of the marvels is it best for us now to seek?” “It +is best for us to seek Drudwyn, the cub of Greid the son of Eri.” + +A little while before this, Creiddylad the daughter of Lludd Llaw Ereint, +and Gwythyr the son of Greidawl, were betrothed. And before she had +become his bride, Gwyn ap Nudd came and carried her away by force; and +Gwythyr the son of Greidawl gathered his host together, and went to fight +with Gwyn ap Nudd. But Gwyn overcame him, and captured Greid the son of +Eri, and Glinneu the son of Taran, and Gwrgwst Ledlwm, and Dynvarth his +son. And he captured Penn the son of Nethawg, and Nwython, and Kyledyr +Wyllt his son. And they slew Nwython, and took out his heart, and +constrained Kyledyr to eat the heart of his father. And therefrom +Kyledyr became mad. When Arthur heard of this, he went to the North, and +summoned Gwyn ap Nudd before him, and set free the nobles whom he had put +in prison, and made peace between Gwyn ap Nudd and Gwythyr the son of +Griedawl. And this was the peace that was made:—that the maiden should +remain in her father’s house, without advantage to either of them, and +that Gwyn ap Nudd and Gwythyr the son of Greidawl should fight for her +every first of May, from thenceforth until the day of doom, and that +whichever of them should then be conqueror should have the maiden. + +And when Arthur had thus reconciled these chieftains, he obtained Mygdwn, +Gweddw’s horse, and the leash of Cwrs Cant Ewin. + +And after that Arthur went into Armorica, and with him Mabon the son of +Mellt, and Gware Gwallt Euryn, to seek the two dogs of Glythmyr Ledewic. +And when he had got them, he went to the West of Ireland, in search of +Gwrgi Seven; and Odgar the son of Aedd king of Ireland went with him. +And thence went Arthur into the North, and captured Kyledyr Wyllt; and he +went after Yskithyrwyn Penbaedd. And Mabon the son of Mellt came with +the two dogs of Glythmyr Ledewic in his hand, and Drudwyn, the cub of +Greid the son of Eri. And Arthur went himself to the chase, leading his +own dog Cavall. And Kaw, of North Britain, mounted Arthur’s mare +Llamrei, and was first in the attack. Then Kaw, of North Britain, +wielded a mighty axe, and absolutely daring he came valiantly up to the +boar, and clave his head in twain. And Kaw took away the tusk. Now the +boar was not slain by the dogs that Yspaddaden had mentioned, but by +Cavall, Arthur’s own dog. + +And after Yskithyrwyn Penbaedd was killed, Arthur and his host departed +to Gelli Wic in Cornwall. And thence he sent Menw the son of Teirgwaedd +to see if the precious things were between the two ears of Twrch Trwyth, +since it were useless to encounter him if they were not there. Albeit it +was certain where he was, for he had laid waste the third part of +Ireland. And Menw went to seek for him, and he met with him in Ireland, +in Esgeir Oervel. And Menw took the form of a bird; and he descended +upon the top of his lair, and strove to snatch away one of the precious +things from him, but he carried away nothing but one of his bristles. +And the boar rose up angrily and shook himself so that some of his venom +fell upon Menw, and he was never well from that day forward. + +After this Arthur sent an embassy to Odgar, the son of Aedd king of +Ireland, to ask for the cauldron of Diwrnach Wyddel, his purveyor. And +Odgar commanded him to give it. But Diwrnach said, “Heaven is my +witness, if it would avail him anything even to look at it, he should not +do so.” And the embassy of Arthur returned from Ireland with this +denial. And Arthur set forward with a small retinue, and entered into +Prydwen, his ship, and went over to Ireland. And they proceeded into the +house of Diwrnach Wyddel. And the hosts of Odgar saw their strength. +When they had eaten and drunk as much as they desired, Arthur demanded to +have the cauldron. And he answered, “If I would have given it to any +one, I would have given it at the word of Odgar king of Ireland.” + +When he had given them this denial, Bedwyr arose and seized hold of the +cauldron, and placed it upon the back of Hygwyd, Arthur’s servant, who +was brother, by the mother’s side, to Arthur’s servant, Cachamwri. His +office was always to carry Arthur’s cauldron, and to place fire under it. +And Llenlleawg Wyddel seized Caledvwlch, and brandished it. And they +slew Diwrnach Wyddel and his company. Then came the Irish and fought +with them. And when he had put them to flight, Arthur with his men went +forward to the ship, carrying away the cauldron full of Irish money. And +he disembarked at the house of Llwydden the son of Kelcoed, at Porth +Kerddin in Dyved. And there is the measure of the cauldron. + +Then Arthur summoned unto him all the warriors that were in the three +Islands of Britain, and in the three Islands adjacent, and all that were +in France and in Armorica, in Normandy and in the Summer Country, and all +that were chosen footmen and valiant horsemen. And with all these he +went into Ireland. And in Ireland there was great fear and terror +concerning him. And when Arthur had landed in the country, there came +unto him the saints of Ireland and besought his protection. And he +granted his protection unto them, and they gave him their blessing. Then +the men of Ireland came unto Arthur, and brought him provisions. And +Arthur went as far as Esgeir Oervel in Ireland, to the place where the +Boar Trwyth was with his seven young pigs. And the dogs were let loose +upon him from all sides. That day until evening the Irish fought with +him, nevertheless he laid waste the fifth part of Ireland. And on the +day following the household of Arthur fought with him, and they were +worsted by him, and got no advantage. And the third day Arthur himself +encountered him, and he fought with him nine nights and nine days without +so much as killing even one little pig. The warriors inquired of Arthur +what was the origin of that swine; and he told them that he was once a +king, and that God had transformed him into a swine for his sins. + +Then Arthur sent Gwrhyr Gwalstawt Ieithoedd, to endeavour to speak with +him. And Gwrhyr assumed the form of a bird, and alighted upon the top of +the lair, where he was with the seven young pigs. And Gwrhyr Gwalstawt +Ieithoedd asked him, “By him who turned you into this form, if you can +speak, let some one of you, I beseech you, come and talk with Arthur.” +Grugyn Gwrych Ereint made answer to him. (Now his bristles were like +silver wire, and whether he went through the wood or through the plain, +he was to be traced by the glittering of his bristles.) And this was the +answer that Grugyn made: “By him who turned us into this form, we will +not do so, and we will not speak with Arthur. That we have been +transformed thus is enough for us to suffer, without your coming here to +fight with us.” “I will tell you. Arthur comes but to fight for the +comb, and the razor, and the scissors which are between the two ears of +Twrch Trwyth.” Said Grugyn, “Except he first take his life, he will +never have those precious things. And to-morrow morning we will rise up +hence, and we will go into Arthur’s country, and there will we do all the +mischief that we can.” + +So they set forth through the sea towards Wales. And Arthur and his +hosts, and his horses and his dogs, entered Prydwen, that they might +encounter them without delay. Twrch Trwyth landed in Porth Cleis in +Dyved, and Arthur came to Mynyw. The next day it was told to Arthur that +they had gone by, and he overtook them as they were killing the cattle of +Kynnwas Kwrr y Vagyl, having slain all that were at Aber Gleddyf, of man +and beast, before the coming of Arthur. + +Now when Arthur approached, Twrch Trwyth went on as far as Preseleu, and +Arthur and his hosts followed him thither, and Arthur sent men to hunt +him; Eli and Trachmyr, leading Drudwyn the whelp of Greid the son of Eri, +and Gwarthegyd the son of Kaw, in another quarter, with the two dogs of +Glythmyr Ledewic, and Bedwyr leading Cavall, Arthur’s own dog. And all +the warriors ranged themselves around the Nyver. And there came there +the three sons of Cleddyf Divwlch, men who had gained much fame at the +slaying of Yskithyrwyn Penbaedd; and they went on from Glyn Nyver, and +came to Cwm Kerwyn. + +And there Twrch Trwyth made a stand, and slew four of Arthur’s champions, +Gwarthegyd the son of Kaw, and Tarawc of Allt Clwyd, and Rheidwn the son +of Eli Atver, and Iscovan Hael. And after he had slain these men, he +made a second stand in the same place. And there he slew Gwydre the son +of Arthur, and Garselit Wyddel, and Glew the son of Ysgawd, and Iscawyn +the son of Panon; and there he himself was wounded. + +And the next morning before it was day, some of the men came up with him. +And he slew Huandaw, and Gogigwr, and Penpingon, three attendants upon +Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr, so that Heaven knows he had not an attendant +remaining, excepting only Llaesgevyn, a man from whom no one ever derived +any good. And together with these he slew many of the men of that +country, and Gwlydyn Saer, Arthur’s chief Architect. + +Then Arthur overtook him at Pelumyawc, and there he slew Madawc the son +of Teithyon, and Gwyn the son of Tringad, the son of Neved, and Eiryawn +Penllorau. Thence he went to Aberteivi, where he made another stand, and +where he slew Kyflas the son of Kynan, and Gwilenhin king of France. +Then he went as far as Glyn Ystu, and there the men and the dogs lost +him. + +Then Arthur summoned unto him Gwyn ab Nudd, and he asked him if he knew +aught of Twrch Trwyth. And he said that he did not. + +And all the huntsmen went to hunt the swine as far as Dyffryn Llychwr. +And Grugyn Gwallt Ereint and Llwydawg Govynnyad closed with them and +killed all the huntsmen, so that there escaped but one man only. And +Arthur and his hosts came to the place where Grugyn and Llwydawg were. +And there he let loose the whole of the dogs upon them, and with the +shout and barking that was set up, Twrch Trwyth came to their assistance. + +And from the time that they came across the Irish sea, Arthur had never +got sight of him until then. So he set men and dogs upon him, and +thereupon he started off and went to Mynydd Amanw. And there one of his +young pigs was killed. Then they set upon him life for life, and Twrch +Llawin was slain, and then there was slain another of the swine, Gwys was +his name. After that he went on to Dyffryn Amanw, and there Banw and +Bennwig were killed. Of all his pigs there went with him alive from that +place none save Grugyn Gwallt Ereint and Llwydawg Govynnyad. + +Thence he went on to Llwch Ewin, and Arthur overtook him there, and he +made a stand. And there he slew Echel Forddwytwll, and Garwyli the son +of Gwyddawg Gwyr, and many men and dogs likewise. And thence they went +to Llwch Tawy. Grugyn Gwrych Ereint parted from them there, and went to +Din Tywi. And thence he proceeded to Ceredigiawn, and Eli and Trachmyr +with him, and a multitude likewise. Then he came to Garth Gregyn, and +there Llwydawg Govynnyad fought in the midst of them, and slew Rhudvyw +Rhys and many others with him. Then Llwydawg went thence to Ystrad Yw, +and there the men of Armorica met him, and there he slew Hirpeissawg the +king of Armorica, and Llygatrudd Emys, and Gwrbothu, Arthur’s uncles, his +mother’s brothers, and there was he himself slain. + +Twrch Trwyth went from there to between Tawy and Euyas, and Arthur +summoned all Cornwall and Devon unto him, to the estuary of the Severn, +and he said to the warriors of this Island, “Twrch Trwyth has slain many +of my men, but, by the valour of warriors, while I live he shall not go +into Cornwall. And I will not follow him any longer, but I will oppose +him life to life. Do ye as ye will.” And he resolved that he would send +a body of knights, with the dogs of the Island, as far as Euyas, who +should return thence to the Severn, and that tried warriors should +traverse the Island, and force him into the Severn. And Mabon the son of +Modron came up with him at the Severn, upon Gwynn Mygdwn, the horse of +Gweddw, and Goreu the son of Custennin, and Menw the son of Teirgwaedd; +this was betwixt Llyn Lliwan and Aber Gwy. And Arthur fell upon him +together with the champions of Britain. And Osla Kyllellvawr drew near, +and Manawyddan the son of Llyr, and Kacmwri the servant of Arthur, and +Gwyngelli, and they seized hold of him, catching him first by his feet, +and plunged him in the Severn, so that it overwhelmed him. On the one +side, Mabon the son of Modron spurred his steed and snatched his razor +from him, and Kyledyr Wyllt came up with him on the other side, upon +another steed, in the Severn, and took from him the scissors. But before +they could obtain the comb, he had regained the ground with his feet, and +from the moment that he reached the shore, neither dog, nor man, nor +horse could overtake him until he came to Cornwall. If they had had +trouble in getting the jewels from him, much more had they in seeking to +save the two men from being drowned. Kacmwri, as they drew him forth, +was dragged by two millstones into the deep. And as Osla Kyllellvawr was +running after the boar, his knife had dropped out of the sheath, and he +had lost it, and after that, the sheath became full of water, and its +weight drew him down into the deep, as they were drawing him forth. + +Then Arthur and his hosts proceeded until they overtook the boar in +Cornwall, and the trouble which they had met with before was mere play to +what they encountered in seeking the comb. But from one difficulty to +another, the comb was at length obtained. And then he was hunted from +Cornwall, and driven straight forward into the deep sea. And thenceforth +it was never known whither he went; and Aned and Aethlem with him. Then +went Arthur to Gelli Wic, in Cornwall, to anoint himself, and to rest +from his fatigues. + +Said Arthur, “Is there any one of the marvels yet unobtained?” Said one +of his men, “There is—the blood of the witch Orddu, the daughter of the +witch Orwen, of Pen Nant Govid, on the confines of Hell.” Arthur set +forth towards the North, and came to the place where was the witch’s +cave. And Gwyn ab Nudd, and Gwythyr the son of Greidawl, counselled him +to send Kacmwri, and Hygwyd his brother, to fight with the witch. And as +they entered the cave, the witch seized upon them, and she caught Hygwyd +by the hair of his head, and threw him on the floor beneath her. And +Kacmwri caught her by the hair of her head, and dragged her to the earth +from off Hygwyd, but she turned again upon them both, and drove them both +out with kicks and with cuffs. + +And Arthur was wroth at seeing his two attendants almost slain, and he +sought to enter the cave; but Gwyn and Gwythyr said unto him, “It would +not be fitting or seemly for us to see thee squabbling with a hag. Let +Hiramreu and Hireidil go to the cave.” So they went. But if great was +the trouble of the first two that went, much greater was that of these +two. And Heaven knows that not one of the four could move from the spot, +until they placed them all upon Llamrei, Arthur’s mare. And then Arthur +rushed to the door of the cave, and at the door he struck at the witch, +with Carnwennan his dagger, and clove her in twain, so that she fell in +two parts. And Kaw, of North Britain, took the blood of the witch and +kept it. + +Then Kilhwch set forward, and Goreu the son of Custennin with him, and as +many as wished ill to Yspaddaden Penkawr. And they took the marvels with +them to his court. And Kaw of North Britain came and shaved his beard, +skin, and flesh clean off to the very bone from ear to ear. “Art thou +shaved, man?” said Kilhwch. “I am shaved,” answered he. “Is thy +daughter mine now?” “She is thine,” said he, “but therefore needest thou +not thank me, but Arthur who hath accomplished this for thee. By my free +will thou shouldest never have had her, for with her I lose my life.” +Then Goreu the son of Custennin seized him by the hair of his head, and +dragged him after him to the keep, and cut off his head and placed it on +a stake on the citadel. Then they took possession of his castle, and of +his treasures. + +And that night Olwen became Kilhwch’s bride, and she continued to be his +wife as long as she lived. And the hosts of Arthur dispersed themselves, +each man to his own country. And thus did Kilhwch obtain Olwen, the +daughter of Yspaddaden Penkawr. + + + + +THE DREAM OF RHONABWY + + +Madawc the son of Maredudd possessed Powys within its boundaries, from +Porfoed to Gwauan in the uplands of Arwystli. And at that time he had a +brother, Iorwerth the son of Maredudd, in rank not equal to himself. And +Iorwerth had great sorrow and heaviness because of the honour and power +that his brother enjoyed, which he shared not. And he sought his fellows +and his foster-brothers, and took counsel with them what he should do in +this matter. And they resolved to dispatch some of their number to go +and seek a maintenance for him. Then Madawc offered him to become Master +of the Household and to have horses, and arms, and honour, and to fare +like as himself. But Iorwerth refused this. + +And Iorwerth made an inroad into Loegria, slaying the inhabitants, and +burning houses, and carrying away prisoners. And Madawc took counsel +with the men of Powys, and they determined to place an hundred men in +each of the three Commots of Powys to seek for him. And thus did they in +the plains of Powys from Aber Ceirawc, and in Allictwn Ver, and in Rhyd +Wilure, on the Vyrnwy, the three best Commots of Powys. So he was none +the better, he nor his household, in Powys, nor in the plains thereof. +And they spread these men over the plains as far as Nillystwn Trevan. + +Now one of the men who was upon this quest was called Rhonabwy. And +Rhonabwy and Kynwrig Vrychgoch, a man of Mawddwy, and Cadwgan Vras, a man +of Moelvre in Kynlleith, came together to the house of Heilyn Goch the +son of Cadwgan the son of Iddon. And when they came near to the house, +they saw an old hall, very black and having an upright gable, whence +issued a great smoke; and on entering, they found the floor full of +puddles and mounds; and it was difficult to stand thereon, so slippery +was it with the mire of cattle. And where the puddles were, a man might +go up to his ankles in water and dirt. And there were boughs of holly +spread over the floor, whereof the cattle had browsed the sprigs. When +they came to the hall of the house, they beheld cells full of dust, and +very gloomy, and on one side an old hag making a fire. And whenever she +felt cold, she cast a lapful of chaff upon the fire, and raised such a +smoke, that it was scarcely to be borne, as it rose up the nostrils. And +on the other side was a yellow calf-skin on the floor; a main privilege +was it to any one who should get upon that hide. + +And when they had sat down, they asked the hag where were the people of +the house. And the hag spoke not, but muttered. Thereupon behold the +people of the house entered; a ruddy, clownish, curly-headed man, with a +burthen of faggots on his back, and a pale slender woman, also carrying a +bundle under her arm. And they barely welcomed the men, and kindled a +fire with the boughs. And the woman cooked something, and gave them to +eat, barley bread, and cheese, and milk and water. + +And there arose a storm of wind and rain, so that it was hardly possible +to go forth with safety. And being weary with their journey, they laid +themselves down and sought to sleep. And when they looked at the couch, +it seemed to be made but of a little coarse straw full of dust and +vermin, with the stems of boughs sticking up there-through, for the +cattle had eaten all the straw that was placed at the head and the foot. +And upon it was stretched an old russet-coloured rug, threadbare and +ragged; and a coarse sheet, full of slits, was upon the rug, and an +ill-stuffed pillow, and a worn-out cover upon the sheet. And after much +suffering from the vermin, and from the discomfort of their couch, a +heavy sleep fell on Rhonabwy’s companions. But Rhonabwy, not being able +either to sleep or to rest, thought he should suffer less if he went to +lie upon the yellow calf-skin that was stretched out on the floor. And +there he slept. + +As soon as sleep had come upon his eyes, it seemed to him that he was +journeying with his companions across the plain of Argyngroeg, and he +thought that he went towards Rhyd y Groes on the Severn. As he +journeyed, he heard a mighty noise, the like whereof heard he never +before; and looking behind him, he beheld a youth with yellow curling +hair, and with his beard newly trimmed, mounted on a chestnut horse, +whereof the legs were grey from the top of the forelegs, and from the +bend of the hindlegs downwards. And the rider wore a coat of yellow +satin sewn with green silk, and on his thigh was a gold-hilted sword, +with a scabbard of new leather of Cordova, belted with the skin of the +deer, and clasped with gold. And over this was a scarf of yellow satin +wrought with green silk, the borders whereof were likewise green. And +the green of the caparison of the horse, and of his rider, was as green +as the leaves of the fir-tree, and the yellow was as yellow as the +blossom of the broom. So fierce was the aspect of the knight, that fear +seized upon them, and they began to flee. And the knight pursued them. +And when the horse breathed forth, the men became distant from him, and +when he drew in his breath, they were drawn near to him, even to the +horse’s chest. And when he had overtaken them, they besought his mercy. +“You have it gladly,” said he, “fear nought.” “Ha, chieftain, since thou +hast mercy upon me, tell me also who thou art,” said Rhonabwy. “I will +not conceal my lineage from thee, I am Iddawc the son of Mynyo, yet not +by my name, but by my nickname am I best known.” “And wilt thou tell us +what thy nickname is?” “I will tell you; it is Iddawc Cordd Prydain.” +“Ha, chieftain,” said Rhonabwy, “why art thou called thus?” “I will tell +thee. I was one of the messengers between Arthur and Medrawd his nephew, +at the battle of Camlan; and I was then a reckless youth, and through my +desire for battle, I kindled strife between them, and stirred up wrath, +when I was sent by Arthur the Emperor to reason with Medrawd, and to show +him, that he was his foster-father and his uncle, and to seek for peace, +lest the sons of the Kings of the Island of Britain, and of the nobles, +should be slain. And whereas Arthur charged me with the fairest sayings +he could think of, I uttered unto Medrawd the harshest I could devise. +And therefore am I called Iddawc Cordd Prydain, for from this did the +battle of Camlan ensue. And three nights before the end of the battle of +Camlan I left them, and went to the Llech Las in North Britain to do +penance. And there I remained doing penance seven years, and after that +I gained pardon.” + +Then lo! they heard a mighty sound which was much louder than that which +they had heard before, and when they looked round towards the sound, they +beheld a ruddy youth, without beard or whiskers, noble of mien, and +mounted on a stately courser. And from the shoulders and the front of +the knees downwards the horse was bay. And upon the man was a dress of +red satin wrought with yellow silk, and yellow were the borders of his +scarf. And such parts of his apparel and of the trappings of his horse +as were yellow, as yellow were they as the blossom of the broom, and such +as were red, were as ruddy as the ruddiest blood in the world. + +Then, behold the horseman overtook them, and he asked of Iddawc a share +of the little men that were with him. “That which is fitting for me to +grant I will grant, and thou shalt be a companion to them as I have +been.” And the horseman went away. “Iddawc,” inquired Rhonabwy, “who +was that horseman?” “Rhuvawn Pebyr the son of Prince Deorthach.” + +And they journeyed over the plain of Argyngroeg as far as the ford of +Rhyd y Groes on the Severn. And for a mile around the ford on both sides +of the road, they saw tents and encampments, and there was the clamour of +a mighty host. And they came to the edge of the ford, and there they +beheld Arthur sitting on a flat island below the ford, having Bedwini the +Bishop on one side of him, and Gwarthegyd the son of Kaw on the other. +And a tall, auburn-haired youth stood before him, with his sheathed sword +in his hand, and clad in a coat and cap of jet-black satin. And his face +was white as ivory, and his eyebrows black as jet, and such part of his +wrist as could be seen between his glove and his sleeve, was whiter than +the lily, and thicker than a warrior’s ankle. + +Then came Iddawc and they that were with him, and stood before Arthur and +saluted him. “Heaven grant thee good,” said Arthur. “And where, Iddawc, +didst thou find these little men?” “I found them, lord, up yonder on the +road.” Then the Emperor smiled. “Lord,” said Iddawc, “wherefore dost +thou laugh?” “Iddawc,” replied Arthur, “I laugh not; but it pitieth me +that men of such stature as these should have this island in their +keeping, after the men that guarded it of yore.” Then said Iddawc, +“Rhonabwy, dost thou see the ring with a stone set in it, that is upon +the Emperor’s hand?” “I see it,” he answered. “It is one of the +properties of that stone to enable thee to remember that thou seest here +to-night, and hadst thou not seen the stone, thou wouldest never have +been able to remember aught thereof.” + +After this they saw a troop coming towards the ford. “Iddawc,” inquired +Rhonabwy, “to whom does yonder troop belong?” “They are the fellows of +Rhuvawn Pebyr the son of Prince Deorthach. And these men are honourably +served with mead and bragget, and are freely beloved by the daughters of +the kings of the Island of Britain. And this they merit, for they were +ever in the front and the rear in every peril.” And he saw but one hue +upon the men and the horses of this troop, for they were all as red as +blood. And when one of the knights rode forth from the troop, he looked +like a pillar of fire glancing athwart the sky. And this troop encamped +above the ford. + +Then they beheld another troop coming towards the ford, and these from +their horses’ chests upwards were whiter than the lily, and below blacker +than jet. And they saw one of these knights go before the rest, and spur +his horse into the ford in such a manner that the water dashed over +Arthur and the Bishop, and those holding counsel with them, so that they +were as wet as if they had been drenched in the river. And as he turned +the head of his horse, the youth who stood before Arthur struck the horse +over the nostrils with his sheathed sword, so that, had it been with the +bare blade, it would have been a marvel if the bone had not been wounded +as well as the flesh. And the knight drew his sword half out of the +scabbard, and asked of him, “Wherefore didst thou strike my horse? +Whether was it in insult or in counsel unto me?” “Thou dost indeed lack +counsel. What madness caused thee to ride so furiously as to dash the +water of the ford over Arthur, and the consecrated Bishop, and their +counsellors, so that they were as wet as if they had been dragged out of +the river?” “As counsel then will I take it.” So he turned his horse’s +head round towards his army. + +“Iddawc,” said Rhonabwy, “who was yonder knight?” “The most eloquent and +the wisest youth that is in this island; Adaon, the son of Taliesin.” +“Who was the man that struck his horse?” “A youth of froward nature; +Elphin, the son of Gwyddno.” + +Then spake a tall and stately man, of noble and flowing speech, saying +that it was a marvel that so vast a host should be assembled in so narrow +a space, and that it was a still greater marvel that those should be +there at that time who had promised to be by mid-day in the battle of +Badon, fighting with Osla Gyllellvawr. “Whether thou mayest choose to +proceed or not, I will proceed.” “Thou sayest well,” said Arthur, “and +we will go altogether.” “Iddawc,” said Rhonabwy, “who was the man who +spoke so marvellously unto Arthur erewhile?” “A man who may speak as +boldly as he listeth, Caradawc Vreichvras, the son of Llyr Marini, his +chief counsellor and his cousin.” + +Then Iddawc took Rhonabwy behind him on his horse, and that mighty host +moved forward, each troop in its order, towards Cevndigoll. And when +they came to the middle of the ford of the Severn, Iddawc turned his +horse’s head, and Rhonabwy looked along the valley of the Severn. And he +beheld two fair troops coming towards the ford. One troop there came of +brilliant white, whereof every one of the men had a scarf of white satin +with jet-black borders. And the knees and the tops of the shoulders of +their horses were jet-black, though they were of a pure white in every +other part. And their banners were pure white, with black points to them +all. + +“Iddawc,” said Rhonabwy, “who are yonder pure white troop?” “They are +the men of Norway, and March the son of Meirchion is their prince. And +he is cousin unto Arthur.” And further on he saw a troop, whereof each +man wore garments of jet-black, with borders of pure white to every +scarf; and the tops of the shoulders and the knees of their horses were +pure white. And their banners were jet-black with pure white at the +point of each. + +“Iddawc,” said Rhonabwy, “who are the jet-black troop yonder?” “They are +the men of Denmark, and Edeyrn the son of Nudd is their prince.” + +And when they had overtaken the host, Arthur and his army of mighty ones +dismounted below Caer Badou, and he perceived that he and Iddawc +journeyed the same road as Arthur. And after they had dismounted he +heard a great tumult and confusion amongst the host, and such as were +then at the flanks turned to the centre, and such as had been in the +centre moved to the flanks. And then, behold, he saw a knight coming, +clad, both he and his horse, in mail, of which the rings were whiter than +the whitest lily, and the rivets redder than the ruddiest blood. And he +rode amongst the host. + +“Iddawc,” said Rhonabwy, “will yonder host flee?” “King Arthur never +fled, and if this discourse of thine were heard, thou wert a lost man. +But as to the knight whom thou seest yonder, it is Kai. The fairest +horseman is Kai in all Arthur’s Court; and the men who are at the front +of the army hasten to the rear to see Kai ride, and the men who are in +the centre flee to the side, from the shock of his horse. And this is +the cause of the confusion of the host.” + +Thereupon they heard a call made for Kadwr, Earl of Cornwall, and behold +he arose with the sword of Arthur in his hand. And the similitude of two +serpents was upon the sword in gold. And when the sword was drawn from +its scabbard, it seemed as if two flames of fire burst forth from the +jaws of the serpents, and then, so wonderful was the sword, that it was +hard for any one to look upon it. And the host became still, and the +tumult ceased, and the Earl returned to the tent. + +“Iddawc,” said Rhonabwy, “who is the man who bore the sword of Arthur?” +“Kadwr, the Earl of Cornwall, whose duty it is to arm the King on the +days of battle and warfare.” + +And they heard a call made for Eirynwych Amheibyn, Arthur’s servant, a +red, rough, ill-favoured man, having red whiskers with bristly hairs. +And behold he came upon a tall red horse with the mane parted on each +side, and he brought with him a large and beautiful sumpter pack. And +the huge red youth dismounted before Arthur, and he drew a golden chair +out of the pack, and a carpet of diapered satin. And he spread the +carpet before Arthur, and there was an apple of ruddy gold at each corner +thereof, and he placed the chair upon the carpet. And so large was the +chair that three armed warriors might have sat therein. Gwenn was the +name of the carpet, and it was one of its properties that whoever was +upon it no one could see him, and he could see every one. And it would +retain no colour but its own. + +And Arthur sat within the carpet, and Owain the son of Urien was standing +before him. “Owain,” said Arthur, “wilt thou play chess?” “I will, +Lord,” said Owain. And the red youth brought the chess for Arthur and +Owain; golden pieces and a board of silver. And they began to play. + +And while they were thus, and when they were best amused with their game, +behold they saw a white tent with a red canopy, and the figure of a +jet-black serpent on the top of the tent, and red glaring venomous eyes +in the head of the serpent, and a red flaming tongue. And there came a +young page with yellow curling hair, and blue eyes, and a newly-springing +beard, wearing a coat and a surcoat of yellow satin, and hose of thin +greenish-yellow cloth upon his feet, and over his hose shoes of +parti-coloured leather, fastened at the insteps with golden clasps. And +he bore a heavy three-edged sword with a golden hilt, in a scabbard of +black leather tipped with fine gold. And he came to the place where the +Emperor and Owain were playing at chess. + +And the youth saluted Owain. And Owain marvelled that the youth should +salute him and should not have saluted the Emperor Arthur. And Arthur +knew what was in Owain’s thought. And he said to Owain, “Marvel not that +the youth salutes thee now, for he saluted me erewhile; and it is unto +thee that his errand is.” Then said the youth unto Owain, “Lord, is it +with thy leave that the young pages and attendants of the Emperor harass +and torment and worry thy Ravens? And if it be not with thy leave, cause +the Emperor to forbid them.” “Lord,” said Owain, “thou hearest what the +youth says; if it seem good to thee, forbid them from my Ravens.” “Play +thy game,” said he. Then the youth returned to the tent. + +That game did they finish, and another they began, and when they were in +the midst of the game, behold, a ruddy young man with auburn curling hair +and large eyes, well-grown, and having his beard new-shorn, came forth +from a bright yellow tent, upon the summit of which was the figure of a +bright red lion. And he was clad in a coat of yellow satin, falling as +low as the small of his leg, and embroidered with threads of red silk. +And on his feet were hose of fine white buckram, and buskins of black +leather were over his hose, whereon were golden clasps. And in his hand +a huge, heavy, three-edged sword, with a scabbard of red deer-hide, +tipped with gold. And he came to the place where Arthur and Owain were +playing at chess. And he saluted him. And Owain was troubled at his +salutation, but Arthur minded it no more than before. And the youth said +unto Owain, “Is it not against thy will that the attendants of the +Emperor harass thy Ravens, killing some and worrying others? If against +thy will it be, beseech him to forbid them.” “Lord,” said Owain, “forbid +thy men, if it seem good to thee.” “Play thy game,” said the Emperor. +And the youth returned to the tent. + +And that game was ended and another begun. And as they were beginning +the first move of the game, they beheld at a small distance from them a +tent speckled yellow, the largest ever seen, and the figure of an eagle +of gold upon it, and a precious stone on the eagle’s head. And coming +out of the tent, they saw a youth with thick yellow hair upon his head, +fair and comely, and a scarf of blue satin upon him, and a brooch of gold +in the scarf upon his right shoulder as large as a warrior’s middle +finger. And upon his feet were hose of fine Totness, and shoes of +parti-coloured leather, clasped with gold, and the youth was of noble +bearing, fair of face, with ruddy cheeks and large hawk’s eyes. In the +hand of the youth was a mighty lance, speckled yellow, with a +newly-sharpened head; and upon the lance a banner displayed. + +Fiercely angry, and with rapid pace, came the youth to the place where +Arthur was playing at chess with Owain. And they perceived that he was +wroth. And thereupon he saluted Owain, and told him that his Ravens had +been killed, the chief part of them, and that such of them as were not +slain were so wounded and bruised that not one of them could raise its +wings a single fathom above the earth. “Lord,” said Owain, “forbid thy +men.” “Play,” said he, “if it please thee.” Then said Owain to the +youth, “Go back, and wherever thou findest the strife at the thickest, +there lift up the banner, and let come what pleases Heaven.” + +So the youth returned back to the place where the strife bore hardest +upon the Ravens, and he lifted up the banner; and as he did so they all +rose up in the air, wrathful and fierce and high of spirit, clapping +their wings in the wind, and shaking off the weariness that was upon +them. And recovering their energy and courage, furiously and with +exultation did they, with one sweep, descend upon the heads of the men, +who had erewhile caused them anger and pain and damage, and they seized +some by the heads and others by the eyes, and some by the ears, and +others by the arms, and carried them up into the air; and in the air +there was a mighty tumult with the flapping of the wings of the +triumphant Ravens, and with their croaking; and there was another mighty +tumult with the groaning of the men, that were being torn and wounded, +and some of whom were slain. + +And Arthur and Owain marvelled at the tumult as they played at chess; +and, looking, they perceived a knight upon a dun-coloured horse coming +towards them. And marvellous was the hue of the dun horse. Bright red +was his right shoulder, and from the top of his legs to the centre of his +hoof was bright yellow. Both the knight and his horse were fully +equipped with heavy foreign armour. The clothing of the horse from the +front opening upwards was of bright red sendal, and from thence opening +downwards was of bright yellow sendal. A large gold-hilted one-edged +sword had the youth upon his thigh, in a scabbard of light blue, and +tipped with Spanish laton. The belt of the sword was of dark green +leather with golden slides and a clasp of ivory upon it, and a buckle of +jet-black upon the clasp. A helmet of gold was on the head of the +knight, set with precious stones of great virtue, and at the top of the +helmet was the image of a flame-coloured leopard with two ruby-red stones +in its head, so that it was astounding for a warrior, however stout his +heart, to look at the face of the leopard, much more at the face of the +knight. He had in his hand a blue-shafted lance, but from the haft to +the point it was stained crimson-red with the blood of the Ravens and +their plumage. + +The knight came to the place where Arthur and Owain were seated at chess. +And they perceived that he was harassed and vexed and weary as he came +towards them. And the youth saluted Arthur, and told him that the Ravens +of Owain were slaying his young men and attendants. And Arthur looked at +Owain and said, “Forbid thy Ravens.” “Lord,” answered Owain, “play thy +game.” And they played. And the knight returned back towards the +strife, and the Ravens were not forbidden any more than before. + +And when they had played awhile, they heard a mighty tumult, and a +wailing of men, and a croaking of Ravens, as they carried the men in +their strength into the air, and, tearing them betwixt them, let them +fall piecemeal to the earth. And during the tumult they saw a knight +coming towards them, on a light grey horse, and the left foreleg of the +horse was jet-black to the centre of his hoof. And the knight and the +horse were fully accoutred with huge heavy blue armour. And a robe of +honour of yellow diapered satin was upon the knight, and the borders of +the robe were blue. And the housings of the horse were jet-black, with +borders of bright yellow. And on the thigh of the youth was a sword, +long, and three-edged, and heavy. And the scabbard was of red cut +leather, and the belt of new red deer-skin, having upon it many golden +slides and a buckle of the bone of the sea-horse, the tongue of which was +jet-black. A golden helmet was upon the head of the knight, wherein were +set sapphire-stones of great virtue. And at the top of the helmet was +the figure of a flame-coloured lion, with a fiery-red tongue, issuing +above a foot from his mouth, and with venomous eyes, crimson-red, in his +head. And the knight came, bearing in his hand a thick ashen lance, the +head whereof, which had been newly steeped in blood, was overlaid with +silver. + +And the youth saluted the Emperor: “Lord,” said he, “carest thou not for +the slaying of thy pages, and thy young men, and the sons of the nobles +of the Island of Britain, whereby it will be difficult to defend this +island from henceforward for ever?” “Owain,” said Arthur, “forbid thy +Ravens.” “Play this game, Lord,” said Owain. + +So they finished the game and began another; and as they were finishing +that game, lo, they heard a great tumult and a clamour of armed men, and +a croaking of Ravens, and a flapping of wings in the air, as they flung +down the armour entire to the ground, and the men and the horses +piecemeal. Then they saw coming a knight on a lofty-headed piebald +horse. And the left shoulder of the horse was of bright red, and its +right leg from the chest to the hollow of the hoof was pure white. And +the knight and horse were equipped with arms of speckled yellow, +variegated with Spanish laton. And there was a robe of honour upon him, +and upon his horse, divided in two parts, white and black, and the +borders of the robe of honour were of golden purple. And above the robe +he wore a sword three-edged and bright, with a golden hilt. And the belt +of the sword was of yellow goldwork, having a clasp upon it of the eyelid +of a black sea-horse, and a tongue of yellow gold to the clasp. Upon the +head of the knight was a bright helmet of yellow laton, with sparkling +stones of crystal in it, and at the crest of the helmet was the figure of +a griffin, with a stone of many virtues in its head. And he had an ashen +spear in his hand, with a round shaft, coloured with azure blue. And the +head of the spear was newly stained with blood, and was overlaid with +fine silver. + +Wrathfully came the knight to the place where Arthur was, and he told him +that the Ravens had slain his household and the sons of the chief men of +this island, and he besought him to cause Owain to forbid his Ravens. +And Arthur besought Owain to forbid them. Then Arthur took the golden +chessmen that were upon the board, and crushed them until they became as +dust. Then Owain ordered Gwres the son of Rheged to lower his banner. +So it was lowered, and all was peace. + +Then Rhonabwy inquired of Iddawc who were the first three men that came +to Owain, to tell him his Ravens were being slain. Said Iddawc, “They +were men who grieved that Owain should suffer loss, his fellow-chieftains +and companions, Selyv the son of Kynan Garwyn of Powys, and Gwgawn +Gleddyvrudd, and Gwres the son of Rheged, he who bears the banner in the +day of battle and strife.” “Who,” said Rhonabwy, “were the last three +men who came to Arthur, and told him that the Ravens were slaughtering +his men?” “The best of men,” said Iddawc, “and the bravest, and who +would grieve exceedingly that Arthur should have damage in aught; +Blathaon the son of Mawrheth, and Rhuvawn Pebyr the son of Prince +Deorthach, and Hyveidd Unllenn.” + +And with that behold four-and-twenty knights came from Osla Gyllellvawr, +to crave a truce of Arthur for a fortnight and a month. And Arthur rose +and went to take counsel. And he came to where a tall, auburn, +curly-headed man was a little way off, and there he assembled his +counsellors. Bedwini, the Bishop, and Gwarthegyd the son of Kaw, and +March the son of Meirchawn, and Caradawc Vreichvras, and Gwalchmai the +son of Gwyar, and Edeyrn the son of Nudd, and Rhuvawn Pebyr the son of +Prince Deorthach, and Rhiogan the son of the King of Ireland, and +Gwenwynwyn the son of Nav, Howel the son of Emyr Llydaw, Gwilym the son +of Rhwyf Freinc, and Daned the son of Ath, and Goreu Custennin, and Mabon +the son of Modron, and Peredur Paladyr Hir, and Hyveidd Unllenn, and +Twrch the son of Perif, and Nerth the son of Kadarn, and Gobrwy the son +of Echel Vorddwyttwll, Gwair the son of Gwestyl, and Gadwy the son of +Geraint, Trystan the son of Tallwch, Moryen Manawc, Granwen the son of +Llyr, and Llacheu the son of Arthur, and Llawvrodedd Varvawc, and Kadwr +Earl of Cornwall, Morvran the son of Tegid, and Rhyawd the son of +Morgant, and Dyvyr the son of Alun Dyved, Gwrhyr Gwalstawd Ieithoedd, +Adaon the son of Taliesin, Llary the son of Kasnar Wledig, and Fflewddur +Fflam, and Greidawl Galldovydd, Gilbert the son of Kadgyffro, Menw the +son of Teirgwaedd, Gwrthmwl Wledig, Cawrdav the son of Caradawc +Vreichvras, Gildas the son of Kaw, Kadyriaith the son of Saidi, and many +of the men of Norway and Denmark, and many of the men of Greece, and a +crowd of the men of the host came to that council. + +“Iddawc,” said Rhonabwy, “who was the auburn haired man to whom they came +just now?” “Rhun the son of Maelgwn Gwynedd, a man whose prerogative it +is, that he may join in counsel with all.” “And wherefore did they admit +into counsel with men of such dignity as are yonder a stripling so young +as Kadyriaith the son of Saidi?” “Because there is not throughout +Britain a man better skilled in counsel than he.” + +Thereupon, behold, bards came and recited verses before Arthur, and no +man understood those verses but Kadyriaith only, save that they were in +Arthur’s praise. + +And lo, there came four-and-twenty asses with their burdens of gold and +of silver, and a tired way-worn man with each of them, bringing tribute +to Arthur from the Islands of Greece. Then Kadyriaith the son of Saidi +besought that a truce might be granted to Osla Gyllellvawr for the space +of a fortnight and a month, and that the asses and the burdens they +carried might be given to the bards, to be to them as the reward for +their stay and that their verse might be recompensed during the time of +the truce. And thus it was settled. + +“Rhonabwy,” said Iddawc, “would it not be wrong to forbid a youth who can +give counsel so liberal as this from coming to the councils of his Lord?” + +Then Kai arose, and he said, “Whosoever will follow Arthur, let him be +with him to-night in Cornwall, and whosoever will not, let him be opposed +to Arthur even during the truce.” And through the greatness of the +tumult that ensued, Rhonabwy awoke. And when he awoke he was upon the +yellow calf-skin, having slept three nights and three days. + +And this tale is called the Dream of Rhonabwy. And this is the reason +that no one knows the dream without a book, neither bard nor gifted seer; +because of the various colours that were upon the horses, and the many +wondrous colours of the arms and of the panoply, and of the precious +scarfs, and of the virtue-bearing stones. + + + + +PWYLL PRINCE OF DYVED + + +Pwyll PRINCE OF DYVED was lord of the seven Cantrevs of Dyved; and once +upon a time he was at Narberth his chief palace, and he was minded to +go and hunt, and the part of his dominions in which it pleased him to +hunt was Glyn Cuch. So he set forth from Narberth that night, and went +as far as Llwyn Diarwyd. And that night he tarried there, and early on +the morrow he rose and came to Glyn Cuch, when he let loose the dogs in +the wood, and sounded the horn, and began the chase. And as he +followed the dogs, he lost his companions; and whilst he listened to +the hounds, he heard the cry of other hounds, a cry different from his +own, and coming in the opposite direction. + +And he beheld a glade in the wood forming a level plain, and as his dogs +came to the edge of the glade, he saw a stag before the other dogs. And +lo, as it reached the middle of the glade, the dogs that followed the +stag overtook it and brought it down. Then looked he at the colour of +the dogs, staying not to look at the stag, and of all the hounds that he +had seen in the world, he had never seen any that were like unto these. +For their hair was of a brilliant shining white, and their ears were red; +and as the whiteness of their bodies shone, so did the redness of their +ears glisten. And he came towards the dogs, and drove away those that +had brought down the stag, and set his own dogs upon it. + +And as he was setting on his dogs he saw a horseman coming towards him +upon a large light-grey steed, with a hunting horn round his neck, and +clad in garments of grey woollen in the fashion of a hunting garb. And +the horseman drew near and spoke unto him thus. “Chieftain,” said he, “I +know who thou art, and I greet thee not.” “Peradventure,” said Pwyll, +“thou art of such dignity that thou shouldest not do so.” “Verily,” +answered he, “it is not my dignity that prevents me.” “What is it then, +O Chieftain?” asked he. “By Heaven, it is by reason of thine own +ignorance and want of courtesy.” “What discourtesy, Chieftain, hast thou +seen in me?” “Greater discourtesy saw I never in man,” said he, “than to +drive away the dogs that were killing the stag and to set upon it thine +own. This was discourteous, and though I may not be revenged upon thee, +yet I declare to Heaven that I will do thee more dishonour than the value +of an hundred stags.” “O Chieftain,” he replied, “if I have done ill I +will redeem thy friendship.” “How wilt thou redeem it?” “According as +thy dignity may be, but I know not who thou art?” “A crowned king am I +in the land whence I come.” “Lord,” said he, “may the day prosper with +thee, and from what land comest thou?” “From Annwvyn,” {2} answered he; +“Arawn, a King of Annwvyn, am I.” “Lord,” said he, “how may I gain thy +friendship?” “After this manner mayest thou,” he said. “There is a man +whose dominions are opposite to mine, who is ever warring against me, and +he is Havgan, a King of Annwvyn, and by ridding me of this oppression, +which thou canst easily do, shalt thou gain my friendship.” “Gladly will +I do this,” said he. “Show me how I may.” “I will show thee. Behold +thus it is thou mayest. I will make firm friendship with thee; and this +will I do. I will send thee to Annwvyn in my stead, and I will give thee +the fairest lady thou didst ever behold to be thy companion, and I will +put my form and semblance upon thee, so that not a page of the chamber, +nor an officer, nor any other man that has always followed me shall know +that it is not I. And this shall be for the space of a year from +to-morrow, and then we will meet in this place.” “Yes,” said he; “but +when I shall have been there for the space of a year, by what means shall +I discover him of whom thou speakest?” “One year from this night,” he +answered, “is the time fixed between him and me that we should meet at +the Ford; be thou there in my likeness, and with one stroke that thou +givest him, he shall no longer live. And if he ask thee to give him +another, give it not, how much soever he may entreat thee, for when I did +so, he fought with me next day as well as ever before.” “Verily,” said +Pwyll, “what shall I do concerning my kingdom?” Said Arawn, “I will +cause that no one in all thy dominions, neither man nor woman, shall know +that I am not thou, and I will go there in thy stead.” “Gladly then,” +said Pwyll, “will I set forward.” “Clear shall be thy path, and nothing +shall detain thee, until thou come into my dominions, and I myself will +be thy guide!” + +So he conducted him until he came in sight of the palace and its +dwellings. “Behold,” said he, “the Court and the kingdom in thy power. +Enter the Court, there is no one there who will know thee, and when thou +seest what service is done there, thou wilt know the customs of the +Court.” + +So he went forward to the Court, and when he came there, he beheld +sleeping-rooms, and halls, and chambers, and the most beautiful buildings +ever seen. And he went into the hall to disarray, and there came youths +and pages and disarrayed him, and all as they entered saluted him. And +two knights came and drew his hunting-dress from about him, and clothed +him in a vesture of silk and gold. And the hall was prepared, and behold +he saw the household and the host enter in, and the host was the most +comely and the best equipped that he had ever seen. And with them came +in likewise the Queen, who was the fairest woman that he had ever yet +beheld. And she had on a yellow robe of shining satin; and they washed +and went to the table, and sat, the Queen upon one side of him, and one +who seemed to be an Earl on the other side. + +And he began to speak with the Queen, and he thought, from her speech, +that she was the seemliest and most noble lady of converse and of cheer +that ever was. And they partook of meat, and drink, with songs and with +feasting; and of all the Courts upon the earth, behold this was the best +supplied with food and drink, and vessels of gold and royal jewels. + + * * * * * + +And the year he spent in hunting, and minstrelsy, and feasting, and +diversions, and discourse with his companions until the night that was +fixed for the conflict. And when that night came, it was remembered even +by those who lived in the furthest part of his dominions, and he went to +the meeting, and the nobles of the kingdom with him. And when he came to +the Ford, a knight arose and spake thus. “Lords,” said he, “listen well. +It is between two kings that this meeting is, and between them only. +Each claimeth of the other his land and territory, and do all of you +stand aside and leave the fight to be between them.” + +Thereupon the two kings approached each other in the middle of the Ford, +and encountered, and at the first thrust, the man who was in the stead of +Arawn struck Havgan on the centre of the boss of his shield, so that it +was cloven in twain, and his armour was broken, and Havgan himself was +borne to the ground an arm’s and a spear’s length over the crupper of his +horse, and he received a deadly blow. “O Chieftain,” said Havgan, “what +right hast thou to cause my death? I was not injuring thee in anything, +and I know not wherefore thou wouldest slay me. But, for the love of +Heaven, since thou hast begun to slay me, complete thy work.” “Ah, +Chieftain,” he replied, “I may yet repent doing that unto thee, slay thee +who may, I will not do so.” “My trusty Lords,” said Havgan, “bear me +hence. My death has come. I shall be no more able to uphold you.” “My +Nobles,” also said he who was in the semblance of Arawn, “take counsel +and know who ought to be my subjects.” “Lord,” said the Nobles, “all +should be, for there is no king over the whole of Annwvyn but thee.” +“Yes,” he replied, “it is right that he who comes humbly should be +received graciously, but he that doth not come with obedience, shall be +compelled by the force of swords.” And thereupon he received the homage +of the men, and he began to conquer the country; and the next day by noon +the two kingdoms were in his power. And thereupon he went to keep his +tryst, and came to Glyn Cuch. + +And when he came there, the King of Annwvyn was there to meet him, and +each of them was rejoiced to see the other. “Verily,” said Arawn, “may +Heaven reward thee for thy friendship towards me. I have heard of it. +When thou comest thyself to thy dominions,” said he, “thou wilt see that +which I have done for thee.” “Whatever thou hast done for me, may Heaven +repay it thee.” + +Then Arawn gave to Pwyll Prince of Dyved his proper form and semblance, +and he himself took his own; and Arawn set forth towards the Court of +Annwvyn; and he was rejoiced when he beheld his hosts, and his household, +whom he had not seen so long; but they had not known of his absence, and +wondered no more at his coming than usual. And that day was spent in joy +and merriment; and he sat and conversed with his wife and his nobles. +And when it was time for them rather to sleep than to carouse, they went +to rest. + + * * * * * + +Pwyll Prince of Dyved came likewise to his country and dominions, and +began to inquire of the nobles of the land, how his rule had been during +the past year, compared with what it had been before. “Lord,” said they, +“thy wisdom was never so great, and thou wast never so kind or so free in +bestowing thy gifts, and thy justice was never more worthily seen than in +this year.” “By Heaven,” said he, “for all the good you have enjoyed, +you should thank him who hath been with you; for behold, thus hath this +matter been.” And thereupon Pwyll related the whole unto them. “Verily, +Lord,” said they, “render thanks unto Heaven that thou hast such a +fellowship, and withhold not from us the rule which we have enjoyed for +this year past.” “I take Heaven to witness that I will not withhold it,” +answered Pwyll. + +And thenceforth they made strong the friendship that was between them, +and each sent unto the other horses, and greyhounds, and hawks, and all +such jewels as they thought would be pleasing to each other. And by +reason of his having dwelt that year in Annwvyn, and having ruled there +so prosperously, and united the two kingdoms in one day by his valour and +prowess, he lost the name of Pwyll Prince of Dyved, and was called Pwyll +Chief of Annwvyn from that time forward. + + * * * * * + +Once upon a time, Pwyll was at Narberth his chief palace, where a feast +had been prepared for him, and with him was a great host of men. And +after the first meal, Pwyll arose to walk, and he went to the top of a +mound that was above the palace, and was called Gorsedd Arberth. “Lord,” +said one of the Court, “it is peculiar to the mound that whosoever sits +upon it cannot go thence, without either receiving wounds or blows, or +else seeing a wonder.” “I fear not to receive wounds and blows in the +midst of such a host as this, but as to the wonder, gladly would I see +it. I will go therefore and sit upon the mound.” + +And upon the mound he sat. And while he sat there, they saw a lady, on a +pure white horse of large size, with a garment of shining gold around +her, coming along the highway that led from the mound; and the horse +seemed to move at a slow and even pace, and to be coming up towards the +mound. “My men,” said Pwyll, “is there any among you who knows yonder +lady?” “There is not, Lord,” said they. “Go one of you and meet her, +that we may know who she is.” And one of them arose, and as he came upon +the road to meet her, she passed by, and he followed as fast as he could, +being on foot; and the greater was his speed, the further was she from +him. And when he saw that it profited him nothing to follow her, he +returned to Pwyll, and said unto him, “Lord, it is idle for any one in +the world to follow her on foot.” “Verily,” said Pwyll, “go unto the +palace, and take the fleetest horse that thou seest, and go after her.” + +And he took a horse and went forward. And he came to an open level +plain, and put spurs to his horse; and the more he urged his horse, the +further was she from him. Yet she held the same pace as at first. And +his horse began to fail; and when his horse’s feet failed him, he +returned to the place where Pwyll was. “Lord,” said he, “it will avail +nothing for any one to follow yonder lady. I know of no horse in these +realms swifter than this, and it availed me not to pursue her.” “Of a +truth,” said Pwyll, “there must be some illusion here. Let us go towards +the palace.” So to the palace they went, and they spent that day. And +the next day they arose, and that also they spent until it was time to go +to meat. And after the first meal, “Verily,” said Pwyll, “we will go the +same party as yesterday to the top of the mound. And do thou,” said he +to one of his young men, “take the swiftest horse that thou knowest in +the field.” And thus did the young man. And they went towards the +mound, taking the horse with them. And as they were sitting down they +beheld the lady on the same horse, and in the same apparel, coming along +the same road. “Behold,” said Pwyll, “here is the lady of yesterday. +Make ready, youth, to learn who she is.” “My lord,” said he, “that will +I gladly do.” And thereupon the lady came opposite to them. So the +youth mounted his horse; and before he had settled himself in his saddle, +she passed by, and there was a clear space between them. But her speed +was no greater than it had been the day before. Then he put his horse +into an amble, and thought that notwithstanding the gentle pace at which +his horse went, he should soon overtake her. But this availed him not; +so he gave his horse the reins. And still he came no nearer to her than +when he went at a foot’s pace. And the more he urged his horse, the +further was she from him. Yet she rode not faster than before. When he +saw that it availed not to follow her, he returned to the place where +Pwyll was. “Lord,” said he, “the horse can no more than thou hast seen.” +“I see indeed that it avails not that any one should follow her. And by +Heaven,” said he, “she must needs have an errand to some one in this +plain, if her haste would allow her to declare it. Let us go back to the +palace.” And to the palace they went, and they spent that night in songs +and feasting, as it pleased them. + +And the next day they amused themselves until it was time to go to meat. +And when meat was ended, Pwyll said, “Where are the hosts that went +yesterday and the day before to the top of the mound?” “Behold, Lord, we +are here,” said they. “Let us go,” said he, “to the mound, to sit there. +And do thou,” said he to the page who tended his horse, “saddle my horse +well, and hasten with him to the road, and bring also my spurs with +thee.” And the youth did thus. And they went and sat upon the mound; +and ere they had been there but a short time, they beheld the lady coming +by the same road, and in the same manner, and at the same pace. “Young +man,” said Pwyll, “I see the lady coming; give me my horse.” And no +sooner had he mounted his horse than she passed him. And he turned after +her and followed her. And he let his horse go bounding playfully, and +thought that at the second step or the third he should come up with her. +But he came no nearer to her than at first. Then he urged his horse to +his utmost speed, yet he found that it availed nothing to follow her. +Then said Pwyll, “O maiden, for the sake of him whom thou best lovest, +stay for me.” “I will stay gladly,” said she, “and it were better for +thy horse hadst thou asked it long since.” So the maiden stopped, and +she threw back that part of her headdress which covered her face. And +she fixed her eyes upon him, and began to talk with him. “Lady,” asked +he, “whence comest thou, and whereunto dost thou journey?” “I journey on +mine own errand,” said she, “and right glad am I to see thee.” “My +greeting be unto thee,” said he. Then he thought that the beauty of all +the maidens, and all the ladies that he had ever seen, was as nothing +compared to her beauty. “Lady,” he said, “wilt thou tell me aught +concerning thy purpose?” “I will tell thee,” said she. “My chief quest +was to seek thee.” “Behold,” said Pwyll, “this is to me the most +pleasing quest on which thou couldst have come; and wilt thou tell me who +thou art?” “I will tell thee, Lord,” said she. “I am Rhiannon, the +daughter of Heveydd Hên, and they sought to give me to a husband against +my will. But no husband would I have, and that because of my love for +thee, neither will I yet have one unless thou reject me. And hither have +I come to hear thy answer.” “By Heaven,” said Pwyll, “behold this is my +answer. If I might choose among all the ladies and damsels in the world, +thee would I choose.” “Verily,” said she, “if thou art thus minded, make +a pledge to meet me ere I am given to another.” “The sooner I may do so, +the more pleasing will it be unto me,” said Pwyll, “and wheresoever thou +wilt, there will I meet with thee.” “I will that thou meet me this day +twelvemonth at the palace of Heveydd. And I will cause a feast to be +prepared, so that it be ready against thou come.” “Gladly,” said he, +“will I keep this tryst.” “Lord,” said she, “remain in health, and be +mindful that thou keep thy promise; and now I will go hence.” So they +parted, and he went back to his hosts and to them of his household. And +whatsoever questions they asked him respecting the damsel, he always +turned the discourse upon other matters. And when a year from that time +was gone, he caused a hundred knights to equip themselves and to go with +him to the palace of Heveydd Hên. And he came to the palace, and there +was great joy concerning him, with much concourse of people and great +rejoicing, and vast preparations for his coming. And the whole Court was +placed under his orders. + +And the hall was garnished and they went to meat, and thus did they sit; +Heveydd Hên was on one side of Pwyll, and Rhiannon on the other. And all +the rest according to their rank. And they ate and feasted and talked +one with another, and at the beginning of the carousal after the meat, +there entered a tall auburn-haired youth, of royal bearing, clothed in a +garment of satin. And when he came into the hall, he saluted Pwyll and +his companions. “The greeting of Heaven be unto thee, my soul,” said +Pwyll, “come thou and sit down.” “Nay,” said he, “a suitor am I, and I +will do mine errand.” “Do so willingly,” said Pwyll. “Lord,” said he, +“my errand is unto thee, and it is to crave a boon of thee that I come.” +“What boon soever thou mayest ask of me, as far as I am able, thou shalt +have.” “Ah,” said Rhiannon, “wherefore didst thou give that answer?” +“Has he not given it before the presence of these nobles?” asked the +youth. “My soul,” said Pwyll, “what is the boon thou askest?” “The lady +whom best I love is to be thy bride this night; I come to ask her of +thee, with the feast and the banquet that are in this place.” And Pwyll +was silent because of the answer which he had given. “Be silent as long +as thou wilt,” said Rhiannon. “Never did man make worse use of his wits +than thou hast done.” “Lady,” said he, “I knew not who he was.” “Behold +this is the man to whom they would have given me against my will,” said +she. “And he is Gwawl the son of Clud, a man of great power and wealth, +and because of the word thou hast spoken, bestow me upon him lest shame +befall thee.” “Lady,” said he, “I understand not thine answer. Never +can I do as thou sayest.” “Bestow me upon him,” said she, “and I will +cause that I shall never be his.” “By what means will that be?” asked +Pwyll. “In thy hand will I give thee a small bag,” said she. “See that +thou keep it well, and he will ask of thee the banquet, and the feast, +and the preparations which are not in thy power. Unto the hosts and the +household will I give the feast. And such will be thy answer respecting +this. And as concerns myself, I will engage to become his bride this +night twelvemonth. And at the end of the year be thou here,” said she, +“and bring this bag with thee, and let thy hundred knights be in the +orchard up yonder. And when he is in the midst of joy and feasting, come +thou in by thyself, clad in ragged garments, and holding thy bag in thy +hand, and ask nothing but a bagful of food, and I will cause that if all +the meat and liquor that are in these seven Cantrevs were put into it, it +would be no fuller than before. And after a great deal has been put +therein, he will ask thee whether thy bag will ever be full. Say thou +then that it never will, until a man of noble birth and of great wealth +arise and press the food in the bag with both his feet, saying, ‘Enough +has been put therein;’ and I will cause him to go and tread down the food +in the bag, and when he does so, turn thou the bag, so that he shall be +up over his head in it, and then slip a knot upon the thongs of the bag. +Let there be also a good bugle horn about thy neck, and as soon as thou +hast bound him in the bag, wind thy horn, and let it be a signal between +thee and thy knights. And when they hear the sound of the horn, let them +come down upon the palace.” “Lord,” said Gwawl, “it is meet that I have +an answer to my request.” “As much of that thou hast asked as it is in +my power to give, thou shalt have,” replied Pwyll. “My soul,” said +Rhiannon unto him, “as for the feast and the banquet that are here, I +have bestowed them upon the men of Dyved, and the household, and the +warriors that are with us. These can I not suffer to be given to any. +In a year from to-night a banquet shall be prepared for thee in this +palace, that I may become thy bride.” + +So Gwawl went forth to his possessions, and Pwyll went also back to +Dyved. And they both spent that year until it was the time for the feast +at the palace of Heveydd Hên. Then Gwawl the son of Clud set out to the +feast that was prepared for him, and he came to the palace, and was +received there with rejoicing. Pwyll, also, the Chief of Annwvyn, came +to the orchard with his hundred knights, as Rhiannon had commanded him, +having the bag with him. And Pwyll was clad in coarse and ragged +garments, and wore large clumsy old shoes upon his feet. And when he +knew that the carousal after the meat had begun, he went towards the +hall, and when he came into the hall, he saluted Gwawl the son of Clud, +and his company, both men and women. “Heaven prosper thee,” said Gwawl, +“and the greeting of Heaven be unto thee.” “Lord,” said he, “may Heaven +reward thee, I have an errand unto thee.” “Welcome be thine errand, and +if thou ask of me that which is just, thou shalt have it gladly.” “It is +fitting,” answered he. “I crave but from want, and the boon that I ask +is to have this small bag that thou seest filled with meat.” “A request +within reason is this,” said he, “and gladly shalt thou have it. Bring +him food.” A great number of attendants arose and began to fill the bag, +but for all that they put into it, it was no fuller than at first. “My +soul,” said Gwawl, “will thy bag be ever full?” “It will not, I declare +to Heaven,” said he, “for all that may be put into it, unless one +possessed of lands, and domains, and treasure, shall arise and tread down +with both his feet the food that is within the bag, and shall say, +‘Enough has been put therein.’” Then said Rhiannon unto Gwawl the son of +Clud, “Rise up quickly.” “I will willingly arise,” said he. So he rose +up, and put his two feet into the bag. And Pwyll turned up the sides of +the bag, so that Gwawl was over his head in it. And he shut it up +quickly and slipped a knot upon the thongs, and blew his horn. And +thereupon behold his household came down upon the palace. And they +seized all the host that had come with Gwawl, and cast them into his own +prison. And Pwyll threw off his rags, and his old shoes, and his +tattered array; and as they came in, every one of Pwyll’s knights struck +a blow upon the bag, and asked, “What is here?” “A Badger,” said they. +And in this manner they played, each of them striking the bag, either +with his foot or with a staff. And thus played they with the bag. Every +one as he came in asked, “What game are you playing at thus?” “The game +of Badger in the Bag,” said they. And then was the game of Badger in the +Bag first played. + +“Lord,” said the man in the bag, “if thou wouldest but hear me, I merit +not to be slain in a bag.” Said Heveydd Hên, “Lord, he speaks truth. It +were fitting that thou listen to him, for he deserves not this.” +“Verily,” said Pwyll, “I will do thy counsel concerning him.” “Behold +this is my counsel then,” said Rhiannon; “thou art now in a position in +which it behoves thee to satisfy suitors and minstrels; let him give unto +them in thy stead, and take a pledge from him that he will never seek to +revenge that which has been done to him. And this will be punishment +enough.” “I will do this gladly,” said the man in the bag. “And gladly +will I accept it,” said Pwyll, “since it is the counsel of Heveydd and +Rhiannon.” “Such then is our counsel,” answered they. “I accept it,” +said Pwyll. “Seek thyself sureties.” “We will be for him,” said +Heveydd, “until his men be free to answer for him.” And upon this he was +let out of the bag, and his liegemen were liberated. “Demand now of +Gwawl his sureties,” said Heveydd, “we know which should be taken for +him.” And Heveydd numbered the sureties. Said Gwawl, “Do thou thyself +draw up the covenant.” “It will suffice me that it be as Rhiannon said,” +answered Pwyll. So unto that covenant were the sureties pledged. +“Verily, Lord,” said Gwawl, “I am greatly hurt, and I have many bruises. +I have need to be anointed; with thy leave I will go forth. I will leave +nobles in my stead, to answer for me in all that thou shalt require.” +“Willingly,” said Pwyll, “mayest thou do thus.” So Gwawl went towards +his own possessions. + +And the hall was set in order for Pwyll and the men of his host, and for +them also of the palace, and they went to the tables and sat down. And +as they had sat that time twelvemonth, so sat they that night. And they +ate, and feasted, and spent the night in mirth and tranquillity. And the +time came that they should sleep, and Pwyll and Rhiannon went to their +chamber. + +And next morning at the break of day, “My Lord,” said Rhiannon, “arise +and begin to give thy gifts unto the minstrels. Refuse no one to-day +that may claim thy bounty.” “Thus shall it be gladly,” said Pwyll, “both +to-day and every day while the feast shall last.” So Pwyll arose, and he +caused silence to be proclaimed, and desired all the suitors and the +minstrels to show and to point out what gifts were to their wish and +desire. And this being done, the feast went on, and he denied no one +while it lasted. And when the feast was ended, Pwyll said unto Heveydd, +“My Lord, with thy permission I will set out for Dyved to-morrow.” +“Certainly,” said Heveydd, “may Heaven prosper thee. Fix also a time +when Rhiannon may follow thee.” “By Heaven,” said Pwyll, “we will go +hence together.” “Willest thou this, Lord?” said Heveydd. “Yes, by +Heaven,” answered Pwyll. + +And the next day, they set forward towards Dyved, and journeyed to the +palace of Narberth, where a feast was made ready for them. And there +came to them great numbers of the chief men and the most noble ladies of +the land, and of these there was none to whom Rhiannon did not give some +rich gift, either a bracelet, or a ring, or a precious stone. And they +ruled the land prosperously both that year and the next. + +And in the third year the nobles of the land began to be sorrowful at +seeing a man whom they loved so much, and who was moreover their lord and +their foster-brother, without an heir. And they came to him. And the +place where they met was Preseleu, in Dyved. “Lord,” said they, “we know +that thou art not so young as some of the men of this country, and we +fear that thou mayest not have an heir of the wife whom thou hast taken. +Take therefore another wife of whom thou mayest have heirs. Thou canst +not always continue with us, and though thou desire to remain as thou +art, we will not suffer thee.” “Truly,” said Pwyll, “we have not long +been joined together, and many things may yet befall. Grant me a year +from this time, and for the space of a year we will abide together, and +after that I will do according to your wishes.” So they granted it. And +before the end of a year a son was born unto him. And in Narberth was he +born; and on the night that he was born, women were brought to watch the +mother and the boy. And the women slept, as did also Rhiannon, the +mother of the boy. And the number of the women that were brought into +the chamber was six. And they watched for a good portion of the night, +and before midnight every one of them fell asleep, and towards break of +day they awoke; and when they awoke, they looked where they had put the +boy, and behold he was not there. “Oh,” said one of the women, “the boy +is lost?” “Yes,” said another, “and it will be small vengeance if we are +burnt or put to death because of the child.” Said one of the women, “Is +there any counsel for us in the world in this matter?” “There is,” +answered another, “I offer you good counsel.” “What is that?” asked +they. “There is here a stag-hound bitch, and she has a litter of whelps. +Let us kill some of the cubs, and rub the blood on the face and hands of +Rhiannon, and lay the bones before her, and assert that she herself hath +devoured her son, and she alone will not be able to gainsay us six.” And +according to this counsel it was settled. And towards morning Rhiannon +awoke, and she said, “Women, where is my son?” “Lady,” said they, “ask +us not concerning thy son, we have nought but the blows and the bruises +we got by struggling with thee, and of a truth we never saw any woman so +violent as thou, for it was of no avail to contend with thee. Hast thou +not thyself devoured thy son? Claim him not therefore of us.” “For +pity’s sake,” said Rhiannon; “the Lord God knows all things. Charge me +not falsely. If you tell me this from fear, I assert before Heaven that +I will defend you.” “Truly,” said they, “we would not bring evil on +ourselves for any one in the world.” “For pity’s sake,” said Rhiannon, +“you will receive no evil by telling the truth.” But for all her words, +whether fair or harsh, she received but the same answer from the women. + +And Pwyll the chief of Annwvyn arose, and his household, and his hosts. +And this occurrence could not be concealed, but the story went forth +throughout the land, and all the nobles heard it. Then the nobles came +to Pwyll, and besought him to put away his wife, because of the great +crime which she had done. But Pwyll answered them, that they had no +cause wherefore they might ask him to put away his wife, save for her +having no children. “But children has she now had, therefore will I not +put her away; if she has done wrong, let her do penance for it.” + +So Rhiannon sent for the teachers and the wise men, and as she preferred +doing penance to contending with the women, she took upon her a penance. +And the penance that was imposed upon her was, that she should remain in +that palace of Narberth until the end of seven years, and that she should +sit every day near unto a horseblock that was without the gate. And that +she should relate the story to all who should come there, whom she might +suppose not to know it already; and that she should offer the guests and +strangers, if they would permit her, to carry them upon her back into the +palace. But it rarely happened that any would permit. And thus did she +spend part of the year. + +Now at that time Teirnyon Twryv Vliant was Lord of Gwent Is Coed, and he +was the best man in the world. And unto his house there belonged a mare, +than which neither mare nor horse in the kingdom was more beautiful. And +on the night of every first of May she foaled, and no one ever knew what +became of the colt. And one night Teirnyon talked with his wife: “Wife,” +said he, “it is very simple of us that our mare should foal every year, +and that we should have none of her colts.” “What can be done in the +matter?” said she. “This is the night of the first of May,” said he. +“The vengeance of Heaven be upon me, if I learn not what it is that takes +away the colts.” So he caused the mare to be brought into a house, and +he armed himself, and began to watch that night. And in the beginning of +the night, the mare foaled a large and beautiful colt. And it was +standing up in the place. And Teirnyon rose up and looked at the size of +the colt, and as he did so he heard a great tumult, and after the tumult +behold a claw came through the window into the house, and it seized the +colt by the mane. Then Teirnyon drew his sword, and struck off the arm +at the elbow, so that portion of the arm together with the colt was in +the house with him. And then did he hear a tumult and wailing, both at +once. And he opened the door, and rushed out in the direction of the +noise, and he could not see the cause of the tumult because of the +darkness of the night, but he rushed after it and followed it. Then he +remembered that he had left the door open, and he returned. And at the +door behold there was an infant boy in swaddling-clothes, wrapped around +in a mantle of satin. And he took up the boy, and behold he was very +strong for the age that he was of. + +Then he shut the door, and went into the chamber where his wife was. +“Lady,” said he, “art thou sleeping?” “No, lord,” said she, “I was +asleep, but as thou camest in I did awake.” “Behold, here is a boy for +thee if thou wilt,” said he, “since thou hast never had one.” “My lord,” +said she, “what adventure is this?” “It was thus,” said Teirnyon; and he +told her how it all befell. “Verily, lord,” said she, “what sort of +garments are there upon the boy?” “A mantle of satin,” said he. “He is +then a boy of gentle lineage,” she replied. “My lord,” she said, “if +thou wilt, I shall have great diversion and mirth. I will call my women +unto me, and tell them that I have been pregnant.” “I will readily grant +thee to do this,” he answered. And thus did they, and they caused the +boy to be baptized, and the ceremony was performed there; and the name +which they gave unto him was Gwri Wallt Euryn, because what hair was upon +his head was as yellow as gold. And they had the boy nursed in the Court +until he was a year old. And before the year was over he could walk +stoutly. And he was larger than a boy of three years old, even one of +great growth and size. And the boy was nursed the second year, and then +he was as large as a child six years old. And before the end of the +fourth year, he would bribe the grooms to allow him to take the horses to +water. “My lord,” said his wife unto Teirnyon, “where is the colt which +thou didst save on the night that thou didst find the boy?” “I have +commanded the grooms of the horses,” said he, “that they take care of +him.” “Would it not be well, lord,” said she, “if thou wert to cause him +to be broken in, and given to the boy, seeing that on the same night that +thou didst find the boy, the colt was foaled and thou didst save him?” +“I will not oppose thee in this matter,” said Teirnyon. “I will allow +thee to give him the colt.” “Lord,” said she, “may Heaven reward thee; I +will give it him.” So the horse was given to the boy. Then she went to +the grooms and those who tended the horses, and commanded them to be +careful of the horse, so that he might be broken in by the time that the +boy could ride him. + +And while these things were going forward, they heard tidings of Rhiannon +and her punishment. And Teirnyon Twryv Vliant, by reason of the pity +that he felt on hearing this story of Rhiannon and her punishment, +inquired closely concerning it, until he had heard from many of those who +came to his court. Then did Teirnyon, often lamenting the sad history, +ponder within himself, and he looked steadfastly on the boy, and as he +looked upon him, it seemed to him that he had never beheld so great a +likeness between father and son, as between the boy and Pwyll the Chief +of Annwvyn. Now the semblance of Pwyll was well known to him, for he had +of yore been one of his followers. And thereupon he became grieved for +the wrong that he did, in keeping with him a boy whom he knew to be the +son of another man. And the first time that he was alone with his wife, +he told her that it was not right that they should keep the boy with +them, and suffer so excellent a lady as Rhiannon to be punished so +greatly on his account, whereas the boy was the son of Pwyll the Chief of +Annwvyn. And Teirnyon’s wife agreed with him, that they should send the +boy to Pwyll. “And three things, lord,” said she, “shall we gain +thereby. Thanks and gifts for releasing Rhiannon from her punishment; +and thanks from Pwyll for nursing his son and restoring him unto him; and +thirdly, if the boy is of gentle nature, he will be our foster-son, and +he will do for us all the good in his power.” So it was settled +according to this counsel. + +And no later than the next day was Teirnyon equipped, and two other +knights with him. And the boy, as a fourth in their company, went with +them upon the horse which Teirnyon had given him. And they journeyed +towards Narberth, and it was not long before they reached that place. +And as they drew near to the palace, they beheld Rhiannon sitting beside +the horseblock. And when they were opposite to her, “Chieftain,” said +she, “go not further thus, I will bear every one of you into the palace, +and this is my penance for slaying my own son and devouring him.” “Oh, +fair lady,” said Teirnyon, “think not that I will be one to be carried +upon thy back.” “Neither will I,” said the boy. “Truly, my soul,” said +Teirnyon, “we will not go.” So they went forward to the palace, and +there was great joy at their coming. And at the palace a feast was +prepared, because Pywll was come back from the confines of Dyved. And +they went into the hall and washed, and Pwyll rejoiced to see Teirnyon. +And in this order they sat. Teirnyon between Pwyll and Rhiannon, and +Teirnyon’s two companions on the other side of Pwyll, with the boy +between them. And after meat they began to carouse and to discourse. +And Teirnyon’s discourse was concerning the adventure of the mare and the +boy, and how he and his wife had nursed and reared the child as their +own. “And behold here is thy son, lady,” said Teirnyon. “And whosoever +told that lie concerning thee, has done wrong. And when I heard of thy +sorrow, I was troubled and grieved. And I believe that there is none of +this host who will not perceive that the boy is the son of Pwyll,” said +Teirnyon. “There is none,” said they all, “who is not certain thereof.” +“I declare to Heaven,” said Rhiannon, “that if this be true, there is +indeed an end to my trouble.” “Lady,” said Pendaran Dyved, “well hast +thou named thy son Pryderi, {3} and well becomes him the name of Pryderi +son of Pwyll Chief of Annwvyn.” “Look you,” said Rhiannon, “will not his +own name become him better?” “What name has he?” asked Pendaran Dyved. +“Gwri Wallt Euryn is the name that we gave him.” “Pryderi,” said +Pendaran, “shall his name be.” “It were more proper,” said Pwyll, “that +the boy should take his name from the word his mother spoke when she +received the joyful tidings of him.” And thus was it arranged. + +“Teirnyon,” said Pwyll, “Heaven reward thee that thou hast reared the boy +up to this time, and, being of gentle lineage, it were fitting that he +repay thee for it.” “My lord,” said Teirnyon, “it was my wife who nursed +him, and there is no one in the world so afflicted as she at parting with +him. It were well that he should bear in mind what I and my wife have +done for him.” “I call Heaven to witness,” said Pwyll, “that while I +live I will support thee and thy possessions, as long as I am able to +preserve my own. And when he shall have power, he will more fitly +maintain them than I. And if this counsel be pleasing unto thee, and to +my nobles, it shall be that, as thou hast reared him up to the present +time, I will give him to be brought up by Pendaran Dyved, from +henceforth. And you shall be companions, and shall both be +foster-fathers unto him.” “This is good counsel,” said they all. So the +boy was given to Pendaran Dyved, and the nobles of the land were sent +with him. And Teirnyon Twryv Vliant, and his companions, set out for his +country, and his possessions, with love and gladness. And he went not +without being offered the fairest jewels and the fairest horses, and the +choicest dogs; but he would take none of them. + +Thereupon they all remained in their own dominions. And Pryderi, the son +of Pwyll the Chief of Annwvyn, was brought up carefully as was fit, so +that he became the fairest youth, and the most comely, and the best +skilled in all good games, of any in the kingdom. And thus passed years +and years, until the end of Pwyll the Chief of Annwvyn’s life came, and +he died. + +And Pryderi ruled the seven Cantrevs of Dyved prosperously, and he was +beloved by his people, and by all around him. And at length he added +unto them the three Cantrevs of Ystrad Tywi, and the four Cantrevs of +Cardigan; and these were called the Seven Cantrevs of Seissyllwch. And +when he made this addition, Pryderi the son of Pwyll the Chief of Annwvyn +desired to take a wife. And the wife he chose was Kicva, the daughter of +Gwynn Gohoyw, the son of Gloyw Wallt Lydan, the son of Prince Casnar, one +of the nobles of this Island. + +And thus ends this portion of the Mabinogion. + + + + +BRANWEN THE DAUGHTER OF LLYR +HERE IS THE SECOND PORTION OF THE MABINOGI + + +Bendigeid Vran, the son of Llyr, was the crowned king of this island, and +he was exalted from the crown of London. And one afternoon he was at +Harlech in Ardudwy, at his Court, and he sat upon the rock of Harlech, +looking over the sea. And with him were his brother Manawyddan the son +of Llyr, and his brothers by the mother’s side, Nissyen and Evnissyen, +and many nobles likewise, as was fitting to see around a king. His two +brothers by the mother’s side were the sons of Eurosswydd, by his mother, +Penardun, the daughter of Beli son of Manogan. And one of these youths +was a good youth and of gentle nature, and would make peace between his +kindred, and cause his family to be friends when their wrath was at the +highest; and this one was Nissyen; but the other would cause strife +between his two brothers when they were most at peace. And as they sat +thus, they beheld thirteen ships coming from the south of Ireland, and +making towards them, and they came with a swift motion, the wind being +behind them, and they neared them rapidly. “I see ships afar,” said the +king, “coming swiftly towards the land. Command the men of the Court +that they equip themselves, and go and learn their intent.” So the men +equipped themselves and went down towards them. And when they saw the +ships near, certain were they that they had never seen ships better +furnished. Beautiful flags of satin were upon them. And behold one of +the ships outstripped the others, and they saw a shield lifted up above +the side of the ship, and the point of the shield was upwards, in token +of peace. And the men drew near that they might hold converse. Then +they put out boats and came towards the land. And they saluted the king. +Now the king could hear them from the place where he was, upon the rock +above their heads. “Heaven prosper you,” said he, “and be ye welcome. +To whom do these ships belong, and who is the chief amongst you?” +“Lord,” said they, “Matholwch, king of Ireland, is here, and these ships +belong to him.” “Wherefore comes he?” asked the king, “and will he come +to the land?” “He is a suitor unto thee, lord,” said they, “and he will +not land unless he have his boon.” “And what may that be?” inquired the +king. “He desires to ally himself with thee, lord,” said they, “and he +comes to ask Branwen the daughter of Llyr, that, if it seem well to thee, +the Island of the Mighty may be leagued with Ireland, and both become +more powerful.” “Verily,” said he, “let him come to land, and we will +take counsel thereupon.” And this answer was brought to Matholwch. “I +will go willingly,” said he. So he landed, and they received him +joyfully; and great was the throng in the palace that night, between his +hosts and those of the Court; and next day they took counsel, and they +resolved to bestow Branwen upon Matholwch. Now she was one of the three +chief ladies of this island, and she was the fairest damsel in the world. + +And they fixed upon Aberffraw as the place where she should become his +bride. And they went thence, and towards Aberffraw the hosts proceeded; +Matholwch and his host in their ships; Bendigeid Vran and his host by +land, until they came to Aberffraw. And at Aberffraw they began the +feast and sat down. And thus sat they. The King of the Island of the +Mighty and Manawyddan the son of Llyr on one side, and Matholwch on the +other side, and Branwen the daughter of Llyr beside him. And they were +not within a house, but under tents. No house could ever contain +Bendigeid Vran. And they began the banquet and caroused and discoursed. +And when it was more pleasing to them to sleep than to carouse, they went +to rest, and that night Branwen became Matholwch’s bride. + +And next day they arose, and all they of the Court, and the officers +began to equip and to range the horses and the attendants, and they +ranged them in order as far as the sea. + +And behold one day, Evnissyen, the quarrelsome man of whom it is spoken +above, came by chance into the place, where the horses of Matholwch were, +and asked whose horses they might be. “They are the horses of Matholwch +king of Ireland, who is married to Branwen, thy sister; his horses are +they.” “And is it thus they have done with a maiden such as she, and +moreover my sister, bestowing her without my consent? They could have +offered no greater insult to me than this,” said he. And thereupon he +rushed under the horses and cut off their lips at the teeth, and their +ears close to their heads, and their tails close to their backs, and +wherever he could clutch their eyelids, he cut them to the very bone, and +he disfigured the horses and rendered them useless. + +And they came with these tidings unto Matholwch, saying that the horses +were disfigured, and injured so that not one of them could ever be of any +use again. “Verily, lord,” said one, “it was an insult unto thee, and as +such was it meant.” “Of a truth, it is a marvel to me, that if they +desire to insult me, they should have given me a maiden of such high rank +and so much beloved of her kindred, as they have done.” “Lord,” said +another, “thou seest that thus it is, and there is nothing for thee to do +but to go to thy ships.” And thereupon towards his ships he set out. + +And tidings came to Bendigeid Vran that Matholwch was quitting the Court +without asking leave, and messengers were sent to inquire of him +wherefore he did so. And the messengers that went were Iddic the son of +Anarawd, and Heveydd Hir. And these overtook him and asked of him what +he designed to do, and wherefore he went forth. “Of a truth,” said he, +“if I had known I had not come hither. I have been altogether insulted, +no one had ever worse treatment than I have had here. But one thing +surprises me above all.” “What is that?” asked they. “That Branwen the +daughter of Llyr, one of the three chief ladies of this island, and the +daughter of the King of the Island of the Mighty, should have been given +me as my bride, and that after that I should have been insulted; and I +marvel that the insult was not done me before they had bestowed upon me a +maiden so exalted as she.” “Truly, lord, it was not the will of any that +are of the Court,” said they, “nor of any that are of the council, that +thou shouldest have received this insult; and as thou hast been insulted, +the dishonour is greater unto Bendigeid Vran than unto thee.” “Verily,” +said he, “I think so. Nevertheless he cannot recall the insult.” These +men returned with that answer to the place where Bendigeid Vran was, and +they told him what reply Matholwch had given them. “Truly,” said he, +“there are no means by which we may prevent his going away at enmity with +us, that we will not take.” “Well, lord,” said they, “send after him +another embassy.” “I will do so,” said he. “Arise, Manawyddan son of +Llyr, and Heveydd Hir, and Unic Glew Ysgwyd, and go after him, and tell +him that he shall have a sound horse for every one that has been injured. +And beside that, as an atonement for the insult, he shall have a staff of +silver, as large and as tall as himself, and a plate of gold of the +breadth of his face. And show unto him who it was that did this, and +that it was done against my will; but that he who did it is my brother, +by the mother’s side, and therefore it would be hard for me to put him to +death. And let him come and meet me,” said he, “and we will make peace +in any way he may desire.” + +The embassy went after Matholwch, and told him all these sayings in a +friendly manner, and he listened thereunto. “Men,” said he, “I will take +counsel.” So to the council he went. And in the council they considered +that if they should refuse this, they were likely to have more shame +rather than to obtain so great an atonement. They resolved therefore to +accept it, and they returned to the Court in peace. + +Then the pavilions and the tents were set in order after the fashion of a +hall; and they went to meat, and as they had sat at the beginning of the +feast, so sat they there. And Matholwch and Bendigeid Vran began to +discourse; and behold it seemed to Bendigeid Vran, while they talked, +that Matholwch was not so cheerful as he had been before. And he thought +that the chieftain might be sad, because of the smallness of the +atonement which he had, for the wrong that had been done him. “Oh, man,” +said Bendigeid Vran, “thou dost not discourse to-night so cheerfully as +thou wast wont. And if it be because of the smallness of the atonement, +thou shalt add thereunto whatsoever thou mayest choose, and to-morrow I +will pay thee the horses.” “Lord,” said he, “Heaven reward thee.” “And +I will enhance the atonement,” said Bendigeid Vran, “for I will give unto +thee a cauldron, the property of which is, that if one of thy men be +slain to-day, and be cast therein, to-morrow he will be as well as ever +he was at the best, except that he will not regain his speech.” And +thereupon he gave him great thanks, and very joyful was he for that +cause. + +And the next morning they paid Matholwch the horses as long as the +trained horses lasted. And then they journeyed into another commot, +where they paid him with colts until the whole had been paid, and from +thenceforth that commot was called Talebolion. + +And a second night sat they together. “My lord,” said Matholwch, “whence +hadst thou the cauldron which thou hast given me?” “I had it of a man +who had been in thy land,” said he, “and I would not give it except to +one from there.” “Who was it?” asked he. “Llassar Llaesgyvnewid; he +came here from Ireland with Kymideu Kymeinvoll, his wife, who escaped +from the Iron House in Ireland, when it was made red hot around them, and +fled hither. And it is a marvel to me that thou shouldst know nothing +concerning the matter.” “Something I do know,” said he, “and as much as +I know I will tell thee. One day I was hunting in Ireland, and I came to +the mound at the head of the lake, which is called the Lake of the +Cauldron. And I beheld a huge yellow-haired man coming from the lake +with a cauldron upon his back. And he was a man of vast size, and of +horrid aspect, and a woman followed after him. And if the man was tall, +twice as large as he was the woman, and they came towards me and greeted +me. ‘Verily,’ asked I, ‘wherefore are you journeying?’ ‘Behold, this,’ +said he to me, ‘is the cause that we journey. At the end of a month and +a fortnight this woman will have a son; and the child that will be born +at the end of the month and the fortnight will be a warrior fully armed.’ +So I took them with me and maintained them. And they were with me for a +year. And that year I had them with me not grudgingly. But thenceforth +was there murmuring, because that they were with me. For, from the +beginning of the fourth month they had begun to make themselves hated and +to be disorderly in the land; committing outrages, and molesting and +harassing the nobles and ladies; and thenceforward my people rose up and +besought me to part with them, and they bade me to choose between them +and my dominions. And I applied to the council of my country to know +what should be done concerning them; for of their own free will they +would not go, neither could they be compelled against their will, through +fighting. And [the people of the country] being in this strait, they +caused a chamber to be made all of iron. Now when the chamber was ready, +there came there every smith that was in Ireland, and every one who owned +tongs and hammer. And they caused coals to be piled up as high as the +top of the chamber. And they had the man, and the woman, and the +children, served with plenty of meat and drink; but when it was known +that they were drunk, they began to put fire to the coals about the +chamber, and they blew it with bellows until the house was red hot all +around them. Then was there a council held in the centre of the floor of +the chamber. And the man tarried until the plates of iron were all of a +white heat; and then, by reason of the great heat, the man dashed against +the plates with his shoulder and struck them out, and his wife followed +him; but except him and his wife none escaped thence. And then I +suppose, lord,” said Matholwch unto Bendigeid Vran, “that he came over +unto thee.” “Doubtless he came here,” said he, “and gave unto me the +cauldron.” “In what manner didst thou receive them?” “I dispersed them +through every part of my dominions, and they have become numerous and are +prospering everywhere, and they fortify the places where they are with +men and arms, of the best that were ever seen.” + +That night they continued to discourse as much as they would, and had +minstrelsy and carousing, and when it was more pleasant to them to sleep +than to sit longer, they went to rest. And thus was the banquet carried +on with joyousness; and when it was finished, Matholwch journeyed towards +Ireland, and Branwen with him, and they went from Aber Menei with +thirteen ships, and came to Ireland. And in Ireland was there great joy +because of their coming. And not one great man or noble lady visited +Branwen unto whom she gave not either a clasp, or a ring, or a royal +jewel to keep, such as it was honourable to be seen departing with. And +in these things she spent that year in much renown, and she passed her +time pleasantly, enjoying honour and friendship. And in the meanwhile it +chanced that she became pregnant, and in due time a son was born unto +her, and the name that they gave him was Gwern the son of Matholwch, and +they put the boy out to be foster-nursed, in a place where were the best +men of Ireland. + +And behold in the second year a tumult arose in Ireland, on account of +the insult which Matholwch had received in Cambria, and the payment made +him for his horses. And his foster-brothers, and such as were nearest +unto him, blamed him openly for that matter. And he might have no peace +by reason of the tumult until they should revenge upon him this disgrace. +And the vengeance which they took was to drive away Branwen from the same +chamber with him, and to make her cook for the Court; and they caused the +butcher after he had cut up the meat to come to her and give her every +day a blow on the ear, and such they made her punishment. + +“Verily, lord,” said his men to Matholwch, “forbid now the ships and the +ferry boats and the coracles, that they go not into Cambria, and such as +come over from Cambria hither, imprison them that they go not back for +this thing to be known there.” And he did so; and it was thus for not +less than three years. + +And Branwen reared a starling in the cover of the kneading trough, and +she taught it to speak, and she taught the bird what manner of man her +brother was. And she wrote a letter of her woes, and the despite with +which she was treated, and she bound the letter to the root of the bird’s +wing, and sent it towards Britain. And the bird came to this island, and +one day it found Bendigeid Vran at Caer Seiont in Arvon, conferring +there, and it alighted upon his shoulder and ruffled its feathers, so +that the letter was seen, and they knew that the bird had been reared in +a domestic manner. + +Then Bendigeid Vran took the letter and looked upon it. And when he had +read the letter he grieved exceedingly at the tidings of Branwen’s woes. +And immediately he began sending messengers to summon the island +together. And he caused sevenscore and four countries to come unto him, +and he complained to them himself of the grief that his sister endured. +So they took counsel. And in the council they resolved to go to Ireland, +and to leave seven men as princes here, and Caradawc, the son of Bran, as +the chief of them, and their seven knights. In Edeyrnion were these men +left. And for this reason were the seven knights placed in the town. +Now the names of these seven men were, Caradawc the son of Bran, and +Heveydd Hir, and Unic Glew Ysgwyd, and Iddic the son of Anarawc +Gwalltgrwn, and Fodor the son of Ervyll, and Gwlch Minascwrn, and Llassar +the son of Llaesar Llaesgygwyd, and Pendaran Dyved as a young page with +them. And these abode as seven ministers to take charge of this island; +and Caradawc the son of Bran was the chief amongst them. + +Bendigeid Vran, with the host of which we spoke, sailed towards Ireland, +and it was not far across the sea, and he came to shoal water. It was +caused by two rivers; the Lli and the Archan were they called; and the +nations covered the sea. Then he proceeded with what provisions he had +on his own back, and approached the shore of Ireland. + +Now the swineherds of Matholwch were upon the seashore, and they came to +Matholwch. “Lord,” said they, “greeting be unto thee.” “Heaven protect +you,” said he, “have you any news?” “Lord,” said they, “we have +marvellous news, a wood have we seen upon the sea, in a place where we +never yet saw a single tree.” “This is indeed a marvel,” said he; “saw +you aught else?” “We saw, lord,” said they, “a vast mountain beside the +wood, which moved, and there was a lofty ridge on the top of the +mountain, and a lake on each side of the ridge. And the wood, and the +mountain, and all these things moved.” “Verily,” said he, “there is none +who can know aught concerning this, unless it be Branwen.” + +Messengers then went unto Branwen. “Lady,” said they, “what thinkest +thou that this is?” “The men of the Island of the Mighty, who have come +hither on hearing of my ill-treatment and my woes.” “What is the forest +that is seen upon the sea?” asked they. “The yards and the masts of +ships,” she answered. “Alas,” said they, “what is the mountain that is +seen by the side of the ships?” “Bendigeid Vran, my brother,” she +replied, “coming to shoal water; there is no ship that can contain him in +it.” “What is the lofty ridge with the lake on each side thereof?” “On +looking towards this island he is wroth, and his two eyes, one on each +side of his nose, are the two lakes beside the ridge.” + +The warriors and the chief men of Ireland were brought together in haste, +and they took counsel. “Lord,” said the nobles unto Matholwch, “there is +no other counsel than to retreat over the Linon (a river which is in +Ireland), and to keep the river between thee and him, and to break down +the bridge that is across the river, for there is a loadstone at the +bottom of the river that neither ship nor vessel can pass over.” So they +retreated across the river, and broke down the bridge. + +Bendigeid Vran came to land, and the fleet with him by the bank of the +river. “Lord,” said his chieftains, “knowest thou the nature of this +river, that nothing can go across it, and there is no bridge over it?” +“What,” said they, “is thy counsel concerning a bridge?” “There is +none,” said he, “except that he who will be chief, let him be a bridge. +I will be so,” said he. And then was that saying first uttered, and it +is still used as a proverb. And when he had lain down across the river, +hurdles were placed upon him, and the host passed over thereby. + +And as he rose up, behold the messengers of Matholwch came to him, and +saluted him, and gave him greeting in the name of Matholwch, his kinsman, +and showed how that of his goodwill he had merited of him nothing but +good. “For Matholwch has given the kingdom of Ireland to Gwern the son +of Matholwch, thy nephew and thy sister’s son. And this he places before +thee, as a compensation for the wrong and despite that has been done unto +Branwen. And Matholwch shall be maintained wheresoever thou wilt, either +here or in the Island of the Mighty.” Said Bendigeid Vran, “Shall not I +myself have the kingdom? Then peradventure I may take counsel concerning +your message. From this time until then no other answer will you get +from me.” “Verily,” said they, “the best message that we receive for +thee, we will convey it unto thee, and do thou await our message unto +him.” “I will wait,” answered he, “and do you return quickly.” + +The messengers set forth and came to Matholwch. “Lord,” said they, +“prepare a better message for Bendigeid Vran. He would not listen at all +to the message that we bore him.” “My friends,” said Matholwch, “what +may be your counsel?” “Lord,” said they, “there is no other counsel than +this alone. He was never known to be within a house, make therefore a +house that will contain him and the men of the Island of the Mighty on +the one side, and thyself and thy host on the other; and give over thy +kingdom to his will, and do him homage. So by reason of the honour thou +doest him in making him a house, whereas he never before had a house to +contain him, he will make peace with thee.” So the messengers went back +to Bendigeid Vran, bearing him this message. + +And he took counsel, and in the council it was resolved that he should +accept this, and this was all done by the advice of Branwen, and lest the +country should be destroyed. And this peace was made, and the house was +built both vast and strong. But the Irish planned a crafty device, and +the craft was that they should put brackets on each side of the hundred +pillars that were in the house, and should place a leathern bag on each +bracket, and an armed man in every one of them. Then Evnissyen came in +before the host of the Island of the Mighty, and scanned the house with +fierce and savage looks, and descried the leathern bags which were around +the pillars. “What is in this bag?” asked he of one of the Irish. +“Meal, good soul,” said he. And Evnissyen felt about it until he came to +the man’s head, and he squeezed the head until he felt his fingers meet +together in the brain through the bone. And he left that one and put his +hand upon another, and asked what was therein. “Meal,” said the +Irishman. So he did the like unto every one of them, until he had not +left alive, of all the two hundred men, save one only; and when he came +to him, he asked what was there. “Meal, good soul,” said the Irishman. +And he felt about until he felt the head, and he squeezed that head as he +had done the others. And, albeit he found that the head of this one was +armed, he left him not until he had killed him. And then he sang an +Englyn:— + + “There is in this bag a different sort of meal, + The ready combatant, when the assault is made + By his fellow-warriors, prepared for battle.” + +Thereupon came the hosts unto the house. The men of the Island of +Ireland entered the house on the one side, and the men of the Island of +the Mighty on the other. And as soon as they had sat down there was +concord between them; and the sovereignty was conferred upon the boy. +When the peace was concluded, Bendigeid Vran called the boy unto him, and +from Bendigeid Vran the boy went unto Manawyddan, and he was beloved by +all that beheld him. And from Manawyddan the boy was called by Nissyen +the son of Eurosswydd, and the boy went unto him lovingly. “Wherefore,” +said Evnissyen, “comes not my nephew the son of my sister unto me? +Though he were not king of Ireland, yet willingly would I fondle the +boy.” “Cheerfully let him go to thee,” said Bendigeid Vran, and the boy +went unto him cheerfully. “By my confession to Heaven,” said Evnissyen +in his heart, “unthought of by the household is the slaughter that I will +this instant commit.” + +Then he arose and took up the boy by the feet, and before any one in the +house could seize hold of him, he thrust the boy headlong into the +blazing fire. And when Branwen saw her son burning in the fire, she +strove to leap into the fire also, from the place where she sat between +her two brothers. But Bendigeid Vran grasped her with one hand, and his +shield with the other. Then they all hurried about the house, and never +was there made so great a tumult by any host in one house as was made by +them, as each man armed himself. Then said Morddwydtyllyon, “The +gadflies of Morddwydtyllyon’s Cow!” And while they all sought their +arms, Bendigeid Vran supported Branwen between his shield and his +shoulder. + +Then the Irish kindled a fire under the cauldron of renovation, and they +cast the dead bodies into the cauldron until it was full, and the next +day they came forth fighting-men as good as before, except that they were +not able to speak. Then when Evnissyen saw the dead bodies of the men of +the Island of the Mighty nowhere resuscitated, he said in his heart, +“Alas! woe is me, that I should have been the cause of bringing the men +of the Island of the Mighty into so great a strait. Evil betide me if I +find not a deliverance therefrom.” And he cast himself among the dead +bodies of the Irish, and two unshod Irishmen came to him, and, taking him +to be one of the Irish, flung him into the cauldron. And he stretched +himself out in the cauldron, so that he rent the cauldron into four +pieces, and burst his own heart also. + +In consequence of that the men of the Island of the Mighty obtained such +success as they had; but they were not victorious, for only seven men of +them all escaped, and Bendigeid Vran himself was wounded in the foot with +a poisoned dart. Now the seven men that escaped were Pryderi, +Manawyddan, Gluneu Eil Taran, Taliesin, Ynawc, Grudyen the son of Muryel, +and Heilyn the son of Gwynn Hen. + +And Bendigeid Vran commanded them that they should cut off his head. +“And take you my head,” said he, “and bear it even unto the White Mount, +in London, and bury it there, with the face towards France. And a long +time will you be upon the road. In Harlech you will be feasting seven +years, the birds of Rhiannon singing unto you the while. And all that +time the head will be to you as pleasant company as it ever was when on +my body. And at Gwales in Penvro you will be fourscore years, and you +may remain there, and the head with you uncorrupted, until you open the +door that looks towards Aber Henvelen, and towards Cornwall. And after +you have opened that door, there you may no longer tarry, set forth then +to London to bury the head, and go straight forward.” + +So they cut off his head, and these seven went forward therewith. And +Branwen was the eighth with them, and they came to land at Aber Alaw, in +Talebolyon, and they sat down to rest. And Branwen looked towards +Ireland and towards the Island of the Mighty, to see if she could descry +them. “Alas,” said she, “woe is me that I was ever born; two islands +have been destroyed because of me!” Then she uttered a loud groan, and +there broke her heart. And they made her a four-sided grave, and buried +her upon the banks of the Alaw. + +Then the seven men journeyed forward towards Harlech, bearing the head +with them; and as they went, behold there met them a multitude of men and +of women. “Have you any tidings?” asked Manawyddan. “We have none,” +said they, “save that Caswallawn the son of Beli has conquered the Island +of the Mighty, and is crowned king in London.” “What has become,” said +they, “of Caradawc the son of Bran, and the seven men who were left with +him in this island?” “Caswallawn came upon them, and slew six of the +men, and Caradawc’s heart broke for grief thereof; for he could see the +sword that slew the men, but knew not who it was that wielded it. +Caswallawn had flung upon him the Veil of Illusion, so that no one could +see him slay the men, but the sword only could they see. And it liked +him not to slay Caradawc, because he was his nephew, the son of his +cousin. And now he was the third whose heart had broke through grief. +Pendaran Dyved, who had remained as a young page with these men, escaped +into the wood,” said they. + +Then they went on to Harlech, and there stopped to rest, and they +provided meat and liquor, and sat down to eat and to drink. And there +came three birds, and began singing unto them a certain song, and all the +songs they had ever heard were unpleasant compared thereto; and the birds +seemed to them to be at a great distance from them over the sea, yet they +appeared as distinct as if they were close by, and at this repast they +continued seven years. + +And at the close of the seventh year they went forth to Gwales in Penvro. +And there they found a fair and regal spot overlooking the ocean; and a +spacious hall was therein. And they went into the hall, and two of its +doors were open, but the third door was closed, that which looked towards +Cornwall. “See, yonder,” said Manawyddan, “is the door that we may not +open.” And that night they regaled themselves and were joyful. And of +all they had seen of food laid before them, and of all they had heard of, +they remembered nothing; neither of that, nor of any sorrow whatsoever. +And there they remained fourscore years, unconscious of having ever spent +a time more joyous and mirthful. And they were not more weary than when +first they came, neither did they, any of them, know the time they had +been there. And it was not more irksome to them having the head with +them, than if Bendigeid Vran had been with them himself. And because of +these fourscore years, it was called “the Entertaining of the noble +Head.” The entertaining of Branwen and Matholwch was in the time that +they went to Ireland. + +One day said Heilyn the son of Gwynn, “Evil betide me, if I do not open +the door to know if that is true which is said concerning it.” So he +opened the door and looked towards Cornwall and Aber Henvelen. And when +they had looked, they were as conscious of all the evils they had ever +sustained, and of all the friends and companions they had lost, and of +all the misery that had befallen them, as if all had happened in that +very spot; and especially of the fate of their lord. And because of +their perturbation they could not rest, but journeyed forth with the head +towards London. And they buried the head in the White Mount, and when it +was buried, this was the third goodly concealment; and it was the third +ill-fated disclosure when it was disinterred, inasmuch as no invasion +from across the sea came to this island while the head was in that +concealment. + +And thus is the story related of those who journeyed over from Ireland. + +In Ireland none were left alive, except five pregnant women in a cave in +the Irish wilderness; and to these five women in the same night were born +five sons, whom they nursed until they became grown-up youths. And they +thought about wives, and they at the same time desired to possess them, +and each took a wife of the mothers of their companions, and they +governed the country and peopled it. + +And these five divided it amongst them, and because of this partition are +the five divisions of Ireland still so termed. And they examined the +land where the battles had taken place, and they found gold and silver +until they became wealthy. + +And thus ends this portion of the Mabinogi, concerning the blow given to +Branwen, which was the third unhappy blow of this island; and concerning +the entertainment of Bran, when the hosts of sevenscore countries and ten +went over to Ireland to revenge the blow given to Branwen; and concerning +the seven years’ banquet in Harlech, and the singing of the birds of +Rhiannon, and the sojourning of the head for the space of fourscore +years. + + + + +MANAWYDDAN THE SON OF LLYR +HERE IS THE THIRD PORTION OF THE MABINOGI + + +When the seven men of whom we spoke above had buried the head of +Bendigeid Vran, in the White Mount in London, with its face towards +France; Manawyddan gazed upon the town of London, and upon his +companions, and heaved a great sigh; and much grief and heaviness came +upon him. “Alas, Almighty Heaven, woe is me,” he exclaimed, “there is +none save myself without a resting-place this night.” “Lord,” said +Pryderi, “be not so sorrowful. Thy cousin is king of the Island of the +Mighty, and though he should do thee wrong, thou hast never been a +claimant of land or possessions. Thou art the third disinherited +prince.” “Yea,” answered he, “but although this man is my cousin, it +grieveth me to see any one in the place of my brother Bendigeid Vran, +neither can I be happy in the same dwelling with him.” “Wilt thou follow +the counsel of another?” said Pryderi. “I stand in need of counsel,” he +answered, “and what may that counsel be?” “Seven Cantrevs remain unto +me,” said Pryderi, “wherein Rhiannon my mother dwells. I will bestow her +upon thee and the seven Cantrevs with her, and though thou hadst no +possessions but those Cantrevs only, thou couldst not have seven Cantrevs +fairer than they. Kicva, the daughter of Gwynn Gloyw, is my wife, and +since the inheritance of the Cantrevs belongs to me, do thou and Rhiannon +enjoy them, and if thou ever desire any possessions thou wilt take +these.” “I do not, Chieftain,” said he; “Heaven reward thee for thy +friendship.” “I would show thee the best friendship in the world if thou +wouldst let me.” “I will, my friend,” said he, “and Heaven reward thee. +I will go with thee to seek Rhiannon and to look at thy possessions.” +“Thou wilt do well,” he answered. “And I believe that thou didst never +hear a lady discourse better than she, and when she was in her prime none +was ever fairer. Even now her aspect is not uncomely.” + +They set forth, and, however long the journey, they came at length to +Dyved, and a feast was prepared for them against their coming to +Narberth, which Rhiannon and Kicva had provided. Then began Manawyddan +and Rhiannon to sit and to talk together, and from their discourse his +mind and his thoughts became warmed towards her, and he thought in his +heart he had never beheld any lady more fulfilled of grace and beauty +than she. “Pryderi,” said he, “I will that it be as thou didst say.” +“What saying was that?” asked Rhiannon. “Lady,” said Pryderi, “I did +offer thee as a wife to Manawyddan the son of Llyr.” “By that will I +gladly abide,” said Rhiannon. “Right glad am I also,” said Manawyddan; +“may Heaven reward him who hath shown unto me friendship so perfect as +this.” + +And before the feast was over she became his bride. Said Pryderi, “Tarry +ye here the rest of the feast, and I will go into Lloegyr to tender my +homage unto Caswallawn the son of Beli.” “Lord,” said Rhiannon, +“Caswallawn is in Kent, thou mayest therefore tarry at the feast, and +wait until he shall be nearer.” “We will wait,” he answered. So they +finished the feast. And they began to make the circuit of Dyved, and to +hunt, and to take their pleasure. And as they went through the country, +they had never seen lands more pleasant to live in, nor better hunting +grounds, nor greater plenty of honey and fish. And such was the +friendship between those four, that they would not be parted from each +other by night nor by day. + +And in the midst of all this he went to Caswallawn at Oxford, and +tendered his homage; and honourable was his reception there, and highly +was he praised for offering his homage. + +And after his return, Pryderi and Manawyddan feasted and took their ease +and pleasure. And they began a feast at Narberth, for it was the chief +palace; and there originated all honour. And when they had ended the +first meal that night, while those who served them ate, they arose and +went forth, and proceeded all four to the Gorsedd of Narberth, and their +retinue with them. And as they sat thus, behold, a peal of thunder, and +with the violence of the thunderstorm, lo there came a fall of mist, so +thick that not one of them could see the other. And after the mist it +became light all around. And when they looked towards the place where +they were wont to see cattle, and herds, and dwellings, they saw nothing +now, neither house, nor beast, nor smoke, nor fire, nor man, nor +dwelling; but the houses of the Court empty, and desert, and uninhabited, +without either man or beast within them. And truly all their companions +were lost to them, without their knowing aught of what had befallen them, +save those four only. + +“In the name of Heaven,” cried Manawyddan, “where are they of the Court, +and all my host beside these? Let us go and see.” So they came into the +hall, and there was no man; and they went on to the castle and to the +sleeping-place, and they saw none; and in the mead-cellar and in the +kitchen there was nought but desolation. So they four feasted, and +hunted, and took their pleasure. Then they began to go through the land +and all the possessions that they had, and they visited the houses and +dwellings, and found nothing but wild beasts. And when they had consumed +their feast and all their provisions, they fed upon the prey they killed +in hunting, and the honey of the wild swarms. And thus they passed the +first year pleasantly, and the second; but at the last they began to be +weary. + +“Verily,” said Manawyddan, “we must not bide thus. Let us go into +Lloegyr, and seek some craft whereby we may gain our support.” So they +went into Lloegyr, and came as far as Hereford. And they betook +themselves to making saddles. And Manawyddan began to make housings, and +he gilded and coloured them with blue enamel, in the manner that he had +seen it done by Llasar Llaesgywydd. And he made the blue enamel as it +was made by the other man. And therefore is it still called Calch Lasar +[blue enamel], because Llasar Llaesgywydd had wrought it. + +And as long as that workmanship could be had of Manawyddan, neither +saddle nor housing was bought of a saddler throughout all Hereford; till +at length every one of the saddlers perceived that they were losing much +of their gain, and that no man bought of them, but him who could not get +what he sought from Manawyddan. Then they assembled together, and agreed +to slay him and his companions. + +Now they received warning of this, and took counsel whether they should +leave the city. “By Heaven,” said Pryderi, “it is not my counsel that we +should quit the town, but that we should slay these boors.” “Not so,” +said Manawyddan, “for if we fight with them, we shall have evil fame, and +shall be put in prison. It were better for us to go to another town to +maintain ourselves.” So they four went to another city. + +“What craft shall we take?” said Pryderi. “We will make shields,” said +Manawyddan. “Do we know anything about that craft?” said Pryderi. “We +will try,” answered he. There they began to make shields, and fashioned +them after the shape of the good shields they had seen; and they +enamelled they, as them had done the saddles. And they prospered in that +place, so that not a shield was asked for in the whole town, but such as +was had of them. Rapid therefore was their work, and numberless were the +shields they made. But at last they were marked by the craftsmen, who +came together in haste, and their fellow-townsmen with them, and agreed +that they should seek to slay them. But they received warning, and heard +how the men had resolved on their destruction. “Pryderi,” said +Manawyddan, “these men desire to slay us.” “Let us not endure this from +these boors, but let us rather fall upon them and slay them.” “Not so,” +he answered; “Caswallawn and his men will hear of it, and we shall be +undone. Let us go to another town.” So to another town they went. + +“What craft shall we take?” said Manawyddan. “Whatsoever thou wilt that +we know,” said Pryderi. “Not so,” he replied, “but let us take to making +shoes, for there is not courage enough among cordwainers either to fight +with us or to molest us.” “I know nothing thereof,” said Pryderi. “But +I know,” answered Manawyddan; “and I will teach thee to stitch. We will +not attempt to dress the leather, but we will buy it ready dressed and +will make the shoes from it.” + +So he began by buying the best cordwal that could be had in the town, and +none other would he buy except the leather for the soles; and he +associated himself with the best goldsmith in the town, and caused him to +make clasps for the shoes, and to gild the clasps, and he marked how it +was done until he learnt the method. And therefore was he called one of +the three makers of Gold Shoes; and, when they could be had from him, not +a shoe nor hose was bought of any of the cordwainers in the town. But +when the cordwainers perceived that their gains were failing (for as +Manawyddan shaped the work, so Pryderi stitched it), they came together +and took counsel, and agreed that they would slay them. + +“Pryderi,” said Manawyddan, “these men are minded to slay us.” +“Wherefore should we bear this from the boorish thieves?” said Pryderi. +“Rather let us slay them all.” “Not so,” said Manawyddan, “we will not +slay them, neither will we remain in Lloegyr any longer. Let us set +forth to Dyved and go to see it.” + +So they journeyed along until they came to Dyved, and they went forward +to Narberth. And there they kindled fire and supported themselves by +hunting. And thus they spent a month. And they gathered their dogs +around them, and tarried there one year. + +And one morning Pryderi and Manawyddan rose up to hunt, and they ranged +their dogs and went forth from the palace. And some of the dogs ran +before them and came to a small bush which was near at hand; but as soon +as they were come to the bush, they hastily drew back and returned to the +men, their hair bristling up greatly. “Let us go near to the bush,” said +Pryderi, “and see what is in it.” And as they came near, behold, a wild +boar of a pure white colour rose up from the bush. Then the dogs, being +set on by the men, rushed towards him; but he left the bush and fell back +a little way from the men, and made a stand against the dogs without +retreating from them, until the men had come near. And when the men came +up, he fell back a second time, and betook him to flight. Then they +pursued the boar until they beheld a vast and lofty castle, all newly +built, in a place where they had never before seen either stone or +building. And the boar ran swiftly into the castle and the dogs after +him. Now when the boar and the dogs had gone into the castle, they began +to wonder at finding a castle in a place where they had never before seen +any building whatsoever. And from the top of the Gorsedd they looked and +listened for the dogs. But so long as they were there they heard not one +of the dogs nor aught concerning them. + +“Lord,” said Pryderi, “I will go into the castle to get tidings of the +dogs.” “Truly,” he replied, “thou wouldst be unwise to go into this +castle, which thou hast never seen till now. If thou wouldst follow my +counsel, thou wouldst not enter therein. Whosoever has cast a spell over +this land has caused this castle to be here.” “Of a truth,” answered +Pryderi, “I cannot thus give up my dogs.” And for all the counsel that +Manawyddan gave him, yet to the castle he went. + +When he came within the castle, neither man nor beast, nor boar nor dogs, +nor house nor dwelling saw he within it. But in the centre of the castle +floor he beheld a fountain with marble work around it, and on the margin +of the fountain a golden bowl upon a marble slab, and chains hanging from +the air, to which he saw no end. + +And he was greatly pleased with the beauty of the gold, and with the rich +workmanship of the bowl, and he went up to the bowl and laid hold of it. +And when he had taken hold of it his hands stuck to the bowl, and his +feet to the slab on which the howl was placed, and all his joyousness +forsook him, so that he could not utter a word. And thus he stood. + +And Manawyddan waited for him till near the close of the day. And late +in the evening, being certain that he should have no tidings of Pryderi +or of the dogs, he went back to the palace. And as he entered, Rhiannon +looked at him. “Where,” said she, “are thy companion and thy dogs?” +“Behold,” he answered, “the adventure that has befallen me.” And he +related it all unto her. “An evil companion hast thou been,” said +Rhiannon, “and a good companion hast thou lost.” And with that word she +went out, and proceeded towards the castle according to the direction +which he gave her. The gate of the castle she found open. She was +nothing daunted, and she went in. And as she went in, she perceived +Pryderi laying hold of the bowl, and she went towards him. “Oh, my +lord,” said she, “what dost thou do here?” And she took hold of the bowl +with him; and as she did so her hands became fast to the bowl, and her +feet to the slab, and she was not able to utter a word. And with that, +as it became night, lo, there came thunder upon them, and a fall of mist, +and thereupon the castle vanished, and they with it. + +When Kicva the daughter of Gwynn Gloyw saw that there was no one in the +palace but herself and Manawyddan, she sorrowed so that she cared not +whether she lived or died. And Manawyddan saw this. “Thou art in the +wrong,” said he, “if through fear of me thou grievest thus. I call +Heaven to witness that thou hast never seen friendship mere pure than +that which I will bear thee, as long as Heaven will that thou shouldst be +thus. I declare to thee that were I in the dawn of youth I would keep my +faith unto Pryderi, and unto thee also will I keep it. Be there no fear +upon thee, therefore,” said he, “for Heaven is my witness that thou shalt +meet with all the friendship thou canst wish, and that it is in my power +to show thee, as long as it shall please Heaven to continue us in this +grief and woe.” “Heaven reward thee,” she said, “and that is what I +deemed of thee.” And the damsel thereupon took courage and was glad. + +“Truly, lady,” said Manawyddan, “it is not fitting for us to stay here, +we have lost our dogs, and we cannot get food. Let us go into Lloegyr; +it is easiest for us to find support there.” “Gladly, lord,” said she, +“we will do so.” And they set forth together to Lloegyr. + +“Lord,” said she, “what craft wilt thou follow? Take up one that is +seemly.” “None other will I take,” answered he, “save that of making +shoes, as I did formerly.” “Lord,” said she, “such a craft becomes not a +man so nobly born as thou.” “By that however will I abide,” said he. + +So he began his craft, and he made all his work of the finest leather he +could get in the town, and, as he had done at the other place, he caused +gilded clasps to be made for the shoes. And except himself all the +cordwainers in the town were idle, and without work. For as long as they +could be had from him, neither shoes nor hose were bought elsewhere. And +thus they tarried there a year, until the cordwainers became envious, and +took counsel concerning him. And he had warning thereof, and it was told +him how the cordwainers had agreed together to slay him. + +“Lord,” said Kicva, “wherefore should this be borne from these boors?” +“Nay,” said he, “we will go back unto Dyved.” So towards Dyved they set +forth. + +Now Manawyddan, when he set out to return to Dyved, took with him a +burden of wheat. And he proceeded towards Narberth, and there he dwelt. +And never was he better pleased than when he saw Narberth again, and the +lands where he had been wont to hunt with Pryderi and with Rhiannon. And +he accustomed himself to fish, and to hunt the deer in their covert. And +then he began to prepare some ground, and he sowed a croft, and a second, +and a third. And no wheat in the world ever sprung up better. And the +three crofts prospered with perfect growth, and no man ever saw fairer +wheat than it. + +And thus passed the seasons of the year until the harvest came. And he +went to look at one of his crofts, and behold it was ripe. “I will reap +this to-morrow,” said he. And that night he went back to Narberth, and +on the morrow in the grey dawn he went to reap the croft, and when he +came there he found nothing but the bare straw. Every one of the ears of +the wheat was cut from off the stalk, and all the ears carried entirely +away, and nothing but the straw left. And at this he marvelled greatly. + +Then he went to look at another croft, and behold that also was ripe. +“Verily,” said he, “this will I reap to-morrow.” And on the morrow he +came with the intent to reap it, and when he came there he found nothing +but the bare straw. “Oh, gracious Heaven,” he exclaimed, “I know that +whosoever has begun my ruin is completing it, and has also destroyed the +country with me.” + +Then he went to look at the third croft, and when he came there, finer +wheat had there never been seen, and this also was ripe. “Evil betide +me,” said he, “if I watch not here to-night. Whoever carried off the +other corn will come in like manner to take this. And I will know who it +is.” So he took his arms, and began to watch the croft. And he told +Kicva all that had befallen. “Verily,” said she, “what thinkest thou to +do?” “I will watch the croft to-night,” said he. + +And he went to watch the croft. And at midnight, lo, there arose the +loudest tumult in the world. And he looked, and behold the mightiest +host of mice in the world, which could neither be numbered nor measured. +And he knew not what it was until the mice had made their way into the +croft, and each of them climbing up the straw and bending it down with +its weight, had cut off one of the ears of wheat, and had carried it +away, leaving there the stalk, and he saw not a single stalk there that +had not a mouse to it. And they all took their way, carrying the ears +with them. + +In wrath and anger did he rush upon the mice, but he could no more come +up with them than if they had been gnats, or birds in the air, except one +only, which though it was but sluggish, went so fast that a man on foot +could scarce overtake it. And after this one he went, and he caught it +and put it in his glove, and tied up the opening of the glove with a +string, and kept it with him, and returned to the palace. Then he came +to the hall where Kicva was, and he lighted a fire, and hung the glove by +the string upon a peg. “What hast thou there, lord?” said Kicva. “A +thief,” said he, “that I found robbing me.” “What kind of thief may it +be, lord, that thou couldst put into thy glove?” said she. “Behold I +will tell thee,” he answered. Then he showed her how his fields had been +wasted and destroyed, and how the mice came to the last of the fields in +his sight. “And one of them was less nimble than the rest, and is now in +my glove; to-morrow I will hang it, and before Heaven, if I had them, I +would hang them all.” “My lord,” said she, “this is marvellous; but yet +it would be unseemly for a man of dignity like thee to be hanging such a +reptile as this. And if thou doest right, thou wilt not meddle with the +creature, but wilt let it go.” “Woe betide me,” said he, “if I would not +hang them all could I catch them, and such as I have I will hang.” +“Verily, lord,” said she, “there is no reason that I should succour this +reptile, except to prevent discredit unto thee. Do therefore, lord, as +thou wilt.” “If I knew of any cause in the world wherefore thou shouldst +succour it, I would take thy counsel concerning it,” said Manawyddan, +“but as I know of none, lady, I am minded to destroy it.” “Do so +willingly then,” said she. + +And then he went to the Gorsedd of Narberth, taking the mouse with him. +And he set up two forks on the highest part of the Gorsedd. And while he +was doing this, behold he saw a scholar coming towards him, in old and +poor and tattered garments. And it was now seven years since he had seen +in that place either man or beast, except those four persons who had +remained together until two of them were lost. + +“My lord,” said the scholar, “good day to thee.” “Heaven prosper thee, +and my greeting be unto thee. And whence dost thou come, scholar?” asked +he. “I come, lord, from singing in Lloegyr; and wherefore dost thou +inquire?” “Because for the last seven years,” answered he, “I have seen +no man here save four secluded persons, and thyself this moment.” +“Truly, lord,” said he, “I go through this land unto mine own. And what +work art thou upon, lord?” “I am hanging a thief that I caught robbing +me,” said he. “What manner of thief is that?” asked the scholar. “I see +a creature in thy hand like unto a mouse, and ill does it become a man of +rank equal to thine to touch a reptile such as this. Let it go forth +free.” “I will not let it go free, by Heaven,” said he; “I caught it +robbing me, and the doom of a thief will I inflict upon it, and I will +hang it.” “Lord,” said he, “rather than see a man of rank equal to thine +at such a work as this, I would give thee a pound which I have received +as alms, to let the reptile go forth free.” “I will not let it go free,” +said he, “by Heaven, neither will I sell it.” “As thou wilt, lord,” he +answered; “except that I would not see a man of rank equal to thine +touching such a reptile, I care nought.” And the scholar went his way. + +And as he was placing the crossbeam upon the two forks, behold a priest +came towards him upon a horse covered with trappings. “Good day to thee, +lord,” said he. “Heaven prosper thee,” said Manawyddan; “thy blessing.” +“The blessing of Heaven be upon thee. And what, lord, art thou doing?” +“I am hanging a thief that I caught robbing me,” said he. “What manner +of thief, lord?” asked he. “A creature,” he answered, “in form of a +mouse. It has been robbing me, and I am inflicting upon it the doom of a +thief.” “Lord,” said he, “rather than see thee touch this reptile, I +would purchase its freedom.” “By my confession to Heaven, neither will I +sell it nor set it free.” “It is true, lord, that it is worth nothing to +buy; but rather than see thee defile thyself by touching such a reptile +as this, I will give thee three pounds to let it go.” “I will not, by +Heaven,” said he, “take any price for at. As it ought, so shall it be +hanged.” “Willingly, lord, do thy good pleasure.” And the priest went +his way. + +Then he noosed the string around the mouse’s neck, and as he was about to +draw it up, behold, he saw a bishop’s retinue with his sumpter-horses, +and his attendants. And the bishop himself came towards him. And he +stayed his work. “Lord bishop,” said he, “thy blessing.” “Heaven’s +blessing be unto thee,” said he; “what work art thou upon?” “Hanging a +thief that I caught robbing me,” said he. “Is not that a mouse that I +see in thy hand?” “Yes,” answered he. “And she has robbed me.” “Aye,” +said he, “since I have come at the doom of this reptile, I will ransom it +of thee. I will give thee seven pounds for it, and that rather than see +a man of rank equal to thine destroying so vile a reptile as this. Let +it loose and thou shalt have the money.” “I declare to Heaven that I +will not set it loose.” “If thou wilt not loose it for this, I will give +thee four-and-twenty pounds of ready money to set it free.” “I will not +set it free, by Heaven, for as much again,” said he. “If thou wilt not +set it free for this, I will give thee all the horses that thou seest in +this plain, and the seven loads of baggage, and the seven horses that +they are upon.” “By Heaven, I will not,” he replied. “Since for this +thou wilt not, do so at what price soever thou wilt.” “I will do so,” +said he. “I will that Rhiannon and Pryderi be free,” said he. “That +thou shalt have,” he answered. “Not yet will I loose the mouse, by +Heaven.” “What then wouldst thou?” “That the charm and the illusion be +removed from the seven Cantrevs of Dyved.” “This shalt thou have also; +set therefore the mouse free.” “I will not set it free, by Heaven,” said +he. “I will know who the mouse may be.” “She is my wife.” “Even though +she be, I will not set her free. Wherefore came she to me?” “To despoil +thee,” he answered. “I am Llwyd the son of Kilcoed, and I cast the charm +over the seven Cantrevs of Dyved. And it was to avenge Gwawl the son of +Clud, from the friendship I had towards him, that I cast the charm. And +upon Pryderi did I revenge Gwawl the son of Clud, for the game of Badger +in the Bag, that Pwyll Pen Annwvyn played upon him, which he did +unadvisedly in the Court of Heveydd Hên. And when it was known that thou +wast come to dwell in the land, my household came and besought me to +transform them into mice, that they might destroy thy corn. And it was +my own household that went the first night. And the second night also +they went, and they destroyed thy two crofts. And the third night came +unto me my wife and the ladies of the Court, and besought me to transform +them. And I transformed them. Now she is pregnant. And had she not +been pregnant thou wouldst not have been able to overtake her; but since +this has taken place, and she has been caught, I will restore thee +Pryderi and Rhiannon; and I will take the charm and illusion from off +Dyved. I have now told thee who she is. Set her therefore free.” “I +will not set her free, by Heaven,” said he. “What wilt thou more?” he +asked. “I will that there be no more charm upon the seven Cantrevs of +Dyved, and that none shall be put upon it henceforth.” “This thou shalt +have,” said he. “Now set her free.” “I will not, by my faith,” he +answered. “What wilt thou furthermore?” asked he. “Behold,” said he, +“this will I have; that vengeance be never taken for this, either upon +Pryderi or Rhiannon, or upon me.” “All this shalt thou have. And truly +thou hast done wisely in asking this. Upon thy head would have lighted +all this trouble.” “Yea,” said he, “for fear thereof was it, that I +required this.” “Set now my wife at liberty.” “I will not, by Heaven,” +said he, “until I see Pryderi and Rhiannon with me free.” “Behold, here +they come,” he answered. + +And thereupon behold Pryderi and Rhiannon. And he rose up to meet them, +and greeted them, and sat down beside them. “Ah, Chieftain, set now my +wife at liberty,” said the bishop. “Hast thou not received all thou +didst ask?” “I will release her gladly,” said he. And thereupon he set +her free. + +Then Llwyd struck her with a magic wand, and she was changed back into a +young woman, the fairest ever seen. + +“Look around upon thy land,” said he, “and then thou wilt see it all +tilled and peopled, as it was in its best state.” And he rose up and +looked forth. And when he looked he saw all the lands tilled, and full +of herds and dwellings. “What bondage,” he inquired, “has there been +upon Pryderi and Rhiannon?” “Pryderi has had the knockers of the gate of +my palace about his neck, and Rhiannon has had the collars of the asses, +after they have been carrying hay, about her neck.” + +And such had been their bondage. + +And by reason of this bondage is this story called the Mabinogi of +Mynnweir and Mynord. + +And thus ends this portion of the Mabinogi. + + + + +MATH THE SON OF MATHONWY +THIS IS THE FOURTH PORTION OF THE MABINOGI + + +Math the son of Mathonwy was lord over Gwynedd, and Pryderi the son of +Pwyll was lord over the one-and-twenty Cantrevs of the South; and these +were the seven Cantrevs of Dyved, and the seven Cantrevs of Morganwc, the +four Cantrevs of Ceredigiawn, and the three of Ystrad Tywi. + +At that time, Math the son of Mathonwy could not exist unless his feet +were in the lap of a maiden, except only when he was prevented by the +tumult of war. Now the maiden who was with him was Goewin, the daughter +of Pebin of Dôl Pebin, in Arvon, and she was the fairest maiden of her +time who was known there. + +And Math dwelt always at Caer Dathyl, in Arvon, and was not able to go +the circuit of the land, but Gilvaethwy the son of Don, and Eneyd the son +of Don, his nephews, the sons of his sisters, with his household, went +the circuit of the land in his stead. + +Now the maiden was with Math continually, and Gilvaethwy the son of Don +set his affections upon her, and loved her so that he knew not what he +should do because of her, and therefrom behold his hue, and his aspect, +and his spirits changed for love of her, so that it was not easy to know +him. + +One day his brother Gwydion gazed steadfastly upon him. “Youth,” said +he, “what aileth thee?” “Why,” replied he, “what seest thou in me?” “I +see,” said he, “that thou hast lost thy aspect and thy hue; what, +therefore, aileth thee?” “My lord brother,” he answered, “that which +aileth me, it will not profit me that I should own to any.” “What may it +be, my soul?” said he. “Thou knowest,” he said, “that Math the son of +Mathonwy has this property, that if men whisper together, in a tone how +low soever, if the wind meet it, it becomes known unto him.” “Yes,” said +Gwydion, “hold now thy peace, I know thy intent, thou lovest Goewin.” + +When he found that his brother knew his intent, he gave the heaviest sigh +in the world. “Be silent, my soul, and sigh not,” he said. “It is not +thereby that thou wilt succeed. I will cause,” said he, “if it cannot be +otherwise, the rising of Gwynedd, and Powys, and Deheubarth, to seek the +maiden. Be thou of glad cheer therefore, and I will compass it.” + +So they went unto Math the son of Mathonwy. “Lord,” said Gwydion, “I +have heard that there have come to the South some beasts, such as were +never known in this island before.” “What are they called?” he asked. +“Pigs, lord.” “And what kind of animals are they?” “They are small +animals, and their flesh is better than the flesh of oxen.” “They are +small, then?” “And they change their names. Swine are they now called.” +“Who owneth them?” “Pryderi the son of Pwyll; they were sent him from +Annwvyn, by Arawn the king of Annwvyn, and still they keep that name, +half hog, half pig.” “Verily,” asked he, “and by what means may they be +obtained from him?” “I will go, lord, as one of twelve, in the guise of +bards, to seek the swine.” “But it may be that he will refuse you,” said +he. “My journey will not be evil, lord,” said he; “I will not come back +without the swine.” “Gladly,” said he, “go thou forward.” + +So he and Gilvaethwy went, and ten other men with them. And they came +into Ceredigiawn, to the place that is now called Rhuddlan Teivi, where +the palace of Pryderi was. In the guise of bards they came in, and they +were received joyfully, and Gwydion was placed beside Pryderi that night. + +“Of a truth,” said Pryderi, “gladly would I have a tale from some of your +men yonder.” “Lord,” said Gwydion, “we have a custom that the first +night that we come to the Court of a great man, the chief of song +recites. Gladly will I relate a tale.” Now Gwydion was the best teller +of tales in the world, and he diverted all the Court that night with +pleasant discourse and with tales, so that he charmed every one in the +Court, and it pleased Pryderi to talk with him. + +And after this, “Lord,” said he unto Pryderi, “were it more pleasing to +thee, that another should discharge my errand unto thee, than that I +should tell thee myself what it is?” “No,” he answered, “ample speech +hast thou.” “Behold then, lord,” said he, “my errand. It is to crave +from thee the animals that were sent thee from Annwvyn.” “Verily,” he +replied, “that were the easiest thing in the world to grant, were there +not a covenant between me and my land concerning them. And the covenant +is that they shall not go from me, until they have produced double their +number in the land.” “Lord,” said he, “I can set thee free from those +words, and this is the way I can do so; give me not the swine to-night, +neither refuse them unto me, and to-morrow I will show thee an exchange +for them.” + +And that night he and his fellows went unto their lodging, and they took +counsel. “Ah, my men,” said he, “we shall not have the swine for the +asking.” “Well,” said they, “how may they be obtained?” “I will cause +them to be obtained,” said Gwydion. + +Then he betook himself to his arts, and began to work a charm. And he +caused twelve chargers to appear, and twelve black greyhounds, each of +them white-breasted, and having upon them twelve collars and twelve +leashes, such as no one that saw them could know to be other than gold. +And upon the horses twelve saddles, and every part which should have been +of iron was entirely of gold, and the bridles were of the same +workmanship. And with the horses and the dogs he came to Pryderi. + +“Good day unto thee, lord,” said he. “Heaven prosper thee,” said the +other, “and greetings be unto thee.” “Lord,” said he, “behold here is a +release for thee from the word which thou spakest last evening concerning +the swine; that thou wouldst neither give nor sell them. Thou mayest +exchange them for that which is better. And I will give these twelve +horses, all caparisoned as they are, with their saddles and their +bridles, and these twelve greyhounds, with their collars and their +leashes as thou seest, and the twelve gilded shields that thou beholdest +yonder.” Now these he had formed of fungus. “Well,” said he, “we will +take counsel.” And they consulted together, and determined to give the +swine to Gwydion, and to take his horses and his dogs and his shields. + +Then Gwydion and his men took their leave, and began to journey forth +with the pigs. “Ah, my comrades,” said Gwydion, “it is needful that we +journey with speed. The illusion will not last but from the one hour to +the same to-morrow.” + +And that night they journeyed as far as the upper part of Ceredigiawn, to +the place which, from that cause, is called Mochdrev still. And the next +day they took their course through Melenydd, and came that night to the +town which is likewise for that reason called Mochdrev between Keri and +Arwystli. And thence they journeyed forward; and that night they came as +far as that Commot in Powys, which also upon account thereof is called +Mochnant, and there tarried they that night. And they journeyed thence +to the Cantrev of Rhos, and the place where they were that night is still +called Mochdrev. + +“My men,” said Gwydion, “we must push forward to the fastnesses of +Gwynedd with these animals, for there is a gathering of hosts in pursuit +of us.” So they journeyed on to the highest town of Arllechwedd, and +there they made a sty for the swine, and therefore was the name of +Creuwyryon given to that town. And after they had made the sty for the +swine, they proceeded to Math the son of Mathonwy, at Caer Dathyl. And +when they came there, the country was rising. “What news is there here?” +asked Gwydion. “Pryderi is assembling one-and-twenty Cantrevs to pursue +after you,” answered they. “It is marvellous that you should have +journeyed so slowly.” “Where are the animals whereof you went in quest?” +said Math. “They have had a sty made for them in the other Cantrev +below,” said Gwydion. + +Thereupon, lo, they heard the trumpets and the host in the land, and they +arrayed themselves and set forward and came to Penardd in Arvon. + +And at night Gwydion the son of Don, and Gilvaethwy his brother, returned +to Caer Dathyl; and Gilvaethwy took Math the son of Mathonwy’s couch. +And while he turned out the other damsels from the room discourteously, +he made Goewin unwillingly remain. + +And when they saw the day on the morrow, they went back unto the place +where Math the son of Mathonwy was with his host; and when they came +there, the warriors were taking counsel in what district they should +await the coming of Pryderi, and the men of the South. So they went in +to the council. And it was resolved to wait in the strongholds of +Gwynedd, in Arvon. So within the two Maenors they took their stand, +Maenor Penardd and Maenor Coed Alun. And there Pryderi attacked them, +and there the combat took place. And great was the slaughter on both +sides; but the men of the South were forced to flee. And they fled unto +the place which is still called Nantcall. And thither did they follow +them, and they made a vast slaughter of them there, so that they fled +again as far as the place called Dol Pen Maen, and there they halted and +sought to make peace. + +And that he might have peace, Pryderi gave hostages, Gwrgi Gwastra gave +he and three-and-twenty others, sons of nobles. And after this they +journeyed in peace even unto Traeth Mawr; but as they went on together +towards Melenryd, the men on foot could not be restrained from shooting. +Pryderi dispatched unto Math an embassy to pray him to forbid his people, +and to leave it between him and Gwydion the son of Don, for that he had +caused all this. And the messengers came to Math. “Of a truth,” said +Math, “I call Heaven to witness, if it be pleasing unto Gwydion the son +of Don, I will so leave it gladly. Never will I compel any to go to +fight, but that we ourselves should do our utmost.” + +“Verily,” said the messengers, “Pryderi saith that it were more fair that +the man who did him this wrong should oppose his own body to his, and let +his people remain unscathed.” “I declare to Heaven, I will not ask the +men of Gwynedd to fight because of me. If I am allowed to fight Pryderi +myself, gladly will I oppose my body to his.” And this answer they took +back to Pryderi. “Truly,” said Pryderi, “I shall require no one to +demand my rights but myself.” + +Then these two came forth and armed themselves, and they fought. And by +force of strength, and fierceness, and by the magic and charms of +Gwydion, Pryderi was slain. And at Maen Tyriawc, above Melenryd, was he +buried, and there is his grave. + +And the men of the South set forth in sorrow towards their own land; nor +is it a marvel that they should grieve, seeing that they had lost their +lord, and many of their best warriors, and for the most part their horses +and their arms. + +The men of Gwynedd went back joyful and in triumph. “Lord,” said Gwydion +unto Math, “would it not be right for us to release the hostages of the +men of the South, which they pledged unto us for peace? for we ought not +to put them in prison.” “Let them then be set free,” saith Math. So +that youth, and the other hostages that were with him, were set free to +follow the men of the South. + +Math himself went forward to Caer Dathyl. Gilvaethwy the son of Don, and +they of the household that were with him, went to make the circuit of +Gwynedd as they were wont, without coming to the Court. Math went into +his chamber, and caused a place to be prepared for him whereon to +recline, so that he might put his feet in the maiden’s lap. “Lord,” said +Goewin, “seek now another to hold thy feet, for I am now a wife.” “What +meaneth this?” said he. “An attack, lord, was made unawares upon me; but +I held not my peace, and there was no one in the Court who knew not of +it. Now the attack was made by thy nephews, lord, the sons of thy +sister, Gwydion the son of Don, and Gilvaethwy the son of Don; unto me +they did wrong, and unto thee dishonour.” “Verily,” he exclaimed, “I +will do to the utmost of my power concerning this matter. But first I +will cause thee to have compensation, and then will I have amends made +unto myself. As for thee, I will take thee to be my wife, and the +possession of my dominions will I give unto thy hands.” + +And Gwydion and Gilvaethwy came not near the Court, but stayed in the +confines of the land until it was forbidden to give them meat and drink. +At first they came not near unto Math, but at the last they came. +“Lord,” said they, “good day to thee.” “Well,” said he, “is it to make +me compensation that ye are come?” “Lord,” they said, “we are at thy +will.” “By my will I would not have lost my warriors, and so many arms +as I have done. You cannot compensate me my shame, setting aside the +death of Pryderi. But since ye come hither to be at my will, I shall +begin your punishment forthwith.” + +Then he took his magic wand, and struck Gilvaethwy, so that he became a +deer, and he seized upon the other hastily lest he should escape from +him. And he struck him with the same magic wand, and he became a deer +also. “Since now ye are in bonds, I will that ye go forth together and +be companions, and possess the nature of the animals whose form ye bear. +And this day twelvemonth come hither unto me.” + +At the end of a year from that day, lo there was a loud noise under the +chamber wall, and the barking of the dogs of the palace together with the +noise. “Look,” said he, “what is without.” “Lord,” said one, “I have +looked; there are there two deer, and a fawn with them.” Then he arose +and went out. And when he came he beheld the three animals. And he +lifted up his wand. “As ye were deer last year, be ye wild hogs each and +either of you, for the year that is to come.” And thereupon he struck +them with the magic wand. “The young one will I take and cause to be +baptized.” Now the name that he gave him was Hydwn. “Go ye and be wild +swine, each and either of you, and be ye of the nature of wild swine. +And this day twelvemonth be ye here under the wall.” + +At the end of the year the barking of dogs was heard under the wall of +the chamber. And the Court assembled, and thereupon he arose and went +forth, and when he came forth he beheld three beasts. Now these were the +beasts that he saw; two wild hogs of the woods, and a well-grown young +one with them. And he was very large for his age. “Truly,” said Math, +“this one will I take and cause to be baptized.” And he struck him with +his magic wand, and he become a fine fair auburn-haired youth, and the +name that he gave him was Hychdwn. “Now as for you, as ye were wild hogs +last year, be ye wolves each and either of you for the year that is to +come.” Thereupon he struck them with his magic wand, and they became +wolves. “And be ye of like nature with the animals whose semblance ye +bear, and return here this day twelvemonth beneath this wall.” + +And at the same day at the end of the year, he heard a clamour and a +barking of dogs under the wall of the chamber. And he rose and went +forth. And when he came, behold, he saw two wolves, and a strong cub +with them. “This one will I take,” said Math, “and I will cause him to +be baptized; there is a name prepared for him, and that is Bleiddwn. Now +these three, such are they:— + + The three sons of Gilvaethwy the false, + The three faithful combatants, + Bleiddwn, Hydwn, and Hychdwn the Tall.” + +Then he struck the two with his magic wand, and they resumed their own +nature. “Oh men,” said he, “for the wrong that ye did unto me sufficient +has been your punishment and your dishonour. Prepare now precious +ointment for these men, and wash their heads, and equip them.” And this +was done. + +And after they were equipped, they came unto him. “Oh men,” said he, +“you have obtained peace, and you shall likewise have friendship. Give +your counsel unto me, what maiden I shall seek.” “Lord,” said Gwydion +the son of Don, “it is easy to give thee counsel; seek Arianrod, the +daughter of Don, thy niece, thy sister’s daughter.” + +And they brought her unto him, and the maiden came in. “Ha, damsel,” +said he, “art thou the maiden?” “I know not, lord, other than that I +am.” Then he took up his magic wand, and bent it. “Step over this,” +said he, “and I shall know if thou art the maiden.” Then stepped she +over the magic wand, and there appeared forthwith a fine chubby +yellow-haired boy. And at the crying out of the boy, she went towards +the door. And thereupon some small form was seen; but before any one +could get a second glimpse of it, Gwydion had taken it, and had flung a +scarf of velvet around it and hidden it. Now the place where he hid it +was the bottom of a chest at the foot of his bed. + +“Verily,” said Math the son of Mathonwy, concerning the fine +yellow-haired boy, “I will cause this one to be baptized, and Dylan is +the name I will give him.” + +So they had the boy baptized, and as they baptized him he plunged into +the sea. And immediately when he was in the sea, he took its nature, and +swam as well as the best fish that was therein. And for that reason was +he called Dylan, the son of the Wave. Beneath him no wave ever broke. +And the blow whereby he came to his death, was struck by his uncle +Govannon. The third fatal blow was it called. + +As Gwydion lay one morning on his bed awake, he heard a cry in the chest +at his feet; and though it was not loud, it was such that he could hear +it. Then he arose in haste, and opened the chest: and when he opened it, +he beheld an infant boy stretching out his arms from the folds of the +scarf, and casting it aside. And he took up the boy in his arms, and +carried him to a place where he knew there was a woman that could nurse +him. And he agreed with the woman that she should take charge of the +boy. And that year he was nursed. + +And at the end of the year he seemed by his size as though he were two +years old. And the second year he was a big child, and able to go to the +Court by himself. And when he came to the Court, Gwydion noticed him, +and the boy became familiar with him, and loved him better than any one +else. Then was the boy reared at the Court until he was four years old, +when he was as big as though he had been eight. + +And one day Gwydion walked forth, and the boy followed him, and he went +to the Castle of Arianrod, having the boy with him; and when he came into +the Court, Arianrod arose to meet him, and greeted him and bade him +welcome. “Heaven prosper thee,” said he. “Who is the boy that followeth +thee?” she asked. “This youth, he is thy son,” he answered. “Alas,” +said she, “what has come unto thee that thou shouldst shame me thus? +wherefore dost thou seek my dishonour, and retain it so long as this?” +“Unless thou suffer dishonour greater than that of my bringing up such a +boy as this, small will be thy disgrace.” “What is the name of the boy?” +said she. “Verily,” he replied, “he has not yet a name.” “Well,” she +said, “I lay this destiny upon him, that he shall never have a name until +he receives one from me.” “Heaven bears me witness,” answered he, “that +thou art a wicked woman. But the boy shall have a name how displeasing +soever it may be unto thee. As for thee, that which afflicts thee is +that thou art no longer called a damsel.” And thereupon he went forth in +wrath, and returned to Caer Dathyl and there he tarried that night. + +And the next day he arose and took the boy with him, and went to walk on +the seashore between that place and Aber Menei. And there he saw some +sedges and seaweed, and he turned them into a boat. And out of dry +sticks and sedges he made some Cordovan leather, and a great deal +thereof, and he coloured it in such a manner that no one ever saw leather +more beautiful than it. Then he made a sail to the boat, and he and the +boy went in it to the port of the castle of Arianrod. And he began +forming shoes and stitching them, until he was observed from the castle. +And when he knew that they of the castle were observing him, he disguised +his aspect, and put another semblance upon himself, and upon the boy, so +that they might not be known. “What men are those in yonder boat?” said +Arianrod. “They are cordwainers,” answered they. “Go and see what kind +of leather they have, and what kind of work they can do.” + +So they came unto them. And when they came he was colouring some +Cordovan leather, and gilding it. And the messengers came and told her +this. “Well,” said she, “take the measure of my foot, and desire the +cordwainer to make shoes for me.” So he made the shoes for her, yet not +according to the measure, but larger. The shoes then were brought unto +her, and behold they were too large. “These are too large,” said she, +“but he shall receive their value. Let him also make some that are +smaller than they.” Then he made her others that were much smaller than +her foot, and sent them unto her. “Tell him that these will not go on my +feet,” said she. And they told him this. “Verily,” said he, “I will not +make her any shoes, unless I see her foot.” And this was told unto her. +“Truly,” she answered, “I will go unto him.” + +So she went down to the boat, and when she came there, he was shaping +shoes and the boy stitching them. “Ah, lady,” said he, “good day to +thee.” “Heaven prosper thee,” said she. “I marvel that thou canst not +manage to make shoes according to a measure.” “I could not,” he replied, +“but now I shall be able.” + +Thereupon behold a wren stood upon the deck of the boat, and the boy shot +at it, and hit it in the leg between the sinew and the bone. Then she +smiled. “Verily,” said she, “with a steady hand did the lion aim at it.” +“Heaven reward thee not, but now has he got a name. And a good enough +name it is. Llew Llaw Gyffes be he called henceforth.” + +Then the work disappeared in seaweed and sedges, and he went on with it +no further. And for that reason was he called the third Gold-shoemaker. +“Of a truth,” said she, “thou wilt not thrive the better for doing evil +unto me.” “I have done thee no evil yet,” said he. Then he restored the +boy to his own form. “Well,” said she, “I will lay a destiny upon this +boy, that he shall never have arms and armour until I invest him with +them.” “By Heaven,” said he, “let thy malice be what it may, he shall +have arms.” + +Then they went towards Dinas Dinllev, and there he brought up Llew Llaw +Gyffes, until he could manage any horse, and he was perfect in features, +and strength, and stature. And then Gwydion saw that he languished +through the want of horses and arms. And he called him unto him. “Ah, +youth,” said he, “we will go to-morrow on an errand together. Be +therefore more cheerful than thou art.” “That I will,” said the youth. + +Next morning, at the dawn of day, they arose. And they took way along +the sea coast, up towards Bryn Aryen. And at the top of Cevn Clydno they +equipped themselves with horses, and went towards the Castle of Arianrod. +And they changed their form, and pricked towards the gate in the +semblance of two youths, but the aspect of Gwydion was more staid than +that of the other. “Porter,” said he, “go thou in and say that there are +here bards from Glamorgan.” And the porter went in. “The welcome of +Heaven be unto them, let them in,” said Arianrod. + +With great joy were they greeted. And the hall was arranged, and they +went to meat. When meat was ended, Arianrod discoursed with Gwydion of +tales and stories. Now Gwydion was an excellent teller of tales. And +when it was time to leave off feasting, a chamber was prepared for them, +and they went to rest. + +In the early twilight Gwydion arose, and he called unto him his magic and +his power. And by the time that the day dawned, there resounded through +the land uproar, and trumpets and shouts. When it was now day, they +heard a knocking at the door of the chamber, and therewith Arianrod +asking that it might be opened. Up rose the youth and opened unto her, +and she entered and a maiden with her. “Ah, good men,” she said, “in +evil plight are we.” “Yes, truly,” said Gwydion, “we have heard trumpets +and shouts; what thinkest thou that they may mean?” “Verily,” said she, +“we cannot see the colour of the ocean by reason of all the ships, side +by side. And they are making for the land with all the speed they can. +And what can we do?” said she. “Lady,” said Gwydion, “there is none +other counsel than to close the castle upon us, and to defend it as best +we may.” “Truly,” said she, “may Heaven reward you. And do you defend +it. And here may you have plenty of arms.” + +And thereupon went she forth for the arms, and behold she returned, and +two maidens, and suits of armour for two men, with her. “Lady,” said he, +“do you accoutre this stripling, and I will arm myself with the help of +thy maidens. Lo, I hear the tumult of the men approaching.” “I will do +so, gladly.” So she armed him fully, and that right cheerfully. “Hast +thou finished arming the youth?” said he. “I have finished,” she +answered. “I likewise have finished,” said Gwydion. “Let us now take +off our arms, we have no need of them.” “Wherefore?” said she. “Here is +the army around the house.” “Oh, lady, there is here no army.” “Oh,” +cried she, “whence then was this tumult?” “The tumult was but to break +thy prophecy and to obtain arms for thy son. And now has he got arms +without any thanks unto thee.” “By Heaven,” said Arianrod, “thou art a +wicked man. Many a youth might have lost his life through the uproar +thou hast caused in this Cantrev to-day. Now will I lay a destiny upon +this youth,” she said, “that he shall never have a wife of the race that +now inhabits this earth.” “Verily,” said he, “thou wast ever a malicious +woman, and no one ought to support thee. A wife shall he have +notwithstanding.” + +They went thereupon unto Math the son of Mathonwy, and complained unto +him most bitterly of Arianrod. Gwydion showed him also how he had +procured arms for the youth. “Well,” said Math, “we will seek, I and +thou, by charms and illusion, to form a wife for him out of flowers. He +has now come to man’s stature, and he is the comeliest youth that was +ever beheld.” So they took the blossoms of the oak, and the blossoms of +the broom, and the blossoms of the meadow-sweet, and produced from them a +maiden, the fairest and most graceful that man ever saw. And they +baptized her, and gave her the name of Blodeuwedd. + +After she had become his bride, and they had feasted, said Gwydion, “It +is not easy for a man to maintain himself without possessions.” “Of a +truth,” said Math, “I will give the young man the best Cantrev to hold.” +“Lord,” said he, “what Cantrev is that?” “The Cantrev of Dinodig,” he +answered. Now it is called at this day Eivionydd and Ardudwy. And the +place in the Cantrev where he dwelt, was a palace of his in a spot called +Mur y Castell, on the confines of Ardudwy. There dwelt he and reigned, +and both he and his sway were beloved by all. + +One day he went forth to Caer Dathyl, to visit Math the son of Mathonwy. +And on the day that he set out for Caer Dathyl, Blodeuwedd walked in the +Court. And she heard the sound of a horn. And after the sound of the +horn, behold a tired stag went by, with dogs and huntsmen following it. +And after the dogs and the huntsmen there came a crowd of men on foot. +“Send a youth,” said she, “to ask who yonder host may be.” So a youth +went, and inquired who they were. “Gronw Pebyr is this, the lord of +Penllyn,” said they. And thus the youth told her. + +Gronw Pebyr pursued the stag, and by the river Cynvael he overtook the +stag and killed it. And what with flaying the stag and baiting his dogs, +he was there until the night began to close in upon him. And as the day +departed and the night drew near, he came to the gate of the Court. +“Verily,” said Blodeuwedd, “the Chieftain will speak ill of us if we let +him at this hour depart to another land without inviting him in.” “Yes, +truly, lady,” said they, “it will be most fitting to invite him.” + +Then went messengers to meet him and bid him in. And he accepted her +bidding gladly, and came to the Court, and Blodeuwedd went to meet him, +and greeted him, and bade him welcome. “Lady,” said he, “Heaven repay +thee thy kindness.” + +When they had disaccoutred themselves, they went to sit down. And +Blodeuwedd looked upon him, and from the moment that she looked on him +she became filled with his love. And he gazed on her, and the same +thought came unto him as unto her, so that he could not conceal from her +that he loved her, but he declared unto her that he did so. Thereupon +she was very joyful. And all their discourse that night was concerning +the affection and love which they felt one for the other, and which in no +longer space than one evening had arisen. And that evening passed they +in each other’s company. + +The next day he sought to depart. But she said, “I pray thee go not from +me to-day.” And that night he tarried also. And that night they +consulted by what means they might always be together. “There is none +other counsel,” said he, “but that thou strive to learn from Llew Llaw +Gyffes in what manner he will meet his death. And this must thou do +under the semblance of solicitude concerning him.” + +The next day Gronw sought to depart. “Verily,” said she, “I will counsel +thee not to go from me to-day.” “At thy instance will I not go,” said +he, “albeit, I must say, there is danger that the chief who owns the +palace may return home.” “To-morrow,” answered she, “will I indeed +permit thee to go forth.” + +The next day he sought to go, and she hindered him not. “Be mindful,” +said Gronw, “of what I have said unto thee, and converse with him fully, +and that under the guise of the dalliance of love, and find out by what +means he may come to his death.” + +That night Llew Llaw Gyffes returned to his home. And the day they spent +in discourse, and minstrelsy, and feasting. And at night they went to +rest, and he spoke to Blodeuwedd once, and he spoke to her a second time. +But, for all this, he could not get from her one word. “What aileth +thee?” said he, “art thou well?” “I was thinking,” said she, “of that +which thou didst never think of concerning me; for I was sorrowful as to +thy death, lest thou shouldst go sooner than I.” “Heaven reward thy care +for me,” said he, “but until Heaven take me I shall not easily be slain.” +“For the sake of Heaven, and for mine, show me how thou mightest be +slain. My memory in guarding is better than thine.” “I will tell thee +gladly,” said he. “Not easily can I be slain, except by a wound. And +the spear wherewith I am struck must be a year in the forming. And +nothing must be done towards it except during the sacrifice on Sundays.” +“Is this certain?” asked she. “It is in truth,” he answered. “And I +cannot be slain within a house, nor without. I cannot be slain on +horseback nor on foot.” “Verily,” said she, “in what manner then canst +thou be slain?” “I will tell thee,” said he. “By making a bath for me +by the side of a river, and by putting a roof over the cauldron, and +thatching it well and tightly, and bringing a buck, and putting it beside +the cauldron. Then if I place one foot on the buck’s back, and the other +on the edge of the cauldron, whosoever strikes me thus will cause my +death.” “Well,” said she, “I thank Heaven that it will be easy to avoid +this.” + +No sooner had she held this discourse than she sent to Gronw Pebyr. +Gronw toiled at making the spear, and that day twelvemonth it was ready. +And that very day he caused her to be informed thereof. + +“Lord,” said Blodeuwedd unto Llew, “I have been thinking how it is +possible that what thou didst tell me formerly can be true; wilt thou +show me in what manner thou couldst stand at once upon the edge of a +cauldron and upon a buck, if I prepare the bath for thee?” “I will show +thee,” said he. + +Then she sent unto Gronw, and bade him be in ambush on the hill which is +now called Bryn Kyvergyr, on the bank of the river Cynvael. She caused +also to be collected all the goats that were in the Cantrev, and had them +brought to the other side of the river, opposite Bryn Kyvergyr. + +And the next day she spoke thus. “Lord,” said she, “I have caused the +roof and the bath to be prepared, and lo! they are ready.” “Well,” said +Llew, “we will go gladly to look at them.” + +The day after they came and looked at the bath. “Wilt thou go into the +bath, lord?” said she. “Willingly will I go in,” he answered. So into +the bath he went, and he anointed himself. “Lord,” said she, “behold the +animals which thou didst speak of as being called bucks.” “Well,” said +he, “cause one of them to be caught and brought here.” And the buck was +brought. Then Llew rose out of the bath, and put on his trowsers, and he +placed one foot on the edge of the bath and the other on the buck’s back. + +Thereupon Gronw rose up from the bill which is called Bryn Kyvergyr, and +he rested on one knee, and flung the poisoned dart and struck him on the +side, so that the shaft started out, but the head of the dart remained +in. Then he flew up in the form of an eagle and gave a fearful scream. +And thenceforth was he no more seen. + +As soon as he departed Gronw and Blodeuwedd went together unto the palace +that night. And the next day Gronw arose and took possession of Ardudwy. +And after he had overcome the land, he ruled over it, so that Ardudwy and +Penllyn were both under his sway. + +Then these tidings reached Math the son of Mathonwy. And heaviness and +grief came upon Math, and much more upon Gwydion than upon him. “Lord,” +said Gwydion, “I shall never rest until I have tidings of my nephew.” +“Verily,” said Math, “may Heaven be thy strength.” Then Gwydion set +forth and began to go forward. And he went through Gwynedd and Powys to +the confines. And when he had done so, he went into Arvon, and came to +the house of a vassal, in Maenawr Penardd. And he alighted at the house, +and stayed there that night. The man of the house and his house-hold +came in, and last of all came there the swineherd. Said the man of the +house to the swineherd, “Well, youth, hath thy sow come in to-night?” +“She hath,” said he, “and is this instant returned to the pigs.” “Where +doth this sow go to?” said Gwydion. “Every day, when the sty is opened, +she goeth forth and none can catch sight of her, neither is it known +whither she goeth more than if she sank into the earth.” “Wilt thou +grant unto me,” said Gwydion, “not to open the sty until I am beside the +sty with thee?” “This will I do, right gladly,” he answered. + +That night they went to rest; and as soon as the swineherd saw the light +of day, he awoke Gwydion. And Gwydion arose and dressed himself, and +went with the swineherd, and stood beside the sty. Then the swineherd +opened the sty. And as soon as he opened it, behold she leaped forth, +and set off with great speed. And Gwydion followed her, and she went +against the course of a river, and made for a brook, which is now called +Nant y Llew. And there she halted and began feeding. And Gwydion came +under the tree, and looked what it might be that the sow was feeding on. +And he saw that she was eating putrid flesh and vermin. Then looked he +up to the top of the tree, and as he looked he beheld on the top of the +tree an eagle, and when the eagle shook itself, there fell vermin and +putrid flesh from off it, and these the sow devoured. And it seemed to +him that the eagle was Llew. And he sang an Englyn:— + + “Oak that grows between the two banks; + Darkened is the sky and hill! + Shall I not tell him by his wounds, + That this is Llew?” + +Upon this the eagle came down until he reached the centre of the tree. +And Gwydion sang another Englyn:— + + “Oak that grows in upland ground, + Is it not wetted by the rain? Has it not been drenched + By nine score tempests? + It bears in its branches Llew Llaw Gyffes!” + +Then the eagle came down until he was on the lowest branch of the tree, +and thereupon this Englyn did Gwydion sing:— + + “Oak that grows beneath the steep; + Stately and majestic is its aspect! + Shall I not speak it? + That Llew will come to my lap?” + +And the eagle came down upon Gwydion’s knee. And Gwydion struck him with +his magic wand, so that he returned to his own form. No one ever saw a +more piteous sight, for he was nothing but skin and bone. + +Then he went unto Caer Dathyl, and there were brought unto him good +physicians that were in Gwynedd, and before the end of the year he was +quite healed. + +“Lord,” said he unto Math the son of Mathonwy, “it is full time now that +I have retribution of him by whom I have suffered all this woe.” +“Truly,” said Math, “he will never be able to maintain himself in the +possession of that which is thy right.” “Well,” said Llew, “the sooner I +have my right, the better shall I be pleased.” + +Then they called together the whole of Gwynedd, and set forth to Ardudwy. +And Gwydion went on before and proceeded to Mur y Castell. And when +Blodeuwedd heard that he was coming, she took her maidens with her, and +fled to the mountain. And they passed through the river Cynvael, and +went towards a court that there was upon the mountain, and through fear +they could not proceed except with their faces looking backwards, so that +unawares they fell into the lake. And they were all drowned except +Blodeuwedd herself, and her Gwydion overtook. And he said unto her, “I +will not slay thee, but I will do unto thee worse than that. For I will +turn thee into a bird; and because of the shame thou hast done unto Llew +Llaw Gyffes, thou shalt never show thy face in the light of day +henceforth; and that through fear of all the other birds. For it shall +be their nature to attack thee, and to chase thee from wheresoever they +may find thee. And thou shalt not lose thy name, but shalt be always +called Blodeuwedd.” Now Blodeuwedd is an owl in the language of this +present time, and for this reason is the owl hateful unto all birds. And +even now the owl is called Blodeuwedd. + +Then Gronw Pebyr withdrew unto Penllyn, and he dispatched thence an +embassy. And the messengers he sent asked Llew Llaw Gyffes if he would +take land, or domain, or gold, or silver, for the injury he had received. +“I will not, by my confession to Heaven,” said he. “Behold this is the +least that I will accept from him; that he come to the spot where I was +when he wounded me with the dart, and that I stand where he did, and that +with a dart I take my aim at him. And this is the very least that I will +accept.” + +And this was told unto Gronw Pebyr. “Verily,” said he, “is it needful +for me to do thus? My faithful warriors, and my household, and my +foster-brothers, is there not one among you who will stand the blow in my +stead?” “There is not, verily,” answered they. And because of their +refusal to suffer one stroke for their lord, they are called the third +disloyal tribe even unto this day. “Well,” said he, “I will meet it.” + +Then they two went forth to the banks of the river Cynvael, and Gronw +stood in the place where Llew Llaw Gyffes was when he struck him, and +Llew in the place where Gronw was. Then said Gronw Pebyr unto Llew, +“Since it was through the wiles of a woman that I did unto thee as I have +done, I adjure thee by Heaven to let me place between me and the blow, +the slab thou seest yonder on the river’s bank.” “Verily,” said Llew, “I +will not refuse thee this.” “Ah,” said he, “may Heaven reward thee.” So +Gronw took the slab and placed it between him and the blow. + +Then Llew flung the dart at him, and it pierced the slab and went through +Gronw likewise, so that it pierced through his back. And thus was Gronw +Pebyr slain. And there is still the slab on the bank of the river +Cynvael, in Ardudwy, having the hole through it. And therefore is it +even now called Llech Gronw. + +A second time did Llew Llaw Gyffes take possession of the land, and +prosperously did he govern it. And, as the story relates, he was lord +after this over Gwynedd. And thus ends this portion of the Mabinogi. + + + + +THE DREAM OF MAXEN WLEDIG + + +Maxen Wledig was emperor of Rome, and he was a comelier man, and a better +and a wiser than any emperor that had been before him. And one day he +held a council of kings, and he said to his friends, “I desire to go +to-morrow to hunt.” And the next day in the morning he set forth with +his retinue, and came to the valley of the river that flowed towards +Rome. And he hunted through the valley until mid-day. And with him also +were two-and-thirty crowned kings, that were his vassals; not for the +delight of hunting went the emperor with them, but to put himself on +equal terms with those kings. + +And the sun was high in the sky over their heads and the heat was great. +And sleep came upon Maxen Wledig. And his attendants stood and set up +their shields around him upon the shafts of their spears to protect him +from the sun, and they placed a gold enamelled shield under his head; and +so Maxen slept. + +And he saw a dream. And this is the dream that he saw. He was +journeying along the valley of the river towards its source; and he came +to the highest mountain in the world. And he thought that the mountain +was as high as the sky; and when he came over the mountain, it seemed to +him that he went through the fairest and most level regions that man ever +yet beheld, on the other side of the mountain. And he saw large and +mighty rivers descending from the mountain to the sea, and towards the +mouths of the rivers he proceeded. And as he journeyed thus, he came to +the mouth of the largest river ever seen. And he beheld a great city at +the entrance of the river, and a vast castle in the city, and he saw many +high towers of various colours in the castle. And he saw a fleet at the +mouth of the river, the largest ever seen. And he saw one ship among the +fleet; larger was it by far, and fairer than all the others. Of such +part of the ship as he could see above the water, one plank was gilded +and the other silvered over. He saw a bridge of the bone of a whale from +the ship to the land, and he thought that he went along the bridge, and +came into the ship. And a sail was hoisted on the ship, and along the +sea and the ocean was it borne. Then it seemed that he came to the +fairest island in the whole world, and he traversed the island from sea +to sea, even to the furthest shore of the island. Valleys he saw, and +steeps, and rocks of wondrous height, and rugged precipices. Never yet +saw he the like. And thence he beheld an island in the sea, facing this +rugged land. And between him and this island was a country of which the +plain was as large as the sea, the mountain as vast as the wood. And +from the mountain he saw a river that flowed through the land and fell +into the sea. And at the mouth of the river he beheld a castle, the +fairest that man ever saw, and the gate of the castle was open, and he +went into the castle. And in the castle he saw a fair hall, of which the +roof seemed to be all gold, the walls of the hall seemed to be entirely +of glittering precious gems, the doors all seemed to be of gold. Golden +seats he saw in the hall, and silver tables. And on a seat opposite to +him he beheld two auburn-haired youths playing at chess. He saw a silver +board for the chess, and golden pieces thereon. The garments of the +youths were of jet-black satin, and chaplets of ruddy gold bound their +hair, whereon were sparkling jewels of great price, rubies, and gems, +alternately with imperial stones. Buskins of new Cordovan leather on +their feet, fastened by slides of red gold. + +And beside a pillar in the hall he saw a hoary-headed man, in a chair of +ivory, with the figures of two eagles of ruddy gold thereon. Bracelets +of gold were upon his arms, and many rings were on his hands, and a +golden torque about his neck; and his hair was bound with a golden +diadem. He was of powerful aspect. A chessboard of gold was before him, +and a rod of gold, and a steel file in his hand. And he was carving out +chessmen. + +And he saw a maiden sitting before him in a chair of ruddy gold. Not +more easy than to gaze upon the sun when brightest, was it to look upon +her by reason of her beauty. A vest of white silk was upon the maiden, +with clasps of red gold at the breast; and a surcoat of gold tissue upon +her, and a frontlet of red gold upon her head, and rubies and gems were +in the frontlet, alternating with pearls and imperial stones. And a +girdle of ruddy gold was around her. She was the fairest sight that man +ever beheld. + +The maiden arose from her chair before him, and he threw his arms about +the neck of the maiden, and they two sat down together in the chair of +gold: and the chair was not less roomy for them both, than for the maiden +alone. And as he had his arms about the maiden’s neck, and his cheek by +her cheek, behold, through the chafing of the dogs at their leashing, and +the clashing of the shields as they struck against each other, and the +beating together of the shafts of the spears, and the neighing of the +horses and their prancing, the emperor awoke. + +And when he awoke, nor spirit nor existence was left him, because of the +maiden whom he had seen in his sleep, for the love of the maiden pervaded +his whole frame. Then his household spake unto him. “Lord,” said they, +“is it not past the time for thee to take thy food?” Thereupon the +emperor mounted his palfrey, the saddest man that mortal ever saw, and +went forth towards Rome. + +And thus he was during the space of a week. When they of the household +went to drink wine and mead out of golden vessels, he went not with any +of them. When they went to listen to songs and tales, he went not with +them there; neither could he be persuaded to do anything but sleep. And +as often as he slept, he beheld in his dreams the maiden he loved best; +but except when he slept he saw nothing of her, for he knew not where in +the world she was. + +One day the page of the chamber spake unto him; now, although he was page +of the chamber, he was king of the Romans. “Lord,” said he, “all the +people revile thee.” “Wherefore do they revile me?” asked the emperor. +“Because they can get neither message nor answer from thee as men should +have from their lord. This is the cause why thou art spoken evil of.” +“Youth,” said the emperor, “do thou bring unto me the wise men of Rome, +and I will tell them wherefore I am sorrowful.” + +Then the wise men of Rome were brought to the emperor, and he spake to +them. “Sages of Rome,” said he, “I have seen a dream. And in the dream +I beheld a maiden, and because of the maiden is there neither life, nor +spirit, nor existence within me.” “Lord,” they answered, “since thou +judgest us worthy to counsel thee, we will give thee counsel. And this +is our counsel; that thou send messengers for three years to the three +parts of the world to seek for thy dream. And as thou knowest not what +day or what night good news may come to thee, the hope thereof will +support thee.” + +So the messengers journeyed for the space of a year, wandering about the +world, and seeking tidings concerning his dream. But when they came back +at the end of the year, they knew not one word more than they did the day +they set forth. And then was the emperor exceeding sorrowful, for he +thought that he should never have tidings of her whom best he loved. + +Then spoke the king of the Romans unto the emperor. “Lord,” said he, “go +forth to hunt by the way thou didst seem to go, whether it were to the +east, or to the west.” So the emperor went forth to the hunt, and he +came to the bank of the river. “Behold,” said he, “this is where I was +when I saw the dream, and I went towards the source of the river +westward.” + +And thereupon thirteen messengers of the emperor’s set forth, and before +them they saw a high mountain, which seemed to them to touch the sky. +Now this was the guise in which the messengers journeyed; one sleeve was +on the cap of each of them in front, as a sign that they were messengers, +in order that through what hostile land soever they might pass no harm +might be done them. And when they were come over this mountain, they +beheld vast plains, and large rivers flowing there through. + +“Behold,” said they, “the land which our master saw.” + +And they went along the mouths of the rivers, until they came to the +mighty river which they saw flowing to the sea, and the vast city, and +the many-coloured high towers in the castle. They saw the largest fleet +in the world, in the harbour of the river, and one ship that was larger +than any of the others. “Behold again,” said they, “the dream that our +master saw.” And in the great ship they crossed the sea, and came to the +Island of Britain. And they traversed the island until they came to +Snowdon. “Behold,” said they, “the rugged land that our master saw.” +And they went forward until they saw Anglesey before them, and until they +saw Arvon likewise. “Behold,” said they, “the land our master saw in his +sleep.” And they saw Aber Sain, and a castle at the mouth of the river. +The portal of the castle saw they open, and into the castle they went, +and they saw a hall in the castle. Then said they, “Behold, the hall +which he saw in his sleep.” They went into the hall, and they beheld two +youths playing at chess on the golden bench. And they beheld the +hoary-headed man beside the pillar, in the ivory chair, carving chessmen. +And they beheld the maiden sitting on a chair of ruddy gold. + +The messengers bent down upon their knees. “Empress of Rome, all hail!” +“Ha, gentles,” said the maiden, “ye bear the seeming of honourable men, +and the badge of envoys, what mockery is this ye do to me?” “We mock +thee not, lady; but the Emperor of Rome hath seen thee in his sleep, and +he has neither life nor spirit left because of thee. Thou shalt have of +us therefore the choice, lady, whether thou wilt go with us and be made +empress of Rome, or that the emperor come hither and take thee for his +wife?” “Ha, lords,” said the maiden, “I will not deny what ye say, +neither will I believe it too well. If the emperor love me, let him come +here to seek me.” + +And by day and night the messengers hied them back. And when their +horses failed, they bought other fresh ones. And when they came to Rome, +they saluted the emperor, and asked their boon, which was given to them +according as they named it. “We will be thy guides, lord,” said they, +“over sea and over land, to the place where is the woman whom best thou +lovest, for we know her name, and her kindred, and her race.” + +And immediately the emperor set forth with his army. And these men were +his guides. Towards the Island of Britain they went over the sea and the +deep. And he conquered the Island from Beli the son of Manogan, and his +sons, and drove them to the sea, and went forward even unto Arvon. And +the emperor knew the land when he saw it. And when he beheld the castle +of Aber Sain, “Look yonder,” said he, “there is the castle wherein I saw +the damsel whom I best love.” And he went forward into the castle and +into the hall, and there he saw Kynan the son of Eudav, and Adeon the son +of Eudav, playing at chess. And he saw Eudav the son of Caradawc, +sitting on a chair of ivory carving chessmen. And the maiden whom he had +beheld in his sleep, he saw sitting on a chair of gold. “Empress of +Rome,” said he, “all hail!” And the emperor threw his arms about her +neck; and that night she became his bride. + +And the next day in the morning, the damsel asked her maiden portion. +And he told her to name what she would. And she asked to have the Island +of Britain for her father, from the Channel to the Irish Sea, together +with the three adjacent Islands, to hold under the empress of Rome; and +to have three chief castles made for her, in whatever places she might +choose in the Island of Britain. And she chose to have the highest +castle made at Arvon. And they brought thither earth from Rome that it +might be more healthful for the emperor to sleep, and sit, and walk upon. +After that the two other castles were made for her, which were Caerlleon +and Caermarthen. + +And one day the emperor went to hunt at Caermarthen, and he came so far +as the top of Brevi Vawr, and there the emperor pitched his tent. And +that encamping place is called Cadeir Maxen, even to this day. And +because that he built the castle with a myriad of men, he called it +Caervyrddin. Then Helen bethought her to make high roads from one castle +to another throughout the Island of Britain. And the roads were made. +And for this cause are they called the roads of Helen Luyddawc, that she +was sprung from a native of this island, and the men of the Island of +Britain would not have made these great roads for any save for her. + +Seven years did the emperor tarry in this Island. Now, at that time, the +men of Rome had a custom, that whatsoever emperor should remain in other +lands more than seven years should remain to his own overthrow, and +should never return to Rome again. + +So they made a new emperor. And this one wrote a letter of threat to +Maxen. There was nought in the letter but only this. “If thou comest, +and if thou ever comest to Rome.” And even unto Caerlleon came this +letter to Maxen, and these tidings. Then sent he a letter to the man who +styled himself emperor in Rome. There was nought in that letter also but +only this. “If I come to Rome, and if I come.” + +And thereupon Maxen set forth towards Rome with his army, and vanquished +France and Bugundy, and every land on the way, and sat down before the +city of Rome. + +A year was the emperor before the city, and he was no nearer taking it +than the first day. And after him there came the brothers of Helen +Luyddawc from the Island of Britain, and a small host with them, and +better warriors were in that small host than twice as many Romans. And +the emperor was told that a host was seen, halting close to his army and +encamping, and no man ever saw a fairer or better appointed host for its +size, nor more handsome standards. + +And Helen went to see the hosts, and she knew the standards of her +brothers. Then came Kynan the son of Eudav, and Adeon the son of Eudav, +to meet the emperor. And the emperor was glad because of them, and +embraced them. + +Then they looked at the Romans as they attacked the city. Said Kynan to +his brother, “We will try to attack the city more expertly than this.” +So they measured by night the height of the wall, and they sent their +carpenters to the wood, and a ladder was made for every four men of their +number. Now when these were ready, every day at mid-day the emperors +went to meat, and they ceased to fight on both sides till all had +finished eating. And in the morning the men of Britain took their food +and they drank until they were invigorated. And while the two emperors +were at meat, the Britons came to the city, and placed their ladders +against it, and forthwith they came in through the city. + +The new emperor had no time to arm himself when they fell upon him, and +slew him, and many others with him. And three nights and three days were +they subduing the men that were in the city and taking the castle. And +others of them kept the city, lest any of the host of Maxen should come +therein, until they had subjected all to their will. + +Then spake Maxen to Helen Luyddawc. “I marvel, lady,” said he, “that thy +brothers have not conquered this city for me.” “Lord, emperor,” she +answered, “the wisest youths in the world are my brothers. Go thou +thither and ask the city of them, and if it be in their possession thou +shalt have it gladly.” So the emperor and Helen went and demanded the +city. And they told the emperor that none had taken the city, and that +none could give it him, but the men of the Island of Britain. Then the +gates of the city of Rome were opened, and the emperor sat on the throne, +and all the men of Rome submitted them selves unto him. + +The emperor then said unto Kynan and Adeon, “Lords,” said he, “I have now +had possession of the whole of my empire. This host give I unto you to +vanquish whatever region ye may desire in the world.” + +So they set forth and conquered lands, and castles, and cities. And they +slew all the men, but the women they kept alive. And thus they continued +until the young men that had come with them were grown grey-headed, from +the length of time they were upon this conquest. + +Then spoke Kynan unto Adeon his brother, “Whether wilt thou rather,” said +he, “tarry in this land, or go back into the land whence thou didst come +forth?” Now he chose to go back to his own land, and many with him. But +Kynan tarried there with the other part and dwelt there. + +And they took counsel and cut out the tongues of the women, lest they +should corrupt their speech. And because of the silence of the women +from their own speech, the men of Armorica are called Britons. From that +time there came frequently, and still comes, that language from the +Island of Britain. + +And this dream is called the Dream of Maxen Wledig, emperor of Rome. And +here it ends. + + + + +HERE IS THE STORY OF LLUDD AND LLEVELYS + + +Beli the Great, the son of Manogan, had three sons, Lludd, and +Caswallawn, and Nynyaw; and according to the story he had a fourth son +called Llevelys. And after the death of Beli, the kingdom of the Island +of Britain fell into the hands of Lludd his eldest son; and Lludd ruled +prosperously, and rebuilt the walls of London, and encompassed it about +with numberless towers. And after that he bade the citizens build houses +therein, such as no houses in the kingdoms could equal. And moreover he +was a mighty warrior, and generous and liberal in giving meat and drink +to all that sought them. And though he had many castles and cities this +one loved he more than any. And he dwelt therein most part of the year, +and therefore was it called Caer Lludd, and at last Caer London. And +after the stranger-race came there, it was called London, or Lwndrys. + +Lludd loved Llevelys best of all his brothers, because he was a wise and +discreet man. Having heard that the king of France had died, leaving no +heir except a daughter, and that he had left all his possessions in her +hands, he came to Lludd his brother, to beseech his counsel and aid. And +that not so much for his own welfare, as to seek to add to the glory and +honour and dignity of his kindred, if he might go to France to woo the +maiden for his wife. And forthwith his brother conferred with him, and +this counsel was pleasing unto him. + +So he prepared ships and filled them with armed knights, and set forth +towards France. And as soon as they had landed, they sent messengers to +show the nobles of France the cause of the embassy. And by the joint +counsel of the nobles of France and of the princes, the maiden was given +to Llevelys, and the crown of the kingdom with her. And thenceforth he +ruled the land discreetly, and wisely, and happily, as long as his life +lasted. + +After a space of time had passed, three plagues fell on the Island of +Britain, such as none in the islands had ever seen the like of. The +first was a certain race that came, and was called the Coranians; and so +great was their knowledge, that there was no discourse upon the face of +the Island, however low it might be spoken, but what, if the wind met it, +it was known to them. And through this they could not be injured. {4} + +The second plague was a shriek which came on every May-eve, over every +hearth in the Island of Britain. And this went through people’s hearts, +and so scared them, that the men lost their hue and their strength, and +the women their children, and the young men and the maidens lost their +senses, and all the animals and trees and the earth and the waters, were +left barren. + +The third plague was, that however much of provisions and food might be +prepared in the king’s courts, were there even so much as a year’s +provision of meat and drink, none of it could ever be found, except what +was consumed in the first night. And two of these plagues, no one ever +knew their cause, therefore was there better hope of being freed from the +first than from the second and third. + +And thereupon King Lludd felt great sorrow and care, because that he knew +not how he might be freed from these plagues. And he called to him all +the nobles of his kingdom, and asked counsel of them what they should do +against these afflictions. And by the common counsel of the nobles, +Lludd the son of Beli went to Llevelys his brother, king of France, for +he was a man great of counsel and wisdom, to seek his advice. + +And they made ready a fleet, and that in secret and in silence, lest that +race should know the cause of their errand, or any besides the king and +his counsellors. And when they were made ready, they went into their +ships, Lludd and those whom he chose with him. And they began to cleave +the seas towards France. + +And when these tidings came to Llevelys, seeing that he knew not the +cause of his brother’s ships, he came on the other side to meet him, and +with him was a fleet vast of size. And when Lludd saw this, he left all +the ships out upon the sea except one only; and in that one he came to +meet his brother, and he likewise with a single ship came to meet him. +And when they were come together, each put his arms about the other’s +neck, and they welcomed each other with brotherly love. + +After that Lludd had shown his brother the cause of his errand, Llevelys +said that he himself knew the cause of the coming to those lands. And +they took counsel together to discourse on the matter otherwise than +thus, in order that the wind might not catch their words, nor the +Coranians know what they might say. Then Llevelys caused a long horn to +be made of brass, and through this horn they discoursed. But whatsoever +words they spoke through this horn, one to the other, neither of them +could hear any other but harsh and hostile words. And when Llevelys saw +this, and that there was a demon thwarting them and disturbing through +this horn, he caused wine to be put therein to wash it. And through the +virtue of the wine the demon was driven out of the horn. And when their +discourse was unobstructed, Llevelys told his brother that he would give +him some insects whereof he should keep some to breed, lest by chance the +like affliction might come a second time. And other of these insects he +should take and bruise in water. And he assured him that it would have +power to destroy the race of the Coranians. That is to say, that when he +came home to his kingdom he should call together all the people both of +his own race and of the race of the Coranians for a conference, as though +with the intent of making peace between them; and that when they were all +together, he should take this charmed water, and cast it over all alike. +And he assured him that the water would poison the race of the Coranians, +but that it would not slay or harm those of his own race. + +“And the second plague,” said he, “that is in thy dominion, behold it is +a dragon. And another dragon of a foreign race is fighting with it, and +striving to overcome it. And therefore does your dragon make a fearful +outcry. And on this wise mayest thou come to know this. After thou hast +returned home, cause the Island to be measured in its length and breadth, +and in the place where thou dost find the exact central point, there +cause a pit to be dug, and cause a cauldron full of the best mead that +can be made to be put in the pit, with a covering of satin over the face +of the cauldron. And then, in thine own person do thou remain there +watching, and thou wilt see the dragon fighting in the form of terrific +animals. And at length they will take the form of dragons in the air. +And last of all, after wearying themselves with fierce and furious +fighting, they will fall in the form of two pigs upon the covering, and +they will sink in, and the covering with them, and they will draw it down +to the very bottom of the cauldron. And they will drink up the whole of +the mead; and after that they will sleep. Thereupon do thou immediately +fold the covering around them, and bury them in a kistvaen, in the +strongest place thou hast in thy dominions, and hide them in the earth. +And as long as they shall bide in that strong place no plague shall come +to the Island of Britain from elsewhere. + +“The cause of the third plague,” said he, “is a mighty man of magic, who +take thy meat and thy drink and thy store. And he through illusions and +charms causes every one to sleep. Therefore it is needful for thee in +thy own person to watch thy food and thy provisions. And lest he should +overcome thee with sleep, be there a cauldron of cold water by thy side, +and when thou art oppressed with sleep, plunge into the cauldron.” + +Then Lludd returned back unto his land. And immediately he summoned to +him the whole of his own race and of the Coranians. And as Llevelys had +taught him, he bruised the insects in water, the which he cast over them +all together, and forthwith it destroyed the whole tribe of the +Coranians, without hurt to any of the Britons. + +And some time after this, Lludd caused the Island to be measured in its +length and in its breadth. And in Oxford he found the central point, and +in that place he caused the earth to be dug, and in that pit a cauldron +to be set, full of the best mead that could be made, and a covering of +satin over the face of it. And he himself watched that night. And while +he was there, he beheld the dragons fighting. And when they were weary +they fell, and came down upon the top of the satin, and drew it with them +to the bottom of the cauldron. And when they had drunk the mead they +slept. And in their sleep, Lludd folded the covering around them, and in +the securest place he had in Snowdon, he hid them in a kistvaen. Now +after that this spot was called Dinas Emreis, but before that, Dinas +Ffaraon. And thus the fierce outcry ceased in his dominions. + +And when this was ended, King Lludd caused an exceeding great banquet to +be prepared. And when it was ready, he placed a vessel of cold water by +his side, and he in his own proper person watched it. And as he abode +thus clad with arms, about the third watch of the night, lo, he heard +many surpassing fascinations and various songs. And drowsiness urged him +to sleep. Upon this, lest he should be hindered from his purpose and be +overcome by sleep, he went often into the water. And at last, behold, a +man of vast size, clad in strong, heavy armour, came in, bearing a +hamper. And, as he was wont, he put all the food and provisions of meat +and drink into the hamper, and proceeded to go with it forth. And +nothing was ever more wonderful to Lludd, than that the hamper should +hold so much. + +And thereupon King Lludd went after him and spoke unto him thus. “Stop, +stop,” said he, “though thou hast done many insults and much spoil +erewhile, thou shalt not do so any more, unless thy skill in arms and thy +prowess be greater than mine.” + +Then he instantly put down the hamper on the floor, and awaited him. And +a fierce encounter was between them, so that the glittering fire flew out +from their arms. And at the last Lludd grappled with him, and fate +bestowed the victory on Lludd. And he threw the plague to the earth. +And after he had overcome him by strength and might, he besought his +mercy. “How can I grant thee mercy,” said the king, “after all the many +injuries and wrongs that thou hast done me?” “All the losses that ever I +have caused thee,” said he, “I will make thee atonement for, equal to +what I have taken. And I will never do the like from this time forth. +But thy faithful vassal will I be.” And the king accepted this from him. + +And thus Lludd freed the Island of Britain from the three plagues. And +from thenceforth until the end of his life, in prosperous peace did Lludd +the son of Beli rule the Island of Britain. And this Tale is called the +Story of Lludd and Llevelys. And thus it ends. + + + + +TALIESIN + + +In times past there lived in Penllyn a man of gentle lineage, named Tegid +Voel, and his dwelling was in the midst of the lake Tegid, and his wife +was called Caridwen. And there was born to him of his wife a son named +Morvran ab Tegid, and also a daughter named Creirwy, the fairest maiden +in the world was she; and they had a brother, the most ill-favoured man +in the world, Avagddu. Now Caridwen his mother thought that he was not +likely to be admitted among men of noble birth, by reason of his +ugliness, unless he had some exalted merits or knowledge. For it was in +the beginning of Arthur’s time and of the Round Table. + +So she resolved, according to the arts of the books of the Fferyllt, to +boil a cauldron of Inspiration and Science for her son, that his +reception might be honourable because of his knowledge of the mysteries +of the future state of the world. + +Then she began to boil the cauldron, which from the beginning of its +boiling might not cease to boil for a year and a day, until three blessed +drops were obtained of the grace of Inspiration. + +And she put Gwion Bach the son of Gwreang of Llanfair in Caereinion, in +Powys, to stir the cauldron, and a blind man named Morda to kindle the +fire beneath it, and she charged them that they should not suffer it to +cease boiling for the space of a year and a day. And she herself, +according to the books of the astronomers, and in planetary hours, +gathered every day of all charm-bearing herbs. And one day, towards the +end of the year, as Caridwen was culling plants and making incantations, +it chanced that three drops of the charmed liquor flew out of the +cauldron and fell upon the finger of Gwion Bach. And by reason of their +great heat he put his finger to his mouth, and the instant he put those +marvel-working drops into his mouth, he foresaw everything that was to +come, and perceived that his chief care must be to guard against the +wiles of Caridwen, for vast was her skill. And in very great fear he +fled towards his own land. And the cauldron burst in two, because all +the liquor within it except the three charm-bearing drops was poisonous, +so that the horses of Gwyddno Garanhir were poisoned by the water of the +stream into which the liquor of the cauldron ran, and the confluence of +that stream was called the Poison of the Horses of Gwyddno from that time +forth. + +Thereupon came in Caridwen and saw all the toil of the whole year lost. +And she seized a billet of wood and struck the blind Morda on the head +until one of his eyes fell out upon his cheek. And he said, “Wrongfully +hast thou disfigured me, for I am innocent. Thy loss was not because of +me.” “Thou speakest truth,” said Caridwen, “it was Gwion Bach who robbed +me.” + +And she went forth after him, running. And he saw her, and changed +himself into a hare and fled. But she changed herself into a greyhound +and turned him. And he ran towards a river, and became a fish. And she +in the form of an otter-bitch chased him under the water, until he was +fain to turn himself into a bird of the air. She, as a hawk, followed +him and gave him no rest in the sky. And just as she was about to stoop +upon him, and he was in fear of death, he espied a heap of winnowed wheat +on the floor of a barn, and he dropped among the wheat, and turned +himself into one of the grains. Then she transformed herself into a +high-crested black hen, and went to the wheat and scratched it with her +feet, and found him out and swallowed him. And, as the story says, she +bore him nine months, and when she was delivered of him, she could not +find it in her heart to kill him, by reason of his beauty. So she +wrapped him in a leathern bag, and cast him into the sea to the mercy of +God, on the twenty-ninth day of April. + +And at that time the weir of Gwyddno was on the strand between Dyvi and +Aberystwyth, near to his own castle, and the value of an hundred pounds +was taken in that weir every May eve. And in those days Gwyddno had an +only son named Elphin, the most hapless of youths, and the most needy. +And it grieved his father sore, for he thought that he was born in an +evil hour. And by the advice of his council, his father had granted him +the drawing of the weir that year, to see if good luck would ever befall +him, and to give him something wherewith to begin the world. + +And the next day when Elphin went to look, there was nothing in the weir. +But as he turned back he perceived the leathern bag upon a pole of the +weir. Then said one of the weir-ward unto Elphin, “Thou wast never +unlucky until to-night, and now thou hast destroyed the virtues of the +weir, which always yielded the value of an hundred pounds every May eve, +and to-night there is nothing but this leathern skin within it.” “How +now,” said Elphin, “there may be therein the value of an hundred pounds.” +Well, they took up the leathern bag, and he who opened it saw the +forehead of the boy, and said to Elphin, “Behold a radiant brow!” {6} +“Taliesin be he called,” said Elphin. And he lifted the boy in his arms, +and lamenting his mischance, he placed him sorrowfully behind him. And +he made his horse amble gently, that before had been trotting, and he +carried him as softly as if he had been sitting in the easiest chair in +the world. And presently the boy made a Consolation and praise to +Elphin, and foretold honour to Elphin; and the Consolation was as you may +see:— + + “Fair Elphin, cease to lament! + Let no one be dissatisfied with his own, + To despair will bring no advantage. + No man sees what supports him; + The prayer of Cynllo will not be in vain; + God will not violate his promise. + Never in Gwyddno’s weir + Was there such good luck as this night. + Fair Elphin, dry thy cheeks! + Being too sad will not avail. + Although thou thinkest thou hast no gain, + Too much grief will bring thee no good; + Nor doubt the miracles of the Almighty: + Although I am but little, I am highly gifted. + From seas, and from mountains, + And from the depths of rivers, + God brings wealth to the fortunate man. + Elphin of lively qualities, + Thy resolution is unmanly; + Thou must not be over sorrowful: + Better to trust in God than to forbode ill. + Weak and small as I am, + On the foaming beach of the ocean, + In the day of trouble I shall be + Of more service to thee than three hundred salmon. + Elphin of notable qualities, + Be not displeased at thy misfortune; + Although reclined thus weak in my bag, + There lies a virtue in my tongue. + While I continue thy protector + Thou hast not much to fear; + Remembering the names of the Trinity, + None shall be able to harm thee.” + +And this was the first poem that Taliesin ever sang, being to console +Elphin in his grief for that the produce of the weir was lost, and, what +was worse, that all the world would consider that it was through his +fault and ill-luck. And then Gwyddno Garanhir {7} asked him what he was, +whether man or spirit. Whereupon he sang this tale, and said:— + + “First, I have been formed a comely person, + In the court of Caridwen I have done penance; + Though little I was seen, placidly received, + I was great on the floor of the place to where I was led; + I have been a prized defence, the sweet muse the cause, + And by law without speech I have been liberated + By a smiling black old hag, when irritated + Dreadful her claim when pursued: + I have fled with vigour, I have fled as a frog, + I have fled in the semblance of a crow, scarcely finding rest; + I have fled vehemently, I have fled as a chain, + I have fled as a roe into an entangled thicket; + I have fled as a wolf cub, I have fled as a wolf in a wilderness, + I have fled as a thrush of portending language; + I have fled as a fox, used to concurrent bounds of quirks; + I have fled as a martin, which did not avail; + I have fled as a squirrel, that vainly hides, + I have fled as a stag’s antler, of ruddy course, + I have fled as iron in a glowing fire, + I have fled as a spear-head, of woe to such as has a wish for it; + I have fled as a fierce hull bitterly fighting, + I have fled as a bristly boar seen in a ravine, + I have fled as a white grain of pure wheat, + On the skirt of a hempen sheet entangled, + That seemed of the size of a mare’s foal, + That is filling like a ship on the waters; + Into a dark leathern bag I was thrown, + And on a boundless sea I was sent adrift; + Which was to me an omen of being tenderly nursed, + And the Lord God then set me at liberty.” + +Then came Elphin to the house or court of Gwyddno his father, and +Taliesin with him. And Gwyddno asked him if he had had a good haul at +the weir, and he told him that he had got that which was better than +fish. “What was that?” said Gwyddno. “A Bard,” answered Elphin. Then +said Gwyddno, “Alas, what will he profit thee?” And Taliesin himself +replied and said, “He will profit him more than the weir ever profited +thee.” Asked Gwyddno, “Art thou able to speak, and thou so little?” And +Taliesin answered him, “I am better able to speak than thou to question +me.” “Let me hear what thou canst say,” quoth Gwyddno. Then Taliesin +sang:— + + “In water there is a quality endowed with a blessing; + On God it is most just to meditate aright; + To God it is proper to supplicate with seriousness, + Since no obstacle can there be to obtain a reward from him. + Three times have I been born, I know by meditation; + It were miserable for a person not to come and obtain + All the sciences of the world, collected together in my breast, + For I know what has been, what in future will occur. + I will supplicate my Lord that I get refuge in him, + A regard I may obtain in his grace; + The Son of Mary is my trust, great in him is my delight, + For in him is the world continually upholden. + God has been to instruct me and to raise my expectation, + The true Creator of heaven, who affords me protection; + It is rightly intended that the saints should daily pray, + For God, the renovator, will bring them to him.” + +And forthwith Elphin gave his haul to his wife, and she nursed him +tenderly and lovingly. Thenceforward Elphin increased in riches more and +more day after day, and in love and favour with the king, and there abode +Taliesin until he was thirteen years old, when Elphin son of Gwyddno went +by a Christmas invitation to his uncle, Maelgwn Gwynedd, who some time +after this held open court at Christmastide in the castle of Dyganwy, for +all the number of his lords of both degrees, both spiritual and temporal, +with a vast and thronged host of knights and squires. And amongst them +there arose a discourse and discussion. And thus was it said. + +“Is there in the whole world a king so great as Maelgwn, or one on whom +Heaven has bestowed so many spiritual gifts as upon him? First, form, +and beauty, and meekness, and strength, besides all the powers of the +soul!” And together with these they said that Heaven had given one gift +that exceeded all the others, which was the beauty, and comeliness, and +grace, and wisdom, and modesty of his queen; whose virtues surpassed +those of all the ladies and noble maidens throughout the whole kingdom. +And with this they put questions one to another amongst themselves: Who +had braver men? Who had fairer or swifter horses or greyhounds? Who had +more skilful or wiser bards—than Maelgwn? + +Now at that time the bards were in great favour with the exalted of the +kingdom; and then none performed the office of those who are now called +heralds, unless they were learned men, not only expert in the service of +kings and princes, but studious and well versed in the lineage, and arms, +and exploits of princes and kings, and in discussions concerning foreign +kingdoms, and the ancient things of this kingdom, and chiefly in the +annals of the first nobles; and also were prepared always with their +answers in various languages, Latin, French, Welsh, and English. And +together with this they were great chroniclers, and recorders, and +skilful in framing verses, and ready in making englyns in every one of +those languages. Now of these there were at that feast within the palace +of Maelgwn as many as four-and-twenty, and chief of them all was one +named Heinin Vardd. + +When they had all made an end of thus praising the king and his gifts, it +befell that Elphin spoke in this wise. “Of a truth none but a king may +vie with a king; but were he not a king, I would say that my wife was as +virtuous as any lady in the kingdom, and also that I have a bard who is +more skilful than all the king’s bards.” In a short space some of his +fellows showed the king all the boastings of Elphin; and the king ordered +him to be thrown into a strong prison, until he might know the truth as +to the virtues of his wife, and the wisdom of his bard. + +Now when Elphin had been put in a tower of the castle, with a thick chain +about his feet (it is said that it was a silver chain, because he was of +royal blood), the king, as the story relates, sent his son Rhun to +inquire into the demeanour of Elphin’s wife. Now Rhun was the most +graceless man in the world, and there was neither wife nor maiden with +whom he had held converse, but was evil spoken of. While Rhun went in +haste towards Elphin’s dwelling, being fully minded to bring disgrace +upon his wife, Taliesin told his mistress how that the king had placed +his master in durance in prison, and how that Rhun was coming in haste to +strive to bring disgrace upon her. Wherefore he caused his mistress to +array one of the maids of her kitchen in her apparel; which the noble +lady gladly did; and she loaded her hands with the best rings that she +and her husband possessed. + +In this guise Taliesin caused his mistress to put the maiden to sit at +the board in her room at supper, and he made her to seem as her mistress, +and the mistress to seem as the maid. And when they were in due time +seated at their supper in the manner that has been said, Rhun suddenly +arrived at Elphin’s dwelling, and was received with joy, for all the +servants knew him plainly; and they brought him in haste to the room of +their mistress, in the semblance of whom the maid rose up from supper and +welcomed him gladly. And afterwards she sat down to supper again the +second time, and Rhun with her. Then Rhun began jesting with the maid, +who still kept the semblance of her mistress. And verily this story +shows that the maiden became so intoxicated, that she fell asleep; and +the story relates that it was a powder that Rhun put into the drink, that +made her sleep so soundly that she never felt it when he cut from off her +hand her little finger, whereupon was the signet ring of Elphin, which he +had sent to his wife as a token, a short time before. And Rhun returned +to the king with the finger and the ring as a proof, to show that he had +cut it from off her hand, without her awaking from her sleep of +intemperance. + +The king rejoiced greatly at these tidings, and he sent for his +councillors, to whom he told the whole story from the beginning. And he +caused Elphin to be brought out of his prison, and he chided him because +of his boast. And he spake unto Elphin on this wise. “Elphin, be it +known to thee beyond a doubt that it is but folly for a man to trust in +the virtues of his wife further than he can see her; and that thou mayest +be certain of thy wife’s vileness, behold her finger, with thy signet +ring upon it, which was cut from her hand last night, while she slept the +sleep of intoxication.” Then thus spake Elphin. “With thy leave, mighty +king, I cannot deny my ring, for it is known of many; but verily I assert +strongly that the finger around which it is, was never attached to the +hand of my wife, for in truth and certainty there are three notable +things pertaining to it, none of which ever belonged to any of my wife’s +fingers. The first of the three is, that it is certain, by your grace’s +leave, that wheresoever my wife is at this present hour, whether sitting, +or standing, or lying down, this ring would never remain upon her thumb, +whereas you can plainly see that it was hard to draw it over the joint of +the little finger of the hand whence this was cut; the second thing is, +that my wife has never let pass one Saturday since I have known her +without paring her nails before going to bed, and you can see fully that +the nail of this little finger has not been pared for a month. The third +is, truly, that the hand whence this finger came was kneading rye dough +within three days before the finger was cut therefrom, and I can assure +your goodness that my wife has never kneaded rye dough since my wife she +has been.” + +Then the king was mightily wroth with Elphin for so stoutly withstanding +him, respecting the goodness of his wife, wherefore he ordered him to his +prison a second time, saying that he should not be loosed thence until he +had proved the truth of his boast, as well concerning the wisdom of his +bard as the virtues of his wife. + +In the meantime his wife and Taliesin remained joyful at Elphin’s +dwelling. And Taliesin showed his mistress how that Elphin was in prison +because of them, but he bade her be glad, for that he would go to +Maelgwn’s court to free his master. Then she asked him in what manner he +would set him free. And he answered her:— + + “A journey will I perform, + And to the gate I will come; + The hall I will enter, + And my song I will sing; + My speech I will pronounce + To silence royal bards, + In presence of their chief, + I will greet to deride, + Upon them I will break + And Elphin I will free. + Should contention arise, + In presence of the prince, + With summons to the bards, + For the sweet flowing song, + And wizards’ posing lore + And wisdom of Druids, + In the court of the sons of the Distributor + Some are who did appear + Intent on wily schemes, + By craft and tricking means, + In pangs of affliction + To wrong the innocent, + Let the fools be silent, + As erst in Badon’s fight,— + With Arthur of liberal ones + The head, with long red blades; + Through feats of testy men, + And a chief with his foes. + Woe be to them, the fools, + When revenge comes on them. + I Taliesin, chief of bards, + With a sapient Druid’s words, + Will set kind Elphin free + From haughty tyrant’s bonds. + To their fell and chilling cry, + By the act of a surprising steed, + From the far distant North, + There soon shall be an end. + Let neither grace nor health + Be to Maelgwn Gwynedd, + For this force and this wrong; + And be extremes of ills + And an avenged end + To Rhun and all his race: + Short be his course of life, + Be all his lands laid waste; + And long exile be assigned + To Maelgwn Gwynedd!” + +After this he took leave of his mistress, and came at last to the Court +of Maelgwn, who was going to sit in his hall and dine in his royal state, +as it was the custom in those days for kings and princes to do at every +chief feast. And as soon as Taliesin entered the hall, he placed himself +in a quiet corner, near the place where the bards and the minstrels were +wont to come in doing their service and duty to the king, as is the +custom at the high festivals when the bounty is proclaimed. And so, when +the bards and the heralds came to cry largess, and to proclaim the power +of the king and his strength, at the moment that they passed by the +corner wherein he was crouching, Taliesin pouted out his lips after them, +and played “Blerwm, blerwm,” with his finger upon his lips. Neither took +they much notice of him as they went by, but proceeded forward till they +came before the king, unto whom they made their obeisance with their +bodies, as they were wont, without speaking a single word, but pouting +out their lips, and making mouths at the king, playing “Blerwm, blerwm,” +upon their lips with their fingers, as they had seen the boy do +elsewhere. This sight caused the king to wonder and to deem within +himself that they were drunk with many liquors. Wherefore he commanded +one of his lords, who served at the board, to go to them and desire them +to collect their wits, and to consider where they stood, and what it was +fitting for them to do. And this lord did so gladly. But they ceased +not from their folly any more than before. Whereupon he sent to them a +second time, and a third, desiring them to go forth from the hall. At +the last the king ordered one of his squires to give a blow to the chief +of them named Heinin Vardd; and the squire took a broom and struck him on +the head, so that he fell back in his seat. Then he arose and went on +his knees, and besought leave of the king’s grace to show that this their +fault was not through want of knowledge, neither through drunkenness, but +by the influence of some spirit that was in the hall. And after this +Heinin spoke on this wise. “Oh, honourable king, be it known to your +grace, that not from the strength of drink, or of too much liquor, are we +dumb, without power of speech like drunken men, but through the influence +of a spirit that sits in the corner yonder in the form of a child.” +Forthwith the king commanded the squire to fetch him; and he went to the +nook where Taliesin sat, and brought him before the king, who asked him +what he was, and whence he came. And he answered the king in verse. + + “Primary chief bard am I to Elphin, + And my original country is the region of the summer stars; + Idno and Heinin called me Merddin, + At length every king will call me Taliesin. + + I was with my Lord in the highest sphere, + On the fall of Lucifer into the depth of hell + I have borne a banner before Alexander; + I know the names of the stars from north to south; + I have been on the galaxy at the throne of the Distributor; + I was in Canaan when Absalom was slain; + I conveyed the Divine Spirit to the level of the vale of Hebron; + I was in the court of Don before the birth of Gwydion. + I was instructor to Eli and Enoc; + I have been winged by the genius of the splendid crosier; + I have been loquacious prior to being gifted with speech; + I was at the place of the crucifixion of the merciful Son of God; + I have been three periods in the prison of Arianrod; + I have been the chief director of the work of the tower of Nimrod; + I am a wonder whose origin is not known. + I have been in Asia with Noah in the ark, + I have seen the destruction of Sodom and Gomorra; + I have been in India when Roma was built, + I am now come here to the remnant of Troia. + + I have been with my Lord in the manger of the ass: + I strengthened Moses through the water of Jordan; + I have been in the firmament with Mary Magdalene; + I have obtained the muse from the cauldron of Caridwen; + I have been bard of the harp to Lleon of Lochlin. + I have been on the White Hill, in the court of Cynvelyn, + For a day and a year in stocks and fetters, + I have suffered hunger for the Son of the Virgin, + I have been fostered in the land of the Deity, + I have been teacher to all intelligences, + I am able to instruct the whole universe. + I shall be until the day of doom on the face of the earth; + And it is not known whether my body is flesh or fish. + + Then I was for nine months + In the womb of the hag Caridwen; + I was originally little Gwion, + And at length I am Taliesin.” + +And when the king and his nobles had heard the song, they wondered much, +for they had never heard the like from a boy so young as he. And when +the king knew that he was the bard of Elphin, he bade Heinin, his first +and wisest bard, to answer Taliesin and to strive with him. But when he +came, he could do no other but play “blerwm” on his lips; and when he +sent for the others of the four-and-twenty bards they all did likewise, +and could do no other. And Maelgwn asked the boy Taliesin what was his +errand, and he answered him in song. + + “Puny bards, I am trying + To secure the prize, if I can; + By a gentle prophetic strain + I am endeavouring to retrieve + The loss I may have suffered; + Complete the attempt I hope, + Since Elphin endures trouble + In the fortress of Teganwy, + On him may there not be laid + Too many chains and fetters; + The Chair of the fortress of Teganwy + Will I again seek; + Strengthened by my muse I am powerful; + Mighty on my part is what I seek, + For three hundred songs and more + Are combined in the spell I sing. + There ought not to stand where I am + Neither stone, neither ring; + And there ought not to be about me + Any bard who may not know + That Elphin the son of Gwyddno + Is in the land of Artro, + Secured by thirteen locks, + For praising his instructor; + And then I Taliesin, + Chief of the bards of the west, + Shall loosen Elphin + Out of a golden fetter.” + + * * * * * + + “If you be primary bards + To the master of sciences, + Declare ye mysteries + That relate to the inhabitants of the world; + There is a noxious creature, + From the rampart of Satanas, + Which has overcome all + Between the deep and the shallow; + Equally wide are his jaws + As the mountains of the Alps; + Him death will not subdue, + Nor hand or blades; + There is the load of nine hundred wagons + In the hair of his two paws; + There is in his head an eye + Green as the limpid sheet of icicle; + Three springs arise + In the nape of his neck; + Sea-roughs thereon + Swim through it; + There was the dissolution of the oxen + Of Deivrdonwy the water-gifted. + The names of the three springs + From the midst of the ocean; + One generated brine + Which is from the Corina, + To replenish the flood + Over seas disappearing; + The second, without injury + It will fall on us, + When there is rain abroad, + Through the whelming sky; + The third will appear + Through the mountain veins, + Like a flinty banquet, + The work of the King of kings, + You are blundering bards, + In too much solicitude; + You cannot celebrate + The kingdom of the Britons; + And I am Taliesin, + Chief of the bards of the west, + Who will loosen Elphin + Out of the golden fetter.” + + * * * * * + + “Be silent, then, ye unlucky rhyming bards, + For you cannot judge between truth and falsehood. + If you be primary bards formed by heaven, + Tell your king what his fate will be. + It is I who am a diviner and a leading bard, + And know every passage in the country of your king; + I shall liberate Elphin from the belly of the stony tower; + And will tell your king what will befall him. + A most strange creature will come from the sea marsh of Rhianedd + As a punishment of iniquity on Maelgwn Gwynedd; + His hair, his teeth, and his eyes being as gold, + And this will bring destruction upon Maelgwn Gwynedd.” + + * * * * * + + “Discover thou what is + The strong creature from before the flood, + Without flesh, without bone, + Without vein, without blood, + Without head, without feet, + It will neither be older nor younger + Than at the beginning; + For fear of a denial, + There are no rude wants + With creatures. + Great God! how the sea whitens + When first it comes! + Great are its gusts + When it comes from the south; + Great are its evaporations + When it strikes on coasts. + It is in the field, it is in the wood, + Without hand, and without foot, + Without signs of old age, + Though it be co-æval + With the five ages or periods + And older still, + Though they be numberless years. + It is also so wide + As the surface of the earth; + And it was not born, + Nor was it seen. + It will cause consternation + Wherever God willeth. + On sea, and on land, + It neither sees, nor is seen. + Its course is devious, + And will not come when desired; + On land and on sea, + It is indispensable. + It is without an equal, + It is four-sided; + It is not confined, + It is incomparable; + It comes from four quarters; + It will not be advised, + It will not be without advice. + It commences its journey + Above the marble rock, + It is sonorous, it is dumb, + It is mild, + It is strong, it is bold, + When it glances over the land, + It is silent, it is vocal, + It is clamorous, + It is the most noisy + On the face of the earth. + It is good, it is bad, + It is extremely injurious. + It is concealed, + Because sight cannot perceive it. + It is noxious, it is beneficial; + It is yonder, it is here; + It will discompose, + But will not repair the injury; + It will not suffer for its doings, + Seeing it is blameless. + It is wet, it is dry, + It frequently comes, + Proceeding from the heat of the sun, + And the coldness of the moon. + The moon is less beneficial, + Inasmuch as her heat is less. + One Being has prepared it, + Out of all creatures, + By a tremendous blast, + To wreak vengeance + On Maelgwn Gwynedd.” + +And while he was thus singing his verse near the door, there arose a +mighty storm of wind, so that the king and all his nobles thought that +the castle would fall on their heads. And the king caused them to fetch +Elphin in haste from his dungeon, and placed him before Taliesin. And it +is said, that immediately he sang a verse, so that the chains opened from +about his feet. + + “I adore the Supreme, Lord of all animation,— + Him that supports the heavens, Ruler of every extreme, + Him that made the water good for all, + Him who has bestowed each gift, and blesses it;— + May abundance of mead be given Maelgwn of Anglesey, who supplies us, + From his foaming meadhorns, with the choicest pure liquor. + Since bees collect, and do not enjoy, + We have sparkling distilled mead, which is universally praised. + The multitude of creatures which the earth nourishes + God made for man, with a view to enrich him;— + Some are violent, some are mute, he enjoys them, + Some are wild, some are tame; the Lord makes them;— + Part of their produce becomes clothing; + For food and beverage till doom will they continue. + I entreat the Supreme, Sovereign of the region of peace, + To liberate Elphin from banishment, + The man who gave me wine, and ale, and mead, + With large princely steeds, of beautiful appearance; + May he yet give me; and at the end, + May God of his good will grant me, in honour, + A succession of numberless ages, in the retreat of tranquillity. + Elphin, knight of mead, late be thy dissolution!” + +And afterwards he sang the ode which is called “The Excellence of the +Bards.” + + “What was the first man + Made by the God of heaven; + What the fairest flattering speech + That was prepared by leuav; + What meat, what drink, + What roof his shelter; + What the first impression + Of his primary thinking; + What became his clothing; + Who carried on a disguise, + Owing to the wilds of the country, + In the beginning? + Wherefore should a stone be hard; + Why should a thorn be sharp-pointed? + Who is hard like a flint; + Who is salt like brine; + Who sweet like honey; + Who rides on the gale; + Why ridged should be the nose; + Why should a wheel be round; + Why should the tongue be gifted with speech + Rather than another member? + If thy bards, Heinin, be competent, + Let them reply to me, Taliesin.” + +And after that he sang the address which is called “The Reproof of the +Bards.” + + “If thou art a bard completely imbued + With genius not to be controlled, + Be thou not untractable + Within the court of thy king; + Until thy rigmarole shall be known, + Be thou silent, Heinin, + As to the name of thy verse, + And the name of thy vaunting; + And as to the name of thy grandsire + Prior to his being baptized. + And the name of the sphere, + And the name of the element, + And the name of thy language, + And the name of thy region. + Avaunt, ye bards above, + Avaunt, ye bards below! + My beloved is below, + In the fetter of Arianrod + It is certain you know not + How to understand the song I utter, + Nor clearly how to discriminate + Between the truth and what is false; + Puny bards, crows of the district, + Why do you not take to flight? + A bard that will not silence me, + Silence may he not obtain, + Till he goes to be covered + Under gravel and pebbles; + Such as shall listen to me, + May God listen to him.” + +Then sang he the piece called “The Spite of the Bards.” + + “Minstrels persevere in their false custom, + Immoral ditties are their delight; + Vain and tasteless praise they recite; + Falsehood at all times do they utter; + The innocent persons they ridicule; + Married women they destroy, + Innocent virgins of Mary they corrupt; + As they pass their lives away in vanity, + Poor innocent persons they ridicule; + At night they get drunk, they sleep the day; + In idleness without work they feed themselves; + The Church they hate, and the tavern they frequent; + With thieves and perjured fellows they associate; + At courts they inquire after feasts; + Every senseless word they bring forward; + Every deadly sin they praise; + Every vile course of life they lead; + Through every village, town, and country they stroll; + Concerning the gripe of death they think not; + Neither lodging nor charity do they give; + Indulging in victuals to excess. + Psalms or prayers they do not use, + Tithes or offerings to God they do not pay, + On holidays or Sundays they do not worship; + Vigils or festivals they do not heed. + The birds do fly, the fish do swim, + The bees collect honey, worms do crawl, + Every thing travails to obtain its food, + Except minstrels and lazy useless thieves. + + I deride neither song nor minstrelsy, + For they are given by God to lighten thought; + But him who abuses them, + For blaspheming Jesus and his service.” + +Taliesin having set his master free from prison, and having protected the +innocence of his wife, and silenced the Bards, so that not one of them +dared to say a word, now brought Elphin’s wife before them, and showed +that she had not one finger wanting. Right glad was Elphin, right glad +was Taliesin. + +Then he bade Elphin wager the king, that he had a horse both better and +swifter than the king’s horses. And this Elphin did, and the day, and +the time, and the place were fixed, and the place was that which at this +day is called Morva Rhiannedd: and thither the king went with all his +people, and four-and-twenty of the swiftest horses he possessed. And +after a long process the course was marked, and the horses were placed +for running. Then came Taliesin with four-and-twenty twigs of holly, +which he had burnt black, and he caused the youth who was to ride his +master’s horse to place them in his belt, and he gave him orders to let +all the king’s horses get before him, and as he should overtake one horse +after the other, to take one of the twigs and strike the horse with it +over the crupper, and then let that twig fall; and after that to take +another twig, and do in like manner to every one of the horses, as he +should overtake them, enjoining the horseman strictly to watch when his +own horse should stumble, and to throw down his cap on the spot. All +these things did the youth fulfil, giving a blow to every one of the +king’s horses, and throwing down his cap on the spot where his horse +stumbled. And to this spot Taliesin brought his master after his horse +had won the race. And he caused Elphin to put workmen to dig a hole +there; and when they had dug the ground deep enough, they found a large +cauldron full of gold. And then said Taliesin, “Elphin, behold a payment +and reward unto thee, for having taken me out of the weir, and for having +reared me from that time until now.” And on this spot stands a pool of +water, which is to this time called Pwllbair. + +After all this, the king caused Taliesin to be brought before him, and he +asked him to recite concerning the creation of man from the beginning; +and thereupon he made the poem which is now called “One of the Four +Pillars of Song.” + + “The Almighty made, + Down the Hebron vale, + With his plastic hands, + Adam’s fair form: + + And five hundred years, + Void of any help, + There he remained and lay + Without a soul. + + He again did form, + In calm paradise, + From a left-side rib, + Bliss-throbbing Eve. + + Seven hours they were + The orchard keeping, + Till Satan brought strife, + With wiles from hell. + + Thence were they driven, + Cold and shivering, + To gain their living, + Into this world. + + To bring forth with pain + Their sons and daughters, + To have possession + Of Asia’s land. + + Twice five, ten and eight, + She was self-bearing, + The mixed burden + Of man-woman. + + And once, not hidden, + She brought forth Abel, + And Cain the forlorn, + The homicide. + + To him and his mate + Was given a spade, + To break up the soil, + Thus to get bread. + + The wheat pure and white, + Summer tilth to sow, + Every man to feed, + Till great yule feast. + + An angelic hand + From the high Father, + Brought seed for growing + That Eve might sow; + + But she then did hide + Of the gift a tenth, + And all did not sow + Of what was dug. + + Black rye then was found, + And not pure wheat grain, + To show the mischief + Thus of thieving. + + For this thievish act, + It is requisite, + That all men should pay + Tithe unto God. + + Of the ruddy wine, + Planted on sunny days, + And on new-moon nights; + And the white wine. + + The wheat rich in grain + And red flowing wine + Christ’s pure body make, + Son of Alpha. + + The wafer is flesh, + The wine is spilt blood, + The Trinity’s words + Sanctify them. + + The concealed books + From Emmanuel’s hand + Were brought by Raphael + As Adam’s gift, + + When in his old age, + To his chin immersed + In Jordan’s water, + Keeping a fast, + + Moses did obtain + In Jordan’s water, + The aid of the three + Most special rods. + + Solomon did obtain + In Babel’s tower, + All the sciences + In Asia land. + + So did I obtain, + In my bardic books, + All the sciences + Of Europe and Africa. + + Their course, their bearing, + Their permitted way, + And their fate I know, + Unto the end. + + Oh! what misery, + Through extreme of woe, + Prophecy will show + On Troia’s race! + + A coiling serpent + Proud and merciless, + On her golden wings, + From Germany. + + She will overrun + England and Scotland, + From Lychlyn sea-shore + To the Severn. + + Then will the Brython + Be as prisoners, + By strangers swayed, + From Saxony. + + Their Lord they will praise, + Their speech they will keep, + Their land they will lose, + Except wild Walia. + + Till some change shall come, + After long penance, + When equally rife + The two crimes come. + + Britons then shall have + Their land and their crown, + And the stranger swarm + Shall disappear. + + All the angel’s words, + As to peace and war, + Will be fulfilled + To Britain’s race.” + +He further told the king various prophecies of things that should be in +the world, in songs, as follows. + + * * * * * + + + + +FOOTNOTES + + +{1} It is also stated, that there is in the Hengwrt Library, a MS. +containing the Graal in Welsh, as early as the time of Henry I. I had +hoped to have added this to the present collection; but the death of Col. +Vaughan, to whom I applied, and other subsequent circumstances, have +prevented me from obtaining access to it. + +{2} Hades. + +{3} The word “Pryder” or “Pryderi” means anxiety. + +{4} The version in the Greal adds, “And their coin was fairy money;” +literally, dwarf’s money: that is, money which, when received, appeared +to be good coin, but which, if kept, turned into pieces of fungus, &c. + +{5} This dialogue consists of a series of repartees with a play upon +words, which it is impossible to follow in the translation. + +{6} Taliesin. + +{7} The mention of Gwyddno Garanhir instead of Elphin ab Gwyddno in this +place is evidently an error of some transcriber of the MS. + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MABINOGION *** + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will +be renamed. + +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the +United States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. 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