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diff --git a/5160-h/5160-h.htm b/5160-h/5160-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..cc62516 --- /dev/null +++ b/5160-h/5160-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,13564 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" /> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Mabinogion, by Lady Charlotte Guest</title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { margin-left: 20%; + margin-right: 20%; + text-align: justify; } + +h1, h2, h3, h4, h5 {text-align: center; font-style: normal; font-weight: +normal; line-height: 1.5; margin-top: .5em; margin-bottom: .5em;} + +h1 {font-size: 300%; + margin-top: 0.6em; + margin-bottom: 0.6em; + letter-spacing: 0.12em; + word-spacing: 0.2em; + text-indent: 0em;} +h2 {font-size: 150%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 1em;} +h3 {font-size: 130%; margin-top: 1em;} +h4 {font-size: 120%;} +h5 {font-size: 110%;} + +.no-break {page-break-before: avoid;} /* for epubs */ + +div.chapter {page-break-before: always; margin-top: 4em;} + +hr {width: 80%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;} + +p {text-indent: 1em; + margin-top: 0.25em; + margin-bottom: 0.25em; } + +.p2 {margin-top: 2em;} + +p.poetry {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10%; } + +p.footnote {font-size: 90%; + text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; } + +sup { vertical-align: top; font-size: 0.6em; } + +.citation {vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: none;} + +a:link {color:blue; text-decoration:none} +a:visited {color:blue; text-decoration:none} +a:hover {color:red} + + </style> +</head> +<body> + +<div style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Mabinogion, by Lady Charlotte Guest</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and +most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms +of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online +at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you +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. +</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: The Mabinogion</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Lady Charlotte Guest</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: May 22, 2002 [eBook #5160]<br /> +[Most recently updated: October 4, 2021]</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Character set encoding: UTF-8</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Produced by: David Price</div> +<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MABINOGION ***</div> + +<h1>THE MABINOGION</h1> + +<h2 class="no-break">TRANSLATED BY LADY CHARLOTTE GUEST</h2> + +<hr /> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<table summary="" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto"> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap01">Introduction</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap02">The Lady of the Fountain</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap03">Peredur the Son of Evrawc</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap04">Geraint the son of Erbin</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap05">Kilhwch and Olwen</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap06">The dream of Rhonabwy</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap07">Pwyll Prince of Dyved</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap08">Branwen the daughter of Llyr</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap09">Manawyddan the son of Llyr</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap10">Math the son of Mathonwy</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap11">The dream of Maxen Wledig</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap12">The story of Lludd and Llevelys</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap13">Taliesin</a></td> +</tr> + +</table> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap01"></a>INTRODUCTION</h2> + +<p> +Whilst engaged on the Translations contained in these volumes, and on the Notes +appended to the various Tales, I have found myself led unavoidably into a much +more extensive course of reading than I had originally contemplated, and one +which in great measure bears directly upon the earlier Mediæval Romance. +</p> + +<p> +Before commencing these labours, I was aware, generally, that +there existed a connexion between the Welsh Mabinogion and the +Romance of the Continent; but as I advanced, I became better +acquainted with the closeness and extent of that connexion, its +history, and the proofs by which it is supported. +</p> + +<p> +At the same time, indeed, I became aware, and still strongly +feel, that it is one thing to collect facts, and quite another to +classify and draw from them their legitimate conclusions; and +though I am loth that what has been collected with some pains, +should be entirely thrown away, it is unwillingly, and with +diffidence, that I trespass beyond the acknowledged province of a +translator. +</p> + +<p> +In the twelfth and thirteenth centuries there arose into +general notoriety in Europe, a body of “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. +</p> + +<p> +Such being the case, it is remarkable that when the chief +romances are examined, the name of many of the heroes and their +scenes of action are found to be Celtic, and those of persons and +places famous in the traditions of Wales and Brittany. Of +this the romances of Ywaine and Gawaine, Sir Perceval de Galles, +Eric and Enide, Mort d’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. +</p> + +<p> +It may seem difficult to account for this. Although the +ancient dominion of the Celts over Europe is not without enduring +evidence in the names of the mountains and streams, the great +features of a country, yet the loss of their prior language by +the great mass of the Celtic nations in Southern Europe (if +indeed their successors in territory be at all of their blood), +prevents us from clearly seeing, and makes us wonder, how +stories, originally embodied in the Celtic dialects of Great +Britain and France, could so influence the literature of nations +to whom the Celtic languages were utterly unknown. Whence +then came these internal marks, and these proper names of persons +and places, the features of a story usually of earliest date and +least likely to change? +</p> + +<p> +These romances were found in England, France, Germany, Norway, +Sweden, and even Iceland, as early as the beginning of the +thirteenth and end of the twelfth century. The Germans, who +propagated them through the nations of the North, derived them +certainly from France. Robert Wace published his +Anglo-Norman Romance of the Brut d’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. +</p> + +<p> +From these facts it is to be argued that the further back +these romances are traced, the more clearly does it appear that +they spread over the Continent from the North-west of +France. The older versions, it may be remarked, are far +more simple than the later corruptions. In them there is +less allusion to the habits and usages of Chivalry, and the Welsh +names and elements stand out in stronger relief. It is a +great step to be able to trace the stocks of these romances back +to Wace, or to his country and age. For Wace’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. +</p> + +<p> +To the claims set up on behalf of Wace and Geoffrey, to be +regarded as the channels by which the Cymric tales passed into +the Continental Romance, may be added those of a third almost +contemporary author. Layamon, a Saxon priest, dwelling, +about 1200, upon the banks of the upper Severn, acknowledges for +the source of his British history, the <i>English</i> Bede, the +<i>Latin</i> Albin, and the <i>French</i> Wace. The +last-named however is by very much his chief, and, for Welsh +matters, his only avowed authority. His book, nevertheless, +contains a number of names and stories relating to Wales, of +which no traces appear in Wace, or indeed in Geoffrey, but which +he was certainly in a very favourable position to obtain for +himself. Layamon, therefore, not only confirms Geoffrey in +some points, but it is clear, that, professing to follow Wace, he +had independent access to the great body of Welsh literature then +current. Sir F. Madden has put this matter very clearly, in +his recent edition of Layamon. The Abbé de la Rue, +also, was of opinion that Gaimar, an Anglo-Norman, in the reign +of Stephen, usually regarded as a translator of Geoffrey of +Monmouth, had access to a Welsh independent authority. +</p> + +<p> +In addition to these, is to be mentioned the English version +of Sir Tristrem, which Sir Walter Scott considered to be derived +from a distinct Celtic source, and not, like the later Amadis, +Palmerin, and Lord Berners’s Canon of Romance, imported +into English literature by translation from the French. For +the Auntours of Arthur, recently published by the Camden Society, +their Editor, Mr. Robson, seems to hint at a similar claim. +</p> + +<p> +Here then are various known channels, by which portions of +Welsh and Armoric fiction crossed the Celtic border, and gave +rise to the more ornate, and widely-spread romance of the Age of +Chivalry. It is not improbable that there may have existed +many others. It appears then that a large portion of the +stocks of Mediæval Romance proceeded from Wales. We +have next to see in what condition they are still found in that +country. +</p> + +<p> +That Wales possessed an ancient literature, containing various +lyric compositions, and certain triads, in which are arranged +historical facts or moral aphorisms, has been shown by Sharon +Turner, who has established the high antiquity of many of these +compositions. +</p> + +<p> +The more strictly Romantic Literature of Wales has been less +fortunate, though not less deserving of critical attention. +Small portions only of it have hitherto appeared in print, the +remainder being still hidden in the obscurity of ancient +Manuscripts: of these the chief is supposed to be the Red Book of +Hergest, now in the Library of Jesus College, Oxford, and of the +fourteenth century. This contains, besides poems, the prose +romances known as Mabinogion. The Black Book of +Caermarthen, preserved at Hengwrt, and considered not to be of +later date than the twelfth century, is said to contain poems +only. <a name="citation1"></a><a href="#footnote1" +class="citation">[1]</a> +</p> + +<p> +The Mabinogion, however, though thus early recorded in the +Welsh tongue, are in their existing form by no means wholly +Welsh. They are of two tolerably distinct classes. Of +these, the older contains few allusions to Norman customs, +manners, arts, arms, and luxuries. The other, and less +ancient, are full of such allusions, and of ecclesiastical +terms. Both classes, no doubt, are equally of Welsh root, +but the former are not more overlaid or corrupted, than might +have been expected, from the communication that so early took +place between the Normans and the Welsh; whereas the latter +probably migrated from Wales, and were brought back and +re-translated after an absence of centuries, with a load of +Norman additions. Kilhwch and Olwen, and the dream of +Rhonabwy, may be cited as examples of the older and purer class; +the Lady of the Fountain, Peredur, and Geraint ab Erbin, of the +later, or decorated. +</p> + +<p> +Besides these, indeed, there are a few tales, as Amlyn and +Amic, Sir Bevis of Hamtoun, the Seven Wise Masters, and the story +of Charlemagne, so obviously of foreign extraction, and of late +introduction into Wales, not presenting even a Welsh name, or +allusion, and of such very slender intrinsic merit, that although +comprised in the Llyvr Coch, they have not a shadow of claim to +form part of the Canon of Welsh Romance. Therefore, +although I have translated and examined them, I have given them +no place in these volumes. +</p> + +<p> +There is one argument in favour of the high antiquity in Wales +of many of the Mabinogion, which deserves to be mentioned +here. This argument is founded on the topography of the +country. It is found that Saxon names of places are very +frequently definitions of the nature of the locality to which +they are attached, as Clifton, Deepden, Bridge-ford, Thorpe, Ham, +Wick, and the like; whereas those of Wales are more frequently +commemorative of some event, real or supposed, said to have +happened on or near the spot, or bearing allusion to some person +renowned in the story of the country or district. Such are +“Llyn y Morwynion,” the Lake of the Maidens; +“Rhyd y Bedd,” the Ford of the Grave; “Bryn +Cyfergyr,” the Hill of Assault; and so on. But as +these names could not have preceded the events to which they +refer, the events themselves must be not unfrequently as old as +the early settlement in the country. And as some of these +events and fictions are the subjects of, and are explained by, +existing Welsh legends, it follows that the legends must be, in +some shape or other, of very remote antiquity. It will be +observed that this argument supports <i>remote</i> antiquity only +for such legends as are connected with the greater topographical +features, as mountains, lakes, rivers, seas, which must have been +named at an early period in the inhabitation of the country by +man. But there exist, also, legends connected with the +lesser features, as pools, hills, detached rocks, caves, fords, +and the like, places not necessarily named by the earlier +settlers, but the names of which are, nevertheless, probably very +old, since the words of which they are composed are in many cases +not retained in the colloquial tongue, in which they must once +have been included, and are in some instances lost from the +language altogether, so much so as to be only partially +explicable even by scholars. The argument applies likewise, +in their degree, to camps, barrows, and other artificial +earth-works. +</p> + +<p> +Conclusions thus drawn, when established, rest upon a very +firm basis. They depend upon the number and appositeness of +the facts, and it would be very interesting to pursue this branch +of evidence in detail. In following up this idea, the names +to be sought for might thus be classed:— +</p> + +<p> +I. Names of the great features, involving proper names +and actions. +</p> + +<p> +Cadair Idris and Cadair Arthur both involve more than a mere +name. Idris and Arthur must have been invested with heroic +qualifications to have been placed in such +“seats.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +The selection of names would demand much care and +discretion. The translations should be indisputable, and, +where known, the connexion of a name with a legend should be +noted. Such a name as “Mochdrev,” Swine-town, +would be valueless unless accompanied by a legend. +</p> + +<p> +It is always valuable to find a place or work called after an +individual, because it may help to support some tradition of his +existence or his actions. But it is requisite that care be +taken not to push the etymological dissection too far. +Thus, “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. +</p> + +<p> +It appears to me, then, looking back upon what has been +advanced:— +</p> + +<p> +I. That we have throughout Europe, at an early period, a +great body of literature, known as Mediæval Romance, which, +amidst much that is wholly of Teutonic origin and character, +includes certain well-marked traces of an older Celtic +nucleus. +</p> + +<p> +II. Proceeding backwards in time, we find these +romances, their ornaments falling away at each step, existing +towards the twelfth century, of simpler structure, and with less +encumbered Celtic features, in the works of Wace, and other Bards +of the Langue d’Oil. +</p> + +<p> +III. We find that Geoffrey of Monmouth, Layamon, and +other early British and Anglo-Saxon historians, and minstrels, on +the one hand, transmitted to Europe the rudiments of its after +romance, much of which, on the other hand, they drew from +Wales. +</p> + +<p> +IV. Crossing into Wales we find, in the Mabinogion, the +evident counterpart of the Celtic portion of the continental +romance, mixed up, indeed, with various reflex additions from +beyond the border, but still containing ample internal evidence +of a Welsh original. +</p> + +<p> +V. Looking at the connexion between divers of the more +ancient Mabinogion, and the topographical nomenclature of part of +the country, we find evidence of the great, though indefinite, +antiquity of these tales, and of an origin, which, if not +indigenous, is certainly derived from no European nation. +</p> + +<p> +It was with a general belief in some of these conclusions, +that I commenced my labours, and I end them with my impressions +strongly confirmed. The subject is one not unworthy of the +talents of a Llwyd or a Prichard. It might, I think, be +shown, by pursuing the inquiry, that the Cymric nation is not +only, as Dr. Prichard has proved it to be, an early offshoot of +the Indo-European family, and a people of unmixed descent, but +that when driven out of their conquests by the later nations, the +names and exploits of their heroes, and the compositions of their +bards, spread far and wide among the invaders, and affected +intimately their tastes and literature for many centuries, and +that it has strong claims to be considered the cradle of European +Romance. +</p> + +<p style="text-align: right">C. E. G. +</p> + +<p> +D<small>OWLAIS</small>, <i>August 29th</i>, +<i>1848</i>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap02"></a>THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN</h2> + +<p> +King Arthur was at Caerlleon upon Usk; and one day he sat in his chamber; and +with him were Owain the son of Urien, and Kynon the son of Clydno, and Kai the +son of Kyner; and Gwenhwyvar and her handmaidens at needlework by the window. +And if it should be said that there was a porter at Arthur’s palace, +there was none. Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr was there, acting as porter, to welcome +guests and strangers, and to receive them with honour, and to inform them of +the manners and customs of the Court; and to direct those who came to the Hall +or to the presence-chamber, and those who came to take up their lodging. +</p> + +<p> +In the centre of the chamber King Arthur sat upon a seat of +green rushes, over which was spread a covering of flame-coloured +satin, and a cushion of red satin was under his elbow. +</p> + +<p> +Then Arthur spoke, “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. +</p> + +<p> +“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. +</p> + +<p> +“And a little way from them I saw a man in the prime of +life, with his beard newly shorn, clad in a robe and a mantle of +yellow satin; and round the top of his mantle was a band of gold +lace. On his feet were shoes of variegated leather, +fastened by two bosses of gold. When I saw him, I went +towards him and saluted him, and such was his courtesy that he no +sooner received my greeting than he returned it. And he +went with me towards the Castle. Now there were no dwellers +in the Castle except those who were in one hall. And there +I saw four-and-twenty damsels, embroidering satin at a +window. And this I tell thee, Kai, that the least fair of +them was fairer than the fairest maid thou hast ever beheld in +the Island of Britain, and the least lovely of them was more +lovely than Gwenhwyvar, the wife of Arthur, when she has appeared +loveliest at the Offering, on the day of the Nativity, or at the +feast of Easter. They rose up at my coming, and six of them +took my horse, and divested me of my armour; and six others took +my arms, and washed them in a vessel until they were perfectly +bright. And the third six spread cloths upon the tables and +prepared meat. And the fourth six took off my soiled +garments, and placed others upon me; namely, an under-vest and a +doublet of fine linen, and a robe, and a surcoat, and a mantle of +yellow satin with a broad gold band upon the mantle. And +they placed cushions both beneath and around me, with coverings +of red linen; and I sat down. Now the six maidens who had +taken my horse, unharnessed him, as well as if they had been the +best squires in the Island of Britain. Then, behold, they +brought bowls of silver wherein was water to wash, and towels of +linen, some green and some white; and I washed. And in a +little while the man sat down to the table. And I sat next +to him, and below me sat all the maidens, except those who waited +on us. And the table was of silver, and the cloths upon the +table were of linen; and no vessel was served upon the table that +was not either of gold or of silver, or of buffalo-horn. +And our meat was brought to us. And verily, Kai, I saw +there every sort of meat and every sort of liquor that I have +ever seen elsewhere; but the meat and the liquor were better +served there than I have ever seen them in any other place. +</p> + +<p> +“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.’ +</p> + +<p> +“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. +</p> + +<p> +“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.’ +</p> + +<p> +“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. +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +“Now,” quoth Owain, “would it not be well to +go and endeavour to discover that place?” +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +“In very truth,” said Gwenhwyvar, “it were +better thou wert hanged, Kai, than to use such uncourteous speech +towards a man like Owain.” +</p> + +<p> +“By the hand of my friend, good Lady,” said Kai, +“thy praise of Owain is not greater than mine.” +</p> + +<p> +With that Arthur awoke, and asked if he had not been sleeping +a little. +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, Lord,” answered Owain, “thou hast +slept awhile.” +</p> + +<p> +“Is it time for us to go to meat?” +</p> + +<p> +“It is, Lord,” said Owain. +</p> + +<p> +Then the horn for washing was sounded, and the King and all +his household sat down to eat. And when the meal was ended, +Owain withdrew to his lodging, and made ready his horse and his +arms. +</p> + +<p> +On the morrow, with the dawn of day, he put on his armour, and +mounted his charger, and travelled through distant lands and over +desert mountains. And at length he arrived at the valley +which Kynon had described to him; and he was certain that it was +the same that he sought. And journeying along the valley by +the side of the river, he followed its course till he came to the +plain and within sight of the Castle. When he approached +the Castle, he saw the youths shooting their daggers in the place +where Kynon had seen them, and the yellow man, to whom the Castle +belonged, standing hard by. And no sooner had Owain saluted +the yellow man than he was saluted by him in return. +</p> + +<p> +And he went forward towards the Castle, and there he saw the +chamber, and when he had entered the chamber he beheld the +maidens working at satin embroidery, in chairs of gold. And +their beauty and their comeliness seemed to Owain far greater +than Kynon had represented to him. And they rose to wait +upon Owain, as they had done to Kynon, and the meal which they +set before him gave more satisfaction to Owain than it had done +to Kynon. +</p> + +<p> +About the middle of the repast, the yellow man asked Owain the +object of his journey. And Owain made it known to him, and +said, “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. +</p> + +<p> +The next morning Owain found his horse made ready for him by +the damsels, and he set forward and came to the glade where the +black man was. And the stature of the black man seemed more +wonderful to Owain than it had done to Kynon, and Owain asked of +him his road, and he showed it to him. And Owain followed +the road, as Kynon had done, till he came to the green tree; and +he beheld the fountain, and the slab beside the fountain, with +the bowl upon it. And Owain took the bowl, and threw a +bowlful of water upon the slab. And, lo, the thunder was +heard, and after the thunder came the shower, much more violent +than Kynon had described, and after the shower the sky became +bright. And when Owain looked at the tree, there was not +one leaf upon it. And immediately the birds came, and +settled upon the tree, and sang. And when their song was +most pleasing to Owain, he beheld a Knight coming towards him +through the valley, and he prepared to receive him; and +encountered him violently. Having broken both their lances, +they drew their swords, and fought blade to blade. Then +Owain struck the Knight a blow through his helmet, head-piece and +visor, and through the skin, and the flesh, and the bone, until +it wounded the very brain. Then the black Knight felt that +he had received a mortal wound, upon which he turned his +horse’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.” +</p> + +<p> +Then she went away from Owain, and he did all that the maiden +had told him. And the people of the Castle came to seek +Owain, to put him to death, and when they found nothing but the +half of his horse, they were sorely grieved. +</p> + +<p> +And Owain vanished from among them, and went to the maiden, +and placed his hand upon her shoulder; whereupon she set off, and +Owain followed her, until they came to the door of a large and +beautiful chamber, and the maiden opened it, and they went in, +and closed the door. And Owain looked around the chamber, +and behold there was not even a single nail in it that was not +painted with gorgeous colours; and there was not a single panel +that had not sundry images in gold portrayed upon it. +</p> + +<p> +The maiden kindled a fire, and took water in a silver bowl, +and put a towel of white linen on her shoulder, and gave Owain +water to wash. Then she placed before him a silver table, +inlaid with gold; upon which was a cloth of yellow linen; and she +brought him food. And of a truth, Owain had never seen any +kind of meat that was not there in abundance, but it was better +cooked there than he had ever found it in any other place. +Nor did he ever see so excellent a display of meat and drink, as +there. And there was not one vessel from which he was +served, that was not of gold or of silver. And Owain ate +and drank, until late in the afternoon, when lo, they heard a +mighty clamour in the Castle; and Owain asked the maiden what +that outcry was. “They are administering extreme +unction,” said she, “to the Nobleman who owns the +Castle.” And Owain went to sleep. +</p> + +<p> +The couch which the maiden had prepared for him was meet for +Arthur himself; it was of scarlet, and fur, and satin, and +sendal, and fine linen. In the middle of the night they +heard a woful outcry. “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.” +</p> + +<p> +And Owain rose up, and clothed himself, and opened a window of +the chamber, and looked towards the Castle; and he could see +neither the bounds, nor the extent of the hosts that filled the +streets. And they were fully armed; and a vast number of +women were with them, both on horseback and on foot; and all the +ecclesiastics in the city, singing. And it seemed to Owain +that the sky resounded with the vehemence of their cries, and +with the noise of the trumpets, and with the singing of the +ecclesiastics. In the midst of the throng, he beheld the +bier, over which was a veil of white linen; and wax tapers were +burning beside and around it, and none that supported the bier +was lower in rank than a powerful Baron. +</p> + +<p> +Never did Owain see an assemblage so gorgeous with satin, and +silk, and sendal. And following the train, he beheld a lady +with yellow hair falling over her shoulders, and stained with +blood; and about her a dress of yellow satin, which was +torn. Upon her feet were shoes of variegated leather. +And it was a marvel that the ends of her fingers were not +bruised, from the violence with which she smote her hands +together. Truly she would have been the fairest lady Owain +ever saw, had she been in her usual guise. And her cry was +louder than the shout of the men, or the clamour of the +trumpets. No sooner had he beheld the lady, than he became +inflamed with her love, so that it took entire possession of +him. +</p> + +<p> +Then he inquired of the maiden who the lady was. +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +And with that the maid arose, and kindled a fire, and filled a +pot with water, and placed it to warm; and she brought a towel of +white linen, and placed it around Owain’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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +With that Luned went forth: and the Countess arose and +followed her to the door of the chamber, and began coughing +loudly. And when Luned looked back, the Countess beckoned +to her; and she returned to the Countess. “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. +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +And Luned returned home. And the next day, at noon, +Owain arrayed himself in a coat, and a surcoat, and a mantle of +yellow satin, upon which was a broad band of gold lace; and on +his feet were high shoes of variegated leather, which were +fastened by golden clasps, in the form of lions. And they +proceeded to the chamber of the Countess. +</p> + +<p> +Right glad was the Countess of their coming, and she gazed +steadfastly upon Owain, and said, “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.” +</p> + +<p> +The next day the Countess caused all her subjects to assemble, +and showed them that her earldom was left defenceless, and that +it could not be protected but with horse and arms, and military +skill. “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.” +</p> + +<p> +So they came to the determination that it was better that she +should have permission to marry some one from elsewhere; and, +thereupon, she sent for the bishops and archbishops to celebrate +her nuptials with Owain. And the men of the earldom did +Owain homage. +</p> + +<p> +And Owain defended the Fountain with lance and sword. +And this is the manner in which he defended it: Whensoever a +knight came there he overthrew him, and sold him for his full +worth, and what he thus gained he divided among his barons and +his knights; and no man in the whole world could be more beloved +than he was by his subjects. And it was thus for the space +of three years. +</p> + +<p class="p2"> +It befell that as Gwalchmai went forth one day with King +Arthur, he perceived him to be very sad and sorrowful. And +Gwalchmai was much grieved to see Arthur in this state; and he +questioned him, saying, “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. +</p> + +<p> +Then Arthur and the men of his household prepared to go and +seek Owain, and their number was three thousand, besides their +attendants. And Kynon the son of Clydno acted as their +guide. And Arthur came to the Castle where Kynon had been +before, and when he came there the youths were shooting in the +same place, and the yellow man was standing hard by. When +the yellow man saw Arthur he greeted him, and invited him to the +Castle; and Arthur accepted his invitation, and they entered the +Castle together. And great as was the number of his +retinue, their presence was scarcely observed in the Castle, so +vast was its extent. And the maidens rose up to wait on +them, and the service of the maidens appeared to them all to +excel any attendance they had ever met with; and even the pages +who had charge of the horses were no worse served, that night, +than Arthur himself would have been in his own palace. +</p> + +<p> +The next morning Arthur set out thence, with Kynon for his +guide, and came to the place where the black man was. And +the stature of the black man was more surprising to Arthur than +it had been represented to him. And they came to the top of +the wooded steep, and traversed the valley till they reached the +green tree, where they saw the fountain, and the bowl, and the +slab. And upon that, Kai came to Arthur and spoke to +him. “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. +</p> + +<p> +Then Kai threw a bowlful of water upon the slab, and +immediately there came the thunder, and after the thunder the +shower. And such a thunderstorm they had never known +before, and many of the attendants who were in Arthur’s +train were killed by the shower. After the shower had +ceased the sky became clear; and on looking at the tree they +beheld it completely leafless. Then the birds descended +upon the tree, and the song of the birds was far sweeter than any +strain they had ever heard before. Then they beheld a +knight on a coal-black horse, clothed in black satin, coming +rapidly towards them. And Kai met him and encountered him, +and it was not long before Kai was overthrown. And the +knight withdrew, and Arthur and his host encamped for the +night. +</p> + +<p> +And when they arose in the morning, they perceived the signal +of combat upon the lance of the Knight. And Kai came to +Arthur, and spoke to him: “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. +</p> + +<p> +After this, all the household of Arthur went forth, one after +the other, to combat the Knight, until there was not one that was +not overthrown by him, except Arthur and Gwalchmai. And +Arthur armed himself to encounter the Knight. “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. +</p> + +<p> +The next day they fought with strong lances, and neither of +them could obtain the mastery. +</p> + +<p> +And the third day they fought with exceeding strong +lances. And they were incensed with rage, and fought +furiously, even until noon. And they gave each other such a +shock that the girths of their horses were broken, so that they +fell over their horses’ 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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +And they all proceeded to the Castle of the Countess of the +Fountain, and the banquet which had been three years preparing +was consumed in three months. Never had they a more +delicious or agreeable banquet. And Arthur prepared to +depart. Then he sent an embassy to the Countess, to beseech +her to permit Owain to go with him for the space of three months, +that he might show him to the nobles and the fair dames of the +Island of Britain. And the Countess gave her consent, +although it was very painful to her. So Owain came with +Arthur to the Island of Britain. And when he was once more +amongst his kindred and friends, he remained three years, instead +of three months, with them. +</p> + +<p class="p2"> +And as Owain one day sat at meat, in the city of Caerlleon +upon Usk, behold a damsel entered upon a bay horse, with a +curling mane and covered with foam, and the bridle and so much as +was seen of the saddle were of gold. And the damsel was +arrayed in a dress of yellow satin. And she came up to +Owain, and took the ring from off his hand. +“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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +One day the Countess and her maidens went forth to walk by a +lake, that was in the middle of the park. And they saw the +form of a man. And they were terrified. Nevertheless +they went near him, and touched him, and looked at him. And +they saw that there was life in him, though he was exhausted by +the heat of the sun. And the Countess returned to the +Castle, and took a flask full of precious ointment, and gave it +to one of her maidens. “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.” +</p> + +<p> +And the maiden departed from her, and poured the whole of the +balsam upon Owain, and left the horse and the garments hard by, +and went a little way off, and hid herself to watch him. In +a short time she saw him begin to move his arms; and he rose up, +and looked at his person, and became ashamed of the unseemliness +of his appearance. Then he perceived the horse and the +garments that were near him. And he crept forward till he +was able to draw the garments to him from off the saddle. +And he clothed himself, and with difficulty mounted the +horse. Then the damsel discovered herself to him, and +saluted him. And he was rejoiced when he saw her, and +inquired of her, what land and what territory that was. +“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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +And the maiden did so, and furnished him with meat and drink, +and fire, and lodging, and medicaments, until he was well +again. And in three months he was restored to his former +guise, and became even more comely than he had ever been +before. +</p> + +<p> +One day Owain heard a great tumult, and a sound of arms in the +Castle, and he inquired of the maiden the cause thereof. +“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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +The Countess bade them bring out a beautiful black steed, upon +which was a beechen saddle, and a suit of armour, for man and +horse. And Owain armed himself, and mounted the horse, and +went forth, attended by two pages completely equipped, with +horses and arms. And when they came near to the +Earl’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.” +</p> + +<p> +The army encamped around the Castle. And the Earl +restored to the Countess the two Earldoms he had taken from her, +as a ransom for his life; and for his freedom he gave her the +half of his own dominions, and all his gold, and his silver, and +his jewels, besides hostages. +</p> + +<p> +And Owain took his departure. And the Countess and all +her subjects besought him to remain, but Owain chose rather to +wander through distant lands and deserts. +</p> + +<p> +And as he journeyed, he heard a loud yelling in a wood. +And it was repeated a second and a third time. And Owain +went towards the spot, and beheld a huge craggy mound, in the +middle of the wood; on the side of which was a grey rock. +And there was a cleft in the rock, and a serpent was within the +cleft. And near the rock stood a black lion, and every time +the lion sought to go thence, the serpent darted towards him to +attack him. And Owain unsheathed his sword, and drew near +to the rock; and as the serpent sprang out, he struck him with +his sword, and cut him in two. And he dried his sword, and +went on his way, as before. But behold the lion followed +him, and played about him, as though it had been a greyhound that +he had reared. +</p> + +<p> +They proceeded thus throughout the day, until the +evening. And when it was time for Owain to take his rest, +he dismounted, and turned his horse loose in a flat and wooded +meadow. And he struck fire, and when the fire was kindled, +the lion brought him fuel enough to last for three nights. +And the lion disappeared. And presently the lion returned, +bearing a fine large roebuck. And he threw it down before +Owain, who went towards the fire with it. +</p> + +<p> +And Owain took the roebuck, and skinned it, and placed collops +of its flesh upon skewers, around the fire. The rest of the +buck he gave to the lion to devour. While he was doing +this, he heard a deep sigh near him, and a second, and a +third. And Owain called out to know whether the sigh he +heard proceeded from a mortal; and he received answer that it +did. “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. +</p> + +<p> +When the collops were cooked, Owain divided them into two +parts, between himself and the maiden; and after they had eaten, +they talked together, until the day dawned. And the next +morning Owain inquired of the damsel, if there was any place +where he could get food and entertainment for that night. +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +Never did sentinel keep stricter watch over his lord, than the +lion that night over Owain. +</p> + +<p> +And Owain accoutred his horse, and passed across by the ford, +and came in sight of the Castle. And he entered it, and was +honourably received. And his horse was well cared for, and +plenty of fodder was placed before him. Then the lion went +and lay down in the horse’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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +“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. +</p> + +<p> +The next morning they heard an exceeding great clamour, which +was caused by the coming of the giant with the two youths. +And the Earl was anxious both to protect his Castle and to +release his two sons. Then Owain put on his armour and went +forth to encounter the giant, and the lion followed him. +And when the giant saw that Owain was armed, he rushed towards +him and attacked him. And the lion fought with the giant +much more fiercely than Owain did. “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. +</p> + +<p> +The Earl besought Owain to remain with him, and he would not, +but set forward towards the meadow where Luned was. And +when he came there he saw a great fire kindled, and two youths +with beautiful curling auburn hair were leading the maiden to +cast her into the fire. And Owain asked them what charge +they had against her. And they told him of the compact that +was between them, as the maiden had done the night before. +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +Then Owain returned with Luned to the dominions of the +Countess of the Fountain. And when he went thence he took +the Countess with him to Arthur’s Court, and she was his +wife as long as she lived. +</p> + +<p class="p2"> +And then he took the road that led to the Court of the savage +black man, and Owain fought with him, and the lion did not quit +Owain until he had vanquished him. And when he reached the +Court of the savage black man he entered the hall, and beheld +four-and-twenty ladies, the fairest that could be seen. And +the garments which they had on were not worth four-and-twenty +pence, and they were as sorrowful as death. And Owain asked +them the cause of their sadness. And they said, “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.” +</p> + +<p> +And Owain was grieved when he heard this. And he went +forth from the Castle, and he beheld a knight approaching him, +who saluted him in a friendly and cheerful manner, as if he had +been a brother. And this was the savage black man. +“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. +</p> + +<p> +And the next day he took the four-and-twenty ladies, and their +horses, and their raiment, and what they possessed of goods and +jewels, and proceeded with them to Arthur’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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +And this is the tale of THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap03"></a>PEREDUR THE SON OF EVRAWC</h2> + +<p> +Earl Evrawc owned the Earldom of the North. And he had seven sons. And Evrawc +maintained himself not so much by his own possessions as by attending +tournaments, and wars, and combats. And, as it often befalls those who join in +encounters and wars, he was slain, and six of his sons likewise. Now the name +of his seventh son was Peredur, and he was the youngest of them. And he was not +of an age to go to wars and encounters, otherwise he might have been slain as +well as his father and brothers. His mother was a scheming and thoughtful +woman, and she was very solicitous concerning this her only son and his +possessions. So she took counsel with herself to leave the inhabited country, +and to flee to the deserts and unfrequented wildernesses. And she permitted +none to bear her company thither but women and boys, and spiritless men, who +were both unaccustomed and unequal to war and fighting. And none dared to bring +either horses or arms where her son was, lest he should set his mind upon them. +And the youth went daily to divert himself in the forest, by flinging sticks +and staves. And one day he saw his mother’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. +</p> + +<p> +And one day they saw three knights coming along the horse-road +on the borders of the forest. And the three knights were +Gwalchmai the son of Gwyar, and Geneir Gwystyl, and Owain the son +of Urien. And Owain kept on the track of the knight who had +divided the apples in Arthur’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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +After this discourse, Peredur mounted the horse, and taking a +handful of sharp-pointed forks in his hand, he rode forth. +And he journeyed two days and two nights in the woody +wildernesses, and in desert places, without food and without +drink. And then he came to a vast wild wood, and far within +the wood he saw a fair even glade, and in the glade he saw a +tent, and the tent seeming to him to be a church, he repeated his +Paternoster to it. And he went towards it, and the door of +the tent was open. And a golden chair was near the +door. And on the chair sat a lovely auburn-haired maiden, +with a golden frontlet on her forehead, and sparkling stones in +the frontlet, and with a large gold ring on her hand. And +Peredur dismounted, and entered the tent. And the maiden +was glad at his coming, and bade him welcome. At the +entrance of the tent he saw food, and two flasks full of wine, +and two loaves of fine wheaten flour, and collops of the flesh of +the wild boar. “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. +</p> + +<p> +After this, behold the knight came to whom the tent belonged; +and he was the Lord of the Glade. And he saw the track of +the horse, and he said to the maiden, “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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +“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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +And Peredur rode forward. And within that week he +encountered sixteen knights, and overthrew them all +shamefully. And they all went to Arthur’s Court, +taking with them the same message which the first knight had +conveyed from Peredur, and the same threat which he had sent to +Kai. And thereupon Kai was reproved by Arthur; and Kai was +greatly grieved thereat. +</p> + +<p> +And Peredur rode forward. And he came to a vast and +desert wood, on the confines of which was a lake. And on +the other side was a fair castle. And on the border of the +lake he saw a venerable, hoary-headed man, sitting upon a velvet +cushion, and having a garment of velvet upon him. And his +attendants were fishing in the lake. When the hoary-headed +man beheld Peredur approaching, he arose and went towards the +castle. And the old man was lame. Peredur rode to the +palace, and the door was open, and he entered the hall. And +there was the hoary-headed man sitting on a cushion, and a large +blazing fire burning before him. And the household and the +company arose to meet Peredur, and disarrayed him. And the +man asked the youth to sit on the cushion; and they sat down, and +conversed together. When it was time, the tables were laid, +and they went to meat. And when they had finished their +meal, the man inquired of Peredur if he knew well how to fight +with the sword. “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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +Then Peredur rode forward. And he came to a desert wood, +where he saw not the track either of men or animals, and where +there was nothing but bushes and weeds. And at the upper +end of the wood he saw a vast castle, wherein were many strong +towers; and when he came near the gate, he found the weeds taller +than he had seen them elsewhere. And he struck the gate +with the shaft of his lance, and thereupon behold a lean, +auburn-haired youth came to an opening in the battlements. +“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. +</p> + +<p> +“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. +</p> + +<p> +And the next day Peredur rode forth to the meadow; and that +day he vanquished a multitude of the host. And at the close +of the day, there came a proud and stately knight, and Peredur +overthrew him, and he besought his mercy. “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. +</p> + +<p> +And the third day Peredur rode forth to the meadow; and he +vanquished more that day than on either of the preceding. +And at the close of the day, an earl came to encounter him, and +he overthrew him, and he besought his mercy. “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.” +</p> + +<p> +So Peredur rode forth. And far thence there met him a +lady, mounted on a horse that was lean, and covered with sweat; +and she saluted the youth. “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. +</p> + +<p> +Then Peredur rode forward. And above him he beheld a +castle, and thitherward he went. And he struck upon the +gate with his lance, and then, behold, a comely auburn-haired +youth opened the gate, and he had the stature of a warrior, and +the years of a boy. And when Peredur came into the hall, +there was a tall and stately lady sitting in a chair, and many +handmaidens around her; and the lady rejoiced at his +coming. And when it was time, they went to meat. And +after their repast was finished, “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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +“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. +</p> + +<p> +And Peredur was resting on the shaft of his spear, pondering +the same thought, and Gwalchmai came to him without any signs of +hostility, and said to him, “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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +The next day Peredur went forth by the high road, along a +mountain-ridge, and he saw a valley of a circular form, the +confines of which were rocky and wooded. And the flat part +of the valley was in meadows, and there were fields betwixt the +meadows and the wood. And in the bosom of the wood he saw +large black houses of uncouth workmanship. And he +dismounted, and led his horse towards the wood. And a +little way within the wood he saw a rocky ledge, along which the +road lay. And upon the ledge was a lion bound by a chain, +and sleeping. And beneath the lion he saw a deep pit of +immense size, full of the bones of men and animals. And +Peredur drew his sword and struck the lion, so that he fell into +the mouth of the pit and hung there by the chain; and with a +second blow he struck the chain and broke it, and the lion fell +into the pit; and Peredur led his horse over the rocky ledge, +until he came into the valley. And in the centre of the +valley he saw a fair castle, and he went towards it. And in +the meadow by the castle he beheld a huge grey man sitting, who +was larger than any man he had ever before seen. And two +young pages were shooting the hilts of their daggers, of the bone +of the sea-horse. And one of the pages had red hair, and +the other auburn. And they went before him to the place +where the grey man was, and Peredur saluted him. And the +grey man said, “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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +Peredur rode forward next day, and he traversed a vast tract +of desert, in which no dwellings were. And at length he +came to a habitation, mean and small. And there he heard +that there was a serpent that lay upon a gold ring, and suffered +none to inhabit the country for seven miles around. And +Peredur came to the place where he heard the serpent was. +And angrily, furiously, and desperately fought he with the +serpent; and at last he killed it, and took away the ring. +And thus he was for a long time without speaking a word to any +Christian. And therefrom he lost his colour and his aspect, +through extreme longing after the Court of Arthur, and the +society of the lady whom best he loved, and of his +companions. Then he proceeded forward to Arthur’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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +And one day, Arthur and his household were going to Church, +and they beheld a knight who had raised the signal for +combat. “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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p class="p2"> +Arthur was in Caerlleon upon Usk; and he went to hunt, and +Peredur went with him. And Peredur let loose his dog upon a +hart, and the dog killed the hart in a desert place. And a +short space from him he saw signs of a dwelling, and towards the +dwelling he went, and he beheld a hall, and at the door of the +hall he found bald swarthy youths playing at chess. And +when he entered, he beheld three maidens sitting on a bench, and +they were all clothed alike, as became persons of high +rank. And he came, and sat by them upon the bench; and one +of the maidens looked steadfastly upon Peredur, and wept. +And Peredur asked her wherefore she was weeping. +“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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +And next morning the youths arose to sally forth, and Peredur +besought them, for the sake of the ladies of their love, to +permit him to go with them; but they refused him, saying, +“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. +</p> + +<p> +And he came towards a valley, through which ran a river; and +the borders of the valley were wooded, and on each side of the +river were level meadows. And on one side of the river he +saw a flock of white sheep, and on the other a flock of black +sheep. And whenever one of the white sheep bleated, one of +the black sheep would cross over and become white; and when one +of the black sheep bleated, one of the white sheep would cross +over and become black. And he saw a tall tree by the side +of the river, one half of which was in flames from the root to +the top, and the other half was green and in full leaf. And +nigh thereto he saw a youth sitting upon a mound, and two +greyhounds, white-breasted and spotted, in leashes, lying by his +side. And certain was he that he had never seen a youth of +so royal a bearing as he. And in the wood opposite he heard +hounds raising a herd of deer. And Peredur saluted the +youth, and the youth greeted him in return. And there were +three roads leading from the mound; two of them were wide roads, +and the third was more narrow. And Peredur inquired where +the three roads went. “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.” +</p> + +<p> +And Peredur went towards the cave. And he took the stone +in his left hand, and his lance in his right. And as he +went in he perceived the Addanc, and he pierced him through with +his lance, and cut off his head. And as he came from the +cave, behold the three companions were at the entrance; and they +saluted Peredur, and told him that there was a prediction that he +should slay that monster. And Peredur gave the head to the +young men, and they offered him in marriage whichever of the +three sisters he might choose, and half their kingdom with +her. “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.” +</p> + +<p> +And they went forward to the Court of the Countess, and all +they of the Court were glad at their coming; and they were told +it was not through disrespect they were placed below the +household, but that such was the usage of the Court. For, +whoever should overthrow the three hundred men of her household, +would sit next the Countess, and she would love him above all +men. And Peredur having overthrown the three hundred men of +her household, sat down beside her, and the Countess said, +“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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +And Peredur rode thence, and he came to the fairest valley he +had ever seen, through which ran a river; and there he beheld +many tents of various colours. And he marvelled still more +at the number of water-mills and of wind-mills that he saw. +And there rode up with him a tall auburn-haired man, in +workman’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. +</p> + +<p> +And the next day Peredur arose, and he equipped himself and +his horse for the tournament. And among the other tents he +beheld one, which was the fairest he had ever seen. And he +saw a beauteous maiden leaning her head out of a window of the +tent, and he had never seen a maiden more lovely than she. +And upon her was a garment of satin. And he gazed fixedly +on the maiden, and began to love her greatly. And he +remained there, gazing upon the maiden from morning until +mid-day, and from mid-day until evening; and then the tournament +was ended and he went to his lodging and drew off his +armour. Then he asked money of the miller as a loan, and +the miller’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. +</p> + +<p> +And the next day he came to visit her, and when he came into +the tent there was no one chamber less decorated than the +others. And they knew not where he would sit. And +Peredur went and sat beside the Empress, and discoursed with her +courteously. And while they were thus, they beheld a black +man enter with a goblet full of wine in his hand. And he +dropped upon his knee before the Empress, and besought her to +give it to no one who would not fight with him for it. And +she looked upon Peredur. “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. +</p> + +<p class="p2"> +Arthur was at Caerlleon upon Usk, his principal palace; and in +the centre of the floor of the hall were four men sitting on a +carpet of velvet, Owain the son of Urien, and Gwalchmai the son +of Gwyar, and Howel the son of Emyr Llydaw, and Peredur of the +long lance. And thereupon they saw a black curly-headed +maiden enter, riding upon a yellow mule, with jagged thongs in +her hand to urge it on; and having a rough and hideous +aspect. Blacker were her face and her two hands than the +blackest iron covered with pitch; and her hue was not more +frightful than her form. High cheeks had she, and a face +lengthened downwards, and a short nose with distended +nostrils. And one eye was of a piercing mottled grey, and +the other was as black as jet, deep-sunk in her head. And +her teeth were long and yellow, more yellow were they than the +flower of the broom. And her stomach rose from the +breast-bone, higher than her chin. And her back was in the +shape of a crook, and her legs were large and bony. And her +figure was very thin and spare, except her feet and her legs, +which were of huge size. And she greeted Arthur and all his +household except Peredur. And to Peredur she spoke harsh +and angry words. “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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +At the dawn of day Gwalchmai came to a valley, and in the +valley he saw a fortress, and within the fortress a vast palace +and lofty towers around it. And he beheld a knight coming +out to hunt from the other side, mounted on a spirited black +snorting palfrey, that advanced at a prancing pace, proudly +stepping, and nimbly bounding, and sure of foot; and this was the +man to whom the palace belonged. And Gwalchmai saluted +him. “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. +</p> + +<p> +And Peredur rode forward. And he wandered over the whole +island, seeking tidings of the black maiden, and he could meet +with none. And he came to an unknown land, in the centre of +a valley, watered by a river. And as he traversed the +valley he beheld a horseman coming towards him, and wearing the +garments of a priest; and he besought his blessing. +“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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +Then Peredur rode forward. And he came to the valley in +which was the river, and there met him a number of men going to +hunt, and in the midst of them was a man of exalted rank, and +Peredur saluted him. “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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +And Peredur proceeded towards the Castle, and the gate of the +Castle was open. And when he came to the hall, the door was +open, and he entered. And he beheld a chessboard in the +hall, and the chessmen were playing against each other, by +themselves. And the side that he favoured lost the game, +and thereupon the others set up a shout, as though they had been +living men. And Peredur was wroth, and took the chessmen in +his lap, and cast the chessboard into the lake. And when he +had done thus, behold the black maiden came in, and she said to +him, “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.” +</p> + +<p> +So Peredur proceeded onward, and came to the side of the +grove, and challenged any man to fight. And a black man +arose from beneath the cromlech, mounted upon a bony horse, and +both he and his horse were clad in huge rusty armour. And +they fought. And as often as Peredur cast the black man to +the earth, he would jump again into his saddle. And Peredur +dismounted, and drew his sword; and thereupon the black man +disappeared with Peredur’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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap04"></a>GERAINT THE SON OF ERBIN</h2> + +<p> +Arthur was accustomed to hold his Court at Caerlleon upon Usk. And there he +held it seven Easters and five Christmases. And once upon a time he held his +Court there at Whitsuntide. For Caerlleon was the place most easy of access in +his dominions, both by sea and by land. And there were assembled nine crowned +kings, who were his tributaries, and likewise earls and barons. For they were +his invited guests at all the high festivals, unless they were prevented by any +great hindrance. And when he was at Caerlleon, holding his Court, thirteen +churches were set apart for mass. And thus were they appointed: one church for +Arthur, and his kings, and his guests; and the second for Gwenhwyvar and her +ladies; and the third for the Steward of the Household and the suitors; and the +fourth for the Franks and the other officers; and the other nine churches were +for the nine Masters of the Household and chiefly for Gwalchmai; for he, from +the eminence of his warlike fame, and from the nobleness of his birth, was the +most exalted of the nine. And there was no other arrangement respecting the +churches than that which we have mentioned above. +</p> + +<p> +Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr was the chief porter; but he did not +himself perform the office, except at one of the three high +festivals, for he had seven men to serve him, and they divided +the year amongst them. They were Grynn, and Pen Pighon, and +Llaes Cymyn, and Gogyfwlch, and Gwrdnei with cat’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.” +</p> + +<p> +And they passed the night with songs, and diversions, and +discourse, and ample entertainment. And when it was time +for them all to go to sleep, they went. And when the next +day came, they arose; and Arthur called the attendants, who +guarded his couch. And these were four pages, whose names +were Cadyrnerth the son of Porthawr Gandwy, and Ambreu the son of +Bedwor, and Amhar the son of Arthur, and Goreu the son of +Custennin. And these men came to Arthur and saluted him, +and arrayed him in his garments. And Arthur wondered that +Gwenhwyvar did not awake, and did not move in her bed; and the +attendants wished to awaken her. “Disturb her +not,” said Arthur, “for she had rather sleep than go +to see the hunting.” +</p> + +<p> +Then Arthur went forth, and he heard two horns sounding, one +from near the lodging of the chief huntsman, and the other from +near that of the chief page. And the whole assembly of the +multitudes came to Arthur, and they took the road to the +Forest. +</p> + +<p> +And after Arthur had gone forth from the palace, Gwenhwyvar +awoke, and called to her maidens, and apparelled herself. +“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. +</p> + +<p> +“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. +</p> + +<p> +“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. +</p> + +<p> +And the road they took was below the palace of Caerlleon, and +across the ford of the Usk; and they went along a fair, and even, +and lofty ridge of ground, until they came to a town, and at the +extremity of the town they saw a Fortress and a Castle. And +they came to the extremity of the town. And as the knight +passed through it, all the people arose, and saluted him, and +bade him welcome. And when Geraint came into the town, he +looked at every house, to see if he knew any of those whom he +saw. But he knew none, and none knew him to do him the +kindness to let him have arms either as a loan or for a +pledge. And every house he saw was full of men, and arms, +and horses. And they were polishing shields, and burnishing +swords, and washing armour, and shoeing horses. And the +knight, and the lady, and the dwarf rode up to the Castle that +was in the town, and every one was glad in the Castle. And +from the battlements and the gates they risked their necks, +through their eagerness to greet them, and to show their joy. +</p> + +<p> +Geraint stood there to see whether the knight would remain in +the Castle; and when he was certain that he would do so, he +looked around him; and at a little distance from the town he saw +an old palace in ruins, wherein was a hall that was falling to +decay. And as he knew not any one in the town, he went +towards the old palace; and when he came near to the palace, he +saw but one chamber, and a bridge of marble-stone leading to +it. And upon the bridge he saw sitting a hoary-headed man, +upon whom were tattered garments. And Geraint gazed +steadfastly upon him for a long time. Then the hoary-headed +man spoke to him. “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. +</p> + +<p> +And when they had finished eating, Geraint talked with the +hoary-headed man, and he asked him in the first place, to whom +belonged the palace that he was in. “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. +</p> + +<p> +And at night, lo! they went to sleep; and before the dawn they +arose, and arrayed themselves; and by the time that it was day, +they were all four in the meadow. And there was the Knight +of the Sparrow-Hawk making the proclamation, and asking his +lady-love to fetch the Sparrow-Hawk. “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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p class="p2"> +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. +</p> + +<p> +Then they all entered the hall, and they washed, and went, and +sat down to meat. And thus were they seated. On one +side of Geraint sat the young Earl, and Earl Ynywl beyond him; +and on the other side of Geraint were the maiden and her +mother. And after these all sat according to their +precedence in honour. And they ate. And they were +served abundantly, and they received a profusion of divers kind +of gifts. Then they conversed together. And the young +Earl invited Geraint to visit him next day. “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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p class="p2"> +Now, this is how Arthur hunted the stag. The men and the +dogs were divided into hunting parties, and the dogs were let +loose upon the stag. And the last dog that was let loose +was the favourite dog of Arthur. Cavall was his name. +And he left all the other dogs behind him, and turned the +stag. And at the second turn, the stag came towards the +hunting party of Arthur. And Arthur set upon him. And +before he could be slain by any other, Arthur cut off his +head. Then they sounded the death horn for slaying, and +they all gathered round. +</p> + +<p> +Then came Kadyrieith to Arthur, and spoke to him. +“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. +</p> + +<p> +Then they all set forth, holding converse together concerning +the head of the stag, to whom it should be given. One +wished that it should be given to the lady best beloved by him, +and another to the lady whom he loved best. And all they of +the household, and the knights, disputed sharply concerning the +head. And with that they came to the palace. And when +Arthur and Gwenhwyvar heard them disputing about the head of the +stag, Gwenhwyvar said to Arthur, “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. +</p> + +<p> +And before they came near to the gate, one of the watch went +to Gwenhwyvar, and told her what kind of people they saw, and +what aspect they bore. “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.” +</p> + +<p> +So Gwenhwyvar went to the gate to meet him, and he +entered. And Gwenhwyvar was sorry when she saw the +condition he was in, even though he was accompanied by the +churlish dwarf. Then Edeyrn saluted Gwenhwyvar. +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +Then Arthur came to him, and he saluted Arthur; and Arthur +gazed a long time upon him, and was amazed to see him thus. +And thinking that he knew him, he inquired of him, “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. +</p> + +<p class="p2"> +The next day came Geraint towards the Court; and there was a +watch set on the ramparts by Gwenhwyvar, lest he should arrive +unawares. And one of the watch came to the place where +Gwenhwyvar was. “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.” +</p> + +<p> +Then went Arthur to see the maiden. And Arthur, and all +his companions, and his whole Court, were glad concerning the +maiden. And certain were they all, that had her array been +suitable to her beauty, they had never seen a maid fairer than +she. And Arthur gave away the maiden to Geraint. And +the usual bond made between two persons was made between Geraint +and the maiden, and the choicest of all Gwenhwyvar’s +apparel was given to the maiden; and thus arrayed, she appeared +comely and graceful to all who beheld her. And that day and +that night were spent in abundance of minstrelsy, and ample gifts +of liquor, and a multitude of games. And when it was time +for them to go to sleep, they went. And in the chamber +where the couch of Arthur and Gwenhwyvar was, the couch of +Geraint and Enid was prepared. And from that time she +became his bride. And the next day Arthur satisfied all the +claimants upon Geraint with bountiful gifts. And the maiden +took up her abode in the palace; and she had many companions, +both men and women, and there was no maiden more esteemed than +she in the Island of Britain. +</p> + +<p> +Then spake Gwenhwyvar. “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. +</p> + +<p class="p2"> +And once upon a time Arthur was holding his Court at Caerlleon +upon Usk, at Whitsuntide. And, behold, there came to him +ambassadors, wise and prudent, full of knowledge, and eloquent of +speech, and they saluted Arthur. “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.” +</p> + +<p> +“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. +</p> + +<p> +And that night they went to sleep. And the next day the +ambassadors were permitted to depart, and they were told that +Geraint should follow them. And on the third day Geraint +set forth, and many went with him. Gwalchmai the son of +Gwyar, and Riogonedd the son of the king of Ireland, and Ondyaw +the son of the duke of Burgundy, Gwilim the son of the ruler of +the Franks, Howel the son of Emyr of Brittany, Elivry, and +Nawkyrd, Gwynn the son of Tringad, Goreu the son of Custennin, +Gweir Gwrhyd Vawr, Garannaw the son of Golithmer, Peredur the son +of Evrawc, Gwynnllogell, Gwyr a judge in the Court of Arthur, +Dyvyr the son of Alun of Dyved, Gwrei Gwalstawd Ieithoedd, Bedwyr +the son of Bedrawd, Hadwry the son of Gwryon, Kai the son of +Kynyr, Odyar the Frank, the Steward of Arthur’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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +And the next day, at dawn, Erbin desired Geraint to send +messengers to the men, to ask them whether it was displeasing to +them that he should come to receive their homage, and whether +they had anything to object to him. Then Geraint sent +ambassadors to the men of Cornwall, to ask them this. And +they all said that it would be the fulness of joy and honour to +them for Geraint to come and receive their homage. So he +received the homage of such as were there. And they +remained with him till the third night. And the day after +the followers of Arthur intended to go away. “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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +And one morning in the summer time, they were upon their +couch, and Geraint lay upon the edge of it. And Enid was +without sleep in the apartment, which had windows of glass. +And the sun shone upon the couch. And the clothes had +slipped from off his arms and his breast, and he was +asleep. Then she gazed upon the marvellous beauty of his +appearance, and she said, “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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +Sorely grieved was the maiden upon hearing this discourse, so +that she knew not in the world what she should do. At last, +however, she determined to warn Geraint; so she turned her +horse’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.” +</p> + +<p> +So Geraint alighted, and the youth took the maiden from off +her horse. Then they washed, and took their repast. +And the youth cut the bread in slices, and gave them drink, and +served them withal. And when they had finished, the youth +arose, and said to Geraint, “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. +</p> + +<p> +And the youth came to the place where the Earl was, and the +Earl asked him where the lodgings of the knight were, and he told +him. “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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +And at the usual hour they went to sleep. And at the +beginning of the night Enid slept a little; and at midnight she +arose, and placed all Geraint’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. +</p> + +<p> +And Geraint journeyed along the high road that was before him, +and the maiden went on first; and near them they beheld a valley +which was the fairest ever seen, and which had a large river +running through it; and there was a bridge over the river, and +the high road led to the bridge. And above the bridge upon +the opposite side of the river, they beheld a fortified town, the +fairest ever seen. And as they approached the bridge, +Geraint saw coming towards him from a thick copse a man mounted +upon a large and lofty steed, even of pace and spirited though +tractable. “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. +</p> + +<p> +Then Gwiffert Petit beheld Enid where she stood, and it +grieved him to see one of her noble mien appear so deeply +afflicted. And he said to Geraint, “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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +And Arthur and his hosts remained there nearly a month, whilst +Geraint was being healed. And when he was fully recovered, +Geraint came to Arthur, and asked his permission to depart. +“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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +Then fearlessly and unhesitatingly Geraint dashed forward into +the mist. And on leaving the mist, he came to a large +orchard; and in the orchard he saw an open space, wherein was a +tent of red satin; and the door of the tent was open, and an +apple-tree stood in front of the door of the tent; and on a +branch of the apple-tree hung a huge hunting-horn. Then he +dismounted, and went into the tent; and there was no one in the +tent save one maiden sitting in a golden chair, and another chair +was opposite to her, empty. And Geraint went to the empty +chair, and sat down therein. “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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap05"></a>KILHWCH AND OLWEN<br/> +<small>OR THE</small><br/> +TWRCH TRWYTH</h2> + +<p> +Kilydd the son of Prince Kelyddon desired a wife as a helpmate, and the wife +that he chose was Goleuddydd, the daughter of Prince Anlawdd. And after their +union, the people put up prayers that they might have an heir. And they had a +son through the prayers of the people. From the time of her pregnancy +Goleuddydd became wild, and wandered about, without habitation; but when her +delivery was at hand, her reason came back to her. Then she went to a mountain +where there was a swineherd, keeping a herd of swine. And through fear of the +swine the queen was delivered. And the swineherd took the boy, and brought him +to the palace; and he was christened, and they called him Kilhwch, because he +had been found in a swine’s burrow. Nevertheless the boy was of gentle +lineage, and cousin unto Arthur; and they put him out to nurse. +</p> + +<p> +After this the boy’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. +</p> + +<p> +One day the king went to hunt, and he rode to the place of +burial to see the grave, and to know if it were time that he +should take a wife; and the king saw the briar. And when he +saw it, the king took counsel where he should find a wife. +Said one of his counsellors, “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. +</p> + +<p> +On a certain day, as the lady walked abroad, she came to the +house of an old crone that dwelt in the town, and that had no +tooth in her head. And the queen said to her, “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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +And the youth pricked forth upon a steed with head dappled +grey, of four winters old, firm of limb, with shell-formed hoofs, +having a bridle of linked gold on his head, and upon him a saddle +of costly gold. And in the youth’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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +And Glewlwyd came to the gate, and opened the gate before him; +and although all dismounted upon the horseblock at the gate, yet +did he not dismount, but rode in upon his charger. Then +said Kilhwch, “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.” +</p> + +<p> +And Arthur took a golden comb, and scissors, whereof the loops +were of silver, and he combed his hair. And Arthur inquired +of him who he was. “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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +And Arthur called Bedwyr, who never shrank from any enterprise +upon which Kai was bound. None was equal to him in +swiftness throughout this island except Arthur and Drych Ail +Kibddar. And although he was one-handed, three warriors +could not shed blood faster than he on the field of battle. +Another property he had; his lance would produce a wound equal to +those of nine opposing lances. +</p> + +<p> +And Arthur called to Kynddelig the Guide, “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. +</p> + +<p> +He called Gwrhyr Gwalstawt Ieithoedd, because he knew all +tongues. +</p> + +<p> +He called Gwalchmai the son of Gwyar, because he never +returned home without achieving the adventure of which he went in +quest. He was the best of footmen and the best of +knights. He was nephew to Arthur, the son of his sister, +and his cousin. +</p> + +<p> +And Arthur called Menw the son of Teirgwaedd, in order that if +they went into a savage country, he might cast a charm and an +illusion over them, so that none might see them whilst they could +see every one. +</p> + +<p> +They journeyed until they came to a vast open plain, wherein +they saw a great castle, which was the fairest of the castles of +the world. And they journeyed that day until the evening, +and when they thought they were nigh to the castle, they were no +nearer to it than they had been in the morning. And the +second and the third day they journeyed, and even then scarcely +could they reach so far. And when they came before the +castle, they beheld a vast flock of sheep, which was boundless +and without an end. And upon the top of a mound there was a +herdsman, keeping the sheep. And a rug made of skins was +upon him; and by his side was a shaggy mastiff, larger than a +steed nine winters old. Never had he lost even a lamb from +his flock, much less a large sheep. He let no occasion ever +pass without doing some hurt and harm. All the dead trees +and bushes in the plain he burnt with his breath down to the very +ground. +</p> + +<p> +Then said Kai, “Gwrhyr Gwalstawt Ieithoedd, go thou and +salute yonder man.” “Kai,” said he, +“I engaged not to go further than thou +thyself.” “Let us go then together,” +answered Kai. Said Menw the son of Teirgwaedd, “Fear +not to go thither, for I will cast a spell upon the dog, so that +he shall injure no one.” And they went up to the +mound whereon the herdsman was, and they said to him, “How +dost thou fare, O herdsman?” “No less fair be +it to you than to me.” “Truly, art thou the +chief?” “There is no hurt to injure me but my +own.” <a name="citation5"></a><a href="#footnote5" +class="citation">[5]</a> “Whose are the sheep that +thou dost keep, and to whom does yonder castle +belong?” “Stupid are ye, truly! Through +the whole world is it known that this is the castle of Yspaddaden +Penkawr.” “And who art thou?” +“I am called Custennin the son of Dyfnedig, and my brother +Yspaddaden Penkawr oppressed me because of my possessions. +And ye also, who are ye?” “We are an embassy +from Arthur, come to seek Olwen the daughter of Yspaddaden +Penkawr.” “Oh men! the mercy of Heaven be upon +you, do not that for all the world. None who ever came +hither on this quest has returned alive.” And the +herdsman rose up. And as he arose, Kilhwch gave unto him a +ring of gold. And he sought to put on the ring, but it was +too small for him, so he placed it in the finger of his +glove. And he went home, and gave the glove to his spouse +to keep. And she took the ring from the glove when it was +given her, and she said, “Whence came this ring, for thou +art not wont to have good fortune?” “I +went,” said he, “to the sea to seek for fish, and lo, +I saw a corpse borne by the waves. And a fairer corpse than +it did I never behold. And from its finger did I take this +ring.” “O man! does the sea permit its dead to +wear jewels? Show me then this body.” “Oh +wife, him to whom this ring belonged thou shalt see here in the +evening.” “And who is he?” asked the +woman, “Kilhwch the son of Kilydd, the son of Prince +Kelyddon, by Goleuddydd the daughter of Prince Anlawdd, his +mother, who is come to seek Olwen as his wife.” And +when she heard that, her feelings were divided between the joy +that she had that her nephew, the son of her sister, was coming +to her, and sorrow because she had never known any one depart +alive who had come on that quest. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +“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. +</p> + +<p> +The maiden was clothed in a robe of flame-coloured silk, and +about her neck was a collar of ruddy gold, on which were precious +emeralds and rubies. More yellow was her head than the +flower of the broom, and her skin was whiter than the foam of the +wave, and fairer were her hands and her fingers than the blossoms +of the wood anemone amidst the spray of the meadow +fountain. The eye of the trained hawk, the glance of the +three-mewed falcon was not brighter than hers. Her bosom +was more snowy than the breast of the white swan, her cheek was +redder than the reddest roses. Whoso beheld her was filled +with her love. Four white trefoils sprung up wherever she +trod. And therefore was she called Olwen. +</p> + +<p> +She entered the house, and sat beside Kilhwch upon the +foremost bench; and as soon as he saw her he knew her. And +Kilhwch said unto her, “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. +</p> + +<p> +She returned to her chamber, and they all rose up and followed +her to the castle. And they slew the nine porters that were +at the nine gates in silence. And they slew the nine +watch-dogs without one of them barking. And they went +forward to the hall. +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +They rose to go forth, and Yspaddaden Penkawr seized one of +the three poisoned darts that lay beside him, and threw it after +them. And Bedwyr caught it, and flung it, and pierced +Yspaddaden Penkawr grievously with it through the knee. +Then he said, “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!” +</p> + +<p> +That night also they took up their abode in the house of +Custennin the herdsman. The next day with the dawn they +arrayed themselves in haste and proceeded to the castle, and +entered the hall, and they said, “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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou +mayest think that it will not be easy.” +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou +mayest think that it will not be easy.” +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +“It will be easy for me to compass this.” +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +“It will be easy for me to compass this.” +</p> + +<p> +“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt +not get; the yellow and the brindled bull yoked together do I +require.” +</p> + +<p> +“It will be easy for me to compass this.” +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +“It will be easy for me to compass this.” +</p> + +<p> +“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt +not get. Seest thou yonder red tilled ground?” +</p> + +<p> +“I see it.” +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou +mayest think that it will not be easy.” +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou +mayest think that it will not be easy.” +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou +mayest think that it will not be easy.” +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou +mayest think that it will not be easy.” +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou +mayest think that it will not be easy.” +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou +mayest think that it will not be easy.” +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou +mayest think that it will not be easy.” +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou +mayest think that it will not be easy.” +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +“It will be easy for me to compass this.” +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou +mayest think that it will not be easy.” +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou +mayest think that it will not be easy.” +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou +mayest think that it will not be easy.” +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou +mayest think that it will not be easy.” +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou +mayest think that it will not be easy.” +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou +mayest think that it will not be easy.” +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou +mayest think that it will not be easy.” +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou +mayest think that it will not be easy.” +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou +mayest think that it will not be easy.” +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou +mayest think that it will not be easy.” +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou +mayest think that it will not be easy.” +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou +mayest think that it will not be easy.” +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou +mayest think that it will not be easy.” +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou +mayest think that it will not be easy.” +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou +mayest think that it will not be easy.” +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou +mayest think that it will not be easy.” +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou +mayest think that it will not be easy.” +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou +mayest think that it will not be easy.” +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou +mayest think that it will not be easy.” +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou +mayest think that it will not be easy.” +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou +mayest think that it will not be easy.” +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou +mayest think that it will not be easy.” +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou +mayest think that it will not be easy.” +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p class="p2"> +All that day they journeyed until the evening, and then they +beheld a vast castle, which was the largest in the world. +And lo, a black man, huger than three of the men of this world, +came out from the castle. And they spoke unto him, +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +And there was much discourse among those who were without, +because that Kai and Bedwyr had gone in. And a young man +who was with them, the only son of Custennin the herdsman, got in +also. And he caused all his companions to keep close to him +as he passed the three wards, and until he came into the midst of +the castle. And his companions said unto the son of +Custennin, “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. +</p> + +<p> +The sword was now polished, and Kai gave it unto the hand of +Gwrnach the Giant, to see if he were pleased with his work. +And the Giant said, “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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +Then they went thence, and returned to Arthur, and they told +him where Mabon the son of Modron was imprisoned. And +Arthur summoned the warriors of the Island, and they journeyed as +far as Gloucester, to the place where Mabon was in prison. +Kai and Bedwyr went upon the shoulders of the fish, whilst the +warriors of Arthur attacked the castle. And Kai broke +through the wall into the dungeon, and brought away the prisoner +upon his back, whilst the fight was going on between the +warriors. And Arthur returned home, and Mabon with him at +liberty. +</p> + +<p class="p2"> +Said Arthur, “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.” +</p> + +<p> +So Arthur went in his ship Prydwen by sea, and the others went +by land, to hunt her. And they surrounded her and her two +cubs, and God did change them again for Arthur into their own +form. And the host of Arthur dispersed themselves into +parties of one and two. +</p> + +<p class="p2"> +On a certain day, as Gwythyr the son of Greidawl was walking +over a mountain, he heard a wailing and a grievous cry. And +when he heard it, he sprang forward, and went towards it. +And when he came there, he drew his sword, and smote off an +ant-hill close to the earth, whereby it escaped being burned in +the fire. And the ants said to him, “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. +</p> + +<p class="p2"> +As Kai and Bedwyr sat on a beacon carn on the summit of +Plinlimmon, in the highest wind that ever was in the world, they +looked around them, and saw a great smoke towards the south, afar +off, which did not bend with the wind. Then said Kai, +“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. +</p> + +<p> +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— +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> +Kai made a leash<br/> +Of Dillus son of Eurei’s beard.<br/> +Were he alive, thy death he’d be. +</p> + +<p> +And thereupon Kai was wroth, so that the warriors of the +Island could scarcely make peace between Kai and Arthur. +And thenceforth, neither in Arthur’s troubles, nor for the +slaying of his men, would Kai come forward to his aid for ever +after. +</p> + +<p class="p2"> +Said Arthur, “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.” +</p> + +<p> +A little while before this, Creiddylad the daughter of Lludd +Llaw Ereint, and Gwythyr the son of Greidawl, were +betrothed. And before she had become his bride, Gwyn ap +Nudd came and carried her away by force; and Gwythyr the son of +Greidawl gathered his host together, and went to fight with Gwyn +ap Nudd. But Gwyn overcame him, and captured Greid the son +of Eri, and Glinneu the son of Taran, and Gwrgwst Ledlwm, and +Dynvarth his son. And he captured Penn the son of Nethawg, +and Nwython, and Kyledyr Wyllt his son. And they slew +Nwython, and took out his heart, and constrained Kyledyr to eat +the heart of his father. And therefrom Kyledyr became +mad. When Arthur heard of this, he went to the North, and +summoned Gwyn ap Nudd before him, and set free the nobles whom he +had put in prison, and made peace between Gwyn ap Nudd and +Gwythyr the son of Griedawl. And this was the peace that +was made:—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. +</p> + +<p> +And when Arthur had thus reconciled these chieftains, he +obtained Mygdwn, Gweddw’s horse, and the leash of Cwrs Cant +Ewin. +</p> + +<p> +And after that Arthur went into Armorica, and with him Mabon +the son of Mellt, and Gware Gwallt Euryn, to seek the two dogs of +Glythmyr Ledewic. And when he had got them, he went to the +West of Ireland, in search of Gwrgi Seven; and Odgar the son of +Aedd king of Ireland went with him. And thence went Arthur +into the North, and captured Kyledyr Wyllt; and he went after +Yskithyrwyn Penbaedd. And Mabon the son of Mellt came with +the two dogs of Glythmyr Ledewic in his hand, and Drudwyn, the +cub of Greid the son of Eri. And Arthur went himself to the +chase, leading his own dog Cavall. And Kaw, of North +Britain, mounted Arthur’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. +</p> + +<p> +And after Yskithyrwyn Penbaedd was killed, Arthur and his host +departed to Gelli Wic in Cornwall. And thence he sent Menw +the son of Teirgwaedd to see if the precious things were between +the two ears of Twrch Trwyth, since it were useless to encounter +him if they were not there. Albeit it was certain where he +was, for he had laid waste the third part of Ireland. And +Menw went to seek for him, and he met with him in Ireland, in +Esgeir Oervel. And Menw took the form of a bird; and he +descended upon the top of his lair, and strove to snatch away one +of the precious things from him, but he carried away nothing but +one of his bristles. And the boar rose up angrily and shook +himself so that some of his venom fell upon Menw, and he was +never well from that day forward. +</p> + +<p> +After this Arthur sent an embassy to Odgar, the son of Aedd +king of Ireland, to ask for the cauldron of Diwrnach Wyddel, his +purveyor. And Odgar commanded him to give it. But +Diwrnach said, “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.” +</p> + +<p> +When he had given them this denial, Bedwyr arose and seized +hold of the cauldron, and placed it upon the back of Hygwyd, +Arthur’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. +</p> + +<p> +Then Arthur summoned unto him all the warriors that were in +the three Islands of Britain, and in the three Islands adjacent, +and all that were in France and in Armorica, in Normandy and in +the Summer Country, and all that were chosen footmen and valiant +horsemen. And with all these he went into Ireland. +And in Ireland there was great fear and terror concerning +him. And when Arthur had landed in the country, there came +unto him the saints of Ireland and besought his protection. +And he granted his protection unto them, and they gave him their +blessing. Then the men of Ireland came unto Arthur, and +brought him provisions. And Arthur went as far as Esgeir +Oervel in Ireland, to the place where the Boar Trwyth was with +his seven young pigs. And the dogs were let loose upon him +from all sides. That day until evening the Irish fought +with him, nevertheless he laid waste the fifth part of +Ireland. And on the day following the household of Arthur +fought with him, and they were worsted by him, and got no +advantage. And the third day Arthur himself encountered +him, and he fought with him nine nights and nine days without so +much as killing even one little pig. The warriors inquired +of Arthur what was the origin of that swine; and he told them +that he was once a king, and that God had transformed him into a +swine for his sins. +</p> + +<p> +Then Arthur sent Gwrhyr Gwalstawt Ieithoedd, to endeavour to +speak with him. And Gwrhyr assumed the form of a bird, and +alighted upon the top of the lair, where he was with the seven +young pigs. And Gwrhyr Gwalstawt Ieithoedd asked him, +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +So they set forth through the sea towards Wales. And +Arthur and his hosts, and his horses and his dogs, entered +Prydwen, that they might encounter them without delay. +Twrch Trwyth landed in Porth Cleis in Dyved, and Arthur came to +Mynyw. The next day it was told to Arthur that they had +gone by, and he overtook them as they were killing the cattle of +Kynnwas Kwrr y Vagyl, having slain all that were at Aber Gleddyf, +of man and beast, before the coming of Arthur. +</p> + +<p> +Now when Arthur approached, Twrch Trwyth went on as far as +Preseleu, and Arthur and his hosts followed him thither, and +Arthur sent men to hunt him; Eli and Trachmyr, leading Drudwyn +the whelp of Greid the son of Eri, and Gwarthegyd the son of Kaw, +in another quarter, with the two dogs of Glythmyr Ledewic, and +Bedwyr leading Cavall, Arthur’s own dog. And all the +warriors ranged themselves around the Nyver. And there came +there the three sons of Cleddyf Divwlch, men who had gained much +fame at the slaying of Yskithyrwyn Penbaedd; and they went on +from Glyn Nyver, and came to Cwm Kerwyn. +</p> + +<p> +And there Twrch Trwyth made a stand, and slew four of +Arthur’s champions, Gwarthegyd the son of Kaw, and Tarawc +of Allt Clwyd, and Rheidwn the son of Eli Atver, and Iscovan +Hael. And after he had slain these men, he made a second +stand in the same place. And there he slew Gwydre the son +of Arthur, and Garselit Wyddel, and Glew the son of Ysgawd, and +Iscawyn the son of Panon; and there he himself was wounded. +</p> + +<p> +And the next morning before it was day, some of the men came +up with him. And he slew Huandaw, and Gogigwr, and +Penpingon, three attendants upon Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr, so that +Heaven knows he had not an attendant remaining, excepting only +Llaesgevyn, a man from whom no one ever derived any good. +And together with these he slew many of the men of that country, +and Gwlydyn Saer, Arthur’s chief Architect. +</p> + +<p> +Then Arthur overtook him at Pelumyawc, and there he slew +Madawc the son of Teithyon, and Gwyn the son of Tringad, the son +of Neved, and Eiryawn Penllorau. Thence he went to +Aberteivi, where he made another stand, and where he slew Kyflas +the son of Kynan, and Gwilenhin king of France. Then he +went as far as Glyn Ystu, and there the men and the dogs lost +him. +</p> + +<p> +Then Arthur summoned unto him Gwyn ab Nudd, and he asked him +if he knew aught of Twrch Trwyth. And he said that he did +not. +</p> + +<p> +And all the huntsmen went to hunt the swine as far as Dyffryn +Llychwr. And Grugyn Gwallt Ereint and Llwydawg Govynnyad +closed with them and killed all the huntsmen, so that there +escaped but one man only. And Arthur and his hosts came to +the place where Grugyn and Llwydawg were. And there he let +loose the whole of the dogs upon them, and with the shout and +barking that was set up, Twrch Trwyth came to their +assistance. +</p> + +<p> +And from the time that they came across the Irish sea, Arthur +had never got sight of him until then. So he set men and +dogs upon him, and thereupon he started off and went to Mynydd +Amanw. And there one of his young pigs was killed. +Then they set upon him life for life, and Twrch Llawin was slain, +and then there was slain another of the swine, Gwys was his +name. After that he went on to Dyffryn Amanw, and there +Banw and Bennwig were killed. Of all his pigs there went +with him alive from that place none save Grugyn Gwallt Ereint and +Llwydawg Govynnyad. +</p> + +<p> +Thence he went on to Llwch Ewin, and Arthur overtook him +there, and he made a stand. And there he slew Echel +Forddwytwll, and Garwyli the son of Gwyddawg Gwyr, and many men +and dogs likewise. And thence they went to Llwch +Tawy. Grugyn Gwrych Ereint parted from them there, and went +to Din Tywi. And thence he proceeded to Ceredigiawn, and +Eli and Trachmyr with him, and a multitude likewise. Then +he came to Garth Gregyn, and there Llwydawg Govynnyad fought in +the midst of them, and slew Rhudvyw Rhys and many others with +him. Then Llwydawg went thence to Ystrad Yw, and there the +men of Armorica met him, and there he slew Hirpeissawg the king +of Armorica, and Llygatrudd Emys, and Gwrbothu, Arthur’s +uncles, his mother’s brothers, and there was he himself +slain. +</p> + +<p> +Twrch Trwyth went from there to between Tawy and Euyas, and +Arthur summoned all Cornwall and Devon unto him, to the estuary +of the Severn, and he said to the warriors of this Island, +“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. +</p> + +<p> +Then Arthur and his hosts proceeded until they overtook the +boar in Cornwall, and the trouble which they had met with before +was mere play to what they encountered in seeking the comb. +But from one difficulty to another, the comb was at length +obtained. And then he was hunted from Cornwall, and driven +straight forward into the deep sea. And thenceforth it was +never known whither he went; and Aned and Aethlem with him. +Then went Arthur to Gelli Wic, in Cornwall, to anoint himself, +and to rest from his fatigues. +</p> + +<p> +Said Arthur, “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. +</p> + +<p> +And Arthur was wroth at seeing his two attendants almost +slain, and he sought to enter the cave; but Gwyn and Gwythyr said +unto him, “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. +</p> + +<p> +Then Kilhwch set forward, and Goreu the son of Custennin with +him, and as many as wished ill to Yspaddaden Penkawr. And +they took the marvels with them to his court. And Kaw of +North Britain came and shaved his beard, skin, and flesh clean +off to the very bone from ear to ear. “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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap06"></a>THE DREAM OF RHONABWY</h2> + +<p> +Madawc the son of Maredudd possessed Powys within its boundaries, from Porfoed +to Gwauan in the uplands of Arwystli. And at that time he had a brother, +Iorwerth the son of Maredudd, in rank not equal to himself. And Iorwerth had +great sorrow and heaviness because of the honour and power that his brother +enjoyed, which he shared not. And he sought his fellows and his +foster-brothers, and took counsel with them what he should do in this matter. +And they resolved to dispatch some of their number to go and seek a maintenance +for him. Then Madawc offered him to become Master of the Household and to have +horses, and arms, and honour, and to fare like as himself. But Iorwerth refused +this. +</p> + +<p> +And Iorwerth made an inroad into Loegria, slaying the +inhabitants, and burning houses, and carrying away +prisoners. And Madawc took counsel with the men of Powys, +and they determined to place an hundred men in each of the three +Commots of Powys to seek for him. And thus did they in the +plains of Powys from Aber Ceirawc, and in Allictwn Ver, and in +Rhyd Wilure, on the Vyrnwy, the three best Commots of +Powys. So he was none the better, he nor his household, in +Powys, nor in the plains thereof. And they spread these men +over the plains as far as Nillystwn Trevan. +</p> + +<p> +Now one of the men who was upon this quest was called +Rhonabwy. And Rhonabwy and Kynwrig Vrychgoch, a man of +Mawddwy, and Cadwgan Vras, a man of Moelvre in Kynlleith, came +together to the house of Heilyn Goch the son of Cadwgan the son +of Iddon. And when they came near to the house, they saw an +old hall, very black and having an upright gable, whence issued a +great smoke; and on entering, they found the floor full of +puddles and mounds; and it was difficult to stand thereon, so +slippery was it with the mire of cattle. And where the +puddles were, a man might go up to his ankles in water and +dirt. And there were boughs of holly spread over the floor, +whereof the cattle had browsed the sprigs. When they came +to the hall of the house, they beheld cells full of dust, and +very gloomy, and on one side an old hag making a fire. And +whenever she felt cold, she cast a lapful of chaff upon the fire, +and raised such a smoke, that it was scarcely to be borne, as it +rose up the nostrils. And on the other side was a yellow +calf-skin on the floor; a main privilege was it to any one who +should get upon that hide. +</p> + +<p> +And when they had sat down, they asked the hag where were the +people of the house. And the hag spoke not, but +muttered. Thereupon behold the people of the house entered; +a ruddy, clownish, curly-headed man, with a burthen of faggots on +his back, and a pale slender woman, also carrying a bundle under +her arm. And they barely welcomed the men, and kindled a +fire with the boughs. And the woman cooked something, and +gave them to eat, barley bread, and cheese, and milk and +water. +</p> + +<p> +And there arose a storm of wind and rain, so that it was +hardly possible to go forth with safety. And being weary +with their journey, they laid themselves down and sought to +sleep. And when they looked at the couch, it seemed to be +made but of a little coarse straw full of dust and vermin, with +the stems of boughs sticking up there-through, for the cattle had +eaten all the straw that was placed at the head and the +foot. And upon it was stretched an old russet-coloured rug, +threadbare and ragged; and a coarse sheet, full of slits, was +upon the rug, and an ill-stuffed pillow, and a worn-out cover +upon the sheet. And after much suffering from the vermin, +and from the discomfort of their couch, a heavy sleep fell on +Rhonabwy’s companions. But Rhonabwy, not being able +either to sleep or to rest, thought he should suffer less if he +went to lie upon the yellow calf-skin that was stretched out on +the floor. And there he slept. +</p> + +<p> +As soon as sleep had come upon his eyes, it seemed to him that +he was journeying with his companions across the plain of +Argyngroeg, and he thought that he went towards Rhyd y Groes on +the Severn. As he journeyed, he heard a mighty noise, the +like whereof heard he never before; and looking behind him, he +beheld a youth with yellow curling hair, and with his beard newly +trimmed, mounted on a chestnut horse, whereof the legs were grey +from the top of the forelegs, and from the bend of the hindlegs +downwards. And the rider wore a coat of yellow satin sewn +with green silk, and on his thigh was a gold-hilted sword, with a +scabbard of new leather of Cordova, belted with the skin of the +deer, and clasped with gold. And over this was a scarf of +yellow satin wrought with green silk, the borders whereof were +likewise green. And the green of the caparison of the +horse, and of his rider, was as green as the leaves of the +fir-tree, and the yellow was as yellow as the blossom of the +broom. So fierce was the aspect of the knight, that fear +seized upon them, and they began to flee. And the knight +pursued them. And when the horse breathed forth, the men +became distant from him, and when he drew in his breath, they +were drawn near to him, even to the horse’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.” +</p> + +<p> +Then lo! they heard a mighty sound which was much louder than +that which they had heard before, and when they looked round +towards the sound, they beheld a ruddy youth, without beard or +whiskers, noble of mien, and mounted on a stately courser. +And from the shoulders and the front of the knees downwards the +horse was bay. And upon the man was a dress of red satin +wrought with yellow silk, and yellow were the borders of his +scarf. And such parts of his apparel and of the trappings +of his horse as were yellow, as yellow were they as the blossom +of the broom, and such as were red, were as ruddy as the ruddiest +blood in the world. +</p> + +<p> +Then, behold the horseman overtook them, and he asked of +Iddawc a share of the little men that were with him. +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +And they journeyed over the plain of Argyngroeg as far as the +ford of Rhyd y Groes on the Severn. And for a mile around +the ford on both sides of the road, they saw tents and +encampments, and there was the clamour of a mighty host. +And they came to the edge of the ford, and there they beheld +Arthur sitting on a flat island below the ford, having Bedwini +the Bishop on one side of him, and Gwarthegyd the son of Kaw on +the other. And a tall, auburn-haired youth stood before +him, with his sheathed sword in his hand, and clad in a coat and +cap of jet-black satin. And his face was white as ivory, +and his eyebrows black as jet, and such part of his wrist as +could be seen between his glove and his sleeve, was whiter than +the lily, and thicker than a warrior’s ankle. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +Then spake a tall and stately man, of noble and flowing +speech, saying that it was a marvel that so vast a host should be +assembled in so narrow a space, and that it was a still greater +marvel that those should be there at that time who had promised +to be by mid-day in the battle of Badon, fighting with Osla +Gyllellvawr. “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.” +</p> + +<p> +Then Iddawc took Rhonabwy behind him on his horse, and that +mighty host moved forward, each troop in its order, towards +Cevndigoll. And when they came to the middle of the ford of +the Severn, Iddawc turned his horse’s head, and Rhonabwy +looked along the valley of the Severn. And he beheld two +fair troops coming towards the ford. One troop there came +of brilliant white, whereof every one of the men had a scarf of +white satin with jet-black borders. And the knees and the +tops of the shoulders of their horses were jet-black, though they +were of a pure white in every other part. And their banners +were pure white, with black points to them all. +</p> + +<p> +“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. +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +And when they had overtaken the host, Arthur and his army of +mighty ones dismounted below Caer Badou, and he perceived that he +and Iddawc journeyed the same road as Arthur. And after +they had dismounted he heard a great tumult and confusion amongst +the host, and such as were then at the flanks turned to the +centre, and such as had been in the centre moved to the +flanks. And then, behold, he saw a knight coming, clad, +both he and his horse, in mail, of which the rings were whiter +than the whitest lily, and the rivets redder than the ruddiest +blood. And he rode amongst the host. +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +Thereupon they heard a call made for Kadwr, Earl of Cornwall, +and behold he arose with the sword of Arthur in his hand. +And the similitude of two serpents was upon the sword in +gold. And when the sword was drawn from its scabbard, it +seemed as if two flames of fire burst forth from the jaws of the +serpents, and then, so wonderful was the sword, that it was hard +for any one to look upon it. And the host became still, and +the tumult ceased, and the Earl returned to the tent. +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +And while they were thus, and when they were best amused with +their game, behold they saw a white tent with a red canopy, and +the figure of a jet-black serpent on the top of the tent, and red +glaring venomous eyes in the head of the serpent, and a red +flaming tongue. And there came a young page with yellow +curling hair, and blue eyes, and a newly-springing beard, wearing +a coat and a surcoat of yellow satin, and hose of thin +greenish-yellow cloth upon his feet, and over his hose shoes of +parti-coloured leather, fastened at the insteps with golden +clasps. And he bore a heavy three-edged sword with a golden +hilt, in a scabbard of black leather tipped with fine gold. +And he came to the place where the Emperor and Owain were playing +at chess. +</p> + +<p> +And the youth saluted Owain. And Owain marvelled that +the youth should salute him and should not have saluted the +Emperor Arthur. And Arthur knew what was in Owain’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. +</p> + +<p> +That game did they finish, and another they began, and when +they were in the midst of the game, behold, a ruddy young man +with auburn curling hair and large eyes, well-grown, and having +his beard new-shorn, came forth from a bright yellow tent, upon +the summit of which was the figure of a bright red lion. +And he was clad in a coat of yellow satin, falling as low as the +small of his leg, and embroidered with threads of red silk. +And on his feet were hose of fine white buckram, and buskins of +black leather were over his hose, whereon were golden +clasps. And in his hand a huge, heavy, three-edged sword, +with a scabbard of red deer-hide, tipped with gold. And he +came to the place where Arthur and Owain were playing at +chess. And he saluted him. And Owain was troubled at +his salutation, but Arthur minded it no more than before. +And the youth said unto Owain, “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. +</p> + +<p> +And that game was ended and another begun. And as they +were beginning the first move of the game, they beheld at a small +distance from them a tent speckled yellow, the largest ever seen, +and the figure of an eagle of gold upon it, and a precious stone +on the eagle’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. +</p> + +<p> +Fiercely angry, and with rapid pace, came the youth to the +place where Arthur was playing at chess with Owain. And +they perceived that he was wroth. And thereupon he saluted +Owain, and told him that his Ravens had been killed, the chief +part of them, and that such of them as were not slain were so +wounded and bruised that not one of them could raise its wings a +single fathom above the earth. “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.” +</p> + +<p> +So the youth returned back to the place where the strife bore +hardest upon the Ravens, and he lifted up the banner; and as he +did so they all rose up in the air, wrathful and fierce and high +of spirit, clapping their wings in the wind, and shaking off the +weariness that was upon them. And recovering their energy +and courage, furiously and with exultation did they, with one +sweep, descend upon the heads of the men, who had erewhile caused +them anger and pain and damage, and they seized some by the heads +and others by the eyes, and some by the ears, and others by the +arms, and carried them up into the air; and in the air there was +a mighty tumult with the flapping of the wings of the triumphant +Ravens, and with their croaking; and there was another mighty +tumult with the groaning of the men, that were being torn and +wounded, and some of whom were slain. +</p> + +<p> +And Arthur and Owain marvelled at the tumult as they played at +chess; and, looking, they perceived a knight upon a dun-coloured +horse coming towards them. And marvellous was the hue of +the dun horse. Bright red was his right shoulder, and from +the top of his legs to the centre of his hoof was bright +yellow. Both the knight and his horse were fully equipped +with heavy foreign armour. The clothing of the horse from +the front opening upwards was of bright red sendal, and from +thence opening downwards was of bright yellow sendal. A +large gold-hilted one-edged sword had the youth upon his thigh, +in a scabbard of light blue, and tipped with Spanish laton. +The belt of the sword was of dark green leather with golden +slides and a clasp of ivory upon it, and a buckle of jet-black +upon the clasp. A helmet of gold was on the head of the +knight, set with precious stones of great virtue, and at the top +of the helmet was the image of a flame-coloured leopard with two +ruby-red stones in its head, so that it was astounding for a +warrior, however stout his heart, to look at the face of the +leopard, much more at the face of the knight. He had in his +hand a blue-shafted lance, but from the haft to the point it was +stained crimson-red with the blood of the Ravens and their +plumage. +</p> + +<p> +The knight came to the place where Arthur and Owain were +seated at chess. And they perceived that he was harassed +and vexed and weary as he came towards them. And the youth +saluted Arthur, and told him that the Ravens of Owain were +slaying his young men and attendants. And Arthur looked at +Owain and said, “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. +</p> + +<p> +And when they had played awhile, they heard a mighty tumult, +and a wailing of men, and a croaking of Ravens, as they carried +the men in their strength into the air, and, tearing them betwixt +them, let them fall piecemeal to the earth. And during the +tumult they saw a knight coming towards them, on a light grey +horse, and the left foreleg of the horse was jet-black to the +centre of his hoof. And the knight and the horse were fully +accoutred with huge heavy blue armour. And a robe of honour +of yellow diapered satin was upon the knight, and the borders of +the robe were blue. And the housings of the horse were +jet-black, with borders of bright yellow. And on the thigh +of the youth was a sword, long, and three-edged, and heavy. +And the scabbard was of red cut leather, and the belt of new red +deer-skin, having upon it many golden slides and a buckle of the +bone of the sea-horse, the tongue of which was jet-black. A +golden helmet was upon the head of the knight, wherein were set +sapphire-stones of great virtue. And at the top of the +helmet was the figure of a flame-coloured lion, with a fiery-red +tongue, issuing above a foot from his mouth, and with venomous +eyes, crimson-red, in his head. And the knight came, +bearing in his hand a thick ashen lance, the head whereof, which +had been newly steeped in blood, was overlaid with silver. +</p> + +<p> +And the youth saluted the Emperor: “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. +</p> + +<p> +So they finished the game and began another; and as they were +finishing that game, lo, they heard a great tumult and a clamour +of armed men, and a croaking of Ravens, and a flapping of wings +in the air, as they flung down the armour entire to the ground, +and the men and the horses piecemeal. Then they saw coming +a knight on a lofty-headed piebald horse. And the left +shoulder of the horse was of bright red, and its right leg from +the chest to the hollow of the hoof was pure white. And the +knight and horse were equipped with arms of speckled yellow, +variegated with Spanish laton. And there was a robe of +honour upon him, and upon his horse, divided in two parts, white +and black, and the borders of the robe of honour were of golden +purple. And above the robe he wore a sword three-edged and +bright, with a golden hilt. And the belt of the sword was +of yellow goldwork, having a clasp upon it of the eyelid of a +black sea-horse, and a tongue of yellow gold to the clasp. +Upon the head of the knight was a bright helmet of yellow laton, +with sparkling stones of crystal in it, and at the crest of the +helmet was the figure of a griffin, with a stone of many virtues +in its head. And he had an ashen spear in his hand, with a +round shaft, coloured with azure blue. And the head of the +spear was newly stained with blood, and was overlaid with fine +silver. +</p> + +<p> +Wrathfully came the knight to the place where Arthur was, and +he told him that the Ravens had slain his household and the sons +of the chief men of this island, and he besought him to cause +Owain to forbid his Ravens. And Arthur besought Owain to +forbid them. Then Arthur took the golden chessmen that were +upon the board, and crushed them until they became as dust. +Then Owain ordered Gwres the son of Rheged to lower his +banner. So it was lowered, and all was peace. +</p> + +<p> +Then Rhonabwy inquired of Iddawc who were the first three men +that came to Owain, to tell him his Ravens were being +slain. Said Iddawc, “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.” +</p> + +<p> +And with that behold four-and-twenty knights came from Osla +Gyllellvawr, to crave a truce of Arthur for a fortnight and a +month. And Arthur rose and went to take counsel. And +he came to where a tall, auburn, curly-headed man was a little +way off, and there he assembled his counsellors. Bedwini, +the Bishop, and Gwarthegyd the son of Kaw, and March the son of +Meirchawn, and Caradawc Vreichvras, and Gwalchmai the son of +Gwyar, and Edeyrn the son of Nudd, and Rhuvawn Pebyr the son of +Prince Deorthach, and Rhiogan the son of the King of Ireland, and +Gwenwynwyn the son of Nav, Howel the son of Emyr Llydaw, Gwilym +the son of Rhwyf Freinc, and Daned the son of Ath, and Goreu +Custennin, and Mabon the son of Modron, and Peredur Paladyr Hir, +and Hyveidd Unllenn, and Twrch the son of Perif, and Nerth the +son of Kadarn, and Gobrwy the son of Echel Vorddwyttwll, Gwair +the son of Gwestyl, and Gadwy the son of Geraint, Trystan the son +of Tallwch, Moryen Manawc, Granwen the son of Llyr, and Llacheu +the son of Arthur, and Llawvrodedd Varvawc, and Kadwr Earl of +Cornwall, Morvran the son of Tegid, and Rhyawd the son of +Morgant, and Dyvyr the son of Alun Dyved, Gwrhyr Gwalstawd +Ieithoedd, Adaon the son of Taliesin, Llary the son of Kasnar +Wledig, and Fflewddur Fflam, and Greidawl Galldovydd, Gilbert the +son of Kadgyffro, Menw the son of Teirgwaedd, Gwrthmwl Wledig, +Cawrdav the son of Caradawc Vreichvras, Gildas the son of Kaw, +Kadyriaith the son of Saidi, and many of the men of Norway and +Denmark, and many of the men of Greece, and a crowd of the men of +the host came to that council. +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +Thereupon, behold, bards came and recited verses before +Arthur, and no man understood those verses but Kadyriaith only, +save that they were in Arthur’s praise. +</p> + +<p> +And lo, there came four-and-twenty asses with their burdens of +gold and of silver, and a tired way-worn man with each of them, +bringing tribute to Arthur from the Islands of Greece. Then +Kadyriaith the son of Saidi besought that a truce might be +granted to Osla Gyllellvawr for the space of a fortnight and a +month, and that the asses and the burdens they carried might be +given to the bards, to be to them as the reward for their stay +and that their verse might be recompensed during the time of the +truce. And thus it was settled. +</p> + +<p> +“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?” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +And this tale is called the Dream of Rhonabwy. And this +is the reason that no one knows the dream without a book, neither +bard nor gifted seer; because of the various colours that were +upon the horses, and the many wondrous colours of the arms and of +the panoply, and of the precious scarfs, and of the +virtue-bearing stones. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap07"></a>PWYLL PRINCE OF DYVED</h2> + +<p> +Pwyll Prince of Dyved was lord of the seven Cantrevs of Dyved; and once upon a +time he was at Narberth his chief palace, and he was minded to go and hunt, and +the part of his dominions in which it pleased him to hunt was Glyn Cuch. So he +set forth from Narberth that night, and went as far as Llwyn Diarwyd. And that +night he tarried there, and early on the morrow he rose and came to Glyn Cuch, +when he let loose the dogs in the wood, and sounded the horn, and began the +chase. And as he followed the dogs, he lost his companions; and whilst he +listened to the hounds, he heard the cry of other hounds, a cry different from +his own, and coming in the opposite direction. +</p> + +<p> +And he beheld a glade in the wood forming a level plain, and +as his dogs came to the edge of the glade, he saw a stag before +the other dogs. And lo, as it reached the middle of the +glade, the dogs that followed the stag overtook it and brought it +down. Then looked he at the colour of the dogs, staying not +to look at the stag, and of all the hounds that he had seen in +the world, he had never seen any that were like unto these. +For their hair was of a brilliant shining white, and their ears +were red; and as the whiteness of their bodies shone, so did the +redness of their ears glisten. And he came towards the +dogs, and drove away those that had brought down the stag, and +set his own dogs upon it. +</p> + +<p> +And as he was setting on his dogs he saw a horseman coming +towards him upon a large light-grey steed, with a hunting horn +round his neck, and clad in garments of grey woollen in the +fashion of a hunting garb. And the horseman drew near and +spoke unto him thus. “Chieftain,” said he, +“I know who thou art, and I greet thee not.” +“Peradventure,” said Pwyll, “thou art of such +dignity that thou shouldest not do so.” +“Verily,” answered he, “it is not my dignity +that prevents me.” “What is it then, O +Chieftain?” asked he. “By Heaven, it is by +reason of thine own ignorance and want of courtesy.” +“What discourtesy, Chieftain, hast thou seen in +me?” “Greater discourtesy saw I never in +man,” said he, “than to drive away the dogs that were +killing the stag and to set upon it thine own. This was +discourteous, and though I may not be revenged upon thee, yet I +declare to Heaven that I will do thee more dishonour than the +value of an hundred stags.” “O +Chieftain,” he replied, “if I have done ill I will +redeem thy friendship.” “How wilt thou redeem +it?” “According as thy dignity may be, but I +know not who thou art?” “A crowned king am I in +the land whence I come.” “Lord,” said he, +“may the day prosper with thee, and from what land comest +thou?” “From Annwvyn,” <a +name="citation2"></a><a href="#footnote2" +class="citation">[2]</a> answered he; “Arawn, a King of +Annwvyn, am I.” “Lord,” said he, +“how may I gain thy friendship?” “After +this manner mayest thou,” he said. “There is a +man whose dominions are opposite to mine, who is ever warring +against me, and he is Havgan, a King of Annwvyn, and by ridding +me of this oppression, which thou canst easily do, shalt thou +gain my friendship.” “Gladly will I do +this,” said he. “Show me how I +may.” “I will show thee. Behold thus it +is thou mayest. I will make firm friendship with thee; and +this will I do. I will send thee to Annwvyn in my stead, +and I will give thee the fairest lady thou didst ever behold to +be thy companion, and I will put my form and semblance upon thee, +so that not a page of the chamber, nor an officer, nor any other +man that has always followed me shall know that it is not +I. And this shall be for the space of a year from +to-morrow, and then we will meet in this place.” +“Yes,” said he; “but when I shall have been +there for the space of a year, by what means shall I discover him +of whom thou speakest?” “One year from this +night,” he answered, “is the time fixed between him +and me that we should meet at the Ford; be thou there in my +likeness, and with one stroke that thou givest him, he shall no +longer live. And if he ask thee to give him another, give +it not, how much soever he may entreat thee, for when I did so, +he fought with me next day as well as ever before.” +“Verily,” said Pwyll, “what shall I do +concerning my kingdom?” Said Arawn, “I will +cause that no one in all thy dominions, neither man nor woman, +shall know that I am not thou, and I will go there in thy +stead.” “Gladly then,” said Pwyll, +“will I set forward.” “Clear shall be thy +path, and nothing shall detain thee, until thou come into my +dominions, and I myself will be thy guide!” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +So he went forward to the Court, and when he came there, he +beheld sleeping-rooms, and halls, and chambers, and the most +beautiful buildings ever seen. And he went into the hall to +disarray, and there came youths and pages and disarrayed him, and +all as they entered saluted him. And two knights came and +drew his hunting-dress from about him, and clothed him in a +vesture of silk and gold. And the hall was prepared, and +behold he saw the household and the host enter in, and the host +was the most comely and the best equipped that he had ever +seen. And with them came in likewise the Queen, who was the +fairest woman that he had ever yet beheld. And she had on a +yellow robe of shining satin; and they washed and went to the +table, and sat, the Queen upon one side of him, and one who +seemed to be an Earl on the other side. +</p> + +<p> +And he began to speak with the Queen, and he thought, from her +speech, that she was the seemliest and most noble lady of +converse and of cheer that ever was. And they partook of +meat, and drink, with songs and with feasting; and of all the +Courts upon the earth, behold this was the best supplied with +food and drink, and vessels of gold and royal jewels. +</p> + +<p class="p2"> +And the year he spent in hunting, and minstrelsy, and +feasting, and diversions, and discourse with his companions until +the night that was fixed for the conflict. And when that +night came, it was remembered even by those who lived in the +furthest part of his dominions, and he went to the meeting, and +the nobles of the kingdom with him. And when he came to the +Ford, a knight arose and spake thus. “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.” +</p> + +<p> +Thereupon the two kings approached each other in the middle of +the Ford, and encountered, and at the first thrust, the man who +was in the stead of Arawn struck Havgan on the centre of the boss +of his shield, so that it was cloven in twain, and his armour was +broken, and Havgan himself was borne to the ground an arm’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. +</p> + +<p> +And when he came there, the King of Annwvyn was there to meet +him, and each of them was rejoiced to see the other. +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +Then Arawn gave to Pwyll Prince of Dyved his proper form and +semblance, and he himself took his own; and Arawn set forth +towards the Court of Annwvyn; and he was rejoiced when he beheld +his hosts, and his household, whom he had not seen so long; but +they had not known of his absence, and wondered no more at his +coming than usual. And that day was spent in joy and +merriment; and he sat and conversed with his wife and his +nobles. And when it was time for them rather to sleep than +to carouse, they went to rest. +</p> + +<p class="p2"> +Pwyll Prince of Dyved came likewise to his country and +dominions, and began to inquire of the nobles of the land, how +his rule had been during the past year, compared with what it had +been before. “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. +</p> + +<p> +And thenceforth they made strong the friendship that was +between them, and each sent unto the other horses, and +greyhounds, and hawks, and all such jewels as they thought would +be pleasing to each other. And by reason of his having +dwelt that year in Annwvyn, and having ruled there so +prosperously, and united the two kingdoms in one day by his +valour and prowess, he lost the name of Pwyll Prince of Dyved, +and was called Pwyll Chief of Annwvyn from that time forward. +</p> + +<p class="p2"> +Once upon a time, Pwyll was at Narberth his chief palace, +where a feast had been prepared for him, and with him was a great +host of men. And after the first meal, Pwyll arose to walk, +and he went to the top of a mound that was above the palace, and +was called Gorsedd Arberth. “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.” +</p> + +<p> +And upon the mound he sat. And while he sat there, they +saw a lady, on a pure white horse of large size, with a garment +of shining gold around her, coming along the highway that led +from the mound; and the horse seemed to move at a slow and even +pace, and to be coming up towards the mound. “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.” +</p> + +<p> +And he took a horse and went forward. And he came to an +open level plain, and put spurs to his horse; and the more he +urged his horse, the further was she from him. Yet she held +the same pace as at first. And his horse began to fail; and +when his horse’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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +So Gwawl went forth to his possessions, and Pwyll went also +back to Dyved. And they both spent that year until it was +the time for the feast at the palace of Heveydd 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. +</p> + +<p> +“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. +</p> + +<p> +And the hall was set in order for Pwyll and the men of his +host, and for them also of the palace, and they went to the +tables and sat down. And as they had sat that time +twelvemonth, so sat they that night. And they ate, and +feasted, and spent the night in mirth and tranquillity. And +the time came that they should sleep, and Pwyll and Rhiannon went +to their chamber. +</p> + +<p> +And next morning at the break of day, “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. +</p> + +<p> +And the next day, they set forward towards Dyved, and +journeyed to the palace of Narberth, where a feast was made ready +for them. And there came to them great numbers of the chief +men and the most noble ladies of the land, and of these there was +none to whom Rhiannon did not give some rich gift, either a +bracelet, or a ring, or a precious stone. And they ruled +the land prosperously both that year and the next. +</p> + +<p> +And in the third year the nobles of the land began to be +sorrowful at seeing a man whom they loved so much, and who was +moreover their lord and their foster-brother, without an +heir. And they came to him. And the place where they +met was Preseleu, in Dyved. “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. +</p> + +<p> +And Pwyll the chief of Annwvyn arose, and his household, and +his hosts. And this occurrence could not be concealed, but +the story went forth throughout the land, and all the nobles +heard it. Then the nobles came to Pwyll, and besought him +to put away his wife, because of the great crime which she had +done. But Pwyll answered them, that they had no cause +wherefore they might ask him to put away his wife, save for her +having no children. “But children has she now had, +therefore will I not put her away; if she has done wrong, let her +do penance for it.” +</p> + +<p> +So Rhiannon sent for the teachers and the wise men, and as she +preferred doing penance to contending with the women, she took +upon her a penance. And the penance that was imposed upon +her was, that she should remain in that palace of Narberth until +the end of seven years, and that she should sit every day near +unto a horseblock that was without the gate. And that she +should relate the story to all who should come there, whom she +might suppose not to know it already; and that she should offer +the guests and strangers, if they would permit her, to carry them +upon her back into the palace. But it rarely happened that +any would permit. And thus did she spend part of the +year. +</p> + +<p> +Now at that time Teirnyon Twryv Vliant was Lord of Gwent Is +Coed, and he was the best man in the world. And unto his +house there belonged a mare, than which neither mare nor horse in +the kingdom was more beautiful. And on the night of every +first of May she foaled, and no one ever knew what became of the +colt. And one night Teirnyon talked with his wife: +“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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +And while these things were going forward, they heard tidings +of Rhiannon and her punishment. And Teirnyon Twryv Vliant, +by reason of the pity that he felt on hearing this story of +Rhiannon and her punishment, inquired closely concerning it, +until he had heard from many of those who came to his +court. Then did Teirnyon, often lamenting the sad history, +ponder within himself, and he looked steadfastly on the boy, and +as he looked upon him, it seemed to him that he had never beheld +so great a likeness between father and son, as between the boy +and Pwyll the Chief of Annwvyn. Now the semblance of Pwyll +was well known to him, for he had of yore been one of his +followers. And thereupon he became grieved for the wrong +that he did, in keeping with him a boy whom he knew to be the son +of another man. And the first time that he was alone with +his wife, he told her that it was not right that they should keep +the boy with them, and suffer so excellent a lady as Rhiannon to +be punished so greatly on his account, whereas the boy was the +son of Pwyll the Chief of Annwvyn. And Teirnyon’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. +</p> + +<p> +And no later than the next day was Teirnyon equipped, and two +other knights with him. And the boy, as a fourth in their +company, went with them upon the horse which Teirnyon had given +him. And they journeyed towards Narberth, and it was not +long before they reached that place. And as they drew near +to the palace, they beheld Rhiannon sitting beside the +horseblock. And when they were opposite to her, +“Chieftain,” said she, “go not further thus, I +will bear every one of you into the palace, and this is my +penance for slaying my own son and devouring him.” +“Oh, fair lady,” said Teirnyon, “think not that +I will be one to be carried upon thy back.” +“Neither will I,” said the boy. “Truly, +my soul,” said Teirnyon, “we will not +go.” So they went forward to the palace, and there +was great joy at their coming. And at the palace a feast +was prepared, because Pywll was come back from the confines of +Dyved. And they went into the hall and washed, and Pwyll +rejoiced to see Teirnyon. And in this order they sat. +Teirnyon between Pwyll and Rhiannon, and Teirnyon’s two +companions on the other side of Pwyll, with the boy between +them. And after meat they began to carouse and to +discourse. And Teirnyon’s discourse was concerning +the adventure of the mare and the boy, and how he and his wife +had nursed and reared the child as their own. “And +behold here is thy son, lady,” said Teirnyon. +“And whosoever told that lie concerning thee, has done +wrong. And when I heard of thy sorrow, I was troubled and +grieved. And I believe that there is none of this host who +will not perceive that the boy is the son of Pwyll,” said +Teirnyon. “There is none,” said they all, +“who is not certain thereof.” “I declare +to Heaven,” said Rhiannon, “that if this be true, +there is indeed an end to my trouble.” +“Lady,” said Pendaran Dyved, “well hast thou +named thy son Pryderi, <a name="citation3"></a><a +href="#footnote3" class="citation">[3]</a> and well becomes him +the name of Pryderi son of Pwyll Chief of Annwvyn.” +“Look you,” said Rhiannon, “will not his own +name become him better?” “What name has +he?” asked Pendaran Dyved. “Gwri Wallt Euryn is +the name that we gave him.” “Pryderi,” +said Pendaran, “shall his name be.” “It +were more proper,” said Pwyll, “that the boy should +take his name from the word his mother spoke when she received +the joyful tidings of him.” And thus was it +arranged. +</p> + +<p> +“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. +</p> + +<p> +Thereupon they all remained in their own dominions. And +Pryderi, the son of Pwyll the Chief of Annwvyn, was brought up +carefully as was fit, so that he became the fairest youth, and +the most comely, and the best skilled in all good games, of any +in the kingdom. And thus passed years and years, until the +end of Pwyll the Chief of Annwvyn’s life came, and he +died. +</p> + +<p> +And Pryderi ruled the seven Cantrevs of Dyved prosperously, +and he was beloved by his people, and by all around him. +And at length he added unto them the three Cantrevs of Ystrad +Tywi, and the four Cantrevs of Cardigan; and these were called +the Seven Cantrevs of Seissyllwch. And when he made this +addition, Pryderi the son of Pwyll the Chief of Annwvyn desired +to take a wife. And the wife he chose was Kicva, the +daughter of Gwynn Gohoyw, the son of Gloyw Wallt Lydan, the son +of Prince Casnar, one of the nobles of this Island. +</p> + +<p> +And thus ends this portion of the Mabinogion. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap08"></a>BRANWEN THE DAUGHTER OF LLYR<br/> +<small>HERE IS THE SECOND PORTION OF THE MABINOGI</small></h2> + +<p> +Bendigeid Vran, the son of Llyr, was the crowned king of this island, and he +was exalted from the crown of London. And one afternoon he was at Harlech in +Ardudwy, at his Court, and he sat upon the rock of Harlech, looking over the +sea. And with him were his brother Manawyddan the son of Llyr, and his brothers +by the mother’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. +</p> + +<p> +And they fixed upon Aberffraw as the place where she should +become his bride. And they went thence, and towards +Aberffraw the hosts proceeded; Matholwch and his host in their +ships; Bendigeid Vran and his host by land, until they came to +Aberffraw. And at Aberffraw they began the feast and sat +down. And thus sat they. The King of the Island of +the Mighty and Manawyddan the son of Llyr on one side, and +Matholwch on the other side, and Branwen the daughter of Llyr +beside him. And they were not within a house, but under +tents. No house could ever contain Bendigeid Vran. +And they began the banquet and caroused and discoursed. And +when it was more pleasing to them to sleep than to carouse, they +went to rest, and that night Branwen became Matholwch’s +bride. +</p> + +<p> +And next day they arose, and all they of the Court, and the +officers began to equip and to range the horses and the +attendants, and they ranged them in order as far as the sea. +</p> + +<p> +And behold one day, Evnissyen, the quarrelsome man of whom it +is spoken above, came by chance into the place, where the horses +of Matholwch were, and asked whose horses they might be. +“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. +</p> + +<p> +And they came with these tidings unto Matholwch, saying that +the horses were disfigured, and injured so that not one of them +could ever be of any use again. “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. +</p> + +<p> +And tidings came to Bendigeid Vran that Matholwch was quitting +the Court without asking leave, and messengers were sent to +inquire of him wherefore he did so. And the messengers that +went were Iddic the son of Anarawd, and Heveydd Hir. And +these overtook him and asked of him what he designed to do, and +wherefore he went forth. “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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +Then the pavilions and the tents were set in order after the +fashion of a hall; and they went to meat, and as they had sat at +the beginning of the feast, so sat they there. And +Matholwch and Bendigeid Vran began to discourse; and behold it +seemed to Bendigeid Vran, while they talked, that Matholwch was +not so cheerful as he had been before. And he thought that +the chieftain might be sad, because of the smallness of the +atonement which he had, for the wrong that had been done +him. “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. +</p> + +<p> +And the next morning they paid Matholwch the horses as long as +the trained horses lasted. And then they journeyed into +another commot, where they paid him with colts until the whole +had been paid, and from thenceforth that commot was called +Talebolion. +</p> + +<p> +And a second night sat they together. “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.” +</p> + +<p> +That night they continued to discourse as much as they would, +and had minstrelsy and carousing, and when it was more pleasant +to them to sleep than to sit longer, they went to rest. And +thus was the banquet carried on with joyousness; and when it was +finished, Matholwch journeyed towards Ireland, and Branwen with +him, and they went from Aber Menei with thirteen ships, and came +to Ireland. And in Ireland was there great joy because of +their coming. And not one great man or noble lady visited +Branwen unto whom she gave not either a clasp, or a ring, or a +royal jewel to keep, such as it was honourable to be seen +departing with. And in these things she spent that year in +much renown, and she passed her time pleasantly, enjoying honour +and friendship. And in the meanwhile it chanced that she +became pregnant, and in due time a son was born unto her, and the +name that they gave him was Gwern the son of Matholwch, and they +put the boy out to be foster-nursed, in a place where were the +best men of Ireland. +</p> + +<p> +And behold in the second year a tumult arose in Ireland, on +account of the insult which Matholwch had received in Cambria, +and the payment made him for his horses. And his +foster-brothers, and such as were nearest unto him, blamed him +openly for that matter. And he might have no peace by +reason of the tumult until they should revenge upon him this +disgrace. And the vengeance which they took was to drive +away Branwen from the same chamber with him, and to make her cook +for the Court; and they caused the butcher after he had cut up +the meat to come to her and give her every day a blow on the ear, +and such they made her punishment. +</p> + +<p> +“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. +</p> + +<p> +And Branwen reared a starling in the cover of the kneading +trough, and she taught it to speak, and she taught the bird what +manner of man her brother was. And she wrote a letter of +her woes, and the despite with which she was treated, and she +bound the letter to the root of the bird’s wing, and sent +it towards Britain. And the bird came to this island, and +one day it found Bendigeid Vran at Caer Seiont in Arvon, +conferring there, and it alighted upon his shoulder and ruffled +its feathers, so that the letter was seen, and they knew that the +bird had been reared in a domestic manner. +</p> + +<p> +Then Bendigeid Vran took the letter and looked upon it. +And when he had read the letter he grieved exceedingly at the +tidings of Branwen’s woes. And immediately he began +sending messengers to summon the island together. And he +caused sevenscore and four countries to come unto him, and he +complained to them himself of the grief that his sister +endured. So they took counsel. And in the council +they resolved to go to Ireland, and to leave seven men as princes +here, and Caradawc, the son of Bran, as the chief of them, and +their seven knights. In Edeyrnion were these men +left. And for this reason were the seven knights placed in +the town. Now the names of these seven men were, Caradawc +the son of Bran, and Heveydd Hir, and Unic Glew Ysgwyd, and Iddic +the son of Anarawc Gwalltgrwn, and Fodor the son of Ervyll, and +Gwlch Minascwrn, and Llassar the son of Llaesar Llaesgygwyd, and +Pendaran Dyved as a young page with them. And these abode +as seven ministers to take charge of this island; and Caradawc +the son of Bran was the chief amongst them. +</p> + +<p> +Bendigeid Vran, with the host of which we spoke, sailed +towards Ireland, and it was not far across the sea, and he came +to shoal water. It was caused by two rivers; the Lli and +the Archan were they called; and the nations covered the +sea. Then he proceeded with what provisions he had on his +own back, and approached the shore of Ireland. +</p> + +<p> +Now the swineherds of Matholwch were upon the seashore, and +they came to Matholwch. “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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +And as he rose up, behold the messengers of Matholwch came to +him, and saluted him, and gave him greeting in the name of +Matholwch, his kinsman, and showed how that of his goodwill he +had merited of him nothing but good. “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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +And he took counsel, and in the council it was resolved that +he should accept this, and this was all done by the advice of +Branwen, and lest the country should be destroyed. And this +peace was made, and the house was built both vast and +strong. But the Irish planned a crafty device, and the +craft was that they should put brackets on each side of the +hundred pillars that were in the house, and should place a +leathern bag on each bracket, and an armed man in every one of +them. Then Evnissyen came in before the host of the Island +of the Mighty, and scanned the house with fierce and savage +looks, and descried the leathern bags which were around the +pillars. “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:— +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> +“There is in this bag a different sort of +meal,<br/> +The ready combatant, when the assault is made<br/> +By his fellow-warriors, prepared for battle.” +</p> + +<p> +Thereupon came the hosts unto the house. The men of the +Island of Ireland entered the house on the one side, and the men +of the Island of the Mighty on the other. And as soon as +they had sat down there was concord between them; and the +sovereignty was conferred upon the boy. When the peace was +concluded, Bendigeid Vran called the boy unto him, and from +Bendigeid Vran the boy went unto Manawyddan, and he was beloved +by all that beheld him. And from Manawyddan the boy was +called by Nissyen the son of Eurosswydd, and the boy went unto +him lovingly. “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.” +</p> + +<p> +Then he arose and took up the boy by the feet, and before any +one in the house could seize hold of him, he thrust the boy +headlong into the blazing fire. And when Branwen saw her +son burning in the fire, she strove to leap into the fire also, +from the place where she sat between her two brothers. But +Bendigeid Vran grasped her with one hand, and his shield with the +other. Then they all hurried about the house, and never was +there made so great a tumult by any host in one house as was made +by them, as each man armed himself. Then said +Morddwydtyllyon, “The gadflies of Morddwydtyllyon’s +Cow!” And while they all sought their arms, Bendigeid +Vran supported Branwen between his shield and his shoulder. +</p> + +<p> +Then the Irish kindled a fire under the cauldron of +renovation, and they cast the dead bodies into the cauldron until +it was full, and the next day they came forth fighting-men as +good as before, except that they were not able to speak. +Then when Evnissyen saw the dead bodies of the men of the Island +of the Mighty nowhere resuscitated, he said in his heart, +“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. +</p> + +<p> +In consequence of that the men of the Island of the Mighty +obtained such success as they had; but they were not victorious, +for only seven men of them all escaped, and Bendigeid Vran +himself was wounded in the foot with a poisoned dart. Now +the seven men that escaped were Pryderi, Manawyddan, Gluneu Eil +Taran, Taliesin, Ynawc, Grudyen the son of Muryel, and Heilyn the +son of Gwynn Hen. +</p> + +<p> +And Bendigeid Vran commanded them that they should cut off his +head. “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.” +</p> + +<p> +So they cut off his head, and these seven went forward +therewith. And Branwen was the eighth with them, and they +came to land at Aber Alaw, in Talebolyon, and they sat down to +rest. And Branwen looked towards Ireland and towards the +Island of the Mighty, to see if she could descry them. +“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. +</p> + +<p> +Then the seven men journeyed forward towards Harlech, bearing +the head with them; and as they went, behold there met them a +multitude of men and of women. “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. +</p> + +<p> +Then they went on to Harlech, and there stopped to rest, and +they provided meat and liquor, and sat down to eat and to +drink. And there came three birds, and began singing unto +them a certain song, and all the songs they had ever heard were +unpleasant compared thereto; and the birds seemed to them to be +at a great distance from them over the sea, yet they appeared as +distinct as if they were close by, and at this repast they +continued seven years. +</p> + +<p> +And at the close of the seventh year they went forth to Gwales +in Penvro. And there they found a fair and regal spot +overlooking the ocean; and a spacious hall was therein. And +they went into the hall, and two of its doors were open, but the +third door was closed, that which looked towards Cornwall. +“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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +And thus is the story related of those who journeyed over from +Ireland. +</p> + +<p> +In Ireland none were left alive, except five pregnant women in +a cave in the Irish wilderness; and to these five women in the +same night were born five sons, whom they nursed until they +became grown-up youths. And they thought about wives, and +they at the same time desired to possess them, and each took a +wife of the mothers of their companions, and they governed the +country and peopled it. +</p> + +<p> +And these five divided it amongst them, and because of this +partition are the five divisions of Ireland still so +termed. And they examined the land where the battles had +taken place, and they found gold and silver until they became +wealthy. +</p> + +<p> +And thus ends this portion of the Mabinogi, concerning the +blow given to Branwen, which was the third unhappy blow of this +island; and concerning the entertainment of Bran, when the hosts +of sevenscore countries and ten went over to Ireland to revenge +the blow given to Branwen; and concerning the seven years’ +banquet in Harlech, and the singing of the birds of Rhiannon, and +the sojourning of the head for the space of fourscore years. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap09"></a>MANAWYDDAN THE SON OF LLYR<br/> +<small>HERE IS THE THIRD PORTION OF THE MABINOGI</small></h2> + +<p> +When the seven men of whom we spoke above had buried the head of Bendigeid +Vran, in the White Mount in London, with its face towards France; Manawyddan +gazed upon the town of London, and upon his companions, and heaved a great +sigh; and much grief and heaviness came upon him. “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.” +</p> + +<p> +They set forth, and, however long the journey, they came at +length to Dyved, and a feast was prepared for them against their +coming to Narberth, which Rhiannon and Kicva had provided. +Then began Manawyddan and Rhiannon to sit and to talk together, +and from their discourse his mind and his thoughts became warmed +towards her, and he thought in his heart he had never beheld any +lady more fulfilled of grace and beauty than she. +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +And in the midst of all this he went to Caswallawn at Oxford, +and tendered his homage; and honourable was his reception there, +and highly was he praised for offering his homage. +</p> + +<p> +And after his return, Pryderi and Manawyddan feasted and took +their ease and pleasure. And they began a feast at +Narberth, for it was the chief palace; and there originated all +honour. And when they had ended the first meal that night, +while those who served them ate, they arose and went forth, and +proceeded all four to the Gorsedd of Narberth, and their retinue +with them. And as they sat thus, behold, a peal of thunder, +and with the violence of the thunderstorm, lo there came a fall +of mist, so thick that not one of them could see the other. +And after the mist it became light all around. And when +they looked towards the place where they were wont to see cattle, +and herds, and dwellings, they saw nothing now, neither house, +nor beast, nor smoke, nor fire, nor man, nor dwelling; but the +houses of the Court empty, and desert, and uninhabited, without +either man or beast within them. And truly all their +companions were lost to them, without their knowing aught of what +had befallen them, save those four only. +</p> + +<p> +“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. +</p> + +<p> +“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. +</p> + +<p> +And as long as that workmanship could be had of Manawyddan, +neither saddle nor housing was bought of a saddler throughout all +Hereford; till at length every one of the saddlers perceived that +they were losing much of their gain, and that no man bought of +them, but him who could not get what he sought from +Manawyddan. Then they assembled together, and agreed to +slay him and his companions. +</p> + +<p> +Now they received warning of this, and took counsel whether +they should leave the city. “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. +</p> + +<p> +“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. +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +So he began by buying the best cordwal that could be had in +the town, and none other would he buy except the leather for the +soles; and he associated himself with the best goldsmith in the +town, and caused him to make clasps for the shoes, and to gild +the clasps, and he marked how it was done until he learnt the +method. And therefore was he called one of the three makers +of Gold Shoes; and, when they could be had from him, not a shoe +nor hose was bought of any of the cordwainers in the town. +But when the cordwainers perceived that their gains were failing +(for as Manawyddan shaped the work, so Pryderi stitched it), they +came together and took counsel, and agreed that they would slay +them. +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +So they journeyed along until they came to Dyved, and they +went forward to Narberth. And there they kindled fire and +supported themselves by hunting. And thus they spent a +month. And they gathered their dogs around them, and +tarried there one year. +</p> + +<p> +And one morning Pryderi and Manawyddan rose up to hunt, and +they ranged their dogs and went forth from the palace. And +some of the dogs ran before them and came to a small bush which +was near at hand; but as soon as they were come to the bush, they +hastily drew back and returned to the men, their hair bristling +up greatly. “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. +</p> + +<p> +“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. +</p> + +<p> +When he came within the castle, neither man nor beast, nor +boar nor dogs, nor house nor dwelling saw he within it. But +in the centre of the castle floor he beheld a fountain with +marble work around it, and on the margin of the fountain a golden +bowl upon a marble slab, and chains hanging from the air, to +which he saw no end. +</p> + +<p> +And he was greatly pleased with the beauty of the gold, and +with the rich workmanship of the bowl, and he went up to the bowl +and laid hold of it. And when he had taken hold of it his +hands stuck to the bowl, and his feet to the slab on which the +howl was placed, and all his joyousness forsook him, so that he +could not utter a word. And thus he stood. +</p> + +<p> +And Manawyddan waited for him till near the close of the +day. And late in the evening, being certain that he should +have no tidings of Pryderi or of the dogs, he went back to the +palace. And as he entered, Rhiannon looked at him. +“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. +</p> + +<p> +When Kicva the daughter of Gwynn Gloyw saw that there was no +one in the palace but herself and Manawyddan, she sorrowed so +that she cared not whether she lived or died. And +Manawyddan saw this. “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. +</p> + +<p> +“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. +</p> + +<p> +“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. +</p> + +<p> +So he began his craft, and he made all his work of the finest +leather he could get in the town, and, as he had done at the +other place, he caused gilded clasps to be made for the +shoes. And except himself all the cordwainers in the town +were idle, and without work. For as long as they could be +had from him, neither shoes nor hose were bought elsewhere. +And thus they tarried there a year, until the cordwainers became +envious, and took counsel concerning him. And he had +warning thereof, and it was told him how the cordwainers had +agreed together to slay him. +</p> + +<p> +“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. +</p> + +<p> +Now Manawyddan, when he set out to return to Dyved, took with +him a burden of wheat. And he proceeded towards Narberth, +and there he dwelt. And never was he better pleased than +when he saw Narberth again, and the lands where he had been wont +to hunt with Pryderi and with Rhiannon. And he accustomed +himself to fish, and to hunt the deer in their covert. And +then he began to prepare some ground, and he sowed a croft, and a +second, and a third. And no wheat in the world ever sprung +up better. And the three crofts prospered with perfect +growth, and no man ever saw fairer wheat than it. +</p> + +<p> +And thus passed the seasons of the year until the harvest +came. And he went to look at one of his crofts, and behold +it was ripe. “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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +Then he went to look at the third croft, and when he came +there, finer wheat had there never been seen, and this also was +ripe. “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. +</p> + +<p> +And he went to watch the croft. And at midnight, lo, +there arose the loudest tumult in the world. And he looked, +and behold the mightiest host of mice in the world, which could +neither be numbered nor measured. And he knew not what it +was until the mice had made their way into the croft, and each of +them climbing up the straw and bending it down with its weight, +had cut off one of the ears of wheat, and had carried it away, +leaving there the stalk, and he saw not a single stalk there that +had not a mouse to it. And they all took their way, +carrying the ears with them. +</p> + +<p> +In wrath and anger did he rush upon the mice, but he could no +more come up with them than if they had been gnats, or birds in +the air, except one only, which though it was but sluggish, went +so fast that a man on foot could scarce overtake it. And +after this one he went, and he caught it and put it in his glove, +and tied up the opening of the glove with a string, and kept it +with him, and returned to the palace. Then he came to the +hall where Kicva was, and he lighted a fire, and hung the glove +by the string upon a peg. “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. +</p> + +<p> +And then he went to the Gorsedd of Narberth, taking the mouse +with him. And he set up two forks on the highest part of +the Gorsedd. And while he was doing this, behold he saw a +scholar coming towards him, in old and poor and tattered +garments. And it was now seven years since he had seen in +that place either man or beast, except those four persons who had +remained together until two of them were lost. +</p> + +<p> +“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. +</p> + +<p> +And as he was placing the crossbeam upon the two forks, behold +a priest came towards him upon a horse covered with +trappings. “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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +Then Llwyd struck her with a magic wand, and she was changed +back into a young woman, the fairest ever seen. +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +And such had been their bondage. +</p> + +<p> +And by reason of this bondage is this story called the +Mabinogi of Mynnweir and Mynord. +</p> + +<p> +And thus ends this portion of the Mabinogi. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap10"></a>MATH THE SON OF MATHONWY<br/> +<small>THIS IS THE FOURTH PORTION OF THE MABINOGI</small></h2> + +<p> +Math the son of Mathonwy was lord over Gwynedd, and Pryderi the son of Pwyll +was lord over the one-and-twenty Cantrevs of the South; and these were the +seven Cantrevs of Dyved, and the seven Cantrevs of Morganwc, the four Cantrevs +of Ceredigiawn, and the three of Ystrad Tywi. +</p> + +<p> +At that time, Math the son of Mathonwy could not exist unless +his feet were in the lap of a maiden, except only when he was +prevented by the tumult of war. Now the maiden who was with +him was Goewin, the daughter of Pebin of Dôl Pebin, in +Arvon, and she was the fairest maiden of her time who was known +there. +</p> + +<p> +And Math dwelt always at Caer Dathyl, in Arvon, and was not +able to go the circuit of the land, but Gilvaethwy the son of +Don, and Eneyd the son of Don, his nephews, the sons of his +sisters, with his household, went the circuit of the land in his +stead. +</p> + +<p> +Now the maiden was with Math continually, and Gilvaethwy the +son of Don set his affections upon her, and loved her so that he +knew not what he should do because of her, and therefrom behold +his hue, and his aspect, and his spirits changed for love of her, +so that it was not easy to know him. +</p> + +<p> +One day his brother Gwydion gazed steadfastly upon him. +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +So he and Gilvaethwy went, and ten other men with them. +And they came into Ceredigiawn, to the place that is now called +Rhuddlan Teivi, where the palace of Pryderi was. In the +guise of bards they came in, and they were received joyfully, and +Gwydion was placed beside Pryderi that night. +</p> + +<p> +“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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +Then he betook himself to his arts, and began to work a +charm. And he caused twelve chargers to appear, and twelve +black greyhounds, each of them white-breasted, and having upon +them twelve collars and twelve leashes, such as no one that saw +them could know to be other than gold. And upon the horses +twelve saddles, and every part which should have been of iron was +entirely of gold, and the bridles were of the same +workmanship. And with the horses and the dogs he came to +Pryderi. +</p> + +<p> +“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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +And that night they journeyed as far as the upper part of +Ceredigiawn, to the place which, from that cause, is called +Mochdrev still. And the next day they took their course +through Melenydd, and came that night to the town which is +likewise for that reason called Mochdrev between Keri and +Arwystli. And thence they journeyed forward; and that night +they came as far as that Commot in Powys, which also upon account +thereof is called Mochnant, and there tarried they that +night. And they journeyed thence to the Cantrev of Rhos, +and the place where they were that night is still called +Mochdrev. +</p> + +<p> +“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. +</p> + +<p> +Thereupon, lo, they heard the trumpets and the host in the +land, and they arrayed themselves and set forward and came to +Penardd in Arvon. +</p> + +<p> +And at night Gwydion the son of Don, and Gilvaethwy his +brother, returned to Caer Dathyl; and Gilvaethwy took Math the +son of Mathonwy’s couch. And while he turned out the +other damsels from the room discourteously, he made Goewin +unwillingly remain. +</p> + +<p> +And when they saw the day on the morrow, they went back unto +the place where Math the son of Mathonwy was with his host; and +when they came there, the warriors were taking counsel in what +district they should await the coming of Pryderi, and the men of +the South. So they went in to the council. And it was +resolved to wait in the strongholds of Gwynedd, in Arvon. +So within the two Maenors they took their stand, Maenor Penardd +and Maenor Coed Alun. And there Pryderi attacked them, and +there the combat took place. And great was the slaughter on +both sides; but the men of the South were forced to flee. +And they fled unto the place which is still called +Nantcall. And thither did they follow them, and they made a +vast slaughter of them there, so that they fled again as far as +the place called Dol Pen Maen, and there they halted and sought +to make peace. +</p> + +<p> +And that he might have peace, Pryderi gave hostages, Gwrgi +Gwastra gave he and three-and-twenty others, sons of +nobles. And after this they journeyed in peace even unto +Traeth Mawr; but as they went on together towards Melenryd, the +men on foot could not be restrained from shooting. Pryderi +dispatched unto Math an embassy to pray him to forbid his people, +and to leave it between him and Gwydion the son of Don, for that +he had caused all this. And the messengers came to +Math. “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.” +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +Then these two came forth and armed themselves, and they +fought. And by force of strength, and fierceness, and by +the magic and charms of Gwydion, Pryderi was slain. And at +Maen Tyriawc, above Melenryd, was he buried, and there is his +grave. +</p> + +<p> +And the men of the South set forth in sorrow towards their own +land; nor is it a marvel that they should grieve, seeing that +they had lost their lord, and many of their best warriors, and +for the most part their horses and their arms. +</p> + +<p> +The men of Gwynedd went back joyful and in triumph. +“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. +</p> + +<p> +Math himself went forward to Caer Dathyl. Gilvaethwy the +son of Don, and they of the household that were with him, went to +make the circuit of Gwynedd as they were wont, without coming to +the Court. Math went into his chamber, and caused a place +to be prepared for him whereon to recline, so that he might put +his feet in the maiden’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.” +</p> + +<p> +And Gwydion and Gilvaethwy came not near the Court, but stayed +in the confines of the land until it was forbidden to give them +meat and drink. At first they came not near unto Math, but +at the last they came. “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.” +</p> + +<p> +Then he took his magic wand, and struck Gilvaethwy, so that he +became a deer, and he seized upon the other hastily lest he +should escape from him. And he struck him with the same +magic wand, and he became a deer also. “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.” +</p> + +<p> +At the end of a year from that day, lo there was a loud noise +under the chamber wall, and the barking of the dogs of the palace +together with the noise. “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.” +</p> + +<p> +At the end of the year the barking of dogs was heard under the +wall of the chamber. And the Court assembled, and thereupon +he arose and went forth, and when he came forth he beheld three +beasts. Now these were the beasts that he saw; two wild +hogs of the woods, and a well-grown young one with them. +And he was very large for his age. “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.” +</p> + +<p> +And at the same day at the end of the year, he heard a clamour +and a barking of dogs under the wall of the chamber. And he +rose and went forth. And when he came, behold, he saw two +wolves, and a strong cub with them. “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:— +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> +The three sons of Gilvaethwy the false,<br/> +The three faithful combatants,<br/> +Bleiddwn, Hydwn, and Hychdwn the Tall.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +So they had the boy baptized, and as they baptized him he +plunged into the sea. And immediately when he was in the +sea, he took its nature, and swam as well as the best fish that +was therein. And for that reason was he called Dylan, the +son of the Wave. Beneath him no wave ever broke. And +the blow whereby he came to his death, was struck by his uncle +Govannon. The third fatal blow was it called. +</p> + +<p> +As Gwydion lay one morning on his bed awake, he heard a cry in +the chest at his feet; and though it was not loud, it was such +that he could hear it. Then he arose in haste, and opened +the chest: and when he opened it, he beheld an infant boy +stretching out his arms from the folds of the scarf, and casting +it aside. And he took up the boy in his arms, and carried +him to a place where he knew there was a woman that could nurse +him. And he agreed with the woman that she should take +charge of the boy. And that year he was nursed. +</p> + +<p> +And at the end of the year he seemed by his size as though he +were two years old. And the second year he was a big child, +and able to go to the Court by himself. And when he came to +the Court, Gwydion noticed him, and the boy became familiar with +him, and loved him better than any one else. Then was the +boy reared at the Court until he was four years old, when he was +as big as though he had been eight. +</p> + +<p> +And one day Gwydion walked forth, and the boy followed him, +and he went to the Castle of Arianrod, having the boy with him; +and when he came into the Court, Arianrod arose to meet him, and +greeted him and bade him welcome. “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. +</p> + +<p> +And the next day he arose and took the boy with him, and went +to walk on the seashore between that place and Aber Menei. +And there he saw some sedges and seaweed, and he turned them into +a boat. And out of dry sticks and sedges he made some +Cordovan leather, and a great deal thereof, and he coloured it in +such a manner that no one ever saw leather more beautiful than +it. Then he made a sail to the boat, and he and the boy +went in it to the port of the castle of Arianrod. And he +began forming shoes and stitching them, until he was observed +from the castle. And when he knew that they of the castle +were observing him, he disguised his aspect, and put another +semblance upon himself, and upon the boy, so that they might not +be known. “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.” +</p> + +<p> +So they came unto them. And when they came he was +colouring some Cordovan leather, and gilding it. And the +messengers came and told her this. “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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +Thereupon behold a wren stood upon the deck of the boat, and +the boy shot at it, and hit it in the leg between the sinew and +the bone. Then she smiled. “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.” +</p> + +<p> +Then the work disappeared in seaweed and sedges, and he went +on with it no further. And for that reason was he called +the third Gold-shoemaker. “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.” +</p> + +<p> +Then they went towards Dinas Dinllev, and there he brought up +Llew Llaw Gyffes, until he could manage any horse, and he was +perfect in features, and strength, and stature. And then +Gwydion saw that he languished through the want of horses and +arms. And he called him unto him. “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. +</p> + +<p> +Next morning, at the dawn of day, they arose. And they +took way along the sea coast, up towards Bryn Aryen. And at +the top of Cevn Clydno they equipped themselves with horses, and +went towards the Castle of Arianrod. And they changed their +form, and pricked towards the gate in the semblance of two +youths, but the aspect of Gwydion was more staid than that of the +other. “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. +</p> + +<p> +With great joy were they greeted. And the hall was +arranged, and they went to meat. When meat was ended, +Arianrod discoursed with Gwydion of tales and stories. Now +Gwydion was an excellent teller of tales. And when it was +time to leave off feasting, a chamber was prepared for them, and +they went to rest. +</p> + +<p> +In the early twilight Gwydion arose, and he called unto him +his magic and his power. And by the time that the day +dawned, there resounded through the land uproar, and trumpets and +shouts. When it was now day, they heard a knocking at the +door of the chamber, and therewith Arianrod asking that it might +be opened. Up rose the youth and opened unto her, and she +entered and a maiden with her. “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.” +</p> + +<p> +And thereupon went she forth for the arms, and behold she +returned, and two maidens, and suits of armour for two men, with +her. “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.” +</p> + +<p> +They went thereupon unto Math the son of Mathonwy, and +complained unto him most bitterly of Arianrod. Gwydion +showed him also how he had procured arms for the youth. +“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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +One day he went forth to Caer Dathyl, to visit Math the son of +Mathonwy. And on the day that he set out for Caer Dathyl, +Blodeuwedd walked in the Court. And she heard the sound of +a horn. And after the sound of the horn, behold a tired +stag went by, with dogs and huntsmen following it. And +after the dogs and the huntsmen there came a crowd of men on +foot. “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. +</p> + +<p> +Gronw Pebyr pursued the stag, and by the river Cynvael he +overtook the stag and killed it. And what with flaying the +stag and baiting his dogs, he was there until the night began to +close in upon him. And as the day departed and the night +drew near, he came to the gate of the Court. +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +Then went messengers to meet him and bid him in. And he +accepted her bidding gladly, and came to the Court, and +Blodeuwedd went to meet him, and greeted him, and bade him +welcome. “Lady,” said he, “Heaven repay +thee thy kindness.” +</p> + +<p> +When they had disaccoutred themselves, they went to sit +down. And Blodeuwedd looked upon him, and from the moment +that she looked on him she became filled with his love. And +he gazed on her, and the same thought came unto him as unto her, +so that he could not conceal from her that he loved her, but he +declared unto her that he did so. Thereupon she was very +joyful. And all their discourse that night was concerning +the affection and love which they felt one for the other, and +which in no longer space than one evening had arisen. And +that evening passed they in each other’s company. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +That night Llew Llaw Gyffes returned to his home. And +the day they spent in discourse, and minstrelsy, and +feasting. And at night they went to rest, and he spoke to +Blodeuwedd once, and he spoke to her a second time. But, +for all this, he could not get from her one word. +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +No sooner had she held this discourse than she sent to Gronw +Pebyr. Gronw toiled at making the spear, and that day +twelvemonth it was ready. And that very day he caused her +to be informed thereof. +</p> + +<p> +“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. +</p> + +<p> +Then she sent unto Gronw, and bade him be in ambush on the +hill which is now called Bryn Kyvergyr, on the bank of the river +Cynvael. She caused also to be collected all the goats that +were in the Cantrev, and had them brought to the other side of +the river, opposite Bryn Kyvergyr. +</p> + +<p> +And the next day she spoke thus. “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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +Thereupon Gronw rose up from the bill which is called Bryn +Kyvergyr, and he rested on one knee, and flung the poisoned dart +and struck him on the side, so that the shaft started out, but +the head of the dart remained in. Then he flew up in the +form of an eagle and gave a fearful scream. And thenceforth +was he no more seen. +</p> + +<p> +As soon as he departed Gronw and Blodeuwedd went together unto +the palace that night. And the next day Gronw arose and +took possession of Ardudwy. And after he had overcome the +land, he ruled over it, so that Ardudwy and Penllyn were both +under his sway. +</p> + +<p> +Then these tidings reached Math the son of Mathonwy. And +heaviness and grief came upon Math, and much more upon Gwydion +than upon him. “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. +</p> + +<p> +That night they went to rest; and as soon as the swineherd saw +the light of day, he awoke Gwydion. And Gwydion arose and +dressed himself, and went with the swineherd, and stood beside +the sty. Then the swineherd opened the sty. And as +soon as he opened it, behold she leaped forth, and set off with +great speed. And Gwydion followed her, and she went against +the course of a river, and made for a brook, which is now called +Nant y Llew. And there she halted and began feeding. +And Gwydion came under the tree, and looked what it might be that +the sow was feeding on. And he saw that she was eating +putrid flesh and vermin. Then looked he up to the top of +the tree, and as he looked he beheld on the top of the tree an +eagle, and when the eagle shook itself, there fell vermin and +putrid flesh from off it, and these the sow devoured. And +it seemed to him that the eagle was Llew. And he sang an +Englyn:— +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> +“Oak that grows between the two banks;<br/> +Darkened is the sky and hill!<br/> +Shall I not tell him by his wounds,<br/> +That this is Llew?” +</p> + +<p> +Upon this the eagle came down until he reached the centre of +the tree. And Gwydion sang another Englyn:— +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> +“Oak that grows in upland ground,<br/> +Is it not wetted by the rain? Has it not been drenched<br/> +By nine score tempests?<br/> +It bears in its branches Llew Llaw Gyffes!” +</p> + +<p> +Then the eagle came down until he was on the lowest branch of +the tree, and thereupon this Englyn did Gwydion sing:— +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> +“Oak that grows beneath the steep;<br/> +Stately and majestic is its aspect!<br/> +Shall I not speak it?<br/> +That Llew will come to my lap?” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +Then he went unto Caer Dathyl, and there were brought unto him +good physicians that were in Gwynedd, and before the end of the +year he was quite healed. +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +Then they called together the whole of Gwynedd, and set forth +to Ardudwy. And Gwydion went on before and proceeded to Mur +y Castell. And when Blodeuwedd heard that he was coming, +she took her maidens with her, and fled to the mountain. +And they passed through the river Cynvael, and went towards a +court that there was upon the mountain, and through fear they +could not proceed except with their faces looking backwards, so +that unawares they fell into the lake. And they were all +drowned except Blodeuwedd herself, and her Gwydion +overtook. And he said unto her, “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. +</p> + +<p> +Then Gronw Pebyr withdrew unto Penllyn, and he dispatched +thence an embassy. And the messengers he sent asked Llew +Llaw Gyffes if he would take land, or domain, or gold, or silver, +for the injury he had received. “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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +Then they two went forth to the banks of the river Cynvael, +and Gronw stood in the place where Llew Llaw Gyffes was when he +struck him, and Llew in the place where Gronw was. Then +said Gronw Pebyr unto Llew, “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. +</p> + +<p> +Then Llew flung the dart at him, and it pierced the slab and +went through Gronw likewise, so that it pierced through his +back. And thus was Gronw Pebyr slain. And there is +still the slab on the bank of the river Cynvael, in Ardudwy, +having the hole through it. And therefore is it even now +called Llech Gronw. +</p> + +<p> +A second time did Llew Llaw Gyffes take possession of the +land, and prosperously did he govern it. And, as the story +relates, he was lord after this over Gwynedd. And thus ends +this portion of the Mabinogi. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap11"></a>THE DREAM OF MAXEN WLEDIG</h2> + +<p> +Maxen Wledig was emperor of Rome, and he was a comelier man, and a better and a +wiser than any emperor that had been before him. And one day he held a council +of kings, and he said to his friends, “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. +</p> + +<p> +And the sun was high in the sky over their heads and the heat +was great. And sleep came upon Maxen Wledig. And his +attendants stood and set up their shields around him upon the +shafts of their spears to protect him from the sun, and they +placed a gold enamelled shield under his head; and so Maxen +slept. +</p> + +<p> +And he saw a dream. And this is the dream that he +saw. He was journeying along the valley of the river +towards its source; and he came to the highest mountain in the +world. And he thought that the mountain was as high as the +sky; and when he came over the mountain, it seemed to him that he +went through the fairest and most level regions that man ever yet +beheld, on the other side of the mountain. And he saw large +and mighty rivers descending from the mountain to the sea, and +towards the mouths of the rivers he proceeded. And as he +journeyed thus, he came to the mouth of the largest river ever +seen. And he beheld a great city at the entrance of the +river, and a vast castle in the city, and he saw many high towers +of various colours in the castle. And he saw a fleet at the +mouth of the river, the largest ever seen. And he saw one +ship among the fleet; larger was it by far, and fairer than all +the others. Of such part of the ship as he could see above +the water, one plank was gilded and the other silvered +over. He saw a bridge of the bone of a whale from the ship +to the land, and he thought that he went along the bridge, and +came into the ship. And a sail was hoisted on the ship, and +along the sea and the ocean was it borne. Then it seemed +that he came to the fairest island in the whole world, and he +traversed the island from sea to sea, even to the furthest shore +of the island. Valleys he saw, and steeps, and rocks of +wondrous height, and rugged precipices. Never yet saw he +the like. And thence he beheld an island in the sea, facing +this rugged land. And between him and this island was a +country of which the plain was as large as the sea, the mountain +as vast as the wood. And from the mountain he saw a river +that flowed through the land and fell into the sea. And at +the mouth of the river he beheld a castle, the fairest that man +ever saw, and the gate of the castle was open, and he went into +the castle. And in the castle he saw a fair hall, of which +the roof seemed to be all gold, the walls of the hall seemed to +be entirely of glittering precious gems, the doors all seemed to +be of gold. Golden seats he saw in the hall, and silver +tables. And on a seat opposite to him he beheld two +auburn-haired youths playing at chess. He saw a silver +board for the chess, and golden pieces thereon. The +garments of the youths were of jet-black satin, and chaplets of +ruddy gold bound their hair, whereon were sparkling jewels of +great price, rubies, and gems, alternately with imperial +stones. Buskins of new Cordovan leather on their feet, +fastened by slides of red gold. +</p> + +<p> +And beside a pillar in the hall he saw a hoary-headed man, in +a chair of ivory, with the figures of two eagles of ruddy gold +thereon. Bracelets of gold were upon his arms, and many +rings were on his hands, and a golden torque about his neck; and +his hair was bound with a golden diadem. He was of powerful +aspect. A chessboard of gold was before him, and a rod of +gold, and a steel file in his hand. And he was carving out +chessmen. +</p> + +<p> +And he saw a maiden sitting before him in a chair of ruddy +gold. Not more easy than to gaze upon the sun when +brightest, was it to look upon her by reason of her beauty. +A vest of white silk was upon the maiden, with clasps of red gold +at the breast; and a surcoat of gold tissue upon her, and a +frontlet of red gold upon her head, and rubies and gems were in +the frontlet, alternating with pearls and imperial stones. +And a girdle of ruddy gold was around her. She was the +fairest sight that man ever beheld. +</p> + +<p> +The maiden arose from her chair before him, and he threw his +arms about the neck of the maiden, and they two sat down together +in the chair of gold: and the chair was not less roomy for them +both, than for the maiden alone. And as he had his arms +about the maiden’s neck, and his cheek by her cheek, +behold, through the chafing of the dogs at their leashing, and +the clashing of the shields as they struck against each other, +and the beating together of the shafts of the spears, and the +neighing of the horses and their prancing, the emperor awoke. +</p> + +<p> +And when he awoke, nor spirit nor existence was left him, +because of the maiden whom he had seen in his sleep, for the love +of the maiden pervaded his whole frame. Then his household +spake unto him. “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. +</p> + +<p> +And thus he was during the space of a week. When they of +the household went to drink wine and mead out of golden vessels, +he went not with any of them. When they went to listen to +songs and tales, he went not with them there; neither could he be +persuaded to do anything but sleep. And as often as he +slept, he beheld in his dreams the maiden he loved best; but +except when he slept he saw nothing of her, for he knew not where +in the world she was. +</p> + +<p> +One day the page of the chamber spake unto him; now, although +he was page of the chamber, he was king of the Romans. +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +So the messengers journeyed for the space of a year, wandering +about the world, and seeking tidings concerning his dream. +But when they came back at the end of the year, they knew not one +word more than they did the day they set forth. And then +was the emperor exceeding sorrowful, for he thought that he +should never have tidings of her whom best he loved. +</p> + +<p> +Then spoke the king of the Romans unto the emperor. +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +“Behold,” said they, “the land which our +master saw.” +</p> + +<p> +And they went along the mouths of the rivers, until they came +to the mighty river which they saw flowing to the sea, and the +vast city, and the many-coloured high towers in the castle. +They saw the largest fleet in the world, in the harbour of the +river, and one ship that was larger than any of the others. +“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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +And by day and night the messengers hied them back. And +when their horses failed, they bought other fresh ones. And +when they came to Rome, they saluted the emperor, and asked their +boon, which was given to them according as they named it. +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +And immediately the emperor set forth with his army. And +these men were his guides. Towards the Island of Britain +they went over the sea and the deep. And he conquered the +Island from Beli the son of Manogan, and his sons, and drove them +to the sea, and went forward even unto Arvon. And the +emperor knew the land when he saw it. And when he beheld +the castle of Aber Sain, “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. +</p> + +<p> +And the next day in the morning, the damsel asked her maiden +portion. And he told her to name what she would. And +she asked to have the Island of Britain for her father, from the +Channel to the Irish Sea, together with the three adjacent +Islands, to hold under the empress of Rome; and to have three +chief castles made for her, in whatever places she might choose +in the Island of Britain. And she chose to have the highest +castle made at Arvon. And they brought thither earth from +Rome that it might be more healthful for the emperor to sleep, +and sit, and walk upon. After that the two other castles +were made for her, which were Caerlleon and Caermarthen. +</p> + +<p> +And one day the emperor went to hunt at Caermarthen, and he +came so far as the top of Brevi Vawr, and there the emperor +pitched his tent. And that encamping place is called Cadeir +Maxen, even to this day. And because that he built the +castle with a myriad of men, he called it Caervyrddin. Then +Helen bethought her to make high roads from one castle to another +throughout the Island of Britain. And the roads were +made. And for this cause are they called the roads of Helen +Luyddawc, that she was sprung from a native of this island, and +the men of the Island of Britain would not have made these great +roads for any save for her. +</p> + +<p> +Seven years did the emperor tarry in this Island. Now, +at that time, the men of Rome had a custom, that whatsoever +emperor should remain in other lands more than seven years should +remain to his own overthrow, and should never return to Rome +again. +</p> + +<p> +So they made a new emperor. And this one wrote a letter +of threat to Maxen. There was nought in the letter but only +this. “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.” +</p> + +<p> +And thereupon Maxen set forth towards Rome with his army, and +vanquished France and Bugundy, and every land on the way, and sat +down before the city of Rome. +</p> + +<p> +A year was the emperor before the city, and he was no nearer +taking it than the first day. And after him there came the +brothers of Helen Luyddawc from the Island of Britain, and a +small host with them, and better warriors were in that small host +than twice as many Romans. And the emperor was told that a +host was seen, halting close to his army and encamping, and no +man ever saw a fairer or better appointed host for its size, nor +more handsome standards. +</p> + +<p> +And Helen went to see the hosts, and she knew the standards of +her brothers. Then came Kynan the son of Eudav, and Adeon +the son of Eudav, to meet the emperor. And the emperor was +glad because of them, and embraced them. +</p> + +<p> +Then they looked at the Romans as they attacked the +city. Said Kynan to his brother, “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. +</p> + +<p> +The new emperor had no time to arm himself when they fell upon +him, and slew him, and many others with him. And three +nights and three days were they subduing the men that were in the +city and taking the castle. And others of them kept the +city, lest any of the host of Maxen should come therein, until +they had subjected all to their will. +</p> + +<p> +Then spake Maxen to Helen Luyddawc. “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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +So they set forth and conquered lands, and castles, and +cities. And they slew all the men, but the women they kept +alive. And thus they continued until the young men that had +come with them were grown grey-headed, from the length of time +they were upon this conquest. +</p> + +<p> +Then spoke Kynan unto Adeon his brother, “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. +</p> + +<p> +And they took counsel and cut out the tongues of the women, +lest they should corrupt their speech. And because of the +silence of the women from their own speech, the men of Armorica +are called Britons. From that time there came frequently, +and still comes, that language from the Island of Britain. +</p> + +<p> +And this dream is called the Dream of Maxen Wledig, emperor of +Rome. And here it ends. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap12"></a>HERE IS THE STORY OF LLUDD AND LLEVELYS</h2> + +<p> +Beli the Great, the son of Manogan, had three sons, Lludd, and Caswallawn, and +Nynyaw; and according to the story he had a fourth son called Llevelys. And +after the death of Beli, the kingdom of the Island of Britain fell into the +hands of Lludd his eldest son; and Lludd ruled prosperously, and rebuilt the +walls of London, and encompassed it about with numberless towers. And after +that he bade the citizens build houses therein, such as no houses in the +kingdoms could equal. And moreover he was a mighty warrior, and generous and +liberal in giving meat and drink to all that sought them. And though he had +many castles and cities this one loved he more than any. And he dwelt therein +most part of the year, and therefore was it called Caer Lludd, and at last Caer +London. And after the stranger-race came there, it was called London, or +Lwndrys. +</p> + +<p> +Lludd loved Llevelys best of all his brothers, because he was +a wise and discreet man. Having heard that the king of +France had died, leaving no heir except a daughter, and that he +had left all his possessions in her hands, he came to Lludd his +brother, to beseech his counsel and aid. And that not so +much for his own welfare, as to seek to add to the glory and +honour and dignity of his kindred, if he might go to France to +woo the maiden for his wife. And forthwith his brother +conferred with him, and this counsel was pleasing unto him. +</p> + +<p> +So he prepared ships and filled them with armed knights, and +set forth towards France. And as soon as they had landed, +they sent messengers to show the nobles of France the cause of +the embassy. And by the joint counsel of the nobles of +France and of the princes, the maiden was given to Llevelys, and +the crown of the kingdom with her. And thenceforth he ruled +the land discreetly, and wisely, and happily, as long as his life +lasted. +</p> + +<p> +After a space of time had passed, three plagues fell on the +Island of Britain, such as none in the islands had ever seen the +like of. The first was a certain race that came, and was +called the Coranians; and so great was their knowledge, that +there was no discourse upon the face of the Island, however low +it might be spoken, but what, if the wind met it, it was known to +them. And through this they could not be injured. <a +name="citation4"></a><a href="#footnote4" +class="citation">[4]</a> +</p> + +<p> +The second plague was a shriek which came on every May-eve, +over every hearth in the Island of Britain. And this went +through people’s hearts, and so scared them, that the men +lost their hue and their strength, and the women their children, +and the young men and the maidens lost their senses, and all the +animals and trees and the earth and the waters, were left +barren. +</p> + +<p> +The third plague was, that however much of provisions and food +might be prepared in the king’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. +</p> + +<p> +And thereupon King Lludd felt great sorrow and care, because +that he knew not how he might be freed from these plagues. +And he called to him all the nobles of his kingdom, and asked +counsel of them what they should do against these +afflictions. And by the common counsel of the nobles, Lludd +the son of Beli went to Llevelys his brother, king of France, for +he was a man great of counsel and wisdom, to seek his advice. +</p> + +<p> +And they made ready a fleet, and that in secret and in +silence, lest that race should know the cause of their errand, or +any besides the king and his counsellors. And when they +were made ready, they went into their ships, Lludd and those whom +he chose with him. And they began to cleave the seas +towards France. +</p> + +<p> +And when these tidings came to Llevelys, seeing that he knew +not the cause of his brother’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. +</p> + +<p> +After that Lludd had shown his brother the cause of his +errand, Llevelys said that he himself knew the cause of the +coming to those lands. And they took counsel together to +discourse on the matter otherwise than thus, in order that the +wind might not catch their words, nor the Coranians know what +they might say. Then Llevelys caused a long horn to be made +of brass, and through this horn they discoursed. But +whatsoever words they spoke through this horn, one to the other, +neither of them could hear any other but harsh and hostile +words. And when Llevelys saw this, and that there was a +demon thwarting them and disturbing through this horn, he caused +wine to be put therein to wash it. And through the virtue +of the wine the demon was driven out of the horn. And when +their discourse was unobstructed, Llevelys told his brother that +he would give him some insects whereof he should keep some to +breed, lest by chance the like affliction might come a second +time. And other of these insects he should take and bruise +in water. And he assured him that it would have power to +destroy the race of the Coranians. That is to say, that +when he came home to his kingdom he should call together all the +people both of his own race and of the race of the Coranians for +a conference, as though with the intent of making peace between +them; and that when they were all together, he should take this +charmed water, and cast it over all alike. And he assured +him that the water would poison the race of the Coranians, but +that it would not slay or harm those of his own race. +</p> + +<p> +“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. +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +Then Lludd returned back unto his land. And immediately +he summoned to him the whole of his own race and of the +Coranians. And as Llevelys had taught him, he bruised the +insects in water, the which he cast over them all together, and +forthwith it destroyed the whole tribe of the Coranians, without +hurt to any of the Britons. +</p> + +<p> +And some time after this, Lludd caused the Island to be +measured in its length and in its breadth. And in Oxford he +found the central point, and in that place he caused the earth to +be dug, and in that pit a cauldron to be set, full of the best +mead that could be made, and a covering of satin over the face of +it. And he himself watched that night. And while he +was there, he beheld the dragons fighting. And when they +were weary they fell, and came down upon the top of the satin, +and drew it with them to the bottom of the cauldron. And +when they had drunk the mead they slept. And in their +sleep, Lludd folded the covering around them, and in the securest +place he had in Snowdon, he hid them in a kistvaen. Now +after that this spot was called Dinas Emreis, but before that, +Dinas Ffaraon. And thus the fierce outcry ceased in his +dominions. +</p> + +<p> +And when this was ended, King Lludd caused an exceeding great +banquet to be prepared. And when it was ready, he placed a +vessel of cold water by his side, and he in his own proper person +watched it. And as he abode thus clad with arms, about the +third watch of the night, lo, he heard many surpassing +fascinations and various songs. And drowsiness urged him to +sleep. Upon this, lest he should be hindered from his +purpose and be overcome by sleep, he went often into the +water. And at last, behold, a man of vast size, clad in +strong, heavy armour, came in, bearing a hamper. And, as he +was wont, he put all the food and provisions of meat and drink +into the hamper, and proceeded to go with it forth. And +nothing was ever more wonderful to Lludd, than that the hamper +should hold so much. +</p> + +<p> +And thereupon King Lludd went after him and spoke unto him +thus. “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.” +</p> + +<p> +Then he instantly put down the hamper on the floor, and +awaited him. And a fierce encounter was between them, so +that the glittering fire flew out from their arms. And at +the last Lludd grappled with him, and fate bestowed the victory +on Lludd. And he threw the plague to the earth. And +after he had overcome him by strength and might, he besought his +mercy. “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. +</p> + +<p> +And thus Lludd freed the Island of Britain from the three +plagues. And from thenceforth until the end of his life, in +prosperous peace did Lludd the son of Beli rule the Island of +Britain. And this Tale is called the Story of Lludd and +Llevelys. And thus it ends. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap13"></a>TALIESIN</h2> + +<p> +In times past there lived in Penllyn a man of gentle lineage, named Tegid Voel, +and his dwelling was in the midst of the lake Tegid, and his wife was called +Caridwen. And there was born to him of his wife a son named Morvran ab Tegid, +and also a daughter named Creirwy, the fairest maiden in the world was she; and +they had a brother, the most ill-favoured man in the world, Avagddu. Now +Caridwen his mother thought that he was not likely to be admitted among men of +noble birth, by reason of his ugliness, unless he had some exalted merits or +knowledge. For it was in the beginning of Arthur’s time and of the Round +Table. +</p> + +<p> +So she resolved, according to the arts of the books of the +Fferyllt, to boil a cauldron of Inspiration and Science for her +son, that his reception might be honourable because of his +knowledge of the mysteries of the future state of the world. +</p> + +<p> +Then she began to boil the cauldron, which from the beginning +of its boiling might not cease to boil for a year and a day, +until three blessed drops were obtained of the grace of +Inspiration. +</p> + +<p> +And she put Gwion Bach the son of Gwreang of Llanfair in +Caereinion, in Powys, to stir the cauldron, and a blind man named +Morda to kindle the fire beneath it, and she charged them that +they should not suffer it to cease boiling for the space of a +year and a day. And she herself, according to the books of +the astronomers, and in planetary hours, gathered every day of +all charm-bearing herbs. And one day, towards the end of +the year, as Caridwen was culling plants and making incantations, +it chanced that three drops of the charmed liquor flew out of the +cauldron and fell upon the finger of Gwion Bach. And by +reason of their great heat he put his finger to his mouth, and +the instant he put those marvel-working drops into his mouth, he +foresaw everything that was to come, and perceived that his chief +care must be to guard against the wiles of Caridwen, for vast was +her skill. And in very great fear he fled towards his own +land. And the cauldron burst in two, because all the liquor +within it except the three charm-bearing drops was poisonous, so +that the horses of Gwyddno Garanhir were poisoned by the water of +the stream into which the liquor of the cauldron ran, and the +confluence of that stream was called the Poison of the Horses of +Gwyddno from that time forth. +</p> + +<p> +Thereupon came in Caridwen and saw all the toil of the whole +year lost. And she seized a billet of wood and struck the +blind Morda on the head until one of his eyes fell out upon his +cheek. And he said, “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.” +</p> + +<p> +And she went forth after him, running. And he saw her, +and changed himself into a hare and fled. But she changed +herself into a greyhound and turned him. And he ran towards +a river, and became a fish. And she in the form of an +otter-bitch chased him under the water, until he was fain to turn +himself into a bird of the air. She, as a hawk, followed +him and gave him no rest in the sky. And just as she was +about to stoop upon him, and he was in fear of death, he espied a +heap of winnowed wheat on the floor of a barn, and he dropped +among the wheat, and turned himself into one of the grains. +Then she transformed herself into a high-crested black hen, and +went to the wheat and scratched it with her feet, and found him +out and swallowed him. And, as the story says, she bore him +nine months, and when she was delivered of him, she could not +find it in her heart to kill him, by reason of his beauty. +So she wrapped him in a leathern bag, and cast him into the sea +to the mercy of God, on the twenty-ninth day of April. +</p> + +<p> +And at that time the weir of Gwyddno was on the strand between +Dyvi and Aberystwyth, near to his own castle, and the value of an +hundred pounds was taken in that weir every May eve. And in +those days Gwyddno had an only son named Elphin, the most hapless +of youths, and the most needy. And it grieved his father +sore, for he thought that he was born in an evil hour. And +by the advice of his council, his father had granted him the +drawing of the weir that year, to see if good luck would ever +befall him, and to give him something wherewith to begin the +world. +</p> + +<p> +And the next day when Elphin went to look, there was nothing +in the weir. But as he turned back he perceived the +leathern bag upon a pole of the weir. Then said one of the +weir-ward unto Elphin, “Thou wast never unlucky until +to-night, and now thou hast destroyed the virtues of the weir, +which always yielded the value of an hundred pounds every May +eve, and to-night there is nothing but this leathern skin within +it.” “How now,” said Elphin, “there +may be therein the value of an hundred pounds.” Well, +they took up the leathern bag, and he who opened it saw the +forehead of the boy, and said to Elphin, “Behold a radiant +brow!” <a name="citation6"></a><a href="#footnote6" +class="citation">[6]</a> “Taliesin be he +called,” said Elphin. And he lifted the boy in his +arms, and lamenting his mischance, he placed him sorrowfully +behind him. And he made his horse amble gently, that before +had been trotting, and he carried him as softly as if he had been +sitting in the easiest chair in the world. And presently +the boy made a Consolation and praise to Elphin, and foretold +honour to Elphin; and the Consolation was as you may +see:— +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> +“Fair Elphin, cease to lament!<br/> +Let no one be dissatisfied with his own,<br/> +To despair will bring no advantage.<br/> +No man sees what supports him;<br/> +The prayer of Cynllo will not be in vain;<br/> +God will not violate his promise.<br/> +Never in Gwyddno’s weir<br/> +Was there such good luck as this night.<br/> +Fair Elphin, dry thy cheeks!<br/> +Being too sad will not avail.<br/> +Although thou thinkest thou hast no gain,<br/> +Too much grief will bring thee no good;<br/> +Nor doubt the miracles of the Almighty:<br/> +Although I am but little, I am highly gifted.<br/> +From seas, and from mountains,<br/> +And from the depths of rivers,<br/> +God brings wealth to the fortunate man.<br/> +Elphin of lively qualities,<br/> +Thy resolution is unmanly;<br/> +Thou must not be over sorrowful:<br/> +Better to trust in God than to forbode ill.<br/> +Weak and small as I am,<br/> +On the foaming beach of the ocean,<br/> +In the day of trouble I shall be<br/> +Of more service to thee than three hundred salmon.<br/> +Elphin of notable qualities,<br/> +Be not displeased at thy misfortune;<br/> +Although reclined thus weak in my bag,<br/> +There lies a virtue in my tongue.<br/> +While I continue thy protector<br/> +Thou hast not much to fear;<br/> +Remembering the names of the Trinity,<br/> +None shall be able to harm thee.” +</p> + +<p> +And this was the first poem that Taliesin ever sang, being to +console Elphin in his grief for that the produce of the weir was +lost, and, what was worse, that all the world would consider that +it was through his fault and ill-luck. And then Gwyddno +Garanhir <a name="citation7"></a><a href="#footnote7" +class="citation">[7]</a> asked him what he was, whether man or +spirit. Whereupon he sang this tale, and said:— +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> +“First, I have been formed a comely +person,<br/> +In the court of Caridwen I have done penance;<br/> +Though little I was seen, placidly received,<br/> +I was great on the floor of the place to where I was led;<br/> +I have been a prized defence, the sweet muse the cause,<br/> +And by law without speech I have been liberated<br/> +By a smiling black old hag, when irritated<br/> +Dreadful her claim when pursued:<br/> +I have fled with vigour, I have fled as a frog,<br/> +I have fled in the semblance of a crow, scarcely finding rest;<br/> +I have fled vehemently, I have fled as a chain,<br/> +I have fled as a roe into an entangled thicket;<br/> +I have fled as a wolf cub, I have fled as a wolf in a +wilderness,<br/> +I have fled as a thrush of portending language;<br/> +I have fled as a fox, used to concurrent bounds of quirks;<br/> +I have fled as a martin, which did not avail;<br/> +I have fled as a squirrel, that vainly hides,<br/> +I have fled as a stag’s antler, of ruddy course,<br/> +I have fled as iron in a glowing fire,<br/> +I have fled as a spear-head, of woe to such as has a wish for +it;<br/> +I have fled as a fierce hull bitterly fighting,<br/> +I have fled as a bristly boar seen in a ravine,<br/> +I have fled as a white grain of pure wheat,<br/> +On the skirt of a hempen sheet entangled,<br/> +That seemed of the size of a mare’s foal,<br/> +That is filling like a ship on the waters;<br/> +Into a dark leathern bag I was thrown,<br/> +And on a boundless sea I was sent adrift;<br/> +Which was to me an omen of being tenderly nursed,<br/> +And the Lord God then set me at liberty.” +</p> + +<p> +Then came Elphin to the house or court of Gwyddno his father, +and Taliesin with him. And Gwyddno asked him if he had had +a good haul at the weir, and he told him that he had got that +which was better than fish. “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:— +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> +“In water there is a quality endowed with +a blessing;<br/> +On God it is most just to meditate aright;<br/> +To God it is proper to supplicate with seriousness,<br/> +Since no obstacle can there be to obtain a reward from him.<br/> +Three times have I been born, I know by meditation;<br/> +It were miserable for a person not to come and obtain<br/> +All the sciences of the world, collected together in my +breast,<br/> +For I know what has been, what in future will occur.<br/> +I will supplicate my Lord that I get refuge in him,<br/> +A regard I may obtain in his grace;<br/> +The Son of Mary is my trust, great in him is my delight,<br/> +For in him is the world continually upholden.<br/> +God has been to instruct me and to raise my expectation,<br/> +The true Creator of heaven, who affords me protection;<br/> +It is rightly intended that the saints should daily pray,<br/> +For God, the renovator, will bring them to him.” +</p> + +<p> +And forthwith Elphin gave his haul to his wife, and she nursed +him tenderly and lovingly. Thenceforward Elphin increased +in riches more and more day after day, and in love and favour +with the king, and there abode Taliesin until he was thirteen +years old, when Elphin son of Gwyddno went by a Christmas +invitation to his uncle, Maelgwn Gwynedd, who some time after +this held open court at Christmastide in the castle of Dyganwy, +for all the number of his lords of both degrees, both spiritual +and temporal, with a vast and thronged host of knights and +squires. And amongst them there arose a discourse and +discussion. And thus was it said. +</p> + +<p> +“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? +</p> + +<p> +Now at that time the bards were in great favour with the +exalted of the kingdom; and then none performed the office of +those who are now called heralds, unless they were learned men, +not only expert in the service of kings and princes, but studious +and well versed in the lineage, and arms, and exploits of princes +and kings, and in discussions concerning foreign kingdoms, and +the ancient things of this kingdom, and chiefly in the annals of +the first nobles; and also were prepared always with their +answers in various languages, Latin, French, Welsh, and +English. And together with this they were great +chroniclers, and recorders, and skilful in framing verses, and +ready in making englyns in every one of those languages. +Now of these there were at that feast within the palace of +Maelgwn as many as four-and-twenty, and chief of them all was one +named Heinin Vardd. +</p> + +<p> +When they had all made an end of thus praising the king and +his gifts, it befell that Elphin spoke in this wise. +“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. +</p> + +<p> +Now when Elphin had been put in a tower of the castle, with a +thick chain about his feet (it is said that it was a silver +chain, because he was of royal blood), the king, as the story +relates, sent his son Rhun to inquire into the demeanour of +Elphin’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. +</p> + +<p> +In this guise Taliesin caused his mistress to put the maiden +to sit at the board in her room at supper, and he made her to +seem as her mistress, and the mistress to seem as the maid. +And when they were in due time seated at their supper in the +manner that has been said, Rhun suddenly arrived at +Elphin’s dwelling, and was received with joy, for all the +servants knew him plainly; and they brought him in haste to the +room of their mistress, in the semblance of whom the maid rose up +from supper and welcomed him gladly. And afterwards she sat +down to supper again the second time, and Rhun with her. +Then Rhun began jesting with the maid, who still kept the +semblance of her mistress. And verily this story shows that +the maiden became so intoxicated, that she fell asleep; and the +story relates that it was a powder that Rhun put into the drink, +that made her sleep so soundly that she never felt it when he cut +from off her hand her little finger, whereupon was the signet +ring of Elphin, which he had sent to his wife as a token, a short +time before. And Rhun returned to the king with the finger +and the ring as a proof, to show that he had cut it from off her +hand, without her awaking from her sleep of intemperance. +</p> + +<p> +The king rejoiced greatly at these tidings, and he sent for +his councillors, to whom he told the whole story from the +beginning. And he caused Elphin to be brought out of his +prison, and he chided him because of his boast. And he +spake unto Elphin on this wise. “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.” +</p> + +<p> +Then the king was mightily wroth with Elphin for so stoutly +withstanding him, respecting the goodness of his wife, wherefore +he ordered him to his prison a second time, saying that he should +not be loosed thence until he had proved the truth of his boast, +as well concerning the wisdom of his bard as the virtues of his +wife. +</p> + +<p> +In the meantime his wife and Taliesin remained joyful at +Elphin’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:— +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> +“A journey will I perform,<br/> +And to the gate I will come;<br/> +The hall I will enter,<br/> +And my song I will sing;<br/> +My speech I will pronounce<br/> +To silence royal bards,<br/> +In presence of their chief,<br/> +I will greet to deride,<br/> +Upon them I will break<br/> +And Elphin I will free.<br/> +Should contention arise,<br/> +In presence of the prince,<br/> +With summons to the bards,<br/> +For the sweet flowing song,<br/> +And wizards’ posing lore<br/> +And wisdom of Druids,<br/> +In the court of the sons of the Distributor<br/> +Some are who did appear<br/> +Intent on wily schemes,<br/> +By craft and tricking means,<br/> +In pangs of affliction<br/> +To wrong the innocent,<br/> +Let the fools be silent,<br/> +As erst in Badon’s fight,—<br/> +With Arthur of liberal ones<br/> +The head, with long red blades;<br/> +Through feats of testy men,<br/> +And a chief with his foes.<br/> +Woe be to them, the fools,<br/> +When revenge comes on them.<br/> +I Taliesin, chief of bards,<br/> +With a sapient Druid’s words,<br/> +Will set kind Elphin free<br/> +From haughty tyrant’s bonds.<br/> +To their fell and chilling cry,<br/> +By the act of a surprising steed,<br/> +From the far distant North,<br/> +There soon shall be an end.<br/> +Let neither grace nor health<br/> +Be to Maelgwn Gwynedd,<br/> +For this force and this wrong;<br/> +And be extremes of ills<br/> +And an avenged end<br/> +To Rhun and all his race:<br/> +Short be his course of life,<br/> +Be all his lands laid waste;<br/> +And long exile be assigned<br/> +To Maelgwn Gwynedd!” +</p> + +<p> +After this he took leave of his mistress, and came at last to +the Court of Maelgwn, who was going to sit in his hall and dine +in his royal state, as it was the custom in those days for kings +and princes to do at every chief feast. And as soon as +Taliesin entered the hall, he placed himself in a quiet corner, +near the place where the bards and the minstrels were wont to +come in doing their service and duty to the king, as is the +custom at the high festivals when the bounty is proclaimed. +And so, when the bards and the heralds came to cry largess, and +to proclaim the power of the king and his strength, at the moment +that they passed by the corner wherein he was crouching, Taliesin +pouted out his lips after them, and played “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. +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> +“Primary chief bard am I to Elphin,<br/> +And my original country is the region of the summer stars;<br/> +Idno and Heinin called me Merddin,<br/> +At length every king will call me Taliesin. +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> +I was with my Lord in the highest sphere,<br/> +On the fall of Lucifer into the depth of hell<br/> +I have borne a banner before Alexander;<br/> +I know the names of the stars from north to south;<br/> +I have been on the galaxy at the throne of the Distributor;<br/> +I was in Canaan when Absalom was slain;<br/> +I conveyed the Divine Spirit to the level of the vale of +Hebron;<br/> +I was in the court of Don before the birth of Gwydion.<br/> +I was instructor to Eli and Enoc;<br/> +I have been winged by the genius of the splendid crosier;<br/> +I have been loquacious prior to being gifted with speech;<br/> +I was at the place of the crucifixion of the merciful Son of +God;<br/> +I have been three periods in the prison of Arianrod;<br/> +I have been the chief director of the work of the tower of +Nimrod;<br/> +I am a wonder whose origin is not known.<br/> +I have been in Asia with Noah in the ark,<br/> +I have seen the destruction of Sodom and Gomorra;<br/> +I have been in India when Roma was built,<br/> +I am now come here to the remnant of Troia. +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> +I have been with my Lord in the manger of the +ass:<br/> +I strengthened Moses through the water of Jordan;<br/> +I have been in the firmament with Mary Magdalene;<br/> +I have obtained the muse from the cauldron of Caridwen;<br/> +I have been bard of the harp to Lleon of Lochlin.<br/> +I have been on the White Hill, in the court of Cynvelyn,<br/> +For a day and a year in stocks and fetters,<br/> +I have suffered hunger for the Son of the Virgin,<br/> +I have been fostered in the land of the Deity,<br/> +I have been teacher to all intelligences,<br/> +I am able to instruct the whole universe.<br/> +I shall be until the day of doom on the face of the earth;<br/> +And it is not known whether my body is flesh or fish. +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> + Then I was for nine months<br/> + In the womb of the hag Caridwen;<br/> + I was originally little Gwion,<br/> + And at length I am Taliesin.” +</p> + +<p> +And when the king and his nobles had heard the song, they +wondered much, for they had never heard the like from a boy so +young as he. And when the king knew that he was the bard of +Elphin, he bade Heinin, his first and wisest bard, to answer +Taliesin and to strive with him. But when he came, he could +do no other but play “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. +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> +“Puny bards, I am trying<br/> +To secure the prize, if I can;<br/> +By a gentle prophetic strain<br/> +I am endeavouring to retrieve<br/> +The loss I may have suffered;<br/> +Complete the attempt I hope,<br/> +Since Elphin endures trouble<br/> +In the fortress of Teganwy,<br/> +On him may there not be laid<br/> +Too many chains and fetters;<br/> +The Chair of the fortress of Teganwy<br/> +Will I again seek;<br/> +Strengthened by my muse I am powerful;<br/> +Mighty on my part is what I seek,<br/> +For three hundred songs and more<br/> +Are combined in the spell I sing.<br/> +There ought not to stand where I am<br/> +Neither stone, neither ring;<br/> +And there ought not to be about me<br/> +Any bard who may not know<br/> +That Elphin the son of Gwyddno<br/> +Is in the land of Artro,<br/> +Secured by thirteen locks,<br/> +For praising his instructor;<br/> +And then I Taliesin,<br/> +Chief of the bards of the west,<br/> +Shall loosen Elphin<br/> +Out of a golden fetter.” +</p> + +<p style="text-align: center" class="poetry">* * * * * +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> +“If you be primary bards<br/> +To the master of sciences,<br/> +Declare ye mysteries<br/> +That relate to the inhabitants of the world;<br/> +There is a noxious creature,<br/> +From the rampart of Satanas,<br/> +Which has overcome all<br/> +Between the deep and the shallow;<br/> +Equally wide are his jaws<br/> +As the mountains of the Alps;<br/> +Him death will not subdue,<br/> +Nor hand or blades;<br/> +There is the load of nine hundred wagons<br/> +In the hair of his two paws;<br/> +There is in his head an eye<br/> +Green as the limpid sheet of icicle;<br/> +Three springs arise<br/> +In the nape of his neck;<br/> +Sea-roughs thereon<br/> +Swim through it;<br/> +There was the dissolution of the oxen<br/> +Of Deivrdonwy the water-gifted.<br/> +The names of the three springs<br/> +From the midst of the ocean;<br/> +One generated brine<br/> +Which is from the Corina,<br/> +To replenish the flood<br/> +Over seas disappearing;<br/> +The second, without injury<br/> +It will fall on us,<br/> +When there is rain abroad,<br/> +Through the whelming sky;<br/> +The third will appear<br/> +Through the mountain veins,<br/> +Like a flinty banquet,<br/> +The work of the King of kings,<br/> +You are blundering bards,<br/> +In too much solicitude;<br/> +You cannot celebrate<br/> +The kingdom of the Britons;<br/> +And I am Taliesin,<br/> +Chief of the bards of the west,<br/> +Who will loosen Elphin<br/> +Out of the golden fetter.” +</p> + +<p style="text-align: center" class="poetry">* * * * * +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> +“Be silent, then, ye unlucky rhyming +bards,<br/> +For you cannot judge between truth and falsehood.<br/> +If you be primary bards formed by heaven,<br/> +Tell your king what his fate will be.<br/> +It is I who am a diviner and a leading bard,<br/> +And know every passage in the country of your king;<br/> +I shall liberate Elphin from the belly of the stony tower;<br/> +And will tell your king what will befall him.<br/> +A most strange creature will come from the sea marsh of +Rhianedd<br/> +As a punishment of iniquity on Maelgwn Gwynedd;<br/> +His hair, his teeth, and his eyes being as gold,<br/> +And this will bring destruction upon Maelgwn Gwynedd.” +</p> + +<p style="text-align: center" class="poetry">* * * * * +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> +“Discover thou what is<br/> +The strong creature from before the flood,<br/> +Without flesh, without bone,<br/> +Without vein, without blood,<br/> +Without head, without feet,<br/> +It will neither be older nor younger<br/> +Than at the beginning;<br/> +For fear of a denial,<br/> +There are no rude wants<br/> +With creatures.<br/> +Great God! how the sea whitens<br/> +When first it comes!<br/> +Great are its gusts<br/> +When it comes from the south;<br/> +Great are its evaporations<br/> +When it strikes on coasts.<br/> +It is in the field, it is in the wood,<br/> +Without hand, and without foot,<br/> +Without signs of old age,<br/> +Though it be co-æval<br/> +With the five ages or periods<br/> +And older still,<br/> +Though they be numberless years.<br/> +It is also so wide<br/> +As the surface of the earth;<br/> +And it was not born,<br/> +Nor was it seen.<br/> +It will cause consternation<br/> +Wherever God willeth.<br/> +On sea, and on land,<br/> +It neither sees, nor is seen.<br/> +Its course is devious,<br/> +And will not come when desired;<br/> +On land and on sea,<br/> +It is indispensable.<br/> +It is without an equal,<br/> +It is four-sided;<br/> +It is not confined,<br/> +It is incomparable;<br/> +It comes from four quarters;<br/> +It will not be advised,<br/> +It will not be without advice.<br/> +It commences its journey<br/> +Above the marble rock,<br/> +It is sonorous, it is dumb,<br/> +It is mild,<br/> +It is strong, it is bold,<br/> +When it glances over the land,<br/> +It is silent, it is vocal,<br/> +It is clamorous,<br/> +It is the most noisy<br/> +On the face of the earth.<br/> +It is good, it is bad,<br/> +It is extremely injurious.<br/> +It is concealed,<br/> +Because sight cannot perceive it.<br/> +It is noxious, it is beneficial;<br/> +It is yonder, it is here;<br/> +It will discompose,<br/> +But will not repair the injury;<br/> +It will not suffer for its doings,<br/> +Seeing it is blameless.<br/> +It is wet, it is dry,<br/> +It frequently comes,<br/> +Proceeding from the heat of the sun,<br/> +And the coldness of the moon.<br/> +The moon is less beneficial,<br/> +Inasmuch as her heat is less.<br/> +One Being has prepared it,<br/> +Out of all creatures,<br/> +By a tremendous blast,<br/> +To wreak vengeance<br/> +On Maelgwn Gwynedd.” +</p> + +<p> +And while he was thus singing his verse near the door, there +arose a mighty storm of wind, so that the king and all his nobles +thought that the castle would fall on their heads. And the +king caused them to fetch Elphin in haste from his dungeon, and +placed him before Taliesin. And it is said, that +immediately he sang a verse, so that the chains opened from about +his feet. +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> +“I adore the Supreme, Lord of all +animation,—<br/> +Him that supports the heavens, Ruler of every extreme,<br/> +Him that made the water good for all,<br/> +Him who has bestowed each gift, and blesses it;—<br/> +May abundance of mead be given Maelgwn of Anglesey, who supplies +us,<br/> +From his foaming meadhorns, with the choicest pure liquor.<br/> +Since bees collect, and do not enjoy,<br/> +We have sparkling distilled mead, which is universally +praised.<br/> +The multitude of creatures which the earth nourishes<br/> +God made for man, with a view to enrich him;—<br/> +Some are violent, some are mute, he enjoys them,<br/> +Some are wild, some are tame; the Lord makes them;—<br/> +Part of their produce becomes clothing;<br/> +For food and beverage till doom will they continue.<br/> +I entreat the Supreme, Sovereign of the region of peace,<br/> +To liberate Elphin from banishment,<br/> +The man who gave me wine, and ale, and mead,<br/> +With large princely steeds, of beautiful appearance;<br/> +May he yet give me; and at the end,<br/> +May God of his good will grant me, in honour,<br/> +A succession of numberless ages, in the retreat of +tranquillity.<br/> +Elphin, knight of mead, late be thy dissolution!” +</p> + +<p> +And afterwards he sang the ode which is called “The +Excellence of the Bards.” +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> +“What was the first man<br/> +Made by the God of heaven;<br/> +What the fairest flattering speech<br/> +That was prepared by leuav;<br/> +What meat, what drink,<br/> +What roof his shelter;<br/> +What the first impression<br/> +Of his primary thinking;<br/> +What became his clothing;<br/> +Who carried on a disguise,<br/> +Owing to the wilds of the country,<br/> +In the beginning?<br/> +Wherefore should a stone be hard;<br/> +Why should a thorn be sharp-pointed?<br/> +Who is hard like a flint;<br/> +Who is salt like brine;<br/> +Who sweet like honey;<br/> +Who rides on the gale;<br/> +Why ridged should be the nose;<br/> +Why should a wheel be round;<br/> +Why should the tongue be gifted with speech<br/> +Rather than another member?<br/> +If thy bards, Heinin, be competent,<br/> +Let them reply to me, Taliesin.” +</p> + +<p> +And after that he sang the address which is called “The +Reproof of the Bards.” +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> +“If thou art a bard completely imbued<br/> +With genius not to be controlled,<br/> +Be thou not untractable<br/> +Within the court of thy king;<br/> +Until thy rigmarole shall be known,<br/> +Be thou silent, Heinin,<br/> +As to the name of thy verse,<br/> +And the name of thy vaunting;<br/> +And as to the name of thy grandsire<br/> +Prior to his being baptized.<br/> +And the name of the sphere,<br/> +And the name of the element,<br/> +And the name of thy language,<br/> +And the name of thy region.<br/> +Avaunt, ye bards above,<br/> +Avaunt, ye bards below!<br/> +My beloved is below,<br/> +In the fetter of Arianrod<br/> +It is certain you know not<br/> +How to understand the song I utter,<br/> +Nor clearly how to discriminate<br/> +Between the truth and what is false;<br/> +Puny bards, crows of the district,<br/> +Why do you not take to flight?<br/> +A bard that will not silence me,<br/> +Silence may he not obtain,<br/> +Till he goes to be covered<br/> +Under gravel and pebbles;<br/> +Such as shall listen to me,<br/> +May God listen to him.” +</p> + +<p> +Then sang he the piece called “The Spite of the +Bards.” +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> +“Minstrels persevere in their false +custom,<br/> +Immoral ditties are their delight;<br/> +Vain and tasteless praise they recite;<br/> +Falsehood at all times do they utter;<br/> +The innocent persons they ridicule;<br/> +Married women they destroy,<br/> +Innocent virgins of Mary they corrupt;<br/> +As they pass their lives away in vanity,<br/> +Poor innocent persons they ridicule;<br/> +At night they get drunk, they sleep the day;<br/> +In idleness without work they feed themselves;<br/> +The Church they hate, and the tavern they frequent;<br/> +With thieves and perjured fellows they associate;<br/> +At courts they inquire after feasts;<br/> +Every senseless word they bring forward;<br/> +Every deadly sin they praise;<br/> +Every vile course of life they lead;<br/> +Through every village, town, and country they stroll;<br/> +Concerning the gripe of death they think not;<br/> +Neither lodging nor charity do they give;<br/> +Indulging in victuals to excess.<br/> +Psalms or prayers they do not use,<br/> +Tithes or offerings to God they do not pay,<br/> +On holidays or Sundays they do not worship;<br/> +Vigils or festivals they do not heed.<br/> +The birds do fly, the fish do swim,<br/> +The bees collect honey, worms do crawl,<br/> +Every thing travails to obtain its food,<br/> +Except minstrels and lazy useless thieves. +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> +I deride neither song nor minstrelsy,<br/> +For they are given by God to lighten thought;<br/> +But him who abuses them,<br/> +For blaspheming Jesus and his service.” +</p> + +<p> +Taliesin having set his master free from prison, and having +protected the innocence of his wife, and silenced the Bards, so +that not one of them dared to say a word, now brought +Elphin’s wife before them, and showed that she had not one +finger wanting. Right glad was Elphin, right glad was +Taliesin. +</p> + +<p> +Then he bade Elphin wager the king, that he had a horse both +better and swifter than the king’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. +</p> + +<p> +After all this, the king caused Taliesin to be brought before +him, and he asked him to recite concerning the creation of man +from the beginning; and thereupon he made the poem which is now +called “One of the Four Pillars of Song.” +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> +“The Almighty made,<br/> +Down the Hebron vale,<br/> +With his plastic hands,<br/> + Adam’s fair form: +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> +And five hundred years,<br/> +Void of any help,<br/> +There he remained and lay<br/> + Without a soul. +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> +He again did form,<br/> +In calm paradise,<br/> +From a left-side rib,<br/> + Bliss-throbbing Eve. +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> +Seven hours they were<br/> +The orchard keeping,<br/> +Till Satan brought strife,<br/> + With wiles from hell. +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> +Thence were they driven,<br/> +Cold and shivering,<br/> +To gain their living,<br/> + Into this world. +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> +To bring forth with pain<br/> +Their sons and daughters,<br/> +To have possession<br/> + Of Asia’s land. +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> +Twice five, ten and eight,<br/> +She was self-bearing,<br/> +The mixed burden<br/> + Of man-woman. +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> +And once, not hidden,<br/> +She brought forth Abel,<br/> +And Cain the forlorn,<br/> + The homicide. +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> +To him and his mate<br/> +Was given a spade,<br/> +To break up the soil,<br/> + Thus to get bread. +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> +The wheat pure and white,<br/> +Summer tilth to sow,<br/> +Every man to feed,<br/> + Till great yule feast. +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> +An angelic hand<br/> +From the high Father,<br/> +Brought seed for growing<br/> + That Eve might sow; +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> +But she then did hide<br/> +Of the gift a tenth,<br/> +And all did not sow<br/> + Of what was dug. +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> +Black rye then was found,<br/> +And not pure wheat grain,<br/> +To show the mischief<br/> + Thus of thieving. +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> +For this thievish act,<br/> +It is requisite,<br/> +That all men should pay<br/> + Tithe unto God. +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> +Of the ruddy wine,<br/> +Planted on sunny days,<br/> +And on new-moon nights;<br/> + And the white wine. +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> +The wheat rich in grain<br/> +And red flowing wine<br/> +Christ’s pure body make,<br/> + Son of Alpha. +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> +The wafer is flesh,<br/> +The wine is spilt blood,<br/> +The Trinity’s words<br/> + Sanctify them. +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> +The concealed books<br/> +From Emmanuel’s hand<br/> +Were brought by Raphael<br/> + As Adam’s gift, +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> +When in his old age,<br/> +To his chin immersed<br/> +In Jordan’s water,<br/> + Keeping a fast, +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> +Moses did obtain<br/> +In Jordan’s water,<br/> +The aid of the three<br/> + Most special rods. +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> +Solomon did obtain<br/> +In Babel’s tower,<br/> +All the sciences<br/> + In Asia land. +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> +So did I obtain,<br/> +In my bardic books,<br/> +All the sciences<br/> + Of Europe and Africa. +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> +Their course, their bearing,<br/> +Their permitted way,<br/> +And their fate I know,<br/> + Unto the end. +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> +Oh! what misery,<br/> +Through extreme of woe,<br/> +Prophecy will show<br/> + On Troia’s race! +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> +A coiling serpent<br/> +Proud and merciless,<br/> +On her golden wings,<br/> + From Germany. +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> +She will overrun<br/> +England and Scotland,<br/> +From Lychlyn sea-shore<br/> + To the Severn. +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> +Then will the Brython<br/> +Be as prisoners,<br/> +By strangers swayed,<br/> + From Saxony. +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> +Their Lord they will praise,<br/> +Their speech they will keep,<br/> +Their land they will lose,<br/> + Except wild Walia. +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> +Till some change shall come,<br/> +After long penance,<br/> +When equally rife<br/> + The two crimes come. +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> +Britons then shall have<br/> +Their land and their crown,<br/> +And the stranger swarm<br/> + Shall disappear. +</p> + +<p class="poetry"> +All the angel’s words,<br/> +As to peace and war,<br/> +Will be fulfilled<br/> + To Britain’s race.” +</p> + +<p> +He further told the king various prophecies of things that +should be in the world, in songs, as follows. +</p> + +<p style="text-align: center">* * * * * +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>FOOTNOTES</h2> + +<p> +<a name="footnote1"></a><a href="#citation1" +class="footnote">[1]</a> It is also stated, that there is +in the Hengwrt Library, a MS. containing the Graal in Welsh, as +early as the time of Henry I. I had hoped to have added +this to the present collection; but the death of Col. Vaughan, to +whom I applied, and other subsequent circumstances, have +prevented me from obtaining access to it. +</p> + +<p> +<a name="footnote2"></a><a href="#citation2" +class="footnote">[2]</a> Hades. +</p> + +<p> +<a name="footnote3"></a><a href="#citation3" +class="footnote">[3]</a> The word “Pryder” or +“Pryderi” means anxiety. +</p> + +<p> +<a name="footnote4"></a><a href="#citation4" +class="footnote">[4]</a> The version in the Greal adds, +“And their coin was fairy money;” literally, +dwarf’s money: that is, money which, when received, +appeared to be good coin, but which, if kept, turned into pieces +of fungus, &c. +</p> + +<p> +<a name="footnote5"></a><a href="#citation5" +class="footnote">[5]</a> This dialogue consists of a series +of repartees with a play upon words, which it is impossible to +follow in the translation. +</p> + +<p> +<a name="footnote6"></a><a href="#citation6" +class="footnote">[6]</a> Taliesin. +</p> + +<p> +<a name="footnote7"></a><a href="#citation7" +class="footnote">[7]</a> The mention of Gwyddno Garanhir +instead of Elphin ab Gwyddno in this place is evidently an error +of some transcriber of the MS. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MABINOGION ***</div> +<div style='text-align:left'> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will +be renamed. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +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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