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diff --git a/old/mbng10.txt b/old/mbng10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..742cdf0 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/mbng10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10373 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mabinogion + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: The Mabinogion + +Translator: Lady Charlotte Guest + +Release Date: February, 2004 [EBook #5160] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on May 22, 2002] +[Most recently updated: May 22, 2002] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE MABINOGION *** + + + + +Transcribed from the 1849 edition text by David Price, email +ccx074@coventry.ac.uk + + + + +THE MABINOGION +TRANSLATED BY LADY CHARLOTTE GUEST + + + + +Contents: + Introduction + The Lady of the Fountain + Peredur the Son of Evrawc + Geraint the son of Erbin + Kilhwch and Olwen + The dream of Rhonabwy + Pwyll Prince of Dyved + Branwen the daughter of Llyr + Manawyddan the son of Llyr + Math the son of Mathonwy + The dream of Maxen Wledig + The story of Lludd and Llevelys + Taliesin + + + +INTRODUCTION + + + +Whilst engaged on the Translations contained in these volumes, and on +the Notes appended to the various Tales, I have found myself led +unavoidably into a much more extensive course of reading than I had +originally contemplated, and one which in great measure bears +directly upon the earlier Mediaeval Romance. + +Before commencing these labours, I was aware, generally, that there +existed a connexion between the Welsh Mabinogion and the Romance of +the Continent; but as I advanced, I became better acquainted with the +closeness and extent of that connexion, its history, and the proofs +by which it is supported. + +At the same time, indeed, I became aware, and still strongly feel, +that it is one thing to collect facts, and quite another to classify +and draw from them their legitimate conclusions; and though I am loth +that what has been collected with some pains, should be entirely +thrown away, it is unwillingly, and with diffidence, that I trespass +beyond the acknowledged province of a translator. + +In the twelfth and thirteenth centuries there arose into general +notoriety in Europe, a body of "Romance," which in various forms +retained its popularity till the Reformation. In it the plot, the +incidents, the characters, were almost wholly those of Chivalry, that +bond which united the warriors of France, Spain, and Italy, with +those of pure Teutonic descent, and embraced more or less firmly all +the nations of Europe, excepting only the Slavonic races, not yet +risen to power, and the Celts, who had fallen from it. It is not +difficult to account for this latter omission. The Celts, driven +from the plains into the mountains and islands, preserved their +liberty, and hated their oppressors with fierce, and not causeless, +hatred. A proud and free people, isolated both in country and +language, were not likely to adopt customs which implied brotherhood +with their foes. + +Such being the case, it is remarkable that when the chief romances +are examined, the name of many of the heroes and their scenes of +action are found to be Celtic, and those of persons and places famous +in the traditions of Wales and Brittany. Of this the romances of +Ywaine and Gawaine, Sir Perceval de Galles, Eric and Enide, Mort +d'Arthur, Sir Lancelot, Sir Tristan, the Graal, &c., may be cited as +examples. In some cases a tendency to triads, and other matters of +internal evidence, point in the same direction. + +It may seem difficult to account for this. Although the ancient +dominion of the Celts over Europe is not without enduring evidence in +the names of the mountains and streams, the great features of a +country, yet the loss of their prior language by the great mass of +the Celtic nations in Southern Europe (if indeed their successors in +territory be at all of their blood), prevents us from clearly seeing, +and makes us wonder, how stories, originally embodied in the Celtic +dialects of Great Britain and France, could so influence the +literature of nations to whom the Celtic languages were utterly +unknown. Whence then came these internal marks, and these proper +names of persons and places, the features of a story usually of +earliest date and least likely to change? + +These romances were found in England, France, Germany, Norway, +Sweden, and even Iceland, as early as the beginning of the thirteenth +and end of the twelfth century. The Germans, who propagated them +through the nations of the North, derived them certainly from France. +Robert Wace published his Anglo-Norman Romance of the Brut +d'Angleterre about 1155. Sir Tristan was written in French prose in +1170; and The Chevalier au Lion, Chevalier de l'Epee, and Sir +Lancelot du Lac, in metrical French, by Chrestien de Troyes, before +1200. + +From these facts it is to be argued that the further back these +romances are traced, the more clearly does it appear that they spread +over the Continent from the North-west of France. The older +versions, it may be remarked, are far more simple than the later +corruptions. In them there is less allusion to the habits and usages +of Chivalry, and the Welsh names and elements stand out in stronger +relief. It is a great step to be able to trace the stocks of these +romances back to Wace, or to his country and age. For Wace's work +was not original. He himself, a native of Jersey, appears to have +derived much of it from the "Historia Britonum" of Gruffydd ab +Arthur, commonly known as "Geoffrey of Monmouth," born 1128, who +himself professes to have translated from a British original. It is, +however, very possible that Wace may have had access, like Geoffrey, +to independent sources of information. + +To the claims set up on behalf of Wace and Geoffrey, to be regarded +as the channels by which the Cymric tales passed into the Continental +Romance, may be added those of a third almost contemporary author. +Layamon, a Saxon priest, dwelling, about 1200, upon the banks of the +upper Severn, acknowledges for the source of his British history, the +English Bede, the Latin Albin, and the French Wace. The last-named +however is by very much his chief, and, for Welsh matters, his only +avowed authority. His book, nevertheless, contains a number of names +and stories relating to Wales, of which no traces appear in Wace, or +indeed in Geoffrey, but which he was certainly in a very favourable +position to obtain for himself. Layamon, therefore, not only +confirms Geoffrey in some points, but it is clear, that, professing +to follow Wace, he had independent access to the great body of Welsh +literature then current. Sir F. Madden has put this matter very +clearly, in his recent edition of Layamon. The Abbe de la Rue, also, +was of opinion that Gaimar, an Anglo-Norman, in the reign of Stephen, +usually regarded as a translator of Geoffrey of Monmouth, had access +to a Welsh independent authority. + +In addition to these, is to be mentioned the English version of Sir +Tristrem, which Sir Walter Scott considered to be derived from a +distinct Celtic source, and not, like the later Amadis, Palmerin, and +Lord Berners's Canon of Romance, imported into English literature by +translation from the French. For the Auntours of Arthur, recently +published by the Camden Society, their Editor, Mr. Robson, seems to +hint at a similar claim. + +Here then are various known channels, by which portions of Welsh and +Armoric fiction crossed the Celtic border, and gave rise to the more +ornate, and widely-spread romance of the Age of Chivalry. It is not +improbable that there may have existed many others. It appears then +that a large portion of the stocks of Mediaeval Romance proceeded +from Wales. We have next to see in what condition they are still +found in that country. + +That Wales possessed an ancient literature, containing various lyric +compositions, and certain triads, in which are arranged historical +facts or moral aphorisms, has been shown by Sharon Turner, who has +established the high antiquity of many of these compositions. + +The more strictly Romantic Literature of Wales has been less +fortunate, though not less deserving of critical attention. Small +portions only of it have hitherto appeared in print, the remainder +being still hidden in the obscurity of ancient Manuscripts: of these +the chief is supposed to be the Red Book of Hergest, now in the +Library of Jesus College, Oxford, and of the fourteenth century. +This contains, besides poems, the prose romances known as Mabinogion. +The Black Book of Caermarthen, preserved at Hengwrt, and considered +not to be of later date than the twelfth century, is said to contain +poems only. {1} + +The Mabinogion, however, though thus early recorded in the Welsh +tongue, are in their existing form by no means wholly Welsh. They +are of two tolerably distinct classes. Of these, the older contains +few allusions to Norman customs, manners, arts, arms, and luxuries. +The other, and less ancient, are full of such allusions, and of +ecclesiastical terms. Both classes, no doubt, are equally of Welsh +root, but the former are not more overlaid or corrupted, than might +have been expected, from the communication that so early took place +between the Normans and the Welsh; whereas the latter probably +migrated from Wales, and were brought back and re-translated after an +absence of centuries, with a load of Norman additions. Kilhwch and +Olwen, and the dream of Rhonabwy, may be cited as examples of the +older and purer class; the Lady of the Fountain, Peredur, and Geraint +ab Erbin, of the later, or decorated. + +Besides these, indeed, there are a few tales, as Amlyn and Amic, Sir +Bevis of Hamtoun, the Seven Wise Masters, and the story of +Charlemagne, so obviously of foreign extraction, and of late +introduction into Wales, not presenting even a Welsh name, or +allusion, and of such very slender intrinsic merit, that although +comprised in the Llyvr Coch, they have not a shadow of claim to form +part of the Canon of Welsh Romance. Therefore, although I have +translated and examined them, I have given them no place in these +volumes. + +There is one argument in favour of the high antiquity in Wales of +many of the Mabinogion, which deserves to be mentioned here. This +argument is founded on the topography of the country. It is found +that Saxon names of places are very frequently definitions of the +nature of the locality to which they are attached, as Clifton, +Deepden, Bridge-ford, Thorpe, Ham, Wick, and the like; whereas those +of Wales are more frequently commemorative of some event, real or +supposed, said to have happened on or near the spot, or bearing +allusion to some person renowned in the story of the country or +district. Such are "Llyn y Morwynion," the Lake of the Maidens; +"Rhyd y Bedd," the Ford of the Grave; "Bryn Cyfergyr," the Hill of +Assault; and so on. But as these names could not have preceded the +events to which they refer, the events themselves must be not +unfrequently as old as the early settlement in the country. And as +some of these events and fictions are the subjects of, and are +explained by, existing Welsh legends, it follows that the legends +must be, in some shape or other, of very remote antiquity. It will +be observed that this argument supports REMOTE antiquity only for +such legends as are connected with the greater topographical +features, as mountains, lakes, rivers, seas, which must have been +named at an early period in the inhabitation of the country by man. +But there exist, also, legends connected with the lesser features, as +pools, hills, detached rocks, caves, fords, and the like, places not +necessarily named by the earlier settlers, but the names of which +are, nevertheless, probably very old, since the words of which they +are composed are in many cases not retained in the colloquial tongue, +in which they must once have been included, and are in some instances +lost from the language altogether, so much so as to be only partially +explicable even by scholars. The argument applies likewise, in their +degree, to camps, barrows, and other artificial earth-works. + +Conclusions thus drawn, when established, rest upon a very firm +basis. They depend upon the number and appositeness of the facts, +and it would be very interesting to pursue this branch of evidence in +detail. In following up this idea, the names to be sought for might +thus be classed:- + +I. Names of the great features, involving proper names and actions. + +Cadair Idris and Cadair Arthur both involve more than a mere name. +Idris and Arthur must have been invested with heroic qualifications +to have been placed in such "seats." + +II. Names of lesser features, as "Bryn y Saeth," Hill of the Dart; +"Llyn Llyngclys," Lake of the Engulphed Court; "Ceven y Bedd," the +Ridge of the Grave; "Rhyd y Saeson," the Saxons' Ford. + +III. Names of mixed natural and artificial objects, as "Coeten +Arthur," Arthur's Coit; "Cerrig y Drudion," the Crag of the Heroes; +which involve actions. And such as embody proper names only, as +"Cerrig Howell," the Crag of Howell; "Caer Arianrod," the Camp of +Arianrod; "Bron Goronwy," the Breast (of the Hill) of Goronwy; +"Castell mab Wynion," the Castle of the son of Wynion; "Nant +Gwrtheyrn," the Rill of Vortigern. + +The selection of names would demand much care and discretion. The +translations should be indisputable, and, where known, the connexion +of a name with a legend should be noted. Such a name as "Mochdrev," +Swine-town, would be valueless unless accompanied by a legend. + +It is always valuable to find a place or work called after an +individual, because it may help to support some tradition of his +existence or his actions. But it is requisite that care be taken not +to push the etymological dissection too far. Thus, "Caer Arianrod" +should be taken simply as the "Camp of Arianrod," and not rendered +the "Camp of the silver circle," because the latter, though it might +possibly have something to do with the reason for which the name was +borne by Arianrod herself, had clearly no reference to its +application to her camp. + +It appears to me, then, looking back upon what has been advanced:- + +I. That we have throughout Europe, at an early period, a great body +of literature, known as Mediaeval Romance, which, amidst much that is +wholly of Teutonic origin and character, includes certain well-marked +traces of an older Celtic nucleus. + +II. Proceeding backwards in time, we find these romances, their +ornaments falling away at each step, existing towards the twelfth +century, of simpler structure, and with less encumbered Celtic +features, in the works of Wace, and other Bards of the Langue d'Oil. + +III. We find that Geoffrey of Monmouth, Layamon, and other early +British and Anglo-Saxon historians, and minstrels, on the one hand, +transmitted to Europe the rudiments of its after romance, much of +which, on the other hand, they drew from Wales. + +IV. Crossing into Wales we find, in the Mabinogion, the evident +counterpart of the Celtic portion of the continental romance, mixed +up, indeed, with various reflex additions from beyond the border, but +still containing ample internal evidence of a Welsh original. + +V. Looking at the connexion between divers of the more ancient +Mabinogion, and the topographical nomenclature of part of the +country, we find evidence of the great, though indefinite, antiquity +of these tales, and of an origin, which, if not indigenous, is +certainly derived from no European nation. + +It was with a general belief in some of these conclusions, that I +commenced my labours, and I end them with my impressions strongly +confirmed. The subject is one not unworthy of the talents of a Llwyd +or a Prichard. It might, I think, be shown, by pursuing the inquiry, +that the Cymric nation is not only, as Dr. Prichard has proved it to +be, an early offshoot of the Indo-European family, and a people of +unmixed descent, but that when driven out of their conquests by the +later nations, the names and exploits of their heroes, and the +compositions of their bards, spread far and wide among the invaders, +and affected intimately their tastes and literature for many +centuries, and that it has strong claims to be considered the cradle +of European Romance. + +C. E. G. +DOWLAIS, August 29th, 1848. + + + +THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN + + + +King Arthur was at Caerlleon upon Usk; and one day he sat in his +chamber; and with him were Owain the son of Urien, and Kynon the son +of Clydno, and Kai the son of Kyner; and Gwenhwyvar and her +handmaidens at needlework by the window. And if it should be said +that there was a porter at Arthur's palace, there was none. Glewlwyd +Gavaelvawr was there, acting as porter, to welcome guests and +strangers, and to receive them with honour, and to inform them of the +manners and customs of the Court; and to direct those who came to the +Hall or to the presence-chamber, and those who came to take up their +lodging. + +In the centre of the chamber King Arthur sat upon a seat of green +rushes, over which was spread a covering of flame-coloured satin, and +a cushion of red satin was under his elbow. + +Then Arthur spoke, "If I thought you would not disparage me," said +he, "I would sleep while I wait for my repast; and you can entertain +one another with relating tales, and can obtain a flagon of mead and +some meat from Kai." And the King went to sleep. And Kynon the son +of Clydno asked Kai for that which Arthur had promised them. "I, +too, will have the good tale which he promised to me," said Kai. +"Nay," answered Kynon, "fairer will it be for thee to fulfill +Arthur's behest, in the first place, and then we will tell thee the +best tale that we know." So Kai went to the kitchen and to the mead- +cellar, and returned bearing a flagon of mead and a golden goblet, +and a handful of skewers, upon which were broiled collops of meat. +Then they ate the collops and began to drink the mead. "Now," said +Kai, "it is time for you to give me my story." "Kynon," said Owain, +"do thou pay to Kai the tale that is his due." "Truly," said Kynon, +"thou are older, and art a better teller of tales, and hast seen more +marvellous things than I; do thou therefore pay Kai his tale." +"Begin thyself," quoth Owain, "with the best that thou knowest." "I +will do so," answered Kynon. + +"I was the only son of my mother and father, and I was exceedingly +aspiring, and my daring was very great. I thought there was no +enterprise in the world too mighty for me, and after I had achieved +all the adventures that were in my own country, I equipped myself, +and set forth to journey through deserts and distant regions. And at +length it chanced that I came to the fairest valley in the world, +wherein were trees of equal growth; and a river ran through the +valley, and a path was by the side of the river. And I followed the +path until mid-day, and continued my journey along the remainder of +the valley until the evening; and at the extremity of a plain I came +to a large and lustrous Castle, at the foot of which was a torrent. +And I approached the Castle, and there I beheld two youths with +yellow curling hair, each with a frontlet of gold upon his head, and +clad in a garment of yellow satin, and they had gold clasps upon +their insteps. In the hand of each of them was an ivory bow, strung +with the sinews of the stag; and their arrows had shafts of the bone +of the whale, and were winged with peacock's feathers; the shafts +also had golden heads. And they had daggers with blades of gold, and +with hilts of the bone of the whale. And they were shooting their +daggers. + +"And a little way from them I saw a man in the prime of life, with +his beard newly shorn, clad in a robe and a mantle of yellow satin; +and round the top of his mantle was a band of gold lace. On his feet +were shoes of variegated leather, fastened by two bosses of gold. +When I saw him, I went towards him and saluted him, and such was his +courtesy that he no sooner received my greeting than he returned it. +And he went with me towards the Castle. Now there were no dwellers +in the Castle except those who were in one hall. And there I saw +four-and-twenty damsels, embroidering satin at a window. And this I +tell thee, Kai, that the least fair of them was fairer than the +fairest maid thou hast ever beheld in the Island of Britain, and the +least lovely of them was more lovely than Gwenhwyvar, the wife of +Arthur, when she has appeared loveliest at the Offering, on the day +of the Nativity, or at the feast of Easter. They rose up at my +coming, and six of them took my horse, and divested me of my armour; +and six others took my arms, and washed them in a vessel until they +were perfectly bright. And the third six spread cloths upon the +tables and prepared meat. And the fourth six took off my soiled +garments, and placed others upon me; namely, an under-vest and a +doublet of fine linen, and a robe, and a surcoat, and a mantle of +yellow satin with a broad gold band upon the mantle. And they placed +cushions both beneath and around me, with coverings of red linen; and +I sat down. Now the six maidens who had taken my horse, unharnessed +him, as well as if they had been the best squires in the Island of +Britain. Then, behold, they brought bowls of silver wherein was +water to wash, and towels of linen, some green and some white; and I +washed. And in a little while the man sat down to the table. And I +sat next to him, and below me sat all the maidens, except those who +waited on us. And the table was of silver, and the cloths upon the +table were of linen; and no vessel was served upon the table that was +not either of gold or of silver, or of buffalo-horn. And our meat +was brought to us. And verily, Kai, I saw there every sort of meat +and every sort of liquor that I have ever seen elsewhere; but the +meat and the liquor were better served there than I have ever seen +them in any other place. + +"Until the repast was half over, neither the man nor any one of the +damsels spoke a single word to me; but when the man perceived that it +would be more agreeable to me to converse than to eat any more, he +began to inquire of me who I was. I said I was glad to find that +there was some one who would discourse with me, and that it was not +considered so great a crime at that Court for people to hold converse +together. 'Chieftain,' said the man, 'we would have talked to thee +sooner, but we feared to disturb thee during thy repast; now, +however, we will discourse.' Then I told the man who I was, and what +was the cause of my journey; and said that I was seeking whether any +one was superior to me, or whether I could gain the mastery over all. +The man looked upon me, and he smiled and said, 'If I did not fear to +distress thee too much, I would show thee that which thou seekest.' +Upon this I became anxious and sorrowful, and when the man perceived +it, he said, 'If thou wouldest rather that I should show thee thy +disadvantage than thine advantage, I will do so. Sleep here to- +night, and in the morning arise early, and take the road upwards +through the valley until thou reachest the wood through which thou +camest hither. A little way within the wood thou wilt meet with a +road branching off to the right, by which thou must proceed, until +thou comest to a large sheltered glade with a mound in the centre. +And thou wilt see a black man of great stature on the top of the +mound. He is not smaller in size than two of the men of this world. +He has but one foot; and one eye in the middle of his forehead. And +he has a club of iron, and it is certain that there are no two men in +the world who would not find their burden in that club. And he is +not a comely man, but on the contrary he is exceedingly ill-favoured; +and he is the woodward of that wood. And thou wilt see a thousand +wild animals grazing around him. Inquire of him the way out of the +glade, and he will reply to thee briefly, and will point out the road +by which thou shalt find that which thou art in quest of.' + +"And long seemed that night to me. And the next morning I arose and +equipped myself, and mounted my horse, and proceeded straight through +the valley to the wood; and I followed the cross-road which the man +had pointed out to me, till at length I arrived at the glade. And +there was I three times more astonished at the number of wild animals +that I beheld, than the man had said I should be. And the black man +was there, sitting upon the top of the mound. Huge of stature as the +man had told me that he was, I found him to exceed by far the +description he had given me of him. As for the iron club which the +man had told me was a burden for two men, I am certain, Kai, that it +would be a heavy weight for four warriors to lift; and this was in +the black man's hand. And he only spoke to me in answer to my +questions. Then I asked him what power he held over those animals. +'I will show thee, little man,' said he. And he took his club in his +hand, and with it he struck a stag a great blow so that he brayed +vehemently, and at his braying the animals came together, as numerous +as the stars in the sky, so that it was difficult for me to find room +in the glade to stand among them. There were serpents, and dragons, +and divers sorts of animals. And he looked at them, and bade them go +and feed; and they bowed their heads, and did him homage as vassals +to their lord. + +"Then the black man said to me, 'Seest thou now, little man, what +power I hold over these animals?' Then I inquired of him the way, +and he became very rough in his manner to me; however, he asked me +whither I would go? And when I told him who I was and what I sought, +he directed me. 'Take,' said he, 'that path that leads towards the +head of the glade, and ascend the wooded steep until thou comest to +its summit; and there thou wilt find an open space like to a large +valley, and in the midst of it a tall tree, whose branches are +greener than the greenest pine-trees. Under this tree is a fountain, +and by the side of the fountain a marble slab, and on the marble slab +a silver bowl, attached by a chain of silver, so that it may not be +carried away. Take the bowl and throw a bowlful of water upon the +slab, and thou wilt hear a mighty peal of thunder, so that thou wilt +think that heaven and earth are trembling with its fury. With the +thunder there will come a shower so severe that it will be scarce +possible for thee to endure it and live. And the shower will be of +hailstones; and after the shower, the weather will become fair, but +every leaf that was upon the tree will have been carried away by the +shower. Then a flight of birds will come and alight upon the tree; +and in thine own country thou didst never hear a strain so sweet as +that which they will sing. And at the moment thou art most delighted +with the song of the birds, thou wilt hear a murmuring and +complaining coming towards thee along the valley. And thou wilt see +a knight upon a coal-black horse, clothed in black velvet, and with a +pennon of black linen upon his lance; and he will ride unto thee to +encounter thee with the utmost speed. If thou fleest from him he +will overtake thee, and if thou abidest there, as sure as thou art a +mounted knight, he will leave thee on foot. And if thou dost not +find trouble in that adventure, thou needest not seek it during the +rest of thy life.' + +"So I journeyed on, until I reached the summit of the steep, and +there I found everything as the black man had described it to me. +And I went up to the tree, and beneath it I saw the fountain, and by +its side the marble slab, and the silver bowl fastened by the chain. +Then I took the bowl, and cast a bowlful of water upon the slab; and +thereupon, behold, the thunder came, much more violent than the black +man had led me to expect; and after the thunder came the shower; and +of a truth I tell thee, Kai, that there is neither man nor beast that +can endure that shower and live. For not one of those hailstones +would be stopped, either by the flesh or by the skin, until it had +reached the bone. I turned my horse's flank towards the shower, and +placed the beak of my shield over his head and neck, while I held the +upper part of it over my own head. And thus I withstood the shower. +When I looked on the tree there was not a single leaf upon it, and +then the sky became clear, and with that, behold the birds lighted +upon the tree, and sang. And truly, Kai, I never heard any melody +equal to that, either before or since. And when I was most charmed +with listening to the birds, lo, a murmuring voice was heard through +the valley, approaching me and saying, 'Oh, Knight, what has brought +thee hither? What evil have I done to thee, that thou shouldst act +towards me and my possessions as thou hast this day? Dost thou not +know that the shower to-day has left in my dominions neither man nor +beast alive that was exposed to it?' And thereupon, behold, a Knight +on a black horse appeared, clothed in jet-black velvet, and with a +tabard of black linen about him. And we charged each other, and, as +the onset was furious, it was not long before I was overthrown. Then +the Knight passed the shaft of his lance through the bridle rein of +my horse, and rode off with the two horses, leaving me where I was. +And he did not even bestow so much notice upon me as to imprison me, +nor did he despoil me of my arms. So I returned along the road by +which I had come. And when I reached the glade where the black man +was, I confess to thee, Kai, it is a marvel that I did not melt down +into a liquid pool, through the shame that I felt at the black man's +derision. And that night I came to the same castle where I had spent +the night preceding. And I was more agreeably entertained that night +than I had been the night before; and I was better feasted, and I +conversed freely with the inmates of the castle, and none of them +alluded to my expedition to the fountain, neither did I mention it to +any; and I remained there that night. When I arose on the morrow, I +found, ready saddled, a dark bay palfrey, with nostrils as red as +scarlet; and after putting on my armour, and leaving there my +blessing, I returned to my own Court. And that horse I still +possess, and he is in the stable yonder. And I declare that I would +not part with him for the best palfrey in the Island of Britain. + +"Now of a truth, Kai, no man ever before confessed to an adventure so +much to his own discredit, and verily it seems strange to me, that +neither before nor since have I heard of any person besides myself +who knew of this adventure, and that the subject of it should exist +within King Arthur's dominions, without any other person lighting +upon it." + +"Now," quoth Owain, "would it not be well to go and endeavour to +discover that place?" + +"By the hand of my friend," said Kai, "often dost thou utter that +with thy tongue which thou wouldst not make good with thy deeds." + +"In very truth," said Gwenhwyvar, "it were better thou wert hanged, +Kai, than to use such uncourteous speech towards a man like Owain." + +"By the hand of my friend, good Lady," said Kai, "thy praise of Owain +is not greater than mine." + +With that Arthur awoke, and asked if he had not been sleeping a +little. + +"Yes, Lord," answered Owain, "thou hast slept awhile." + +"Is it time for us to go to meat?" + +"It is, Lord," said Owain. + +Then the horn for washing was sounded, and the King and all his +household sat down to eat. And when the meal was ended, Owain +withdrew to his lodging, and made ready his horse and his arms. + +On the morrow, with the dawn of day, he put on his armour, and +mounted his charger, and travelled through distant lands and over +desert mountains. And at length he arrived at the valley which Kynon +had described to him; and he was certain that it was the same that he +sought. And journeying along the valley by the side of the river, he +followed its course till he came to the plain and within sight of the +Castle. When he approached the Castle, he saw the youths shooting +their daggers in the place where Kynon had seen them, and the yellow +man, to whom the Castle belonged, standing hard by. And no sooner +had Owain saluted the yellow man than he was saluted by him in +return. + +And he went forward towards the Castle, and there he saw the chamber, +and when he had entered the chamber he beheld the maidens working at +satin embroidery, in chairs of gold. And their beauty and their +comeliness seemed to Owain far greater than Kynon had represented to +him. And they rose to wait upon Owain, as they had done to Kynon, +and the meal which they set before him gave more satisfaction to +Owain than it had done to Kynon. + +About the middle of the repast, the yellow man asked Owain the object +of his journey. And Owain made it known to him, and said, "I am in +quest of the Knight who guards the fountain." Upon this the yellow +man smiled, and said that he was as loth to point out that adventure +to Owain as he had been to Kynon. However, he described the whole to +Owain, and they retired to rest. + +The next morning Owain found his horse made ready for him by the +damsels, and he set forward and came to the glade where the black man +was. And the stature of the black man seemed more wonderful to Owain +than it had done to Kynon, and Owain asked of him his road, and he +showed it to him. And Owain followed the road, as Kynon had done, +till he came to the green tree; and he beheld the fountain, and the +slab beside the fountain, with the bowl upon it. And Owain took the +bowl, and threw a bowlful of water upon the slab. And, lo, the +thunder was heard, and after the thunder came the shower, much more +violent than Kynon had described, and after the shower the sky became +bright. And when Owain looked at the tree, there was not one leaf +upon it. And immediately the birds came, and settled upon the tree, +and sang. And when their song was most pleasing to Owain, he beheld +a Knight coming towards him through the valley, and he prepared to +receive him; and encountered him violently. Having broken both their +lances, they drew their swords, and fought blade to blade. Then +Owain struck the Knight a blow through his helmet, head-piece and +visor, and through the skin, and the flesh, and the bone, until it +wounded the very brain. Then the black Knight felt that he had +received a mortal wound, upon which he turned his horse's head, and +fled. And Owain pursued him, and followed close upon him, although +he was not near enough to strike him with his sword. Thereupon Owain +descried a vast and resplendent Castle. And they came to the Castle +gate. And the black Knight was allowed to enter, and the portcullis +was let fall upon Owain; and it struck his horse behind the saddle, +and cut him in two, and carried away the rowels of the spurs that +were upon Owain's heels. And the portcullis descended to the floor. +And the rowels of the spurs and part of the horse were without, and +Owain with the other part of the horse remained between the two +gates, and the inner gate was closed, so that Owain could not go +thence; and Owain was in a perplexing situation. And while he was in +this state, he could see through an aperture in the gate, a street +facing him, with a row of houses on each side. And he beheld a +maiden, with yellow curling hair, and a frontlet of gold upon her +head; and she was clad in a dress of yellow satin, and on her feet +were shoes of variegated leather. And she approached the gate, and +desired that it should be opened. "Heaven knows, Lady," said Owain, +"it is no more possible for me to open to thee from hence, than it is +for thee to set me free." "Truly," said the damsel, "it is very sad +that thou canst not be released, and every woman ought to succour +thee, for I never saw one more faithful in the service of ladies than +thou. As a friend thou art the most sincere, and as a lover the most +devoted. Therefore," quoth she, "whatever is in my power to do for +thy release, I will do it. Take this ring and put it on thy finger, +with the stone inside thy hand; and close thy hand upon the stone. +And as long as thou concealest it, it will conceal thee. When they +have consulted together, they will come forth to fetch thee, in order +to put thee to death; and they will be much grieved that they cannot +find thee. And I will await thee on the horseblock yonder; and thou +wilt be able to see me, though I cannot see thee; therefore come and +place thy hand upon my shoulder, that I may know that thou art near +me. And by the way that I go hence, do thou accompany me." + +Then she went away from Owain, and he did all that the maiden had +told him. And the people of the Castle came to seek Owain, to put +him to death, and when they found nothing but the half of his horse, +they were sorely grieved. + +And Owain vanished from among them, and went to the maiden, and +placed his hand upon her shoulder; whereupon she set off, and Owain +followed her, until they came to the door of a large and beautiful +chamber, and the maiden opened it, and they went in, and closed the +door. And Owain looked around the chamber, and behold there was not +even a single nail in it that was not painted with gorgeous colours; +and there was not a single panel that had not sundry images in gold +portrayed upon it. + +The maiden kindled a fire, and took water in a silver bowl, and put a +towel of white linen on her shoulder, and gave Owain water to wash. +Then she placed before him a silver table, inlaid with gold; upon +which was a cloth of yellow linen; and she brought him food. And of +a truth, Owain had never seen any kind of meat that was not there in +abundance, but it was better cooked there than he had ever found it +in any other place. Nor did he ever see so excellent a display of +meat and drink, as there. And there was not one vessel from which he +was served, that was not of gold or of silver. And Owain ate and +drank, until late in the afternoon, when lo, they heard a mighty +clamour in the Castle; and Owain asked the maiden what that outcry +was. "They are administering extreme unction," said she, "to the +Nobleman who owns the Castle." And Owain went to sleep. + +The couch which the maiden had prepared for him was meet for Arthur +himself; it was of scarlet, and fur, and satin, and sendal, and fine +linen. In the middle of the night they heard a woful outcry. "What +outcry again is this?" said Owain. "The Nobleman who owned the +Castle is now dead," said the maiden. And a little after daybreak, +they heard an exceeding loud clamour and wailing. And Owain asked +the maiden what was the cause of it. "They are bearing to the church +the body of the Nobleman who owned the Castle." + +And Owain rose up, and clothed himself, and opened a window of the +chamber, and looked towards the Castle; and he could see neither the +bounds, nor the extent of the hosts that filled the streets. And +they were fully armed; and a vast number of women were with them, +both on horseback and on foot; and all the ecclesiastics in the city, +singing. And it seemed to Owain that the sky resounded with the +vehemence of their cries, and with the noise of the trumpets, and +with the singing of the ecclesiastics. In the midst of the throng, +he beheld the bier, over which was a veil of white linen; and wax +tapers were burning beside and around it, and none that supported the +bier was lower in rank than a powerful Baron. + +Never did Owain see an assemblage so gorgeous with satin, and silk, +and sendal. And following the train, he beheld a lady with yellow +hair falling over her shoulders, and stained with blood; and about +her a dress of yellow satin, which was torn. Upon her feet were +shoes of variegated leather. And it was a marvel that the ends of +her fingers were not bruised, from the violence with which she smote +her hands together. Truly she would have been the fairest lady Owain +ever saw, had she been in her usual guise. And her cry was louder +than the shout of the men, or the clamour of the trumpets. No sooner +had he beheld the lady, than he became inflamed with her love, so +that it took entire possession of him. + +Then he inquired of the maiden who the lady was. "Heaven knows," +replied the maiden, "she may be said to be the fairest, and the most +chaste, and the most liberal, and the wisest, and the most noble of +women. And she is my mistress; and she is called the Countess of the +Fountain, the wife of him whom thou didst slay yesterday." "Verily," +said Owain, "she is the woman that I love best." "Verily," said the +maiden, "she shall also love thee not a little." + +And with that the maid arose, and kindled a fire, and filled a pot +with water, and placed it to warm; and she brought a towel of white +linen, and placed it around Owain's neck; and she took a goblet of +ivory, and a silver basin, and filled them with warm water, wherewith +she washed Owain's head. Then she opened a wooden casket, and drew +forth a razor, whose haft was of ivory, and upon which were two +rivets of gold. And she shaved his beard, and she dried his head, +and his throat, with the towel. Then she rose up from before Owain, +and brought him to eat. And truly Owain had never so good a meal, +nor was he ever so well served. + +When he had finished his repast, the maiden arranged his couch. +"Come here," said she, "and sleep, and I will go and woo for thee." +And Owain went to sleep, and the maiden shut the door of the chamber +after her, and went towards the Castle. When she came there, she +found nothing but mourning, and sorrow; and the Countess in her +chamber could not bear the sight of any one through grief. Luned +came and saluted her, but the Countess answered her not. And the +maiden bent down towards her, and said, "What aileth thee, that thou +answerest no one to-day?" "Luned," said the Countess, "what change +hath befallen thee, that thou hast not come to visit me in my grief? +It was wrong in thee, and I having made thee rich; it was wrong in +thee that thou didst not come to see me in my distress. That was +wrong in thee." "Truly," said Luned, "I thought thy good sense was +greater than I find it to be. Is it well for thee to mourn after +that good man, or for anything else, that thou canst not have?" "I +declare to heaven," said the Countess, "that in the whole world there +is not a man equal to him." "Not so," said Luned, "for an ugly man +would be as good as, or better than he." "I declare to heaven," said +the Countess, "that were it not repugnant to me to cause to be put to +death one whom I have brought up, I would have thee executed, for +making such a comparison to me. As it is, I will banish thee." "I +am glad," said Luned, "that thou hast no other cause to do so, than +that I would have been of service to thee where thou didst not know +what was to thine advantage. And henceforth evil betide whichever of +us shall make the first advance towards reconciliation to the other; +whether I should seek an invitation from thee, or thou of thine own +accord shouldst send to invite me." + +With that Luned went forth: and the Countess arose and followed her +to the door of the chamber, and began coughing loudly. And when +Luned looked back, the Countess beckoned to her; and she returned to +the Countess. "In truth," said the Countess, "evil is thy +disposition; but if thou knowest what is to my advantage, declare it +to me." "I will do so," quoth she. + +"Thou knowest that except by warfare and arms it is impossible for +thee to preserve thy possessions; delay not, therefore, to seek some +one who can defend them." "And how can I do that?" said the +Countess. "I will tell thee," said Luned. "Unless thou canst defend +the fountain, thou canst not maintain thy dominions; and no one can +defend the fountain, except it be a knight of Arthur's household; and +I will go to Arthur's Court, and ill betide me, if I return thence +without a warrior who can guard the fountain as well as, or even +better than, he who defended it formerly." "That will be hard to +perform," said the Countess. "Go, however, and make proof of that +which thou hast promised." + +Luned set out, under the pretence of going to Arthur's Court; but she +went back to the chamber where she had left Owain; and she tarried +there with him as long as it might have taken her to have travelled +to the Court of King Arthur. And at the end of that time, she +apparelled herself and went to visit the Countess. And the Countess +was much rejoiced when she saw her, and inquired what news she +brought from the Court. "I bring thee the best of news," said Luned, +"for I have compassed the object of my mission. When wilt thou, that +I should present to thee the chieftain who has come with me hither?" +"Bring him here to visit me to-morrow, at mid-day," said the +Countess, "and I will cause the town to be assembled by that time." + +And Luned returned home. And the next day, at noon, Owain arrayed +himself in a coat, and a surcoat, and a mantle of yellow satin, upon +which was a broad band of gold lace; and on his feet were high shoes +of variegated leather, which were fastened by golden clasps, in the +form of lions. And they proceeded to the chamber of the Countess. + +Right glad was the Countess of their coming, and she gazed +steadfastly upon Owain, and said, "Luned, this knight has not the +look of a traveller." "What harm is there in that, lady?" said +Luned. "I am certain," said the Countess, "that no other man than +this chased the soul from the body of my lord." "So much the better +for thee, lady," said Luned, "for had he not been stronger than thy +lord he could not have deprived him of life. There is no remedy for +that which is past, be it as it may." "Go back to thine abode," said +the Countess, "and I will take counsel." + +The next day the Countess caused all her subjects to assemble, and +showed them that her earldom was left defenceless, and that it could +not be protected but with horse and arms, and military skill. +"Therefore," said she, "this is what I offer for your choice: either +let one of you take me, or give your consent for me to take a husband +from elsewhere to defend my dominions." + +So they came to the determination that it was better that she should +have permission to marry some one from elsewhere; and, thereupon, she +sent for the bishops and archbishops to celebrate her nuptials with +Owain. And the men of the earldom did Owain homage. + +And Owain defended the Fountain with lance and sword. And this is +the manner in which he defended it: Whensoever a knight came there +he overthrew him, and sold him for his full worth, and what he thus +gained he divided among his barons and his knights; and no man in the +whole world could be more beloved than he was by his subjects. And +it was thus for the space of three years. + + +It befell that as Gwalchmai went forth one day with King Arthur, he +perceived him to be very sad and sorrowful. And Gwalchmai was much +grieved to see Arthur in this state; and he questioned him, saying, +"Oh, my lord! what has befallen thee?" "In sooth, Gwalchmai," said +Arthur, "I am grieved concerning Owain, whom I have lost these three +years, and I shall certainly die if the fourth year passes without my +seeing him. Now I am sure, that it is through the tale which Kynon +the son of Clydno related, that I have lost Owain." "There is no +need for thee," said Gwalchmai, "to summon to arms thy whole +dominions on this account, for thou thyself and the men of thy +household will be able to avenge Owain, if he be slain; or to set him +free, if he be in prison; and, if alive, to bring him back with +thee." And it was settled according to what Gwalchmai had said. + +Then Arthur and the men of his household prepared to go and seek +Owain, and their number was three thousand, besides their attendants. +And Kynon the son of Clydno acted as their guide. And Arthur came to +the Castle where Kynon had been before, and when he came there the +youths were shooting in the same place, and the yellow man was +standing hard by. When the yellow man saw Arthur he greeted him, and +invited him to the Castle; and Arthur accepted his invitation, and +they entered the Castle together. And great as was the number of his +retinue, their presence was scarcely observed in the Castle, so vast +was its extent. And the maidens rose up to wait on them, and the +service of the maidens appeared to them all to excel any attendance +they had ever met with; and even the pages who had charge of the +horses were no worse served, that night, than Arthur himself would +have been in his own palace. + +The next morning Arthur set out thence, with Kynon for his guide, and +came to the place where the black man was. And the stature of the +black man was more surprising to Arthur than it had been represented +to him. And they came to the top of the wooded steep, and traversed +the valley till they reached the green tree, where they saw the +fountain, and the bowl, and the slab. And upon that, Kai came to +Arthur and spoke to him. "My lord," said he, "I know the meaning of +all this, and my request is, that thou wilt permit me to throw the +water on the slab, and to receive the first adventure that may +befall." And Arthur gave him leave. + +Then Kai threw a bowlful of water upon the slab, and immediately +there came the thunder, and after the thunder the shower. And such a +thunderstorm they had never known before, and many of the attendants +who were in Arthur's train were killed by the shower. After the +shower had ceased the sky became clear; and on looking at the tree +they beheld it completely leafless. Then the birds descended upon +the tree, and the song of the birds was far sweeter than any strain +they had ever heard before. Then they beheld a knight on a coal- +black horse, clothed in black satin, coming rapidly towards them. +And Kai met him and encountered him, and it was not long before Kai +was overthrown. And the knight withdrew, and Arthur and his host +encamped for the night. + +And when they arose in the morning, they perceived the signal of +combat upon the lance of the Knight. And Kai came to Arthur, and +spoke to him: "My lord," said he, "though I was overthrown +yesterday, if it seem good to thee, I would gladly meet the Knight +again to-day." "Thou mayst do so," said Arthur. And Kai went +towards the Knight. And on the spot he overthrew Kai, and struck him +with the head of his lance in the forehead, so that it broke his +helmet and the head-piece, and pierced the skin and the flesh, the +breadth of the spear-head, even to the bone. And Kai returned to his +companions. + +After this, all the household of Arthur went forth, one after the +other, to combat the Knight, until there was not one that was not +overthrown by him, except Arthur and Gwalchmai. And Arthur armed +himself to encounter the Knight. "Oh, my lord," said Gwalchmai, +"permit me to fight with him first." And Arthur permitted him. And +he went forth to meet the Knight, having over himself and his horse a +satin robe of honour which had been sent him by the daughter of the +Earl of Rhangyw, and in this dress he was not known by any of the +host. And they charged each other, and fought all that day until the +evening, and neither of them was able to unhorse the other. + +The next day they fought with strong lances, and neither of them +could obtain the mastery. + +And the third day they fought with exceeding strong lances. And they +were incensed with rage, and fought furiously, even until noon. And +they gave each other such a shock that the girths of their horses +were broken, so that they fell over their horses' cruppers to the +ground. And they rose up speedily, and drew their swords, and +resumed the combat; and the multitude that witnessed their encounter +felt assured that they had never before seen two men so valiant or so +powerful. And had it been midnight, it would have been light from +the fire that flashed from their weapons. And the Knight gave +Gwalchmai a blow that turned his helmet from off his face, so that +the Knight knew that it was Gwalchmai. Then Owain said, "My lord +Gwalchmai, I did not know thee for my cousin, owing to the robe of +honour that enveloped thee; take my sword and my arms." Said +Gwalchmai, "Thou, Owain, art the victor; take thou my sword." And +with that Arthur saw that they were conversing, and advanced towards +them. "My lord Arthur," said Gwalchmai, "here is Owain, who has +vanquished me, and will not take my arms." "My lord," said Owain, +"it is he that has vanquished me, and he will not take my sword." +"Give me your swords," said Arthur, "and then neither of you has +vanquished the other." Then Owain put his arms around Arthur's neck, +and they embraced. And all the host hurried forward to see Owain, +and to embrace him; and there was nigh being a loss of life, so great +was the press. + +And they retired that night, and the next day Arthur prepared to +depart. "My lord," said Owain, "this is not well of thee; for I have +been absent from thee these three years, and during all that time, up +to this very day, I have been preparing a banquet for thee, knowing +that thou wouldst come to seek me. Tarry with me, therefore, until +thou and thy attendants have recovered the fatigues of the journey, +and have been anointed." + +And they all proceeded to the Castle of the Countess of the Fountain, +and the banquet which had been three years preparing was consumed in +three months. Never had they a more delicious or agreeable banquet. +And Arthur prepared to depart. Then he sent an embassy to the +Countess, to beseech her to permit Owain to go with him for the space +of three months, that he might show him to the nobles and the fair +dames of the Island of Britain. And the Countess gave her consent, +although it was very painful to her. So Owain came with Arthur to +the Island of Britain. And when he was once more amongst his kindred +and friends, he remained three years, instead of three months, with +them. + + +And as Owain one day sat at meat, in the city of Caerlleon upon Usk, +behold a damsel entered upon a bay horse, with a curling mane and +covered with foam, and the bridle and so much as was seen of the +saddle were of gold. And the damsel was arrayed in a dress of yellow +satin. And she came up to Owain, and took the ring from off his +hand. "Thus," said she, "shall be treated the deceiver, the traitor, +the faithless, the disgraced, and the beardless." And she turned her +horse's head and departed. + +Then his adventure came to Owain's remembrance, and he was sorrowful; +and having finished eating he went to his own abode and made +preparations that night. And the next day he arose but did not go to +the Court, but wandered to the distant parts of the earth and to +uncultivated mountains. And he remained there until all his apparel +was worn out, and his body was wasted away, and his hair was grown +long. And he went about with the wild beasts and fed with them, +until they became familiar with him; but at length he grew so weak +that he could no longer bear them company. Then he descended from +the mountains to the valley, and came to a park that was the fairest +in the world, and belonged to a widowed Countess. + +One day the Countess and her maidens went forth to walk by a lake, +that was in the middle of the park. And they saw the form of a man. +And they were terrified. Nevertheless they went near him, and +touched him, and looked at him. And they saw that there was life in +him, though he was exhausted by the heat of the sun. And the +Countess returned to the Castle, and took a flask full of precious +ointment, and gave it to one of her maidens. "Go with this," said +she, "and take with thee yonder horse and clothing, and place them +near the man we saw just now. And anoint him with this balsam, near +his heart; and if there is life in him, he will arise through the +efficacy of this balsam. Then watch what he will do." + +And the maiden departed from her, and poured the whole of the balsam +upon Owain, and left the horse and the garments hard by, and went a +little way off, and hid herself to watch him. In a short time she +saw him begin to move his arms; and he rose up, and looked at his +person, and became ashamed of the unseemliness of his appearance. +Then he perceived the horse and the garments that were near him. And +he crept forward till he was able to draw the garments to him from +off the saddle. And he clothed himself, and with difficulty mounted +the horse. Then the damsel discovered herself to him, and saluted +him. And he was rejoiced when he saw her, and inquired of her, what +land and what territory that was. "Truly," said the maiden, "a +widowed Countess owns yonder Castle; at the death of her husband, he +left her two Earldoms, but at this day she has but this one dwelling +that has not been wrested from her by a young Earl, who is her +neighbour, because she refused to become his wife." "That is pity," +said Owain. And he and the maiden proceeded to the Castle; and he +alighted there, and the maiden conducted him to a pleasant chamber, +and kindled a fire and left him. + +And the maiden came to the Countess, and gave the flask into her +hand. "Ha! maiden," said the Countess, "where is all the balsam?" +"Have I not used it all?" said she. "Oh, maiden," said the Countess, +"I cannot easily forgive thee this; it is sad for me to have wasted +seven-score pounds' worth of precious ointment upon a stranger whom I +know not. However, maiden, wait thou upon him, until he is quite +recovered." + +And the maiden did so, and furnished him with meat and drink, and +fire, and lodging, and medicaments, until he was well again. And in +three months he was restored to his former guise, and became even +more comely than he had ever been before. + +One day Owain heard a great tumult, and a sound of arms in the +Castle, and he inquired of the maiden the cause thereof. "The Earl," +said she, "whom I mentioned to thee, has come before the Castle, with +a numerous army, to subdue the Countess." And Owain inquired of her +whether the Countess had a horse and arms in her possession. "She +has the best in the world," said the maiden. "Wilt thou go and +request the loan of a horse and arms for me," said Owain, "that I may +go and look at this army?" "I will," said the maiden. + +And she came to the Countess, and told her what Owain had said. And +the Countess laughed. "Truly," said she, "I will even give him a +horse and arms for ever; such a horse and such arms had he never yet, +and I am glad that they should be taken by him to-day, lest my +enemies should have them against my will to-morrow. Yet I know not +what he would do with them." + +The Countess bade them bring out a beautiful black steed, upon which +was a beechen saddle, and a suit of armour, for man and horse. And +Owain armed himself, and mounted the horse, and went forth, attended +by two pages completely equipped, with horses and arms. And when +they came near to the Earl's army, they could see neither its extent +nor its extremity. And Owain asked the pages in which troop the Earl +was. "In yonder troop," said they, "in which are four yellow +standards. Two of them are before, and two behind him." "Now," said +Owain, "do you return and await me near the portal of the Castle." +So they returned, and Owain pressed forward until he met the Earl. +And Owain drew him completely out of his saddle, and turned his +horse's head towards the Castle, and though it was with difficulty, +he brought the Earl to the portal, where the pages awaited him. And +in they came. And Owain presented the Earl as a gift to the +Countess. And said to her, "Behold a requital to thee for thy +blessed balsam." + +The army encamped around the Castle. And the Earl restored to the +Countess the two Earldoms he had taken from her, as a ransom for his +life; and for his freedom he gave her the half of his own dominions, +and all his gold, and his silver, and his jewels, besides hostages. + +And Owain took his departure. And the Countess and all her subjects +besought him to remain, but Owain chose rather to wander through +distant lands and deserts. + +And as he journeyed, he heard a loud yelling in a wood. And it was +repeated a second and a third time. And Owain went towards the spot, +and beheld a huge craggy mound, in the middle of the wood; on the +side of which was a grey rock. And there was a cleft in the rock, +and a serpent was within the cleft. And near the rock stood a black +lion, and every time the lion sought to go thence, the serpent darted +towards him to attack him. And Owain unsheathed his sword, and drew +near to the rock; and as the serpent sprang out, he struck him with +his sword, and cut him in two. And he dried his sword, and went on +his way, as before. But behold the lion followed him, and played +about him, as though it had been a greyhound that he had reared. + +They proceeded thus throughout the day, until the evening. And when +it was time for Owain to take his rest, he dismounted, and turned his +horse loose in a flat and wooded meadow. And he struck fire, and +when the fire was kindled, the lion brought him fuel enough to last +for three nights. And the lion disappeared. And presently the lion +returned, bearing a fine large roebuck. And he threw it down before +Owain, who went towards the fire with it. + +And Owain took the roebuck, and skinned it, and placed collops of its +flesh upon skewers, around the fire. The rest of the buck he gave to +the lion to devour. While he was doing this, he heard a deep sigh +near him, and a second, and a third. And Owain called out to know +whether the sigh he heard proceeded from a mortal; and he received +answer that it did. "Who art thou?" said Owain. "Truly," said the +voice, "I am Luned, the handmaiden of the Countess of the Fountain." +"And what dost thou here?" said Owain. "I am imprisoned," said she, +"on account of the knight who came from Arthur's Court, and married +the Countess. And he stayed a short time with her, but he afterwards +departed for the Court of Arthur, and has not returned since. And he +was the friend I loved best in the world. And two of the pages in +the Countess's chamber traduced him, and called him a deceiver. And +I told them that they two were not a match for him alone. So they +imprisoned me in the stone vault, and said that I should be put to +death, unless he came himself to deliver me, by a certain day; and +that is no further off than the day after to-morrow. And I have no +one to send to seek him for me. And his name is Owain the son of +Urien." "And art thou certain that if that knight knew all this, he +would come to thy rescue?" "I am most certain of it," said she. + +When the collops were cooked, Owain divided them into two parts, +between himself and the maiden; and after they had eaten, they talked +together, until the day dawned. And the next morning Owain inquired +of the damsel, if there was any place where he could get food and +entertainment for that night. "There is, Lord," said she; "cross +over yonder, and go along the side of the river, and in a short time +thou wilt see a great Castle, in which are many towers, and the Earl +who owns that Castle is the most hospitable man in the world. There +thou mayst spend the night." + +Never did sentinel keep stricter watch over his lord, than the lion +that night over Owain. + +And Owain accoutred his horse, and passed across by the ford, and +came in sight of the Castle. And he entered it, and was honourably +received. And his horse was well cared for, and plenty of fodder was +placed before him. Then the lion went and lay down in the horse's +manger; so that none of the people of the Castle dared to approach +him. The treatment which Owain met with there was such as he had +never known elsewhere, for every one was as sorrowful as though death +had been upon him. And they went to meat; and the Earl sat upon one +side of Owain, and on the other side his only daughter. And Owain +had never seen any more lovely than she. Then the lion came and +placed himself between Owain's feet, and he fed him with every kind +of food that he took himself. And he never saw anything equal to the +sadness of the people. + +In the middle of the repast the Earl began to bid Owain welcome. +"Then," said Owain, "behold, it is time for thee to be cheerful." +"Heaven knows," said the Earl, "that it is not thy coming that makes +us sorrowful, but we have cause enough for sadness and care." "What +is that?" said Owain. "I have two sons," replied the Earl, "and +yesterday they went to the mountains to hunt. Now there is on the +mountain a monster who kills men and devours them, and he seized my +sons; and to-morrow is the time he has fixed to be here, and he +threatens that he will then slay my sons before my eyes, unless I +will deliver into his hands this my daughter. He has the form of a +man, but in stature he is no less than a giant." + +"Truly," said Owain, "that is lamentable. And which wilt thou do?" +"Heaven knows," said the Earl, "it will be better that my sons should +be slain against my will, than that I should voluntarily give up my +daughter to him to ill-treat and destroy." Then they talked about +other things, and Owain stayed there that night. + +The next morning they heard an exceeding great clamour, which was +caused by the coming of the giant with the two youths. And the Earl +was anxious both to protect his Castle and to release his two sons. +Then Owain put on his armour and went forth to encounter the giant, +and the lion followed him. And when the giant saw that Owain was +armed, he rushed towards him and attacked him. And the lion fought +with the giant much more fiercely than Owain did. "Truly," said the +giant, "I should find no difficulty in fighting with thee, were it +not for the animal that is with thee." Upon that Owain took the lion +back to the Castle and shut the gate upon him, and then he returned +to fight the giant, as before. And the lion roared very loud, for he +heard that it went hard with Owain. And he climbed up till he +reached the top of the Earl's hall, and thence he got to the top of +the Castle, and he sprang down from the walls and went and joined +Owain. And the lion gave the giant a stroke with his paw, which tore +him from his shoulder to his hip, and his heart was laid bare, and +the giant fell down dead. Then Owain restored the two youths to +their father. + +The Earl besought Owain to remain with him, and he would not, but set +forward towards the meadow where Luned was. And when he came there +he saw a great fire kindled, and two youths with beautiful curling +auburn hair were leading the maiden to cast her into the fire. And +Owain asked them what charge they had against her. And they told him +of the compact that was between them, as the maiden had done the +night before. "And," said they, "Owain has failed her, therefore we +are taking her to be burnt." "Truly," said Owain, "he is a good +knight, and if he knew that the maiden was in such peril, I marvel +that he came not to her rescue; but if you will accept me in his +stead, I will do battle with you." "We will," said the youths, "by +him who made us." + +And they attacked Owain, and he was hard beset by them. And with +that the lion came to Owain's assistance, and they two got the better +of the young men. And they said to him, "Chieftain, it was not +agreed that we should fight save with thyself alone, and it is harder +for us to contend with yonder animal than with thee." And Owain put +the lion in the place where the maiden had been imprisoned, and +blocked up the door with stones, and he went to fight with the young +men, as before. But Owain had not his usual strength, and the two +youths pressed hard upon him. And the lion roared incessantly at +seeing Owain in trouble; and he burst through the wall until he found +a way out, and rushed upon the young men, and instantly slew them. +So Luned was saved from being burned. + +Then Owain returned with Luned to the dominions of the Countess of +the Fountain. And when he went thence he took the Countess with him +to Arthur's Court, and she was his wife as long as she lived. + + +And then he took the road that led to the Court of the savage black +man, and Owain fought with him, and the lion did not quit Owain until +he had vanquished him. And when he reached the Court of the savage +black man he entered the hall, and beheld four-and-twenty ladies, the +fairest that could be seen. And the garments which they had on were +not worth four-and twenty pence, and they were as sorrowful as death. +And Owain asked them the cause of their sadness. And they said, "We +are the daughters of Earls, and we all came here with our husbands, +whom we dearly loved. And we were received with honour and +rejoicing. And we were thrown into a state of stupor, and while we +were thus, the demon who owns this Castle slew all our husbands, and +took from us our horses, and our raiment, and our gold, and our +silver; and the corpses of our husbands are still in this house, and +many others with them. And this, Chieftain, is the cause of our +grief, and we are sorry that thou art come hither, lest harm should +befall thee." + +And Owain was grieved when he heard this. And he went forth from the +Castle, and he beheld a knight approaching him, who saluted him in a +friendly and cheerful manner, as if he had been a brother. And this +was the savage black man. "In very sooth," said Owain, "it is not to +seek thy friendship that I am here." "In sooth," said he, "thou +shalt not find it then." And with that they charged each other, and +fought furiously. And Owain overcame him, and bound his hands behind +his back. Then the black savage besought Owain to spare his life, +and spoke thus: "My lord Owain," said he, "it was foretold that thou +shouldst come hither and vanquish me, and thou hast done so. I was a +robber here, and my house was a house of spoil; but grant me my life, +and I will become the keeper of an Hospice, and I will maintain this +house as an Hospice for weak and for strong, as long as I live, for +the good of thy soul." And Owain accepted this proposal of him, and +remained there that night. + +And the next day he took the four-and-twenty ladies, and their +horses, and their raiment, and what they possessed of goods and +jewels, and proceeded with them to Arthur's Court. And if Arthur was +rejoiced when he saw him, after he had lost him the first time, his +joy was now much greater. And of those ladies, such as wished to +remain in Arthur's Court remained there, and such as wished to depart +departed. + +And thenceforward Owain dwelt at Arthur's Court greatly beloved, as +the head of his household, until he went away with his followers; and +those were the army of three hundred ravens which Kenverchyn had left +him. And wherever Owain went with these he was victorious. + +And this is the tale of THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN. + + + +PEREDUR THE SON OF EVRAWC + + + +Earl Evrawc owned the Earldom of the North. And he had seven sons. +And Evrawc maintained himself not so much by his own possessions as +by attending tournaments, and wars, and combats. And, as it often +befalls those who join in encounters and wars, he was slain, and six +of his sons likewise. Now the name of his seventh son was Peredur, +and he was the youngest of them. And he was not of an age to go to +wars and encounters, otherwise he might have been slain as well as +his father and brothers. His mother was a scheming and thoughtful +woman, and she was very solicitous concerning this her only son and +his possessions. So she took counsel with herself to leave the +inhabited country, and to flee to the deserts and unfrequented +wildernesses. And she permitted none to bear her company thither but +women and boys, and spiritless men, who were both unaccustomed and +unequal to war and fighting. And none dared to bring either horses +or arms where her son was, lest he should set his mind upon them. +And the youth went daily to divert himself in the forest, by flinging +sticks and staves. And one day he saw his mother's flock of goats, +and near the goats two hinds were standing. And he marvelled greatly +that these two should be without horns, while the others had them. +And he thought they had long run wild, and on that account they had +lost their horns. And by activity and swiftness of foot, he drove +the hinds and the goats together into the house which there was for +the goats at the extremity of the forest. Then Peredur returned to +his mother. "Ah, mother," said he, "a marvellous thing have I seen +in the wood; two of thy goats have run wild, and lost their horns, +through their having been so long missing in the wood. And no man +had ever more trouble than I had to drive them in." Then they all +arose and went to see. And when they beheld the hinds they were +greatly astonished. + +And one day they saw three knights coming along the horse-road on the +borders of the forest. And the three knights were Gwalchmai the son +of Gwyar, and Geneir Gwystyl, and Owain the son of Urien. And Owain +kept on the track of the knight who had divided the apples in +Arthur's Court, whom they were in pursuit of. "Mother," said +Peredur, "what are those yonder?" "They are angels, my son," said +she. "By my faith," said Peredur, "I will go and become an angel +with them." And Peredur went to the road, and met them. "Tell me, +good soul," said Owain, "sawest thou a knight pass this way, either +to-day or yesterday?" "I know not," answered he, "what a knight is." +"Such an one as I am," said Owain. "If thou wilt tell me what I ask +thee, I will tell thee that which thou askest me." "Gladly will I do +so," replied Owain. "What is this?" demanded Peredur, concerning the +saddle. "It is a saddle," said Owain. Then he asked about all the +accoutrements which he saw upon the men, and the horses, and the +arms, and what they were for, and how they were used. And Owain +shewed him all these things fully, and told him what use was made of +them. "Go forward," said Peredur, "for I saw such an one as thou +inquirest for, and I will follow thee." + +Then Peredur returned to his mother and her company, and he said to +her, "Mother, those were not angels, but honourable knights." Then +his mother swooned away. And Peredur went to the place where they +kept the horses that carried firewood, and that brought meat and +drink from the inhabited country to the desert. And he took a bony +piebald horse, which seemed to him the strongest of them. And he +pressed a pack into the form of a saddle, and with twisted twigs he +imitated the trappings which he had seen upon the horses. And when +Peredur came again to his mother, the Countess had recovered from her +swoon. "My son," said she, "desirest thou to ride forth?" "Yes, +with thy leave," said he. "Wait, then, that I may counsel thee +before thou goest." "Willingly," he answered; "speak quickly." "Go +forward, then," she said, "to the Court of Arthur, where there are +the best, and the boldest, and the most bountiful of men. And +wherever thou seest a church, repeat there thy Paternoster unto it. +And if thou see meat and drink, and have need of them, and none have +the kindness or the courtesy to give them to thee, take them thyself. +If thou hear an outcry, proceed towards it, especially if it be the +outcry of a woman. If thou see a fair jewel, possess thyself of it, +and give it to another, for thus thou shalt obtain praise. If thou +see a fair woman, pay thy court to her, whether she will or no; for +thus thou wilt render thyself a better and more esteemed man than +thou wast before." + +After this discourse, Peredur mounted the horse, and taking a handful +of sharp-pointed forks in his hand, he rode forth. And he journeyed +two days and two nights in the woody wildernesses, and in desert +places, without food and without drink. And then he came to a vast +wild wood, and far within the wood he saw a fair even glade, and in +the glade he saw a tent, and the tent seeming to him to be a church, +he repeated his Paternoster to it. And he went towards it, and the +door of the tent was open. And a golden chair was near the door. +And on the chair sat a lovely auburn-haired maiden, with a golden +frontlet on her forehead, and sparkling stones in the frontlet, and +with a large gold ring on her hand. And Peredur dismounted, and +entered the tent. And the maiden was glad at his coming, and bade +him welcome. At the entrance of the tent he saw food, and two flasks +full of wine, and two loaves of fine wheaten flour, and collops of +the flesh of the wild boar. "My mother told me," said Peredur, +"wheresoever I saw meat and drink, to take it." "Take the meat and +welcome, chieftain," said she. So Peredur took half of the meat and +of the liquor himself, and left the rest to the maiden. And when +Peredur had finished eating, he bent upon his knee before the maiden. +"My mother," said he, "told me, wheresoever I saw a fair jewel, to +take it." "Do so, my soul," said she. So Peredur took the ring. +And he mounted his horse, and proceeded on his journey. + +After this, behold the knight came to whom the tent belonged; and he +was the Lord of the Glade. And he saw the track of the horse, and he +said to the maiden, "Tell me who has been here since I departed." "A +man," said she, "of wonderful demeanour." And she described to him +what Peredur's appearance and conduct had been. "Tell me," said he, +"did he offer thee any wrong?" "No," answered the maiden, "by my +faith, he harmed me not." "By my faith, I do not believe thee; and +until I can meet with him, and revenge the insult he has done me, and +wreak my vengeance upon him, thou shalt not remain two nights in the +same house." And the knight arose, and set forth to seek Peredur. + +Meanwhile Peredur journeyed on towards Arthur's Court. And before he +reached it, another knight had been there, who gave a ring of thick +gold at the door of the gate for holding his horse, and went into the +Hall where Arthur and his household, and Gwenhwyvar and her maidens, +were assembled. And the page of the chamber was serving Gwenhwyvar +with a golden goblet. Then the knight dashed the liquor that was +therein upon her face, and upon her stomacher, and gave her a violent +blow on the face, and said, "If any have the boldness to dispute this +goblet with me, and to revenge the insult to Gwenhwyvar, let him +follow me to the meadow, and there I will await him." So the knight +took his horse, and rode to the meadow. And all the household hung +down their heads, lest any of them should be requested to go and +avenge the insult to Gwenhwyvar. For it seemed to them, that no one +would have ventured on so daring an outrage, unless he possessed such +powers, through magic or charms, that none could be able to take +vengeance upon him. Then, behold, Peredur entered the Hall, upon the +bony piebald horse, with the uncouth trappings upon it; and in this +way he traversed the whole length of the Hall. In the centre of the +Hall stood Kai. "Tell me, tall man," said Peredur, "is that Arthur +yonder?" "What wouldest thou with Arthur?" asked Kai. "My mother +told me to go to Arthur, and receive the honour of knighthood." "By +my faith," said he, "thou art all too meanly equipped with horse and +with arms." Thereupon he was perceived by all the household, and +they threw sticks at him. Then, behold, a dwarf came forward. He +had already been a year at Arthur's Court, both he and a female +dwarf. They had craved harbourage of Arthur, and had obtained it; +and during the whole year, neither of them had spoken a single word +to any one. When the dwarf beheld Peredur, "Haha!" said he, "the +welcome of Heaven be unto thee, goodly Peredur, son of Evrawc, the +chief of warriors, and flower of knighthood." "Truly," said Kai, +"thou art ill-taught to remain a year mute at Arthur's Court, with +choice of society; and now, before the face of Arthur and all his +household, to call out, and declare such a man as this the chief of +warriors, and the flower of knighthood." And he gave him such a box +on the ear that he fell senseless to the ground. Then exclaimed the +female dwarf, "Haha! goodly Peredur, son of Evrawc; the welcome of +Heaven be unto thee, flower of knights, and light of chivalry." "Of +a truth, maiden," said Kai, "thou art ill-bred to remain mute for a +year at the Court of Arthur, and then to speak as thou dost of such a +man as this." And Kai kicked her with his foot, so that she fell to +the ground senseless. "Tall man," said Peredur, "shew me which is +Arthur." "Hold thy peace," said Kai, "and go after the knight who +went hence to the meadow, and take from him the goblet, and overthrow +him, and possess thyself of his horse and arms, and then thou shalt +receive the order of knighthood." "I will do so, tall man," said +Peredur. So he turned his horse's head towards the meadow. And when +he came there, the knight was riding up and down, proud of his +strength, and valour, and noble mien. "Tell me," said the knight, +"didst thou see any one coming after me from the Court?" "The tall +man that was there," said he, "desired me to come, and overthrow +thee, and to take from thee the goblet, and thy horse and thy armour +for myself." "Silence!" said the knight; "go back to the Court, and +tell Arthur, from me, either to come himself, or to send some other +to fight with me; and unless he do so quickly, I will not wait for +him." "By my faith," said Peredur, "choose thou whether it shall be +willingly or unwillingly, but I will have the horse, and the arms, +and the goblet." And upon this the knight ran at him furiously, and +struck him a violent blow with the shaft of his spear, between the +neck and the shoulder. "Haha! lad," said Peredur, "my mother's +servants were not used to play with me in this wise; therefore, thus +will I play with thee." And thereupon he struck him with a sharp- +pointed fork, and it hit him in the eye, and came out at the back of +his neck, so that he instantly fell down lifeless. + +"Verily," said Owain the son of Urien to Kai, "thou wert ill-advised, +when thou didst send that madman after the knight. For one of two +things must befall him. He must either be overthrown, or slain. If +he is overthrown by the knight, he will be counted by him to be an +honourable person of the Court, and an eternal disgrace will it be to +Arthur and his warriors. And if he is slain, the disgrace will be +the same, and moreover, his sin will be upon him; therefore will I go +to see what has befallen him." So Owain went to the meadow, and he +found Peredur dragging the man about. "What art thou doing thus?" +said Owain. "This iron coat," said Peredur, "will never come from +off him; not by my efforts, at any rate." And Owain unfastened his +armour and his clothes. "Here, my good soul," said he, "is a horse +and armour better than thine. Take them joyfully, and come with me +to Arthur, to receive the order of knighthood, for thou dost merit +it." "May I never shew my face again if I go," said Peredur; "but +take thou the goblet to Gwenhwyvar, and tell Arthur, that wherever I +am, I will be his vassal, and will do him what profit and service I +am able. And say that I will not come to his Court until I have +encountered the tall man that is there, to revenge the injury he did +to the dwarf and dwarfess." And Owain went back to the Court, and +related all these things to Arthur and Gwenhwyvar, and to all the +household. + +And Peredur rode forward. And as he proceeded, behold a knight met +him. "Whence comest thou?" said the knight. "I come from Arthur's +Court," said Peredur. "Art thou one of his men?" asked he. "Yes, by +my faith," he answered. "A good service, truly, is that of Arthur." +"Wherefore sayest thou so?" said Peredur. "I will tell thee," said +he; "I have always been Arthur's enemy, and all such of his men as I +have ever encountered I have slain." And without further parlance +they fought, and it was not long before Peredur brought him to the +ground, over his horse's crupper. Then the knight besought his +mercy. "Mercy thou shalt have," said Peredur, "if thou wilt make +oath to me, that thou wilt go to Arthur's Court, and tell him that it +was I that overthrew thee, for the honour of his service; and say, +that I will never come to the Court until I have avenged the insult +offered to the dwarf and dwarfess." The knight pledged him his faith +of this, and proceeded to the Court of Arthur, and said as he had +promised, and conveyed the threat to Kai. + +And Peredur rode forward. And within that week he encountered +sixteen knights, and overthrew them all shamefully. And they all +went to Arthur's Court, taking with them the same message which the +first knight had conveyed from Peredur, and the same threat which he +had sent to Kai. And thereupon Kai was reproved by Arthur; and Kai +was greatly grieved thereat. + +And Peredur rode forward. And he came to a vast and desert wood, on +the confines of which was a lake. And on the other side was a fair +castle. And on the border of the lake he saw a venerable, hoary- +headed man, sitting upon a velvet cushion, and having a garment of +velvet upon him. And his attendants were fishing in the lake. When +the hoary-headed man beheld Peredur approaching, he arose and went +towards the castle. And the old man was lame. Peredur rode to the +palace, and the door was open, and he entered the hall. And there +was the hoary-headed man sitting on a cushion, and a large blazing +fire burning before him. And the household and the company arose to +meet Peredur, and disarrayed him. And the man asked the youth to sit +on the cushion; and they sat down, and conversed together. When it +was time, the tables were laid, and they went to meat. And when they +had finished their meal, the man inquired of Peredur if he knew well +how to fight with the sword. "I know not," said Peredur, "but were I +to be taught, doubtless I should." "Whoever can play well with the +cudgel and shield, will also be able to fight with a sword." And the +man had two sons; the one had yellow hair, and the other auburn. +"Arise, youths," said he, "and play with the cudgel and the shield." +And so did they. "Tell me, my soul," said the man, "which of the +youths thinkest thou plays best." "I think," said Peredur, "that the +yellow-haired youth could draw blood from the other, if he chose." +"Arise thou, my life, and take the cudgel and the shield from the +hand of the youth with the auburn hair, and draw blood from the +yellow-haired youth if thou canst." So Peredur arose, and went to +play with the yellow-haired youth; and he lifted up his arm, and +struck him such a mighty blow, that his brow fell over his eye, and +the blood flowed forth. "Ah, my life," said the man, "come now, and +sit down, for thou wilt become the best fighter with the sword of any +in this island; and I am thy uncle, thy mother's brother. And with +me shalt thou remain a space, in order to learn the manners and +customs of different countries, and courtesy, and gentleness, and +noble bearing. Leave, then, the habits and the discourse of thy +mother, and I will be thy teacher; and I will raise thee to the rank +of knight from this time forward. And thus do thou. If thou seest +aught to cause thee wonder, ask not the meaning of it; if no one has +the courtesy to inform thee, the reproach will not fall upon thee, +but upon me that am thy teacher." And they had abundance of honour +and service. And when it was time they went to sleep. At the break +of day, Peredur arose, and took his horse, and with his uncle's +permission he rode forth. And he came to a vast desert wood, and at +the further end of the wood was a meadow, and on the other side of +the meadow he saw a large castle. And thitherward Peredur bent his +way, and he found the gate open, and he proceeded to the hall. And +he beheld a stately hoary-headed man sitting on one side of the hall, +and many pages around him, who arose to receive and to honour +Peredur. And they placed him by the side of the owner of the palace. +Then they discoursed together; and when it was time to eat, they +caused Peredur to sit beside the nobleman during the repast. And +when they had eaten and drunk as much as they desired, the nobleman +asked Peredur whether he could fight with a sword? "Were I to +receive instruction," said Peredur, "I think I could." Now, there +was on the floor of the hall a huge staple, as large as a warrior +could grasp. "Take yonder sword," said the man to Peredur, "and +strike the iron staple." So Peredur arose and struck the staple, so +that he cut it in two; and the sword broke into two parts also. +"Place the two parts together, and reunite them," and Peredur placed +them together, and they became entire as they were before. And a +second time he struck upon the staple, so that both it and the sword +broke in two, and as before they reunited. And the third time he +gave a like blow, and placed the broken parts together, and neither +the staple nor the sword would unite as before. "Youth," said the +nobleman, "come now, and sit down, and my blessing be upon thee. +Thou fightest best with the sword of any man in the kingdom. Thou +hast arrived at two-thirds of thy strength, and the other third thou +hast not yet obtained; and when thou attainest to thy full power, +none will be able to contend with thee. I am thy uncle, thy mother's +brother, and I am brother to the man in whose house thou wast last +night." Then Peredur and his uncle discoursed together, and he +beheld two youths enter the hall, and proceed up to the chamber, +bearing a spear of mighty size, with three streams of blood flowing +from the point to the ground. And when all the company saw this, +they began wailing and lamenting. But for all that, the man did not +break off his discourse with Peredur. And as he did not tell Peredur +the meaning of what he saw, he forbore to ask him concerning it. And +when the clamour had a little subsided, behold two maidens entered, +with a large salver between them, in which was a man's head, +surrounded by a profusion of blood. And thereupon the company of the +court made so great an outcry, that it was irksome to be in the same +hall with them. But at length they were silent. And when time was +that they should sleep, Peredur was brought into a fair chamber. + +And the next day, with his uncle's permission, he rode forth. And he +came to a wood, and far within the wood he heard a loud cry, and he +saw a beautiful woman with auburn hair, and a horse with a saddle +upon it, standing near her, and a corpse by her side. And as she +strove to place the corpse upon the horse, it fell to the ground, and +thereupon she made a great lamentation. "Tell me, sister," said +Peredur, "wherefore art thou bewailing?" "Oh! accursed Peredur, +little pity has my ill-fortune ever met with from thee." +"Wherefore," said Peredur, "am I accursed?" "Because thou wast the +cause of thy mother's death; for when thou didst ride forth against +her will, anguish seized upon her heart, so that she died; and +therefore art thou accursed. And the dwarf and the dwarfess that +thou sawest at Arthur's Court were the dwarfs of thy father and +mother; and I am thy foster-sister, and this was my wedded husband, +and he was slain by the knight that is in the glade in the wood; and +do not thou go near him, lest thou shouldest be slain by him +likewise." "My sister, thou dost reproach me wrongfully; through my +having so long remained amongst you, I shall scarcely vanquish him; +and had I continued longer, it would, indeed, be difficult for me to +succeed. Cease, therefore, thy lamenting, for it is of no avail, and +I will bury the body, and then I will go in quest of the knight, and +see if I can do vengeance upon him." And when he had buried the +body, they went to the place where the knight was, and found him +riding proudly along the glade; and he inquired of Peredur whence he +came. "I come from Arthur's Court." "And art thou one of Arthur's +men?" "Yes, by my faith." "A profitable alliance, truly, is that of +Arthur." And without further parlance, they encountered one another, +and immediately Peredur overthrew the knight, and he besought mercy +of Peredur. "Mercy shalt thou have," said he, "upon these terms, +that thou take this woman in marriage, and do her all the honour and +reverence in thy power, seeing thou hast, without cause, slain her +wedded husband; and that thou go to Arthur's Court, and shew him that +it was I that overthrew thee, to do him honour and service; and that +thou tell him that I will never come to his Court again until I have +met with the tall man that is there, to take vengeance upon him for +his insult to the dwarf and dwarfess." And he took the knight's +assurance, that he would perform all this. Then the knight provided +the lady with a horse and garments that were suitable for her, and +took her with him to Arthur's Court. And he told Arthur all that had +occurred, and gave the defiance to Kai. And Arthur and all his +household reproved Kai, for having driven such a youth as Peredur +from his Court. + +Said Owain the son of Urien, "This youth will never come into the +Court until Kai has gone forth from it." "By my faith," said Arthur, +"I will search all the deserts in the Island of Britain, until I find +Peredur, and then let him and his adversary do their utmost to each +other." + +Then Peredur rode forward. And he came to a desert wood, where he +saw not the track either of men or animals, and where there was +nothing but bushes and weeds. And at the upper end of the wood he +saw a vast castle, wherein were many strong towers; and when he came +near the gate, he found the weeds taller than he had seen them +elsewhere. And he struck the gate with the shaft of his lance, and +thereupon behold a lean, auburn-haired youth came to an opening in +the battlements. "Choose thou, chieftain," said he, "whether shall I +open the gate unto thee, or shall I announce unto those that are +chief, that thou art at the gateway?" "Say that I am here," said +Peredur, "and if it is desired that I should enter, I will go in." +And the youth came back, and opened the gate for Peredur. And when +he went into the hall, he beheld eighteen youths, lean and red- +headed, of the same height, and of the same aspect, and of the same +dress, and of the same age as the one who had opened the gate for +him. And they were well skilled in courtesy and in service. And +they disarrayed him. Then they sat down to discourse. Thereupon, +behold five maidens came from the chamber into the hall. And Peredur +was certain that he had never seen another of so fair an aspect as +the chief of the maidens. And she had an old garment of satin upon +her, which had once been handsome, but was then so tattered, that her +skin could be seen through it. And whiter was her skin than the +bloom of crystal, and her hair and her two eyebrows were blacker than +jet, and on her cheeks were two red spots, redder than whatever is +reddest. And the maiden welcomed Peredur, and put her arms about his +neck, and made him sit down beside her. Not long after this he saw +two nuns enter, and a flask full of wine was borne by one, and six +loaves of white bread by the other. "Lady," said they, "Heaven is +witness, that there is not so much of food and liquor as this left in +yonder Convent this night." Then they went to meat, and Peredur +observed that the maiden wished to give more of the food and of the +liquor to him than to any of the others. "My sister," said Peredur, +"I will share out the food and the liquor." "Not so, my soul," said +she. "By my faith but I will." So Peredur took the bread, and he +gave an equal portion of it to each alike, as well as a cup full of +the liquor. And when it was time for them to sleep, a chamber was +prepared for Peredur, and he went to rest. + +"Behold, sister," said the youths to the fairest and most exalted of +the maidens, "we have counsel for thee." "What may it be?" she +inquired. "Go to the youth that is in the upper chamber, and offer +to become his wife, or the lady of his love, if it seem well to him." +"That were indeed unfitting," said she. "Hitherto I have not been +the lady-love of any knight, and to make him such an offer before I +am wooed by him, that, truly, can I not do." "By our confession to +Heaven, unless thou actest thus, we will leave thee here to thy +enemies, to do as they will with thee." And through fear of this, +the maiden went forth; and shedding tears, she proceeded to the +chamber. And with the noise of the door opening, Peredur awoke; and +the maiden was weeping and lamenting. "Tell me, my sister," said +Peredur, "wherefore dost thou weep?" "I will tell thee, lord," said +she. "My father possessed these dominions as their chief, and this +palace was his, and with it he held the best earldom in the kingdom; +then the son of another earl sought me of my father, and I was not +willing to be given unto him, and my father would not give me against +my will, either to him or any earl in the world. And my father had +no child except myself. And after my father's death, these dominions +came into my own hands, and then was I less willing to accept him +than before. So he made war upon me, and conquered all my +possessions, except this one house. And through the valour of the +men whom thou hast seen, who are my foster-brothers, and the strength +of the house, it can never be taken while food and drink remain. And +now our provisions are exhausted; but, as thou hast seen, we have +been fed by the nuns, to whom the country is free. And at length +they also are without supply of food or liquor. And at no later date +than to-morrow, the earl will come against this place with all his +forces; and if I fall into his power, my fate will be no better than +to be given over to the grooms of his horses. Therefore, lord, I am +come to offer to place myself in thy hands, that thou mayest succour +me, either by taking me hence, or by defending me here, whichever may +seem best unto thee." "Go, my sister," said he, "and sleep; nor will +I depart from thee until I do that which thou requirest, or prove +whether I can assist thee or not." The maiden went again to rest; +and the next morning she came to Peredur, and saluted him. "Heaven +prosper thee, my soul, and what tidings dost thou bring?" "None +other, than that the earl and all his forces have alighted at the +gate, and I never beheld any place so covered with tents, and +thronged with knights challenging others to the combat." "Truly," +said Peredur, "let my horse be made ready." So his horse was +accoutred, and he arose and sallied forth to the meadow. And there +was a knight riding proudly along the meadow, having raised the +signal for battle. And they encountered, and Peredur threw the +knight over his horse's crupper to the ground. And at the close of +the day, one of the chief knights came to fight with him, and he +overthrew him also, so that he besought his mercy. "Who art thou?" +said Peredur. "Verily," said he, "I am Master of the Household to +the earl." "And how much of the countess's possessions is there in +thy power?" "The third part, verily," answered he. "Then," said +Peredur, "restore to her the third of her possessions in full, and +all the profit thou hast made by them, and bring meat and drink for a +hundred men, with their horses and arms, to her court this night. +And thou shalt remain her captive, unless she wish to take thy life." +And this he did forthwith. And that night the maiden was right +joyful, and they fared plenteously. + +And the next day Peredur rode forth to the meadow; and that day he +vanquished a multitude of the host. And at the close of the day, +there came a proud and stately knight, and Peredur overthrew him, and +he besought his mercy. "Who art thou?" said Peredur. "I am Steward +of the Palace," said he. "And how much of the maiden's possessions +are under thy control?" "One-third part," answered he. "Verily," +said Peredur, "thou shalt fully restore to the maiden her +possessions, and, moreover, thou shalt give her meat and drink for +two hundred men, and their horses and their arms. And for thyself, +thou shalt be her captive." And immediately it was so done. + +And the third day Peredur rode forth to the meadow; and he vanquished +more that day than on either of the preceding. And at the close of +the day, an earl came to encounter him, and he overthrew him, and he +besought his mercy. "Who art thou?" said Peredur. "I am the earl," +said he. "I will not conceal it from thee." "Verily," said Peredur, +"thou shalt restore the whole of the maiden's earldom, and shalt give +her thine own earldom in addition thereto, and meat and drink for +three hundred men, and their horses and arms, and thou thyself shalt +remain in her power." And thus it was fulfilled. And Peredur +tarried three weeks in the country, causing tribute and obedience to +be paid to the maiden, and the government to be placed in her hands. +"With thy leave," said Peredur, "I will go hence." "Verily, my +brother, desirest thou this?" "Yes, by my faith; and had it not been +for love of thee, I should not have been here thus long." "My soul," +said she, "who art thou?" "I am Peredur the son of Evrawc from the +North; and if ever thou art in trouble or in danger, acquaint me +therewith, and if I can, I will protect thee." + +So Peredur rode forth. And far thence there met him a lady, mounted +on a horse that was lean, and covered with sweat; and she saluted the +youth. "Whence comest thou, my sister?" Then she told him the cause +of her journey. Now she was the wife of the Lord of the Glade. +"Behold," said he, "I am the knight through whom thou art in trouble, +and he shall repent it, who has treated thee thus." Thereupon, +behold a knight rode up, and he inquired of Peredur, if he had seen a +knight such as he was seeking. "Hold thy peace," said Peredur, "I am +he whom thou seekest; and by my faith, thou deservest ill of thy +household for thy treatment of the maiden, for she is innocent +concerning me." So they encountered, and they were not long in +combat ere Peredur overthrew the knight, and he besought his mercy. +"Mercy thou shalt have," said Peredur, "so thou wilt return by the +way thou camest, and declare that thou holdest the maiden innocent, +and so that thou wilt acknowledge unto her the reverse thou hast +sustained at my hands." And the knight plighted him his faith +thereto. + +Then Peredur rode forward. And above him he beheld a castle, and +thitherward he went. And he struck upon the gate with his lance, and +then, behold, a comely auburn-haired youth opened the gate, and he +had the stature of a warrior, and the years of a boy. And when +Peredur came into the hall, there was a tall and stately lady sitting +in a chair, and many handmaidens around her; and the lady rejoiced at +his coming. And when it was time, they went to meat. And after +their repast was finished, "It were well for thee, chieftain," said +she, "to go elsewhere to sleep." "Wherefore can I not sleep here?" +said Peredur. "Nine sorceresses are here, my soul, of the +sorceresses of Gloucester, and their father and their mother are with +them; and unless we can make our escape before daybreak, we shall be +slain; and already they have conquered and laid waste all the +country, except this one dwelling." "Behold," said Peredur, "I will +remain here to-night, and if you are in trouble, I will do you what +service I can; but harm shall you not receive from me." So they went +to rest. And with the break of day, Peredur heard a dreadful outcry. +And he hastily arose, and went forth in his vest and his doublet, +with his sword about his neck, and he saw a sorceress overtake one of +the watch, who cried out violently. Peredur attacked the sorceress, +and struck her upon the head with his sword, so that he flattened her +helmet and her head-piece like a dish upon her head. "Thy mercy, +goodly Peredur, son of Evrawc, and the mercy of Heaven." "How +knowest thou, hag, that I am Peredur?" "By destiny, and the +foreknowledge that I should suffer harm from thee. And thou shalt +take a horse and armour of me; and with me thou shalt go to learn +chivalry and the use of thy arms." Said Peredur, "Thou shalt have +mercy, if thou pledge thy faith thou wilt never more injure the +dominions of the Countess." And Peredur took surety of this, and +with permission of the Countess, he set forth with the sorceress to +the palace of the sorceresses. And there he remained for three +weeks, and then he made choice of a horse and arms, and went his way. + +And in the evening he entered a valley, and at the head of the valley +he came to a hermit's cell, and the hermit welcomed him gladly, and +there he spent the night. And in the morning he arose, and when he +went forth, behold a shower of snow had fallen the night before, and +a hawk had killed a wild fowl in front of the cell. And the noise of +the horse scared the hawk away, and a raven alighted upon the bird. +And Peredur stood, and compared the blackness of the raven and the +whiteness of the snow, and the redness of the blood, to the hair of +the lady that best he loved, which was blacker than jet, and to her +skin which was whiter than the snow, and to the two red spots upon +her cheeks, which were redder than the blood upon the snow appeared +to be. + +Now Arthur and his household were in search of Peredur. "Know ye," +said Arthur, "who is the knight with the long spear that stands by +the brook up yonder?" "Lord," said one of them, "I will go and learn +who he is." So the youth came to the place where Peredur was, and +asked him what he did thus, and who he was. And from the intensity +with which he thought upon the lady whom best he loved, he gave him +no answer. Then the youth thrust at Peredur with his lance, and +Peredur turned upon him, and struck him over his horse's crupper to +the ground. And after this, four-and-twenty youths came to him, and +he did not answer one more than another, but gave the same reception +to all, bringing them with one single thrust to the ground. And then +came Kai, and spoke to Peredur rudely and angrily; and Peredur took +him with his lance under the jaw, and cast him from him with a +thrust, so that he broke his arm and his shoulder-blade, and he rode +over him one-and-twenty times. And while he lay thus, stunned with +the violence of the pain that he had suffered, his horse returned +back at a wild and prancing pace. And when the household saw the +horse come back without his rider, they rode forth in haste to the +place where the encounter had been. And when they first came there, +they thought that Kai was slain; but they found that if he had a +skilful physician, he yet might live. And Peredur moved not from his +meditation, on seeing the concourse that was around Kai. And Kai was +brought to Arthur's tent, and Arthur caused skilful physicians to +come to him. And Arthur was grieved that Kai had met with this +reverse, for he loved him greatly. + +"Then," said Gwalchmai, "it is not fitting that any should disturb an +honourable knight from his thought unadvisedly; for either he is +pondering some damage that he has sustained, or he is thinking of the +lady whom best he loves. And through such ill-advised proceeding, +perchance this misadventure has befallen him who last met with him. +And if it seem well to thee, lord, I will go and see if this knight +hath changed from his thought; and if he has, I will ask him +courteously to come and visit thee." Then Kai was wroth, and he +spoke angry and spiteful words. "Gwalchmai," said he, "I know that +thou wilt bring him because he is fatigued. Little praise and +honour, nevertheless, wilt thou have from vanquishing a weary knight, +who is tired with fighting. Yet thus hast thou gained the advantage +over many. And while thy speech and thy soft words last, a coat of +thin linen were armour sufficient for thee, and thou wilt not need to +break either lance or sword in fighting with the knight in the state +he is in." Then said Gwalchmai to Kai, "Thou mightest use more +pleasant words, wert thou so minded: and it behoves thee not upon me +to wreak thy wrath and thy displeasure. Methinks I shall bring the +knight hither with me without breaking either my arm or my shoulder." +Then said Arthur to Gwalchmai, "Thou speakest like a wise and prudent +man; go, and take enough of armour about thee, and choose thy horse." +And Gwalchmai accoutred himself and rode forward hastily to the place +where Peredur was. + +And Peredur was resting on the shaft of his spear, pondering the same +thought, and Gwalchmai came to him without any signs of hostility, +and said to him, "If I thought that it would be as agreeable to thee +as it would be to me, I would converse with thee. I have also a +message from Arthur unto thee, to pray thee to come and visit him. +And two men have been before on this errand." "That is true," said +Peredur, "and uncourteously they came. They attacked me, and I was +annoyed thereat, for it was not pleasing to me to be drawn from the +thought that I was in, for I was thinking of the lady whom best I +love, and thus was she brought to my mind: --I was looking upon the +snow, and upon the raven, and upon the drops of the blood of the bird +that the hawk had killed upon the snow. And I bethought me that her +whiteness was like that of the snow, and that the blackness of her +hair and her eyebrows like that of the raven, and that the two red +spots upon her cheeks were like the two drops of blood." Said +Gwalchmai, "This was not an ungentle thought, and I should marvel if +it were pleasant to thee to be drawn from it." "Tell me," said +Peredur, "is Kai in Arthur's Court?" "He is," said he, "and behold +he is the knight that fought with thee last; and it would have been +better for him had he not come, for his arm and his shoulder-blade +were broken with the fall which he had from thy spear." "Verily," +said Peredur, "I am not sorry to have thus begun to avenge the insult +to the dwarf and dwarfess." Then Gwalchmai marvelled to hear him +speak of the dwarf and the dwarfess; and he approached him, and threw +his arms around his neck, and asked him what was his name. "Peredur +the son of Evrawc am I called," said he; "and thou, Who art thou?" +"I am called Gwalchmai," he replied. "I am right glad to meet with +thee," said Peredur, "for in every country where I have been I have +heard of thy fame for prowess and uprightness, and I solicit thy +fellowship." "Thou shalt have it, by my faith, and grant me thine," +said he, "Gladly will I do so," answered Peredur. + +So they rode forth together joyfully towards the place where Arthur +was, and when Kai saw them coming, he said, "I knew that Gwalchmai +needed not to fight the knight. And it is no wonder that he should +gain fame; more can he do by his fair words than I by the strength of +my arm." And Peredur went with Gwalchmai to his tent, and they took +off their armour. And Peredur put on garments like those that +Gwalchmai wore, and they went together unto Arthur, and saluted him. +"Behold, lord," said Gwalchmai, "him whom thou hast sought so long." +"Welcome unto thee, chieftain," said Arthur. "With me thou shalt +remain; and had I known thy valour had been such, thou shouldst not +have left me as thou didst; nevertheless, this was predicted of thee +by the dwarf and the dwarfess, whom Kai ill-treated and whom thou +hast avenged." And hereupon, behold there came the Queen and her +handmaidens, and Peredur saluted them. And they were rejoiced to see +him, and bade him welcome. And Arthur did him great honour and +respect, and they returned towards Caerlleon. + +And the first night Peredur came to Caerlleon to Arthur's Court, and +as he walked in the city after his repast, behold, there met him +Angharad Law Eurawc. "By my faith, sister," said Peredur, "thou art +a beauteous and lovely maiden; and, were it pleasing to thee, I could +love thee above all women." "I pledge my faith," said she, "that I +do not love thee, nor will I ever do so." "I also pledge my faith," +said Peredur, "that I will never speak a word to any Christian again, +until thou come to love me above all men." + +The next day Peredur went forth by the high road, along a mountain- +ridge, and he saw a valley of a circular form, the confines of which +were rocky and wooded. And the flat part of the valley was in +meadows, and there were fields betwixt the meadows and the wood. And +in the bosom of the wood he saw large black houses of uncouth +workmanship. And he dismounted, and led his horse towards the wood. +And a little way within the wood he saw a rocky ledge, along which +the road lay. And upon the ledge was a lion bound by a chain, and +sleeping. And beneath the lion he saw a deep pit of immense size, +full of the bones of men and animals. And Peredur drew his sword and +struck the lion, so that he fell into the mouth of the pit and hung +there by the chain; and with a second blow he struck the chain and +broke it, and the lion fell into the pit; and Peredur led his horse +over the rocky ledge, until he came into the valley. And in the +centre of the valley he saw a fair castle, and he went towards it. +And in the meadow by the castle he beheld a huge grey man sitting, +who was larger than any man he had ever before seen. And two young +pages were shooting the hilts of their daggers, of the bone of the +sea-horse. And one of the pages had red hair, and the other auburn. +And they went before him to the place where the grey man was, and +Peredur saluted him. And the grey man said, "Disgrace to the beard +of my porter." Then Peredur understood that the porter was the +lion.--And the grey man and the pages went together into the castle, +and Peredur accompanied them; and he found it a fair and noble place. +And they proceeded to the hall, and the tables were already laid, and +upon them was abundance of food and liquor. And thereupon he saw an +aged woman and a young woman come from the chamber; and they were the +most stately women he had ever seen. Then they washed and went to +meat, and the grey man sat in the upper seat at the head of the +table, and the aged woman next to him. And Peredur and the maiden +were placed together, and the two young pages served them. And the +maiden gazed sorrowfully upon Peredur, and Peredur asked the maiden +wherefore she was sad. "For thee, my soul; for, from when I first +beheld thee, I have loved thee above all men. And it pains me to +know that so gentle a youth as thou should have such a doom as awaits +thee to-morrow. Sawest thou the numerous black houses in the bosom +of the wood? All these belong to the vassals of the grey man yonder, +who is my father. And they are all giants. And to-morrow they will +rise up against thee, and will slay thee. And the Round Valley is +this valley called." "Listen, fair maiden, wilt thou contrive that +my horse and arms be in the same lodging with me to-night?" "Gladly +will I cause it so to be, by Heaven, if I can." + +And when it was time for them to sleep rather than to carouse, they +went to rest. And the maiden caused Peredur's horse and arms to be +in the same lodging with him. And the next morning Peredur heard a +great tumult of men and horses around the castle. And Peredur arose, +and armed himself and his horse, and went to the meadow. Then the +aged woman and the maiden came to the grey man: "Lord," said they, +"take the word of the youth, that he will never disclose what he has +seen in this place, and we will be his sureties that he keep it." "I +will not do so, by my faith," said the grey man. So Peredur fought +with the host, and towards evening he had slain the one-third of them +without receiving any hurt himself. Then said the aged woman, +"Behold, many of thy host have been slain by the youth; do thou, +therefore, grant him mercy." "I will not grant it, by my faith," +said he. And the aged woman and the fair maiden were upon the +battlements of the castle, looking forth. And at that juncture, +Peredur encountered the yellow-haired youth and slew him. "Lord," +said the maiden, "grant the young man mercy." "That will I not do, +by Heaven," he replied; and thereupon Peredur attacked the auburn- +haired youth, and slew him likewise. "It were better that thou hadst +accorded mercy to the youth before he had slain thy two sons; for now +scarcely wilt thou thyself escape from him." "Go, maiden, and +beseech the youth to grant mercy unto us, for we yield ourselves into +his hands." So the maiden came to the place where Peredur was, and +besought mercy for her father, and for all such of his vassals as had +escaped alive. "Thou shalt have it, on condition that thy father and +all that are under him go and render homage to Arthur, and tell him +that it was his vassal Peredur that did him this service." "This +will we do willingly, by Heaven." "And you shall also receive +baptism; and I will send to Arthur, and beseech him to bestow this +valley upon thee and upon thy heirs after thee for ever." Then they +went in, and the grey man and the tall woman saluted Peredur. And +the grey man said unto him, "Since I have possessed this valley I +have not seen any Christian depart with his life, save thyself. And +we will go to do homage to Arthur, and to embrace the faith and be +baptized." Then said Peredur, "To Heaven I render thanks that I have +not broken my vow to the lady that best I love, which was, that I +would not speak one word unto any Christian." + +That night they tarried there. And the next day, in the morning, the +grey man, with his company, set forth to Arthur's Court; and they did +homage unto Arthur, and he caused them to be baptized. And the grey +man told Arthur that it was Peredur that had vanquished them. And +Arthur gave the valley to the grey man and his company, to hold it of +him as Peredur had besought. And with Arthur's permission, the grey +man went back to the Round Valley. + +Peredur rode forward next day, and he traversed a vast tract of +desert, in which no dwellings were. And at length he came to a +habitation, mean and small. And there he heard that there was a +serpent that lay upon a gold ring, and suffered none to inhabit the +country for seven miles around. And Peredur came to the place where +he heard the serpent was. And angrily, furiously, and desperately +fought he with the serpent; and at last he killed it, and took away +the ring. And thus he was for a long time without speaking a word to +any Christian. And therefrom he lost his colour and his aspect, +through extreme longing after the Court of Arthur, and the society of +the lady whom best he loved, and of his companions. Then he +proceeded forward to Arthur's Court, and on the road there met him +Arthur's household going on a particular errand, with Kai at their +head. And Peredur knew them all, but none of the household +recognized him. "Whence comest thou, chieftain?" said Kai. And this +he asked him twice and three times, and he answered him not. And Kai +thrust him through the thigh with his lance. And lest he should be +compelled to speak, and to break his vow, he went on without +stopping. "Then," said Gwalchmai, "I declare to Heaven, Kai, that +thou hast acted ill in committing such an outrage on a youth like +this, who cannot speak." + +And Gwalchmai returned back to Arthur's Court. "Lady," said he to +Gwenhwyvar, "seest thou how wicked an outrage Kai has committed upon +this youth who cannot speak; for Heaven's sake, and for mine, cause +him to have medical care before I come back, and I will repay thee +the charge." + +And before the men returned from their errand, a knight came to the +meadow beside Arthur's Palace, to dare some one to the encounter. +And his challenge was accepted; and Peredur fought with him, and +overthrew him. And for a week he overthrew one knight every day. + +And one day, Arthur and his household were going to Church, and they +beheld a knight who had raised the signal for combat. "Verily," said +Arthur, "by the valour of men, I will not go hence until I have my +horse and my arms to overthrow yonder boor." Then went the +attendants to fetch Arthur's horse and arms. And Peredur met the +attendants as they were going back, and he took the horse and arms +from them, and proceeded to the meadow; and all those who saw him +arise and go to do battle with the knight, went upon the tops of the +houses, and the mounds, and the high places, to behold the combat. +And Peredur beckoned with his hand to the knight to commence the +fight. And the knight thrust at him, but he was not thereby moved +from where he stood. And Peredur spurred his horse, and ran at him +wrathfully, furiously, fiercely, desperately, and with mighty rage, +and he gave him a thrust, deadly-wounding, severe, furious, adroit, +and strong, under his jaw, and raised him out of his saddle, and cast +him a long way from him. And Peredur went back, and left the horse +and the arms with the attendant as before, and he went on foot to the +Palace. + +Then Peredur went by the name of the Dumb Youth. And behold, +Angharad Law Eurawc met him. "I declare to Heaven, chieftain," said +she, "woful is it that thou canst not speak; for couldst thou speak, +I would love thee best of all men; and by my faith, although thou +canst not, I do love thee above all." "Heaven reward thee, my +sister," said Peredur, "by my faith I also do love thee." Thereupon +it was known that he was Peredur. And then he held fellowship with +Gwalchmai, and Owain the son of Urien, and all the household, and he +remained in Arthur's Court. + + +Arthur was in Caerlleon upon Usk; and he went to hunt, and Peredur +went with him. And Peredur let loose his dog upon a hart, and the +dog killed the hart in a desert place. And a short space from him he +saw signs of a dwelling, and towards the dwelling he went, and he +beheld a hall, and at the door of the hall he found bald swarthy +youths playing at chess. And when he entered, he beheld three +maidens sitting on a bench, and they were all clothed alike, as +became persons of high rank. And he came, and sat by them upon the +bench; and one of the maidens looked steadfastly upon Peredur, and +wept. And Peredur asked her wherefore she was weeping. "Through +grief, that I should see so fair a youth as thou art, slain." "Who +will slay me?" inquired Peredur. "If thou art so daring as to remain +here to-night, I will tell thee." "How great soever my danger may be +from remaining here, I will listen unto thee." "This Palace is owned +by him who is my father," said the maiden, "and he slays every one +who comes hither without his leave." "What sort of a man is thy +father, that he is able to slay every one thus?" "A man who does +violence and wrong unto his neighbours, and who renders justice unto +none." And hereupon he saw the youths arise and clear the chessmen +from the board. And he heard a great tumult; and after the tumult +there came in a huge black one-eyed man, and the maidens arose to +meet him. And they disarrayed him, and he went and sat down; and +after he had rested and pondered awhile, he looked at Peredur, and +asked who the knight was. "Lord," said one of the maidens, "he is +the fairest and gentlest youth that ever thou didst see. And for the +sake of Heaven, and of thine own dignity, have patience with him." +"For thy sake I will have patience, and I will grant him his life +this night." Then Peredur came towards them to the fire, and partook +of food and liquor, and entered into discourse with the ladies. And +being elated with the liquor, he said to the black man, "It is a +marvel to me, so mighty as thou sayest thou art, who could have put +out thine eye." "It is one of my habits," said the black man, "that +whosoever puts to me the question which thou hast asked, shall not +escape with his life, either as a free gift or for a price." "Lord," +said the maiden, "whatsoever he may say to thee in jest, and through +the excitement of liquor, make good that which thou saidst and didst +promise me just now." "I will do so, gladly, for thy sake," said he. +"Willingly will I grant him his life this night." And that night +thus they remained. + +And the next day the black man got up, and put on his armour, and +said to Peredur, "Arise, man, and suffer death." And Peredur said +unto him, "Do one of two things, black man; if thou wilt fight with +me, either throw off thy own armour, or give arms to me, that I may +encounter thee." "Ha, man," said he, "couldst thou fight, if thou +hadst arms? Take, then, what arms thou dost choose." And thereupon +the maiden came to Peredur with such arms as pleased him; and he +fought with the black man, and forced him to crave his mercy. "Black +man, thou shalt have mercy, provided thou tell me who thou art, and +who put out thine eye." "Lord, I will tell thee; I lost it in +fighting with the Black Serpent of the Carn. There is a mound, which +is called the Mound of Mourning; and on the mound there is a carn, +and in the carn there is a serpent, and on the tail of the serpent +there is a stone, and the virtues of the stone are such, that +whosoever should hold it in one hand, in the other he will have as +much gold as he may desire. And in fighting with this serpent was it +that I lost my eye. And the Black Oppressor am I called. And for +this reason I am called the Black Oppressor, that there is not a +single man around me whom I have not oppressed, and justice have I +done unto none." "Tell me," said Peredur, "how far is it hence?" +"The same day that thou settest forth, thou wilt come to the Palace +of the Sons of the King of the Tortures." "Wherefore are they called +thus?" "The Addanc of the Lake slays them once every day. When thou +goest thence, thou wilt come to the Court of the Countess of the +Achievements." "What achievements are there?" asked Peredur. "Three +hundred men there are in her household, and unto every stranger that +comes to the Court, the achievements of her household are related. +And this is the manner of it,--the three hundred men of the household +sit next unto the Lady; and that not through disrespect unto the +guests, but that they may relate the achievements of the household. +And the day that thou goest thence, thou wilt reach the Mound of +Mourning, and round about the mound there are the owners of three +hundred tents guarding the serpent." "Since thou hast, indeed, been +an oppressor so long," said Peredur, "I will cause that thou continue +so no longer." So he slew him. + +Then the maiden spoke, and began to converse with him. "If thou wast +poor when thou camest here, henceforth thou wilt be rich through the +treasure of the black man whom thou hast slain. Thou seest the many +lovely maidens that there are in this Court; thou shalt have her whom +thou best likest for the lady of thy love." "Lady, I came not hither +from my country to woo; but match yourselves as it liketh you with +the comely youths I see here; and none of your goods do I desire, for +I need them not." Then Peredur rode forward, and he came to the +Palace of the Sons of the King of the Tortures; and when he entered +the Palace, he saw none but women; and they rose up, and were joyful +at his coming; and as they began to discourse with him, he beheld a +charger arrive, with a saddle upon it, and a corpse in the saddle. +And one of the women arose, and took the corpse from the saddle, and +anointed it in a vessel of warm water, which was below the door, and +placed precious balsam upon it; and the man rose up alive, and came +to the place where Peredur was, and greeted him, and was joyful to +see him. And two other men came in upon their saddles, and the +maiden treated these two in the same manner as she had done the +first. Then Peredur asked the chieftain wherefore it was thus. And +they told him, that there was an Addanc in a cave, which slew them +once every day. And thus they remained that night. + +And next morning the youths arose to sally forth, and Peredur +besought them, for the sake of the ladies of their love, to permit +him to go with them; but they refused him, saying, "If thou shouldst +be slain there, thou hast none to bring thee back to life again." +And they rode forward, and Peredur followed after them; and, after +they had disappeared out of his sight, he came to a mound, whereon +sat the fairest lady he had ever beheld. "I know thy quest," said +she; "thou art going to encounter the Addanc, and he will slay thee, +and that not by courage, but by craft. He has a cave, and at the +entrance of the cave there is a stone pillar, and he sees every one +that enters, and none see him; and from behind the pillar he slays +every one with a poisonous dart. And if thou wouldst pledge me thy +faith to love me above all women, I would give thee a stone, by which +thou shouldst see him when thou goest in, and he should not see +thee." "I will, by my troth," said Peredur, "for when first I beheld +thee I loved thee; and where shall I seek thee?" "When thou seekest +me, seek towards India." And the maiden vanished, after placing the +stone in Peredur's hand. + +And he came towards a valley, through which ran a river; and the +borders of the valley were wooded, and on each side of the river were +level meadows. And on one side of the river he saw a flock of white +sheep, and on the other a flock of black sheep. And whenever one of +the white sheep bleated, one of the black sheep would cross over and +become white; and when one of the black sheep bleated, one of the +white sheep would cross over and become black. And he saw a tall +tree by the side of the river, one half of which was in flames from +the root to the top, and the other half was green and in full leaf. +And nigh thereto he saw a youth sitting upon a mound, and two +greyhounds, white-breasted and spotted, in leashes, lying by his +side. And certain was he that he had never seen a youth of so royal +a bearing as he. And in the wood opposite he heard hounds raising a +herd of deer. And Peredur saluted the youth, and the youth greeted +him in return. And there were three roads leading from the mound; +two of them were wide roads, and the third was more narrow. And +Peredur inquired where the three roads went. "One of them goes to my +palace," said the youth; "and one of two things I counsel thee to do; +either to proceed to my palace, which is before thee, and where thou +wilt find my wife, or else to remain here to see the hounds chasing +the roused deer from the wood to the plain. And thou shalt see the +best greyhounds thou didst ever behold, and the boldest in the chase, +kill them by the water beside us; and when it is time to go to meat, +my page will come with my horse to meet me, and thou shalt rest in my +palace to-night." "Heaven reward thee; but I cannot tarry, for +onward must I go." "The other road leads to the town, which is near +here, and wherein food and liquor may be bought; and the road which +is narrower than the others goes towards the cave of the Addanc." +"With thy permission, young man, I will go that way." + +And Peredur went towards the cave. And he took the stone in his left +hand, and his lance in his right. And as he went in he perceived the +Addanc, and he pierced him through with his lance, and cut off his +head. And as he came from the cave, behold the three companions were +at the entrance; and they saluted Peredur, and told him that there +was a prediction that he should slay that monster. And Peredur gave +the head to the young men, and they offered him in marriage whichever +of the three sisters he might choose, and half their kingdom with +her. "I came not hither to woo," said Peredur, "but if peradventure +I took a wife, I should prefer your sister to all others." And +Peredur rode forward, and he heard a noise behind him. And he looked +back, and saw a man upon a red horse, with red armour upon him; and +the man rode up by his side, and saluted him, and wished him the +favour of Heaven and of man. And Peredur greeted the youth kindly. +"Lord, I come to make a request unto thee." "What wouldest thou?" +"That thou shouldest take me as thine attendant." "Whom then should +I take as my attendant, if I did so?" "I will not conceal from thee +what kindred I am of. Etlym Gleddyv Coch am I called, an Earl from +the East Country." "I marvel that thou shouldest offer to become +attendant to a man whose possessions are no greater than thine own; +for I have but an earldom like thyself. But since thou desirest to +be my attendant, I will take thee joyfully." + +And they went forward to the Court of the Countess, and all they of +the Court were glad at their coming; and they were told it was not +through disrespect they were placed below the household, but that +such was the usage of the Court. For, whoever should overthrow the +three hundred men of her household, would sit next the Countess, and +she would love him above all men. And Peredur having overthrown the +three hundred men of her household, sat down beside her, and the +Countess said, "I thank Heaven that I have a youth so fair and so +valiant as thou, since I have not obtained the man whom best I love." +"Who is he whom best thou lovest?" "By my faith, Etlym Gleddyv Coch +is the man whom I love best, and I have never seen him." "Of a +truth, Etlym is my companion; and behold here he is, and for his sake +did I come to joust with thy household. And he could have done so +better than I, had it pleased him. And I do give thee unto him." +"Heaven reward thee, fair youth, and I will take the man whom I love +above all others." And the Countess became Etlym's bride from that +moment. + +And the next day Peredur set forth towards the Mound of Mourning. +"By thy hand, lord, but I will go with thee," said Etlym. Then they +went forwards till they came in sight of the mound and the tents. +"Go unto yonder men," said Peredur to Etlym, "and desire them to come +and do me homage." So Etlym went unto them, and said unto them +thus,--"Come and do homage to my lord." "Who is thy lord?" said +they. "Peredur with the long lance is my lord," said Etlym. "Were +it permitted to slay a messenger, thou shouldest not go back to thy +lord alive, for making unto Kings, and Earls, and Barons so arrogant +a demand as to go and do him homage." Peredur desired him to go back +to them, and to give them their choice, either to do him homage, or +to do battle with him. And they chose rather to do battle. And that +day Peredur overthrew the owners of a hundred tents; and the next day +he overthrew the owners of a hundred more; and the third day the +remaining hundred took counsel to do homage to Peredur. And Peredur +inquired of them, wherefore they were there. And they told him they +were guarding the serpent until he should die. "For then should we +fight for the stone among ourselves, and whoever should be conqueror +among us would have the stone." "Await here," said Peredur, "and I +will go to encounter the serpent." "Not so, lord," said they; "we +will go altogether to encounter the serpent." "Verily," said +Peredur, "that will I not permit; for if the serpent be slain, I +shall derive no more fame therefrom than one of you." Then he went +to the place where the serpent was, and slew it, and came back to +them, and said, "Reckon up what you have spent since you have been +here, and I will repay you to the full." And he paid to each what he +said was his claim. And he required of them only that they should +acknowledge themselves his vassals. And he said to Etlym, "Go back +unto her whom thou lovest best, and I will go forwards, and I will +reward thee for having been my attendant." And he gave Etlym the +stone. "Heaven repay thee and prosper thee," said Etlym. + +And Peredur rode thence, and he came to the fairest valley he had +ever seen, through which ran a river; and there he beheld many tents +of various colours. And he marvelled still more at the number of +water-mills and of wind-mills that he saw. And there rode up with +him a tall auburn-haired man, in workman's garb, and Peredur inquired +of him who he was. "I am the chief miller," said he, "of all the +mills yonder." "Wilt thou give me lodging?" said Peredur. "I will, +gladly," he answered. And Peredur came to the miller's house, and +the miller had a fair and pleasant dwelling. And Peredur asked money +as a loan from the miller, that he might buy meat and liquor for +himself and for the household, and he promised that he would pay him +again ere he went thence. And he inquired of the miller, wherefore +such a multitude was there assembled. Said the miller to Peredur, +"One thing is certain: either thou art a man from afar, or thou art +beside thyself. The Empress of Cristinobyl the Great is here; and +she will have no one but the man who is most valiant; for riches does +she not require. And it was impossible to bring food for so many +thousands as are here, therefore were all these mills constructed." +And that night they took their rest. + +And the next day Peredur arose, and he equipped himself and his horse +for the tournament. And among the other tents he beheld one, which +was the fairest he had ever seen. And he saw a beauteous maiden +leaning her head out of a window of the tent, and he had never seen a +maiden more lovely than she. And upon her was a garment of satin. +And he gazed fixedly on the maiden, and began to love her greatly. +And he remained there, gazing upon the maiden from morning until mid- +day, and from mid-day until evening; and then the tournament was +ended and he went to his lodging and drew off his armour. Then he +asked money of the miller as a loan, and the miller's wife was wroth +with Peredur; nevertheless, the miller lent him the money. And the +next day he did in like manner as he had done the day before. And at +night he came to his lodging, and took money as a loan from the +miller. And the third day, as he was in the same place, gazing upon +the maiden, he felt a hard blow between the neck and the shoulder, +from the edge of an axe. And when he looked behind him, he saw that +it was the miller; and the miller said to him, "Do one of two things: +either turn thy head from hence, or go to the tournament." And +Peredur smiled on the miller, and went to the tournament; and all +that encountered him that day he overthrew. And as many as he +vanquished he sent as a gift to the Empress, and their horses and +arms he sent as a gift to the wife of the miller, in payment of the +borrowed money. Peredur attended the tournament until all were +overthrown, and he sent all the men to the prison of the Empress, and +the horses and arms to the wife of the miller, in payment of the +borrowed money. And the Empress sent to the Knight of the Mill, to +ask him to come and visit her. And Peredur went not for the first +nor for the second message. And the third time she sent a hundred +knights to bring him against his will, and they went to him and told +him their mission from the Empress. And Peredur fought well with +them, and caused them to be bound like stags, and thrown into the +mill-dyke. And the Empress sought advice of a wise man who was in +her counsel; and he said to her, "With thy permission, I will go to +him myself." So he came to Peredur, and saluted him, and besought +him, for the sake of the lady of his love, to come and visit the +Empress. And they went, together with the miller. And Peredur went +and sat down in the outer chamber of the tent, and she came and +placed herself by his side. And there was but little discourse +between them. And Peredur took his leave, and went to his lodging. + +And the next day he came to visit her, and when he came into the tent +there was no one chamber less decorated than the others. And they +knew not where he would sit. And Peredur went and sat beside the +Empress, and discoursed with her courteously. And while they were +thus, they beheld a black man enter with a goblet full of wine in his +hand. And he dropped upon his knee before the Empress, and besought +her to give it to no one who would not fight with him for it. And +she looked upon Peredur. "Lady," said he, "bestow on me the goblet." +And Peredur drank the wine, and gave the goblet to the miller's wife. +And while they were thus, behold there entered a black man of larger +stature than the other, with a wild beast's claw in his hand, wrought +into the form of a goblet and filled with wine. And he presented it +to the Empress, and besought her to give it to no one but the man who +would fight with him. "Lady," said Peredur, "bestow it on me." And +she gave it to him. And Peredur drank the wine, and sent the goblet +to the wife of the miller. And while they were thus, behold a rough- +looking, crisp-haired man, taller than either of the others, came in +with a bowl in his hand full of wine; and he bent upon his knee, and +gave it into the hands of the Empress, and he besought her to give it +to none but him who would fight with him for it; and she gave it to +Peredur, and he sent it to the miller's wife. And that night Peredur +returned to his lodging; and the next day he accoutred himself and +his horse, and went to the meadow and slew the three men. Then +Peredur proceeded to the tent, and the Empress said to him, "Goodly +Peredur, remember the faith thou didst pledge me when I gave thee the +stone, and thou didst kill the Addanc." "Lady," answered he, "thou +sayest truth, I do remember it." And Peredur was entertained by the +Empress fourteen years, as the story relates. + + +Arthur was at Caerlleon upon Usk, his principal palace; and in the +centre of the floor of the hall were four men sitting on a carpet of +velvet, Owain the son of Urien, and Gwalchmai the son of Gwyar, and +Howel the son of Emyr Llydaw, and Peredur of the long lance. And +thereupon they saw a black curly-headed maiden enter, riding upon a +yellow mule, with jagged thongs in her hand to urge it on; and having +a rough and hideous aspect. Blacker were her face and her two hands +than the blackest iron covered with pitch; and her hue was not more +frightful than her form. High cheeks had she, and a face lengthened +downwards, and a short nose with distended nostrils. And one eye was +of a piercing mottled grey, and the other was as black as jet, deep- +sunk in her head. And her teeth were long and yellow, more yellow +were they than the flower of the broom. And her stomach rose from +the breast-bone, higher than her chin. And her back was in the shape +of a crook, and her legs were large and bony. And her figure was +very thin and spare, except her feet and her legs, which were of huge +size. And she greeted Arthur and all his household except Peredur. +And to Peredur she spoke harsh and angry words. "Peredur, I greet +thee not, seeing that thou dost not merit it. Blind was fate in +giving thee fame and favour. When thou wast in the Court of the Lame +King, and didst see there the youth bearing the streaming spear, from +the points of which were drops of blood flowing in streams, even to +the hand of the youth, and many other wonders likewise, thou didst +not inquire their meaning nor their cause. Hadst thou done so, the +King would have been restored to health, and his dominions to peace. +Whereas from henceforth, he will have to endure battles and +conflicts, and his knights will perish, and wives will be widowed, +and maidens will be left portionless, and all this is because of +thee." Then said she unto Arthur, "May it please thee, lord, my +dwelling is far hence, in the stately castle of which thou hast +heard, and therein are five hundred and sixty-six knights of the +order of Chivalry, and the lady whom best he loves with each; and +whoever would acquire fame in arms, and encounters, and conflicts, he +will gain it there, if he deserve it. And whoso would reach the +summit of fame and of honour, I know where he may find it. There is +a castle on a lofty mountain, and there is a maiden therein, and she +is detained a prisoner there, and whoever shall set her free will +attain the summit of the fame of the world." And thereupon she rode +away. + +Said Gwalchmai, "By my faith, I will not rest tranquilly until I have +proved if I can release the maiden." And many of Arthur's household +joined themselves with him. Then, likewise, said Peredur, "By my +faith, I will not rest tranquilly until I know the story and the +meaning of the lance whereof the black maiden spoke." And while they +were equipping themselves, behold a knight came to the gate. And he +had the size and the strength of a warrior, and was equipped with +arms and habiliments. And he went forward, and saluted Arthur and +all his household, except Gwalchmai. And the knight had upon his +shoulder a shield, ingrained with gold, with a fesse of azure blue +upon it, and his whole armour was of the same hue. And he said to +Gwalchmai, "Thou didst slay my lord by thy treachery and deceit, and +that will I prove upon thee." Then Gwalchmai rose up. "Behold," +said he, "here is my gage against thee, to maintain, either in this +place or wherever else thou wilt, that I am not a traitor or +deceiver." "Before the King whom I obey, will I that my encounter +with thee take place," said the knight. "Willingly," said Gwalchmai; +"go forward, and I will follow thee." So the knight went forth, and +Gwalchmai accoutred himself, and there was offered unto him abundance +of armour, but he would take none but his own. And when Gwalchmai +and Peredur were equipped, they set forth to follow him, by reason of +their fellowship and of the great friendship that was between them. +And they did not go after him in company together, but each went his +own way. + +At the dawn of day Gwalchmai came to a valley, and in the valley he +saw a fortress, and within the fortress a vast palace and lofty +towers around it. And he beheld a knight coming out to hunt from the +other side, mounted on a spirited black snorting palfrey, that +advanced at a prancing pace, proudly stepping, and nimbly bounding, +and sure of foot; and this was the man to whom the palace belonged. +And Gwalchmai saluted him. "Heaven prosper thee, chieftain," said +he, "and whence comest thou?" "I come," answered Gwalchmai, "from +the Court of Arthur." "And art thou Arthur's vassal?" "Yes, by my +faith," said Gwalchmai. "I will give thee good counsel," said the +knight. "I see that thou art tired and weary; go unto my palace, if +it may please thee, and tarry there to-night." "Willingly, lord," +said he, "and Heaven reward thee." "Take this ring as a token to the +porter, and go forward to yonder tower, and therein thou wilt find my +sister." And Gwalchmai went to the gate, and showed the ring, and +proceeded to the tower. And on entering he beheld a large blazing +fire, burning without smoke and with a bright and lofty flame, and a +beauteous and stately maiden was sitting on a chair by the fire. And +the maiden was glad at his coming, and welcomed him, and advanced to +meet him. And he went and sat beside the maiden, and they took their +repast. And when their repast was over, they discoursed pleasantly +together. And while they were thus, behold there entered a venerable +hoary-headed man. "Ah! base girl," said he, "if thou didst think it +was right for thee to entertain and to sit by yonder man, thou +wouldest not do so." And he withdrew his head, and went forth. "Ah! +chieftain," said the maiden, "if thou wilt do as I counsel thee, thou +wilt shut the door, lest the man should have a plot against thee." +Upon that Gwalchmai arose, and when he came near unto the door, the +man, with sixty others, fully armed, were ascending the tower. And +Gwalchmai defended the door with a chessboard, that none might enter +until the man should return from the chase. And thereupon, behold +the Earl arrived. "What is all this?" asked he. "It is a sad +thing," said the hoary-headed man; "the young girl yonder has been +sitting and eating with him who slew your father. He is Gwalchmai, +the son of Gwyar." "Hold thy peace, then," said the Earl, "I will go +in." And the Earl was joyful concerning Gwalchmai. "Ha! chieftain," +said he, "it was wrong of thee to come to my court, when thou knewest +that thou didst slay my father; and though we cannot avenge him, +Heaven will avenge him upon thee." "My soul," said Gwalchmai, "thus +it is: I came not here either to acknowledge or to deny having slain +thy father; but I am on a message from Arthur, and therefore do I +crave the space of a year until I shall return from my embassy, and +then, upon my faith, I will come back unto this palace, and do one of +two things, either acknowledge it, or deny it." And the time was +granted him willingly; and he remained there that night. And the +next morning he rode forth. And the story relates nothing further of +Gwalchmai respecting this adventure. + +And Peredur rode forward. And he wandered over the whole island, +seeking tidings of the black maiden, and he could meet with none. +And he came to an unknown land, in the centre of a valley, watered by +a river. And as he traversed the valley he beheld a horseman coming +towards him, and wearing the garments of a priest; and he besought +his blessing. "Wretched man," said he, "thou meritest no blessing, +and thou wouldest not be profited by one, seeing that thou art clad +in armour on such a day as this." "And what day is to-day?" said +Peredur. "To-day is Good Friday," he answered. "Chide me not that I +knew not this, seeing that it is a year to-day since I journeyed +forth from my country." Then he dismounted, and led his horse in his +hand. And he had not proceeded far along the high road before he +came to a cross road, and the cross road traversed a wood. And on +the other side of the wood he saw an unfortified castle, which +appeared to be inhabited. And at the gate of the castle there met +him the priest whom he had seen before, and he asked his blessing. +"The blessing of Heaven be unto thee," said he, "it is more fitting +to travel in thy present guise than as thou wast erewhile; and this +night thou shalt tarry with me." So he remained there that night. + +And the next day Peredur sought to go forth. "To-day may no one +journey. Thou shalt remain with me to-day and to-morrow, and the day +following, and I will direct thee as best I may to the place which +thou art seeking." And the fourth day Peredur sought to go forth, +and he entreated the priest to tell him how he should find the Castle +of Wonders. "What I know thereof I will tell thee," he replied. "Go +over yonder mountain, and on the other side of the mountain thou wilt +come to a river, and in the valley wherein the river runs is a King's +palace, wherein the King sojourned during Easter. And if thou mayest +have tidings anywhere of the Castle of Wonders, thou wilt have them +there." + +Then Peredur rode forward. And he came to the valley in which was +the river, and there met him a number of men going to hunt, and in +the midst of them was a man of exalted rank, and Peredur saluted him. +"Choose, chieftain," said the man, "whether thou wilt go with me to +the chase, or wilt proceed to my palace, and I will dispatch one of +my household to commend thee to my daughter, who is there, and who +will entertain thee with food and liquor until I return from hunting; +and whatever may be thine errand, such as I can obtain for thee thou +shalt gladly have." And the King sent a little yellow page with him +as an attendant; and when they came to the palace the lady had +arisen, and was about to wash before meat. Peredur went forward, and +she saluted him joyfully, and placed him by her side. And they took +their repast. And whatsoever Peredur said unto her, she laughed +loudly, so that all in the palace could hear. Then spoke the yellow +page to the lady. "By my faith," said he, "this youth is already thy +husband; or if he be not, thy mind and thy thoughts are set upon +him." And the little yellow page went unto the King, and told him +that it seemed to him that the youth whom he had met with was his +daughter's husband, or if he were not so already that he would +shortly become so unless he were cautious. "What is thy counsel in +this matter, youth?" said the King. "My counsel is," he replied, +"that thou set strong men upon him, to seize him, until thou hast +ascertained the truth respecting this." So he set strong men upon +Peredur, who seized him and cast him into prison. And the maiden +went before her father, and asked him wherefore he had caused the +youth from Arthur's Court to be imprisoned. "In truth," he answered, +"he shall not be free to-night, nor to-morrow, nor the day following, +and he shall not come from where he is." She replied not to what the +King had said, but she went to the youth. "Is it unpleasant to thee +to be here?" said she. "I should not care if I were not," he +replied. "Thy couch and thy treatment shall be in no wise inferior +to that of the King himself, and thou shalt have the best +entertainment that the palace affords. And if it were more pleasing +to thee that my couch should be here, that I might discourse with +thee, it should be so, cheerfully." "This can I not refuse," said +Peredur. And he remained in prison that night. And the maiden +provided all that she had promised him. + +And the next day Peredur heard a tumult in the town. "Tell me, fair +maiden, what is that tumult?" said Peredur. "All the King's hosts +and his forces have come to the town to-day." "And what seek they +here?" he inquired. "There is an Earl near this place who possesses +two Earldoms, and is as powerful as a King; and an engagement will +take place between them to-day." "I beseech thee," said Peredur, "to +cause a horse and arms to be brought, that I may view the encounter, +and I promise to come back to my prison again." "Gladly," said she, +"will I provide thee with horse and arms." So she gave him a horse +and arms, and a bright scarlet robe of honour over his armour, and a +yellow shield upon his shoulder. And he went to the combat; and as +many of the Earl's men as encountered him that day he overthrew; and +he returned to his prison. And the maiden asked tidings of Peredur, +and he answered her not a word. And she went and asked tidings of +her father, and inquired who had acquitted himself best of the +household. And he said that he knew not, but that it was a man with +a scarlet robe of honour over his armour, and a yellow shield upon +his shoulder. Then she smiled, and returned to where Peredur was, +and did him great honour that night. And for three days did Peredur +slay the Earl's men; and before any one could know who he was, he +returned to his prison. And the fourth day Peredur slew the Earl +himself. And the maiden went unto her father, and inquired of him +the news. "I have good news for thee," said the King; "the Earl is +slain, and I am the owner of his two Earldoms." "Knowest thou, lord, +who slew him?" "I do not know," said the King. "It was the knight +with the scarlet robe of honour and the yellow shield." "Lord," said +she, "I know who that is." "By Heaven!" he exclaimed, "who is he?" +"Lord," she replied, "he is the knight whom thou hast imprisoned." +Then he went unto Peredur, and saluted him, and told him that he +would reward the service he had done him, in any way he might desire. +And when they went to meat, Peredur was placed beside the King, and +the maiden on the other side of Peredur. "I will give thee," said +the King, "my daughter in marriage, and half my kingdom with her, and +the two Earldoms as a gift." "Heaven reward thee, lord," said +Peredur, "but I came not here to woo." "What seekest thou then, +chieftain?" "I am seeking tidings of the Castle of Wonders." "Thy +enterprise is greater, chieftain, than thou wilt wish to pursue," +said the maiden, "nevertheless, tidings shalt thou have of the +Castle, and thou shalt have a guide through my father's dominions, +and a sufficiency of provisions for thy journey, for thou art, O +chieftain, the man whom best I love." Then she said to him, "Go over +yonder mountain, and thou wilt find a lake, and in the middle of the +lake there is a Castle, and that is the Castle that is called the +Castle of Wonders; and we know not what wonders are therein, but thus +is it called." + +And Peredur proceeded towards the Castle, and the gate of the Castle +was open. And when he came to the hall, the door was open, and he +entered. And he beheld a chessboard in the hall, and the chessmen +were playing against each other, by themselves. And the side that he +favoured lost the game, and thereupon the others set up a shout, as +though they had been living men. And Peredur was wroth, and took the +chessmen in his lap, and cast the chessboard into the lake. And when +he had done thus, behold the black maiden came in, and she said to +him, "The welcome of Heaven be not unto thee. Thou hadst rather do +evil than good." "What complaint hast thou against me, maiden?" said +Peredur. "That thou hast occasioned unto the Empress the loss of her +chessboard, which she would not have lost for all her empire. And +the way in which thou mayest recover the chessboard is, to repair to +the Castle of Ysbidinongyl, where is a black man, who lays waste the +dominions of the Empress; and if thou canst slay him, thou wilt +recover the chessboard. But if thou goest there, thou wilt not +return alive." "Wilt thou direct me thither?" said Peredur. "I will +show thee the way," she replied. So he went to the Castle of +Ysbidinongyl, and he fought with the black man. And the black man +besought mercy of Peredur. "Mercy will I grant thee," said he, "on +condition that thou cause the chessboard to be restored to the place +where it was when I entered the hall." Then the maiden came to him, +and said, "The malediction of Heaven attend thee for thy work, since +thou hast left that monster alive, who lays waste all the possessions +of the Empress." "I granted him his life," said Peredur, "that he +might cause the chessboard to be restored." "The chessboard is not +in the place where thou didst find it; go back, therefore, and slay +him," answered she. So Peredur went back, and slew the black man. +And when he returned to the palace, he found the black maiden there. +"Ah! maiden," said Peredur, "where is the Empress?" "I declare to +Heaven that thou wilt not see her now, unless thou dost slay the +monster that is in yonder forest." "What monster is there?" "It is +a stag that is as swift as the swiftest bird; and he has one horn in +his forehead, as long as the shaft of a spear, and as sharp as +whatever is sharpest. And he destroys the branches of the best trees +in the forest, and he kills every animal that he meets with therein; +and those that he doth not slay perish of hunger. And what is worse +than that, he comes every night, and drinks up the fish-pond, and +leaves the fishes exposed, so that for the most part they die before +the water returns again." "Maiden," said Peredur, "wilt thou come +and show me this animal?" "Not so," said the maiden, "for he has not +permitted any mortal to enter the forest for above a twelvemonth. +Behold, here is a little dog belonging to the Empress, which will +rouse the stag, and will chase him towards thee, and the stag will +attack thee." Then the little dog went as a guide to Peredur, and +roused the stag, and brought him towards the place where Peredur was. +And the stag attacked Peredur, and he let him pass by him, and as he +did so, he smote off his head with his sword. And while he was +looking at the head of the stag, he saw a lady on horseback coming +towards him. And she took the little dog in the lappet of her cap, +and the head and the body of the stag lay before her. And around the +stag's neck was a golden collar. "Ha! chieftain," said she, +"uncourteously hast thou acted in slaying the fairest jewel that was +in my dominions." "I was entreated so to do; and is there any way by +which I can obtain thy friendship?" "There is," she replied. "Go +thou forward unto yonder mountain, and there thou wilt find a grove; +and in the grove there is a cromlech; do thou there challenge a man +three times to fight, and thou shalt have my friendship." + +So Peredur proceeded onward, and came to the side of the grove, and +challenged any man to fight. And a black man arose from beneath the +cromlech, mounted upon a bony horse, and both he and his horse were +clad in huge rusty armour. And they fought. And as often as Peredur +cast the black man to the earth, he would jump again into his saddle. +And Peredur dismounted, and drew his sword; and thereupon the black +man disappeared with Peredur's horse and his own, so that he could +not gain sight of him a second time. And Peredur went along the +mountain, and on the other side of the mountain he beheld a castle in +the valley, wherein was a river. And he went to the castle; and as +he entered it, he saw a hall, and the door of the hall was open, and +he went in. And there he saw a lame grey-headed man sitting on one +side of the hall, with Gwalchmai beside him. And Peredur beheld his +horse, which the black man had taken, in the same stall with that of +Gwalchmai. And they were glad concerning Peredur. And he went and +seated himself on the other side of the hoary-headed man. Then, +behold a yellow-haired youth came, and bent upon the knee before +Peredur, and besought his friendship. "Lord," said the youth, "it +was I that came in the form of the black maiden to Arthur's Court, +and when thou didst throw down the chessboard, and when thou didst +slay the black man of Ysbidinongyl, and when thou didst slay the +stag, and when thou didst go to fight the black man of the cromlech. +And I came with the bloody head in the salver, and with the lance +that streamed with blood from the point to the hand, all along the +shaft; and the head was thy cousin's, and he was killed by the +sorceresses of Gloucester, who also lamed thine uncle; and I am thy +cousin. And there is a prediction that thou art to avenge these +things." Then Peredur and Gwalchmai took counsel, and sent to Arthur +and his household, to beseech them to come against the sorceresses. +And they began to fight with them; and one of the sorceresses slew +one of Arthur's men before Peredur's face, and Peredur bade her +forbear. And the sorceress slew a man before Peredur's face a second +time, and a second time he forbad her. And the third time the +sorceress slew a man before the face of Peredur; and then Peredur +drew his sword, and smote the sorceress on the helmet; and all her +head-armour was split in two parts. And she set up a cry, and +desired the other sorceresses to flee, and told them that this was +Peredur, the man who had learnt Chivalry with them, and by whom they +were destined to be slain. Then Arthur and his household fell upon +the sorceresses, and slew the sorceresses of Gloucester every one. +And thus is it related concerning the Castle of Wonders. + + + +GERAINT THE SON OF ERBIN + + + +Arthur was accustomed to hold his Court at Caerlleon upon Usk. And +there he held it seven Easters and five Christmases. And once upon a +time he held his Court there at Whitsuntide. For Caerlleon was the +place most easy of access in his dominions, both by sea and by land. +And there were assembled nine crowned kings, who were his +tributaries, and likewise earls and barons. For they were his +invited guests at all the high festivals, unless they were prevented +by any great hindrance. And when he was at Caerlleon, holding his +Court, thirteen churches were set apart for mass. And thus were they +appointed: one church for Arthur, and his kings, and his guests; and +the second for Gwenhwyvar and her ladies; and the third for the +Steward of the Household and the suitors; and the fourth for the +Franks and the other officers; and the other nine churches were for +the nine Masters of the Household and chiefly for Cwalchmai; for he, +from the eminence of his warlike fame, and from the nobleness of his +birth, was the most exalted of the nine. And there was no other +arrangement respecting the churches than that which we have mentioned +above. + +Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr was the chief porter; but he did not himself +perform the office, except at one of the three high festivals, for he +had seven men to serve him, and they divided the year amongst them. +They were Grynn, and Pen Pighon, and Llaes Cymyn, and Gogyfwlch, and +Gwrdnei with cat's eyes, who could see as well by night as by day, +and Drem the son of Dremhitid, and Clust the son of Clustveinyd; and +these were Arthur's guards. And on Whit-Tuesday, as the King sat at +the banquet, lo! there entered a tall, fair-headed youth, clad in a +coat and a surcoat of diapered satin, and a golden-hilted sword about +his neck, and low shoes of leather upon his feet. And he came, and +stood before Arthur. "Hail to thee, Lord!" said he. "Heaven prosper +thee," he answered, "and be thou welcome. Dost thou bring any new +tidings?" "I do, Lord," he said. "I know thee not," said Arthur. +"It is a marvel to me that thou dost not know me. I am one of thy +foresters, Lord, in the Forest of Dean, and my name is Madawc, the +son of Twrgadarn." "Tell me thine errand," said Arthur. "I will do +so, Lord," said he. "In the Forest I saw a stag, the like of which +beheld I never yet." "What is there about him," asked Arthur, "that +thou never yet didst see his like?" "He is of pure white, Lord, and +he does not herd with any other animal through stateliness and pride, +so royal is his bearing. And I come to seek thy counsel, Lord, and +to know thy will concerning him." "It seems best to me," said +Arthur, "to go and hunt him to-morrow at break of day; and to cause +general notice thereof to be given to-night in all quarters of the +Court." And Arryfuerys was Arthur's chief huntsman, and Arelivri was +his chief page. And all received notice; and thus it was arranged. +And they sent the youth before them. Then Gwenhwyvar said to Arthur, +"Wilt thou permit me, Lord," said she, "to go to-morrow to see and +hear the hunt of the stag of which the young man spoke?" "I will +gladly," said Arthur. "Then will I go," said she. And Gwalchmai +said to Arthur, "Lord, if it seem well to thee, permit that into +whose hunt soever the stag shall come, that one, be he a knight, or +one on foot, may cut off his head, and give it to whom he pleases, +whether to his own lady-love, or to the lady of his friend." "I +grant it gladly," said Arthur, "and let the Steward of the Household +be chastised, if all are not ready to-morrow for the chase." + +And they passed the night with songs, and diversions, and discourse, +and ample entertainment. And when it was time for them all to go to +sleep, they went. And when the next day came, they arose; and Arthur +called the attendants, who guarded his couch. And these were four +pages, whose names were Cadyrnerth the son of Porthawr Gandwy, and +Ambreu the son of Bedwor, and Amhar the son of Arthur, and Goreu the +son of Custennin. And these men came to Arthur and saluted him, and +arrayed him in his garments. And Arthur wondered that Gwenhwyvar did +not awake, and did not move in her bed; and the attendants wished to +awaken her. "Disturb her not," said Arthur, "for she had rather +sleep than go to see the hunting." + +Then Arthur went forth, and he heard two horns sounding, one from +near the lodging of the chief huntsman, and the other from near that +of the chief page. And the whole assembly of the multitudes came to +Arthur, and they took the road to the Forest. + +And after Arthur had gone forth from the palace, Gwenhwyvar awoke, +and called to her maidens, and apparelled herself. "Maidens," said +she, "I had leave last night to go and see the hunt. Go one of you +to the stable, and order hither a horse such as a woman may ride." +And one of them went, and she found but two horses in the stable, and +Gwenhwyvar and one of her maidens mounted them, and went through the +Usk, and followed the track of the men and the horses. And as they +rode thus, they heard a loud and rushing sound; and they looked +behind them, and beheld a knight upon a hunter foal of mighty size; +and the rider was a fair-haired youth, bare-legged, and of princely +mien, and a golden-hilted sword was at his side, and a robe and a +surcoat of satin were upon him, and two low shoes of leather upon his +feet; and around him was a scarf of blue purple, at each corner of +which was a golden apple. And his horse stepped stately, and swift, +and proud; and he overtook Gwenhwyvar, and saluted her. "Heaven +prosper thee, Geraint," said she, "I knew thee when first I saw thee +just now. And the welcome of Heaven be unto thee. And why didst +thou not go with thy lord to hunt?" "Because I knew not when he +went," said he. "I marvel, too," said she, "how he could go unknown +to me." "Indeed, lady," said he. "I was asleep, and knew not when +he went; but thou, O young man, art the most agreeable companion I +could have in the whole kingdom; and it may be, that I shall be more +amused with the hunting than they; for we shall hear the horns when +they sound, and we shall hear the dogs when they are let loose, and +begin to cry." So they went to the edge of the Forest, and there +they stood. "From this place," said she, "we shall hear when the +dogs are let loose." And thereupon, they heard a loud noise, and +they looked towards the spot whence it came, and they beheld a dwarf +riding upon a horse, stately, and foaming, and prancing, and strong, +and spirited. And in the hand of the dwarf was a whip. And near the +dwarf they saw a lady upon a beautiful white horse, of steady and +stately pace; and she was clothed in a garment of gold brocade. And +near her was a knight upon a warhorse of large size, with heavy and +bright armour both upon himself and upon his horse. And truly they +never before saw a knight, or a horse, or armour, of such remarkable +size. And they were all near to each other. + +"Geraint," said Gwenhwyvar, "knowest thou the name of that tall +knight yonder?" "I know him not," said he, "and the strange armour +that he wears prevents my either seeing his face or his features." +"Go, maiden," said Gwenhwyvar, "and ask the dwarf who that knight +is." Then the maiden went up to the dwarf; and the dwarf waited for +the maiden, when he saw her coming towards him. And the maiden +inquired of the dwarf who the knight was. "I will not tell thee," he +answered. "Since thou art so churlish as not to tell me," said she, +"I will ask him himself." "Thou shalt not ask him, by my faith," +said he. "Wherefore?" said she. "Because thou art not of honour +sufficient to befit thee to speak to my Lord." Then the maiden +turned her horse's head towards the knight, upon which the dwarf +struck her with the whip that was in his hand across the face and the +eyes, until the blood flowed forth. And the maiden, through the hurt +she received from the blow, returned to Gwenhwyvar, complaining of +the pain. "Very rudely has the dwarf treated thee," said Geraint. +"I will go myself to know who the knight is." "Go," said Gwenhwyvar. +And Geraint went up to the dwarf. "Who is yonder knight?" said +Geraint. "I will not tell thee," said the dwarf. "Then will I ask +him himself," said he. "That wilt thou not, by my faith," said the +dwarf, "thou art not honourable enough to speak with my Lord." Said +Geraint, "I have spoken with men of equal rank with him." And he +turned his horse's head towards the knight; but the dwarf overtook +him, and struck him as he had done the maiden, so that the blood +coloured the scarf that Geraint wore. Then Geraint put his hand upon +the hilt of his sword, but he took counsel with himself, and +considered that it would be no vengeance for him to slay the dwarf, +and to be attacked unarmed by the armed knight, so he returned to +where Gwenhwyvar was. + +"Thou hast acted wisely and discreetly," said she. "Lady," said he, +"I will follow him yet, with thy permission; and at last he will come +to some inhabited place, where I may have arms either as a loan or +for a pledge, so that I may encounter the knight." "Go," said she, +"and do not attack him until thou hast good arms, and I shall be very +anxious concerning thee, until I hear tidings of thee." "If I am +alive," said he, "thou shalt hear tidings of me by to-morrow +afternoon;" and with that he departed. + +And the road they took was below the palace of Caerlleon, and across +the ford of the Usk; and they went along a fair, and even, and lofty +ridge of ground, until they came to a town, and at the extremity of +the town they saw a Fortress and a Castle. And they came to the +extremity of the town. And as the knight passed through it, all the +people arose, and saluted him, and bade him welcome. And when +Geraint came into the town, he looked at every house, to see if he +knew any of those whom he saw. But he knew none, and none knew him +to do him the kindness to let him have arms either as a loan or for a +pledge. And every house he saw was full of men, and arms, and +horses. And they were polishing shields, and burnishing swords, and +washing armour, and shoeing horses. And the knight, and the lady, +and the dwarf rode up to the Castle that was in the town, and every +one was glad in the Castle. And from the battlements and the gates +they risked their necks, through their eagerness to greet them, and +to show their joy. + +Geraint stood there to see whether the knight would remain in the +Castle; and when he was certain that he would do so, he looked around +him; and at a little distance from the town he saw an old palace in +ruins, wherein was a hall that was falling to decay. And as he knew +not any one in the town, he went towards the old palace; and when he +came near to the palace, he saw but one chamber, and a bridge of +marble-stone leading to it. And upon the bridge he saw sitting a +hoary-headed man, upon whom were tattered garments. And Geraint +gazed steadfastly upon him for a long time. Then the hoary-headed +man spoke to him. "Young man," he said, "wherefore art thou +thoughtful?" "I am thoughtful," said he, "because I know not where +to go to-night." "Wilt thou come forward this way, chieftain?" said +he, "and thou shalt have of the best that can be procured for thee." +So Geraint went forward. And the hoary-headed man preceded him into +the hall. And in the hall he dismounted, and he left there his +horse. Then he went on to the upper chamber with the hoary-headed +man. And in the chamber he beheld an old decrepit woman, sitting on +a cushion, with old, tattered garments of satin upon her; and it +seemed to him that he had never seen a woman fairer than she must +have been, when in the fulness of youth. And beside her was a +maiden, upon whom were a vest and a veil, that were old, and +beginning to be worn out. And truly, he never saw a maiden more full +of comeliness, and grace, and beauty than she. And the hoary-headed +man said to the maiden, "There is no attendant for the horse of this +youth but thyself." "I will render the best service I am able," said +she, "both to him and to his horse." And the maiden disarrayed the +youth, and then she furnished his horse with straw and with corn. +And she went to the hall as before, and then she returned to the +chamber. And the hoary-headed man said to the maiden, "Go to the +town," said he, "and bring hither the best that thou canst find both +of food and of liquor." "I will, gladly, Lord," said she. And to +the town went the maiden. And they conversed together while the +maiden was at the town. And, behold! the maiden came back, and a +youth with her, bearing on his back a costrel full of good purchased +mead, and a quarter of a young bullock. And in the hands of the +maiden was a quantity of white bread, and she had some manchet bread +in her veil, and she came into the chamber. "I could not obtain +better than this," said she, "nor with better should I have been +trusted." "It is good enough," said Geraint. And they caused the +meat to be boiled; and when their food was ready, they sat down. And +it was on this wise; Geraint sat between the hoary-headed man and his +wife, and the maiden served them. And they ate and drank. + +And when they had finished eating, Geraint talked with the hoary- +headed man, and he asked him in the first place, to whom belonged the +palace that he was in. "Truly," said he, "it was I that built it, +and to me also belonged the city and the castle which thou sawest." +"Alas!" said Geraint, "how is it that thou hast lost them now?" "I +lost a great Earldom as well as these," said he; "and this is how I +lost them. I had a nephew, the son of my brother, and I took his +possessions to myself; and when he came to his strength, he demanded +of me his property, but I withheld it from him. So he made war upon +me, and wrested from me all that I possessed." "Good Sir," said +Geraint, "wilt thou tell me wherefore came the knight, and the lady, +and the dwarf, just now into the town, and what is the preparation +which I saw, and the putting of arms in order?" "I will do so," said +he. "The preparations are for the game that is to be held to-morrow +by the young Earl, which will be on this wise. In the midst of a +meadow which is here, two forks will be set up, and upon the two +forks a silver rod, and upon the silver rod a Sparrow-Hawk, and for +the Sparrow-Hawk there will be a tournament. And to the tournament +will go all the array thou didst see in the city, of men, and of +horses, and of arms. And with each man will go the lady he loves +best; and no man can joust for the Sparrow-Hawk, except the lady he +loves best be with him. And the knight that thou sawest has gained +the Sparrow-Hawk these two years; and if he gains it the third year, +they will, from that time, send it every year to him, and he himself +will come here no more. And he will be called the Knight of the +Sparrow-Hawk from that time forth." "Sir," said Geraint, "what is +thy counsel to me concerning this knight, on account of the insult +which I received from the dwarf, and that which was received by the +maiden of Gwenhwyvar, the wife of Arthur?" And Geraint told the +hoary-headed man what the insult was that he had received. "It is +not easy to counsel thee, inasmuch as thou hast neither dame nor +maiden belonging to thee, for whom thou canst joust. Yet, I have +arms here, which thou couldest have; and there is my horse also, if +he seem to thee better than thine own." "Ah! Sir," said he, "Heaven +reward thee. But my own horse, to which I am accustomed, together +with thy arms, will suffice me. And if, when the appointed time +shall come to-morrow, thou wilt permit me, Sir, to challenge for +yonder maiden that is thy daughter, I will engage, if I escape from +the tournament, to love the maiden as long as I live; and if I do not +escape, she will remain unsullied as before." "Gladly will I permit +thee," said the hoary-headed man, "and since thou dost thus resolve, +it is necessary that thy horse and arms should be ready to-morrow at +break of day. For then the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk will make +proclamation, and ask the lady he loves best to take the Sparrow- +Hawk. 'For,' will he say to her, 'thou art the fairest of women, and +thou didst possess it last year, and the year previous; and if any +deny it thee to-day, by force will I defend it for thee.' And +therefore," said the hoary-headed man, "it is needful for thee to be +there at daybreak; and we three will be with thee." And thus was it +settled. + +And at night, lo! they went to sleep; and before the dawn they arose, +and arrayed themselves; and by the time that it was day, they were +all four in the meadow. And there was the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk +making the proclamation, and asking his lady-love to fetch the +Sparrow-Hawk. "Fetch it not," said Geraint, "for there is here a +maiden, who is fairer, and more noble, and more comely, and who has a +better claim to it than thou." "If thou maintainest the Sparrow-Hawk +to be due to her, come forward, and do battle with me." And Geraint +went forward to the top of the meadow, having upon himself and upon +his horse armour which was heavy, and rusty, and worthless, and of +uncouth shape. Then they encountered each other, and they broke a +set of lances, and they broke a second set, and a third. And thus +they did at every onset, and they broke as many lances as were +brought to them. And when the Earl and his company saw the Knight of +the Sparrow-Hawk gaining the mastery, there was shouting, and joy, +and mirth amongst them. And the hoary-headed man, and his wife, and +his daughter were sorrowful. And the hoary-headed man served Geraint +lances as often as he broke them, and the dwarf served the Knight of +the Sparrow-Hawk. Then the hoary-headed man came to Geraint. "Oh! +chieftain," said he, "since no other will hold with thee, behold, +here is the lance which was in my hand on the day when I received the +honour of knighthood; and from that time to this I never broke it. +And it has an excellent point." Then Geraint took the lance, +thanking the hoary-headed man. And thereupon the dwarf also brought +a lance to his lord. "Behold, here is a lance for thee, not less +good than his," said the dwarf. "And bethink thee, that no knight +ever withstood thee before so long as this one has done." "I declare +to Heaven," said Geraint, "that unless death takes me quickly hence, +he shall fare never the better for thy service." And Geraint pricked +his horse towards him from afar, and warning him, he rushed upon him, +and gave him a blow so severe, and furious, and fierce, upon the face +of his shield, that he cleft it in two, and broke his armour, and +burst his girths, so that both he and his saddle were borne to the +ground over the horse's crupper. And Geraint dismounted quickly. +And he was wroth, and he drew his sword, and rushed fiercely upon +him. Then the knight also arose, and drew his sword against Geraint. +And they fought on foot with their swords until their arms struck +sparks of fire like stars from one another; and thus they continued +fighting until the blood and sweat obscured the light from their +eyes. And when Geraint prevailed, the hoary-headed man, and his +wife, and his daughter were glad; and when the knight prevailed, it +rejoiced the Earl and his party. Then the hoary-headed man saw +Geraint receive a severe stroke, and he went up to him quickly, and +said to him, "Oh, chieftain, remember the treatment which thou hadst +from the dwarf; and wilt thou not seek vengeance for the insult to +thyself, and for the insult to Gwenhwyvar the wife of Arthur!" And +Geraint was roused by what he said to him, and he called to him all +his strength, and lifted up his sword, and struck the knight upon the +crown of his head, so that he broke all his head-armour, and cut +through all the flesh and the skin, even to the skull, until he +wounded the bone. + +Then the knight fell upon his knees, and cast his sword from his +hand, and besought mercy of Geraint. "Of a truth," said he, "I +relinquish my overdaring and my pride in craving thy mercy; and +unless I have time to commit myself to Heaven for my sins, and to +talk with a priest, thy mercy will avail me little." "I will grant +thee grace upon this condition," said Geraint, "that thou wilt go to +Gwenhwyvar the wife of Arthur, to do her satisfaction for the insult +which her maiden received from thy dwarf. As to myself, for the +insult which I received from thee and thy dwarf, I am content with +that which I have done unto thee. Dismount not from the time thou +goest hence until thou comest into the presence of Gwenhwyvar, to +make her what atonement shall be adjudged at the Court of Arthur." +"This will I do gladly. And who art thou?" said he. "I am Geraint +the son of Erbin. And declare thou also who thou art." "I am Edeyrn +the son of Nudd." Then he threw himself upon his horse, and went +forward to Arthur's Court, and the lady he loved best went before him +and the dwarf, with much lamentation. And thus far this story up to +that time. + + +Then came the little Earl and his hosts to Geraint, and saluted him, +and bade him to his castle. "I may not go," said Geraint, "but where +I was last night, there will I be to-night also." "Since thou wilt +none of my inviting, thou shalt have abundance of all that I can +command for thee, in the place thou wast last night. And I will +order ointment for thee, to recover thee from thy fatigues, and from +the weariness that is upon thee." "Heaven reward thee," said +Geraint, "and I will go to my lodging." And thus went Geraint, and +Earl Ynywl, and his wife, and his daughter. And when they reached +the chamber, the household servants and attendants of the young Earl +had arrived at the Court, and they arranged all the houses, dressing +them with straw and with fire; and in a short time the ointment was +ready, and Geraint came there, and they washed his head. Then came +the young Earl, with forty honourable knights from among his +attendants, and those who were bidden to the tournament. And Geraint +came from the anointing. And the Earl asked him to go to the hall to +eat. "Where is the Earl Ynywl," said Geraint, "and his wife, and his +daughter?" "They are in the chamber yonder," said the Earl's +chamberlain, "arraying themselves in garments which the Earl has +caused to be brought for them." "Let not the damsel array herself," +said he, "except in her vest and her veil, until she come to the +Court of Arthur, to be clad by Gwenhwyvar in such garments as she may +choose." So the maiden did not array herself. + +Then they all entered the hall, and they washed, and went, and sat +down to meat. And thus were they seated. On one side of Geraint sat +the young Earl, and Earl Ynywl beyond him; and on the other side of +Geraint were the maiden and her mother. And after these all sat +according to their precedence in honour. And they ate. And they +were served abundantly, and they received a profusion of divers kind +of gifts. Then they conversed together. And the young Earl invited +Geraint to visit him next day. "I will not, by Heaven," said +Geraint. "To the Court of Arthur will I go with this maiden to- +morrow. And it is enough for me, as long as Earl Ynywl is in poverty +and trouble; and I go chiefly to seek to add to his maintenance." +"Ah, chieftain," said the young Earl, "it is not by my fault that +Earl Ynywl is without his possessions." "By my faith," said Geraint, +"he shall not remain without them, unless death quickly takes me +hence." "Oh, chieftain," said he, "with regard to the disagreement +between me and Ynywl, I will gladly abide by thy counsel, and agree +to what thou mayest judge right between us." "I but ask thee," said +Geraint, "to restore to him what is his, and what he should have +received from the time he lost his possessions, even until this day." +"That I will do gladly, for thee," answered he. "Then," said +Geraint, "whosoever is here who owes homage to Ynywl, let him come +forward, and perform it on the spot." And all the men did so. And +by that treaty they abided. And his castle, and his town, and all +his possessions were restored to Ynywl. And he received back all +that he had lost, even to the smallest jewel. + +Then spoke Earl Ynywl to Geraint. "Chieftain," said he, "behold the +maiden for whom thou didst challenge at the tournament, I bestow her +upon thee." "She shall go with me," said Geraint, "to the Court of +Arthur; and Arthur and Gwenhwyvar they shall dispose of her as they +will." And the next day they proceeded to Arthur's Court. So far +concerning Geraint. + + +Now, this is how Arthur hunted the stag. The men and the dogs were +divided into hunting parties, and the dogs were let loose upon the +stag. And the last dog that was let loose was the favourite dog of +Arthur. Cavall was his name. And he left all the other dogs behind +him, and turned the stag. And at the second turn, the stag came +towards the hunting party of Arthur. And Arthur set upon him. And +before he could be slain by any other, Arthur cut off his head. Then +they sounded the death horn for slaying, and they all gathered round. + +Then came Kadyrieith to Arthur, and spoke to him. "Lord," said he, +"behold, yonder is Gwenhwyvar, and none with her save only one +maiden." "Command Gildas the son of Caw, and all the scholars of the +Court," said Arthur, "to attend Gwenhwyvar to the palace." And they +did so. + +Then they all set forth, holding converse together concerning the +head of the stag, to whom it should be given. One wished that it +should be given to the lady best beloved by him, and another to the +lady whom he loved best. And all they of the household, and the +knights, disputed sharply concerning the head. And with that they +came to the palace. And when Arthur and Gwenhwyvar heard them +disputing about the head of the stag, Gwenhwyvar said to Arthur, "My +lord, this is my counsel concerning the stag's head; let it not be +given away until Geraint the son of Erbin shall return from the +errand he is upon." And Gwenhwyvar told Arthur what that errand was. +"Right gladly shall it be so," said Arthur. And thus it was settled. +And the next day Gwenhwyvar caused a watch to be set upon the +ramparts for Geraint's coming. And after mid-day they beheld an +unshapely little man upon a horse, and after him, as they supposed, a +dame or a damsel, also on horseback, and after her a knight of large +stature, bowed down, and hanging his head low and sorrowfully, and +clad in broken and worthless armour. + +And before they came near to the gate, one of the watch went to +Gwenhwyvar, and told her what kind of people they saw, and what +aspect they bore. "I know not who they are," said he. "But I know," +said Gwenhwyvar; "this is the knight whom Geraint pursued, and +methinks that he comes not here by his own free will. But Geraint +has overtaken him, and avenged the insult to the maiden to the +uttermost." And thereupon, behold a porter came to the spot where +Gwenhwyvar was. "Lady," said he, "at the gate there is a knight, and +I saw never a man of so pitiful an aspect to look upon as he. +Miserable and broken is the armour that he wears, and the hue of +blood is more conspicuous upon it than its own colour." "Knowest +thou his name?" said she. "I do," said he; "he tells me that he is +Edeyrn the son of Nudd." Then she replied, "I know him not." + +So Gwenhwyvar went to the gate to meet him, and he entered. And +Gwenhwyvar was sorry when she saw the condition he was in, even +though he was accompanied by the churlish dwarf. Then Edeyrn saluted +Gwenhwyvar. "Heaven protect thee," said she. "Lady," said he, +"Geraint the son of Erbin, thy best and most valiant servant, greets +thee." "Did he meet thee?" she asked. "Yes," said he, "and it was +not to my advantage; and that was not his fault, but mine, Lady. And +Geraint greets thee well; and in greeting thee he compelled me to +come hither to do thy pleasure for the insult which thy maiden +received from the dwarf. He forgives the insult to himself, in +consideration of his having put me in peril of my life. And he +imposed on me a condition, manly, and honourable, and warrior-like, +which was to do thee justice, Lady." "Now, where did he overtake +thee?" "At the place where we were jousting, and contending for the +Sparrow-Hawk, in the town which is now called Cardiff. And there +were none with him save three persons, of a mean and tattered +condition. And these were an aged, hoary-headed man, and a woman +advanced in years, and a fair young maiden, clad in worn-out +garments. And it was for the avouchment of the love of that maiden +that Geraint jousted for the Sparrow-Hawk at the tournament, for he +said that that maiden was better entitled to the Sparrow-Hawk than +this maiden who was with me. And thereupon we encountered each +other, and he left me, Lady, as thou seest." "Sir," said she, "when +thinkest thou that Geraint will be here?" "To-morrow, Lady, I think +he will be here with the maiden." + +Then Arthur came to him, and he saluted Arthur; and Arthur gazed a +long time upon him, and was amazed to see him thus. And thinking +that he knew him, he inquired of him, "Art thou Edeyrn the son of +Nudd?" "I am, Lord," said he, "and I have met with much trouble, and +received wounds unsupportable." Then he told Arthur all his +adventure. "Well," said Arthur, "from what I hear, it behoves +Gwenhwyvar to be merciful towards thee." "The mercy which thou +desirest, Lord," said she, "will I grant to him, since it is as +insulting to thee that an insult should be offered to me as to +thyself." "Thus will it be best to do," said Arthur; "let this man +have medical care until it be known whether he may live. And if he +live, he shall do such satisfaction as shall be judged best by the +men of the Court; and take thou sureties to that effect. And if he +die, too much will be the death of such a youth as Edeyrn for an +insult to a maiden." "This pleases me," said Gwenhwyvar. And Arthur +became surety for Edeyrn, and Caradawc the son of Llyr, Gwallawg the +son of Llenawg, and Owain the son of Nudd, and Gwalchmai, and many +others with them. And Arthur caused Morgan Tud to be called to him. +He was the chief physician. "Take with thee Edeyrn the son of Nudd, +and cause a chamber to be prepared for him, and let him have the aid +of medicine as thou wouldst do unto myself, if I were wounded, and +let none into his chamber to molest him, but thyself and thy +disciples, to administer to him remedies." "I will do so gladly, +Lord," said Morgan Tud. Then said the steward of the household, +"Whither is it right, Lord, to order the maiden?" "To Gwenhwyvar and +her handmaidens," said he. And the steward of the household so +ordered her. Thus far concerning them. + + +The next day came Geraint towards the Court; and there was a watch +set on the ramparts by Gwenhwyvar, lest he should arrive unawares. +And one of the watch came to the place where Gwenhwyvar was. "Lady," +said he, "methinks that I see Geraint, and the maiden with him. He +is on horseback, but he has his walking gear upon him, and the maiden +appears to be in white, seeming to be clad in a garment of linen." +"Assemble all the women," said Gwenhwyvar, "and come to meet Geraint, +to welcome him, and wish him joy." And Gwenhwyvar went to meet +Geraint and the maiden. And when Geraint came to the place where +Gwenhwyvar was, he saluted her. "Heaven prosper thee," said she, +"and welcome to thee. And thy career has been successful, and +fortunate, and resistless, and glorious. And Heaven reward thee, +that thou hast so proudly caused me to have retribution." "Lady," +said he, "I earnestly desired to obtain thee satisfaction according +to thy will; and, behold, here is the maiden through whom thou hadst +thy revenge." "Verily," said Gwenhwyvar, "the welcome of Heaven be +unto her; and it is fitting that we should receive her joyfully." +Then they went in, and dismounted. And Geraint came to where Arthur +was, and saluted him. "Heaven protect thee," said Arthur, "and the +welcome of Heaven be unto thee. And since Edeyrn the son of Nudd has +received his overthrow and wounds from thy hands, thou hast had a +prosperous career." "Not upon me be the blame," said Geraint, "it +was through the arrogance of Edeyrn the son of Nudd himself that we +were not friends. I would not quit him until I knew who he was, and +until the one had vanquished the other." "Now," said Arthur, "where +is the maiden for whom I heard thou didst give challenge?" "She is +gone with Gwenhwyvar to her chamber." + +Then went Arthur to see the maiden. And Arthur, and all his +companions, and his whole Court, were glad concerning the maiden. +And certain were they all, that had her array been suitable to her +beauty, they had never seen a maid fairer than she. And Arthur gave +away the maiden to Geraint. And the usual bond made between two +persons was made between Geraint and the maiden, and the choicest of +all Gwenhwyvar's apparel was given to the maiden; and thus arrayed, +she appeared comely and graceful to all who beheld her. And that day +and that night were spent in abundance of minstrelsy, and ample gifts +of liquor, and a multitude of games. And when it was time for them +to go to sleep, they went. And in the chamber where the couch of +Arthur and Gwenhwyvar was, the couch of Geraint and Enid was +prepared. And from that time she became his bride. And the next day +Arthur satisfied all the claimants upon Geraint with bountiful gifts. +And the maiden took up her abode in the palace; and she had many +companions, both men and women, and there was no maiden more esteemed +than she in the Island of Britain. + +Then spake Gwenhwyvar. "Rightly did I judge," said she, "concerning +the head of the stag, that it should not be given to any until +Geraint's return; and, behold, here is a fit occasion for bestowing +it. Let it be given to Enid the daughter of Ynywl, the most +illustrious maiden. And I do not believe that any will begrudge it +her, for between her and every one here there exists nothing but love +and friendship." Much applauded was this by them all, and by Arthur +also. And the head of the stag was given to Enid. And thereupon her +fame increased, and her friends thenceforward became more in number +than before. And Geraint from that time forth loved the stag, and +the tournament, and hard encounters; and he came victorious from them +all. And a year, and a second, and a third, he proceeded thus, until +his fame had flown over the face of the kingdom. + + +And once upon a time Arthur was holding his Court at Caerlleon upon +Usk, at Whitsuntide. And, behold, there came to him ambassadors, +wise and prudent, full of knowledge, and eloquent of speech, and they +saluted Arthur. "Heaven prosper you," said Arthur, "and the welcome +of Heaven be unto you. And whence do you come?" "We come, Lord," +said they, "from Cornwall; and we are ambassadors from Erbin the son +of Custennin, thy uncle, and our mission is unto thee. And he greets +thee well, as an uncle should greet his nephew, and as a vassal +should greet his lord. And he represents unto thee that he waxes +heavy and feeble, and is advancing in years. And the neighbouring +chiefs, knowing this, grow insolent towards him, and covet his land +and possessions. And he earnestly beseeches thee, Lord, to permit +Geraint his son to return to him, to protect his possessions, and to +become acquainted with his boundaries. And unto him he represents +that it were better for him to spend the flower of his youth and the +prime of his age in preserving his own boundaries, than in +tournaments, which are productive of no profit, although he obtains +glory in them." + +"Well," said Arthur, "go, and divest yourselves of your +accoutrements, and take food, and refresh yourselves after your +fatigues; and before you go forth hence you shall have an answer." +And they went to eat. And Arthur considered that it would go hard +with him to let Geraint depart from him and from his Court; neither +did he think it fair that his cousin should be restrained from going +to protect his dominions and his boundaries, seeing that his father +was unable to do so. No less was the grief and regret of Gwenhwyvar, +and all her women, and all her damsels, through fear that the maiden +would leave them. And that day and that night were spent in +abundance of feasting. And Arthur showed Geraint the cause of the +mission, and of the coming of the ambassadors to him out of Cornwall. +"Truly," said Geraint, "be it to my advantage or disadvantage, Lord, +I will do according to thy will concerning this embassy." "Behold," +said Arthur, "though it grieves me to part with thee, it is my +counsel that thou go to dwell in thine own dominions, and to defend +thy boundaries, and to take with thee to accompany thee as many as +thou wilt of those thou lovest best among my faithful ones, and among +thy friends, and among thy companions in arms." "Heaven reward thee; +and this will I do," said Geraint. "What discourse," said +Gwenhwyvar, "do I hear between you? Is it of those who are to +conduct Geraint to his country?" "It is," said Arthur. "Then it is +needful for me to consider," said she, "concerning companions and a +provision for the lady that is with me?" "Thou wilt do well," said +Arthur. + +And that night they went to sleep. And the next day the ambassadors +were permitted to depart, and they were told that Geraint should +follow them. And on the third day Geraint set forth, and many went +with him. Gwalchmai the son of Gwyar, and Riogonedd the son of the +king of Ireland, and Ondyaw the son of the duke of Burgundy, Gwilim +the son of the ruler of the Franks, Howel the son of Emyr of +Brittany, Elivry, and Nawkyrd, Gwynn the son of Tringad, Goreu the +son of Custennin, Gweir Gwrhyd Vawr, Garannaw the son of Golithmer, +Peredur the son of Evrawc, Gwynnllogell, Gwyr a judge in the Court of +Arthur, Dyvyr the son of Alun of Dyved, Gwrei Gwalstawd Ieithoedd, +Bedwyr the son of Bedrawd, Hadwry the son of Gwryon, Kai the son of +Kynyr, Odyar the Frank, the Steward of Arthur's Court, and Edeyrn the +son of Nudd. Said Geraint, "I think that I shall have enough of +knighthood with me." "Yes," said Arthur, "but it will not be fitting +for thee to take Edeyrn with thee, although he is well, until peace +shall be made between him and Gwenhwyvar." "Gwenhwyvar can permit +him to go with me, if he give sureties." "If she please, she can let +him go without sureties, for enough of pain and affliction has he +suffered for the insult which the maiden received from the dwarf." +"Truly," said Gwenhwyvar, "since it seems well to thee and to +Geraint, I will do this gladly, Lord." Then she permitted Edeyrn +freely to depart. And many there were who accompanied Geraint, and +they set forth; and never was there seen a fairer host journeying +towards the Severn. And on the other side of the Severn were the +nobles of Erbin the son of Custennin, and his foster-father at their +head, to welcome Geraint with gladness; and many of the women of the +Court, with his mother, came to receive Enid the daughter of Ynywl, +his wife. And there was great rejoicing and gladness throughout the +whole Court, and throughout all the country, concerning Geraint, +because of the greatness of their love towards him, and of the +greatness of the fame which he had gained since he went from amongst +them, and because he was come to take possession of his dominions and +to preserve his boundaries. And they came to the Court. And in the +Court they had ample entertainment, and a multitude of gifts and +abundance of liquor, and a sufficiency of service, and a variety of +minstrelsy and of games. And to do honour to Geraint, all the chief +men of the country were invited that night to visit him. And they +passed that day and that night in the utmost enjoyment. And at dawn +next day Erbin arose, and summoned to him Geraint, and the noble +persons who had borne him company. And he said to Geraint, "I am a +feeble and aged man, and whilst I was able to maintain the dominion +for thee and for myself, I did so. But thou art young, and in the +flower of thy vigour and of thy youth; henceforth do thou preserve +thy possessions." "Truly," said Geraint, "with my consent thou shalt +not give the power over thy dominions at this time into my hands, and +thou shalt not take me from Arthur's Court." "Into thy hands will I +give them," said Erbin, "and this day also shalt thou receive the +homage of thy subjects." + +Then said Gwalchmai, "It were better for thee to satisfy those who +have boons to ask, to-day, and to-morrow thou canst receive the +homage of thy dominions." So all that had boons to ask were summoned +into one place. And Kadyrieith came to them, to know what were their +requests. And every one asked that which he desired. And the +followers of Arthur began to make gifts, and immediately the men of +Cornwall came, and gave also. And they were not long in giving, so +eager was every one to bestow gifts. And of those who came to ask +gifts, none departed unsatisfied. And that day and that night were +spent in the utmost enjoyment. + +And the next day, at dawn, Erbin desired Geraint to send messengers +to the men, to ask them whether it was displeasing to them that he +should come to receive their homage, and whether they had anything to +object to him. Then Geraint sent ambassadors to the men of Cornwall, +to ask them this. And they all said that it would be the fulness of +joy and honour to them for Geraint to come and receive their homage. +So he received the homage of such as were there. And they remained +with him till the third night. And the day after the followers of +Arthur intended to go away. "It is too soon for you to go away yet," +said he, "stay with me until I have finished receiving the homage of +my chief men, who have agreed to come to me." And they remained with +him until he had done so. Then they set forth towards the Court of +Arthur; and Geraint went to bear them company, and Enid also, as far +as Diganhwy: there they parted. Then Ondyaw the son of the duke of +Burgundy said to Geraint, "Go first of all and visit the uppermost +parts of thy dominions, and see well to the boundaries of thy +territories; and if thou hast any trouble respecting them, send unto +thy companions." "Heaven reward thee," said Geraint, "and this will +I do." And Geraint journeyed to the uttermost part of his dominions. +And experienced guides, and the chief men of his country, went with +him. And the furthermost point that they showed him he kept +possession of. + +And, as he had been used to do when he was at Arthur's Court, he +frequented tournaments. And he became acquainted with valiant and +mighty men, until he had gained as much fame there as he had formerly +done elsewhere. And he enriched his Court, and his companions, and +his nobles, with the best horses and the best arms, and with the best +and most valuable jewels, and he ceased not until his fame had flown +over the face of the whole kingdom. And when he knew that it was +thus, he began to love ease and pleasure, for there was no one who +was worth his opposing. And he loved his wife, and liked to continue +in the palace, with minstrelsy and diversions. And for a long time +he abode at home. And after that he began to shut himself up in the +chamber of his wife, and he took no delight in anything besides, +insomuch that he gave up the friendship of his nobles, together with +his hunting and his amusements, and lost the hearts of all the host +in his Court; and there was murmuring and scoffing concerning him +among the inhabitants of the palace, on account of his relinquishing +so completely their companionship for the love of his wife. And +these tidings came to Erbin. And when Erbin had heard these things, +he spoke unto Enid, and inquired of her whether it was she that had +caused Geraint to act thus, and to forsake his people and his hosts. +"Not I, by my confession unto Heaven," said she, "there is nothing +more hateful to me than this." And she knew not what she should do, +for, although it was hard for her to own this to Geraint, yet was it +not more easy for her to listen to what she heard, without warning +Geraint concerning it. And she was very sorrowful. + +And one morning in the summer time, they were upon their couch, and +Geraint lay upon the edge of it. And Enid was without sleep in the +apartment, which had windows of glass. And the sun shone upon the +couch. And the clothes had slipped from off his arms and his breast, +and he was asleep. Then she gazed upon the marvellous beauty of his +appearance, and she said, "Alas, and am I the cause that these arms +and this breast have lost their glory and the warlike fame which they +once so richly enjoyed!" And as she said this, the tears dropped +from her eyes, and they fell upon his breast. And the tears she +shed, and the words she had spoken, awoke him; and another thing +contributed to awaken him, and that was the idea that it was not in +thinking of him that she spoke thus, but that it was because she +loved some other man more than him, and that she wished for other +society, and thereupon Geraint was troubled in his mind, and he +called his squire; and when he came to him, "Go quickly," said he, +"and prepare my horse and my arms, and make them ready. And do thou +arise," said he to Enid, "and apparel thyself; and cause thy horse to +be accoutred, and clothe thee in the worst riding-dress that thou +hast in thy possession. And evil betide me," said he, "if thou +returnest here until thou knowest whether I have lost my strength so +completely as thou didst say. And if it be so, it will then be easy +for thee to seek the society thou didst wish for of him of whom thou +wast thinking." So she arose, and clothed herself in her meanest +garments. "I know nothing, Lord," said she, "of thy meaning." +"Neither wilt thou know at this time," said he. + +Then Geraint went to see Erbin. "Sir," said he, "I am going upon a +quest, and I am not certain when I may come back. Take heed, +therefore, unto thy possessions, until my return." "I will do so," +said he, "but it is strange to me that thou shouldest go so suddenly. +And who will proceed with thee, since thou art not strong enough to +traverse the land of Lloegyr alone?" "But one person only will go +with me." "Heaven counsel thee, my son," said Erbin, "and may many +attach themselves to thee in Lloegyr." Then went Geraint to the +place where his horse was, and it was equipped with foreign armour, +heavy and shining. And he desired Enid to mount her horse, and to +ride forward, and to keep a long way before him. "And whatever thou +mayest see, and whatever thou mayest hear concerning me," said he, +"do thou not turn back. And unless I speak unto thee, say not thou +one word either." And they set forward. And he did not choose the +pleasantest and most frequented road, but that which was the wildest +and most beset by thieves, and robbers, and venomous animals. And +they came to a high road, which they followed till they saw a vast +forest, and they went towards it, and they saw four armed horsemen +come forth from the forest. When the horsemen had beheld them, one +of them said to the others, "Behold, here is a good occasion for us +to capture two horses and armour, and a lady likewise; for this we +shall have no difficulty in doing against yonder single knight, who +hangs his head so pensively and heavily." And Enid heard this +discourse, and she knew not what she should do through fear of +Geraint, who had told her to be silent. "The vengeance of Heaven be +upon me," she said, "if I would not rather receive my death from his +hand than from the hand of any other; and though he should slay me +yet will I speak to him, lest I should have the misery to witness his +death." So she waited for Geraint until he came near to her. +"Lord," said she, "didst thou hear the words of those men concerning +thee?" Then he lifted up his eyes, and looked at her angrily. "Thou +hadst only," said he, "to hold thy peace as I bade thee. I wish but +for silence, and not for warning. And though thou shouldest desire +to see my defeat and my death by the hands of those men, yet do I +feel no dread." Then the foremost of them couched his lance, and +rushed upon Geraint. And he received him, and that not feebly. But +he let the thrust go by him, while he struck the horseman upon the +centre of his shield in such a manner that his shield was split, and +his armour broken, and so that a cubit's length of the shaft of +Geraint's lance passed through his body, and sent him to the earth, +the length of the lance over his horse's crupper. Then the second +horseman attacked him furiously, being wroth at the death of his +companion. But with one thrust Geraint overthrew him also, and +killed him as he had done the other. Then the third set upon him, +and he killed him in like manner. And thus also he slew the fourth. +Sad and sorrowful was the maiden as she saw all this. Geraint +dismounted from his horse, and took the arms of the men he had slain, +and placed them upon their saddles, and tied together the reins of +their horses, and he mounted his horse again. "Behold what thou must +do," said he; "take the four horses, and drive them before thee, and +proceed forward, as I bade thee just now. And say not one word unto +me, unless I speak first unto thee. And I declare unto Heaven," said +he, "if thou doest not thus, it will be to thy cost." "I will do, as +far as I can, Lord," said she, "according to thy desire." Then they +went forward through the forest; and when they left the forest, they +came to a vast plain, in the centre of which was a group of thickly +tangled copse-wood; and from out thereof they beheld three horsemen +coming towards them, well equipped with armour, both they and their +horses. Then the maiden looked steadfastly upon them; and when they +had come near, she heard them say one to another, "Behold, here is a +good arrival for us; here are coming for us four horses and four +suits of armour. We shall easily obtain them spite of yonder +dolorous knight, and the maiden also will fall into our power." +"This is but too true," said she to herself, "for my husband is tired +with his former combat. The vengeance of Heaven will be upon me, +unless I warn him of this." So the maiden waited until Geraint came +up to her. "Lord," said she, "dust thou not hear the discourse of +yonder men concerning thee?" "What was it?" asked he. "They say to +one another, that they will easily obtain all this spoil." "I +declare to Heaven," he answered, "that their words are less grievous +to me than that thou wilt not be silent, and abide by my counsel." +"My Lord," said she, "I feared lest they should surprise thee +unawares." "Hold thy peace, then," said he, "do not I desire +silence?" And thereupon one of the horsemen couched his lance, and +attacked Geraint. And he made a thrust at him, which he thought +would be very effective; but Geraint received it carelessly, and +struck it aside, and then he rushed upon him, and aimed at the centre +of his person, and from the shock of man and horse, the quantity of +his armour did not avail him, and the head of the lance and part of +the shaft passed through him, so that he was carried to the ground an +arm and a spear's length over the crupper of his horse. And both the +other horsemen came forward in their turn, but their onset was not +more successful than that of their companion. And the maiden stood +by, looking at all this; and on the one hand she was in trouble lest +Geraint should be wounded in his encounter with the men, and on the +other hand she was joyful to see him victorious. Then Geraint +dismounted, and bound the three suits of armour upon the three +saddles, and he fastened the reins of all the horses together, so +that he had seven horses with him. And he mounted his own horse, and +commanded the maiden to drive forward the others. "It is no more use +for me to speak to thee than to refrain, for thou wilt not attend to +my advice." "I will do so, as far as I am able, Lord," said she; +"but I cannot conceal from thee the fierce and threatening words +which I may hear against thee, Lord, from such strange people as +those that haunt this wilderness." "I declare to Heaven," said he, +"that I desire nought but silence; therefore, hold thy peace." "I +will, Lord, while I can." And the maiden went on with the horses +before her, and she pursued her way straight onwards. And from the +copse-wood already mentioned, they journeyed over a vast and dreary +open plain. And at a great distance from them they beheld a wood, +and they could see neither end nor boundary to the wood, except on +that side that was nearest to them, and they went towards it. Then +there came from out the wood five horsemen, eager, and bold, and +mighty, and strong, mounted upon chargers that were powerful, and +large of bone, and high-mettled, and proudly snorting, and both the +men and the horses were well equipped with arms. And when they drew +near to them, Enid heard them say, "Behold, here is a fine booty +coming to us, which we shall obtain easily and without labour, for we +shall have no trouble in taking all those horses and arms, and the +lady also, from yonder single knight, so doleful and sad." + +Sorely grieved was the maiden upon hearing this discourse, so that +she knew not in the world what she should do. At last, however, she +determined to warn Geraint; so she turned her horse's head towards +him. "Lord," said she, "if thou hadst heard as I did what yonder +horsemen said concerning thee, thy heaviness would be greater than it +is." Angrily and bitterly did Geraint smile upon her, and he said, +"Thee do I hear doing everything that I forbade thee; but it may be +that thou will repent this yet." And immediately, behold, the men +met them, and victoriously and gallantly did Geraint overcome them +all five. And he placed the five suits of armour upon the five +saddles, and tied together the reins of the twelve horses, and gave +them in charge to Enid. "I know not," said he, "what good it is for +me to order thee; but this time I charge thee in an especial manner." +So the maiden went forward towards the wood, keeping in advance of +Geraint, as he had desired her; and it grieved him as much as his +wrath would permit, to see a maiden so illustrious as she having so +much trouble with the care of the horses. Then they reached the +wood, and it was both deep and vast; and in the wood night overtook +them. "Ah, maiden," said he, "it is vain to attempt proceeding +forward!" "Well, Lord," said she, "whatsoever thou wishest, we will +do." "It will be best for us," he answered, "to turn out of the +wood, and to rest, and wait for the day, in order to pursue our +journey." "That will we, gladly," said she. And they did so. +Having dismounted himself, he took her down from her horse. "I +cannot, by any means, refrain from sleep, through weariness," said +he. "Do thou, therefore, watch the horses, and sleep not." "I will, +Lord," said she. Then he went to sleep in his armour, and thus +passed the night, which was not long at that season. And when she +saw the dawn of day appear, she looked around her, to see if he were +waking, and thereupon he woke. "My Lord," she said, "I have desired +to awake thee for some time." But he spake nothing to her about +fatigue, as he had desired her to be silent. Then he arose, and said +unto her, "Take the horses, and ride on; and keep straight on before +thee as thou didst yesterday." And early in the day they left the +wood, and they came to an open country, with meadows on one hand, and +mowers mowing the meadows. And there was a river before them, and +the horses bent down, and drank the water. And they went up out of +the river by a lofty steep; and there they met a slender stripling, +with a satchel about his neck, and they saw that there was something +in the satchel, but they knew not what it was. And he had a small +blue pitcher in his hand, and a bowl on the mouth of the pitcher. +And the youth saluted Geraint. "Heaven prosper thee," said Geraint, +"and whence dost thou come?" "I come," said he, "from the city that +lies before thee. My Lord," he added, "will it be displeasing to +thee if I ask whence thou comest also?" "By no means--through yonder +wood did I come." "Thou camest not through the wood to-day." "No," +he replied, "we were in the wood last night." "I warrant," said the +youth, "that thy condition there last night was not the most +pleasant, and that thou hadst neither meat nor drink." "No, by my +faith," said he. "Wilt thou follow my counsel," said the youth, "and +take thy meal from me?" "What sort of meal?" he inquired. "The +breakfast which is sent for yonder mowers, nothing less than bread +and meat and wine; and if thou wilt, Sir, they shall have none of +it." "I will," said he, "and Heaven reward thee for it." + +So Geraint alighted, and the youth took the maiden from off her +horse. Then they washed, and took their repast. And the youth cut +the bread in slices, and gave them drink, and served them withal. +And when they had finished, the youth arose, and said to Geraint, "My +Lord, with thy permission, I will now go and fetch some food for the +mowers." "Go, first, to the town," said Geraint, "and take a lodging +for me in the best place that thou knowest, and the most commodious +one for the horses, and take thou whichever horse and arms thou +choosest in payment for thy service and thy gift." "Heaven reward +thee, Lord," said the youth, "and this would be ample to repay +services much greater than those I have rendered unto thee." And to +the town went the youth, and he took the best and the most pleasant +lodgings that he knew; and after that he went to the palace, having +the horse and armour with him, and proceeded to the place where the +Earl was, and told him all his adventure. "I go now, Lord," said he, +"to meet the young man, and to conduct him to his lodging." "Go, +gladly," said the Earl, "and right joyfully shall he be received +here, if he so come." And the youth went to meet Geraint, and told +him that he would be received gladly by the Earl in his own palace; +but he would go only to his lodgings. And he had a goodly chamber, +in which was plenty of straw, and drapery, and a spacious and +commodious place he had for the horses; and the youth prepared for +them plenty of provender. And after they had disarrayed themselves, +Geraint spoke thus to Enid: "Go," said he, "to the other side of the +chamber, and come not to this side of the house; and thou mayest call +to thee the woman of the house, if thou wilt." "I will do, Lord," +said she, "as thou sayest." And thereupon the man of the house came +to Geraint, and welcomed him. "Oh, chieftain," he said, "hast thou +taken thy meal?" "I have," said he. Then the youth spoke to him, +and inquired if he would not drink something before he met the Earl. +"Truly I will," said he. So the youth went into the town, and +brought them drink. And they drank. "I must needs sleep," said +Geraint. "Well," said the youth; "and whilst thou sleepest, I will +go to see the Earl." "Go, gladly," he said, "and come here again +when I require thee." And Geraint went to sleep; and so did Enid +also. + +And the youth came to the place where the Earl was, and the Earl +asked him where the lodgings of the knight were, and he told him. "I +must go," said the youth, "to wait on him in the evening." "Go," +answered the Earl, "and greet him well from me, and tell him that in +the evening I will go to see him." "This will I do," said the youth. +So he came when it was time for them to awake. And they arose, and +went forth. And when it was time for them to take their food, they +took it. And the youth served them. And Geraint inquired of the man +of the house, whether there were any of his companions that he wished +to invite to him, and he said that there were. "Bring them hither, +and entertain them at my cost with the best thou canst buy in the +town." + +And the man of the house brought there those whom he chose, and +feasted them at Geraint's expense. Thereupon, behold, the Earl came +to visit Geraint, and his twelve honourable knights with him. And +Geraint rose up, and welcomed him. "Heaven preserve thee," said the +Earl. Then they all sat down according to their precedence in +honour. And the Earl conversed with Geraint, and inquired of him the +object of his journey. "I have none," he replied, "but to seek +adventures, and to follow my own inclination." Then the Earl cast +his eye upon Enid, and he looked at her steadfastly. And he thought +he had never seen a maiden fairer or more comely than she. And he +set all his thoughts and his affections upon her. Then he asked of +Geraint, "Have I thy permission to go and converse with yonder +maiden, for I see that she is apart from thee?" "Thou hast it +gladly," said he. So the Earl went to the place where the maiden +was, and spake with her. "Ah, maiden," said he, "it cannot be +pleasant to thee to journey thus with yonder man!" "It is not +unpleasant to me," said she, "to journey the same road that he +journeys." "Thou hast neither youths nor maidens to serve thee," +said he. "Truly," she replied, "it is more pleasant for me to follow +yonder man, than to be served by youths and maidens." "I will give +thee good counsel," said he. "All my Earldom will I place in thy +possession, if thou wilt dwell with me." "That will I not, by +Heaven," she said; "yonder man was the first to whom my faith was +ever pledged; and shall I prove inconstant to him!" "Thou art in the +wrong," said the Earl; "if I slay the man yonder, I can keep thee +with me as long as I choose; and when thou no longer pleasest me I +can turn thee away. But if thou goest with me by thine own good +will, I protest that our union shall continue eternal and undivided +as long as I remain alive." Then she pondered these words of his, +and she considered that it was advisable to encourage him in his +request. "Behold, then, chieftain, this is most expedient for thee +to do to save me any needless imputation; come here to-morrow, and +take me away as though I knew nothing thereof." "I will do so," said +he. So he arose, and took his leave, and went forth with his +attendants. And she told not then to Geraint any of the conversation +which she had had with the Earl, lest it should rouse his anger, and +cause him uneasiness and care. + +And at the usual hour they went to sleep. And at the beginning of +the night Enid slept a little; and at midnight she arose, and placed +all Geraint's armour together, so that it might be ready to put on. +And although fearful of her errand, she came to the side of Geraint's +bed; and she spoke to him softly and gently, saying, "My Lord, arise, +and clothe thyself, for these were the words of the Earl to me, and +his intention concerning me." So she told Geraint all that had +passed. And although he was wroth with her, he took warning, and +clothed himself. And she lighted a candle, that he might have light +to do so. "Leave there the candle," said he, "and desire the man of +the house to come here." Then she went, and the man of the house +came to him. "Dost thou know how much I owe thee?" asked Geraint. +"I think thou owest but little." "Take the eleven horses and the +eleven suits of armour." "Heaven reward thee, lord," said he, "but I +spent not the value of one suit of armour upon thee." "For that +reason," said he, "thou wilt be the richer. And now, wilt thou come +to guide me out of the town?" "I will, gladly," said he, "and in +which direction dost thou intend to go?" "I wish to leave the town +by a different way from that by which I entered it." So the man of +the lodgings accompanied him as far as he desired. Then he bade the +maiden to go on before him; and she did so, and went straight +forward, and his host returned home. And he had only just reached +his house, when, behold, the greatest tumult approached that was ever +heard. And when he looked out, he saw fourscore knights in complete +armour around the house, with the Earl Dwnn at their head. "Where is +the knight that was here?" said the Earl. "By thy hand," said he, +"he went hence some time ago." "Wherefore, villain," said he, "didst +thou let him go without informing me?" "My Lord, thou didst not +command me to do so, else would I not have allowed him to depart." +"What way dost thou think that he took?" "I know not, except that he +went along the high road." And they turned their horses' heads that +way, and seeing the tracks of the horses upon the high road, they +followed. And when the maiden beheld the dawning of the day, she +looked behind her, and saw vast clouds of dust coming nearer and +nearer to her. And thereupon she became uneasy, and she thought that +it was the Earl and his host coming after them. And thereupon she +beheld a knight appearing through the mist. "By my faith," said she, +"though he should slay me, it were better for me to receive my death +at his hands, than to see him killed without warning him. My Lord," +she said to him, "seest thou yonder man hastening after thee, and +many others with him?" "I do see him," said he; "and in despite of +all my orders, I see that thou wilt never keep silence." Then he +turned upon the knight, and with the first thrust he threw him down +under his horse's feet. And as long as there remained one of the +fourscore knights, he overthrew every one of them at the first onset. +And from the weakest to the strongest, they all attacked him one +after the other, except the Earl: and last of all the Earl came +against him also. And he broke his lance, and then he broke a +second. But Geraint turned upon him, and struck him with his lance +upon the centre of his shield, so that by that single thrust the +shield was split, and all his armour broken, and he himself was +brought over his horse's crupper to the ground, and was in peril of +his life. And Geraint drew near to him; and at the noise of the +trampling of his horse the Earl revived. "Mercy, Lord," said he to +Geraint. And Geraint granted him mercy. But through the hardness of +the ground where they had fallen, and the violence of the stroke +which they had received, there was not a single knight amongst them +that escaped without receiving a fall, mortally severe, and +grievously painful, and desperately wounding, from the hand of +Geraint. + +And Geraint journeyed along the high road that was before him, and +the maiden went on first; and near them they beheld a valley which +was the fairest ever seen, and which had a large river running +through it; and there was a bridge over the river, and the high road +led to the bridge. And above the bridge upon the opposite side of +the river, they beheld a fortified town, the fairest ever seen. And +as they approached the bridge, Geraint saw coming towards him from a +thick copse a man mounted upon a large and lofty steed, even of pace +and spirited though tractable. "Ah, knight," said Geraint, "whence +comest thou?" "I come," said he, "from the valley below us." "Canst +thou tell me," said Geraint, "who is the owner of this fair valley +and yonder walled town?" "I will tell thee, willingly," said he. +"Gwiffert Petit he is called by the Franks, but the Cymry call him +the Little King." "Can I go by yonder bridge," said Geraint, "and by +the lower highway that is beneath the town?" Said the knight, "Thou +canst not go by his tower on the other side of the bridge, unless +thou dost intend to combat him; because it is his custom to encounter +every knight that comes upon his lands." "I declare to Heaven," said +Geraint, "that I will, nevertheless, pursue my journey that way." +"If thou dost so," said the knight, "thou wilt probably meet with +shame and disgrace in reward for thy daring." Then Geraint proceeded +along the road that led to the town, and the road brought him to a +ground that was hard, and rugged, and high, and ridgy. And as he +journeyed thus, he beheld a knight following him upon a warhorse, +strong, and large, and proudly-stepping, and wide-hoofed, and broad- +chested. And he never saw a man of smaller stature than he who was +upon the horse. And both he and his horse were completely armed. +When he had overtaken Geraint, he said to him, "Tell me, chieftain, +whether it is through ignorance or through presumption that thou +seekest to insult my dignity, and to infringe my rules." "Nay," +answered Geraint, "I knew not this road was forbid to any." "Thou +didst know it," said the other; "come with me to my Court, to give me +satisfaction." "That will I not, by my faith," said Geraint; "I +would not go even to thy Lord's Court, excepting Arthur were thy +Lord." "By the hand of Arthur himself," said the knight, "I will +have satisfaction of thee, or receive my overthrow at thy hands." +And immediately they charged one another. And a squire of his came +to serve him with lances as he broke them. And they gave each other +such hard and severe strokes that their shields lost all their +colour. But it was very difficult for Geraint to fight with him on +account of his small size, for he was hardly able to get a full aim +at him with all the efforts he could make. And they fought thus +until their horses were brought down upon their knees; and at length +Geraint threw the knight headlong to the ground; and then they fought +on foot, and they gave one another blows so boldly fierce, so +frequent, and so severely powerful, that their helmets were pierced, +and their skullcaps were broken, and their arms were shattered, and +the light of their eyes was darkened by sweat and blood. At the last +Geraint became enraged, and he called to him all his strength; and +boldly angry, and swiftly resolute, and furiously determined, he +lifted up his sword, and struck him on the crown of his head a blow +so mortally painful, so violent, so fierce, and so penetrating, that +it cut through all his head armour, and his skin, and his flesh, +until it wounded the very bone, and the sword flew out of the hand of +the Little King to the furthest end of the plain, and he besought +Geraint that he would have mercy and compassion upon him. "Though +thou hast been neither courteous nor just," said Geraint, "thou shalt +have mercy, upon condition that thou wilt become my ally, and engage +never to fight against me again, but to come to my assistance +whenever thou hearest of my being in trouble." "This will I do, +gladly, Lord," said he. So he pledged him his faith thereof. "And +now, Lord, come with me," said he, "to my Court yonder, to recover +from thy weariness and fatigue." "That will I not, by Heaven," said +he. + +Then Gwiffert Petit beheld Enid where she stood, and it grieved him +to see one of her noble mien appear so deeply afflicted. And he said +to Geraint, "My Lord, thou doest wrong not to take repose, and +refresh thyself awhile; for, if thou meetest with any difficulty in +thy present condition, it will not be easy for thee to surmount it." +But Geraint would do no other than proceed on his journey, and he +mounted his horse in pain, and all covered with blood. And the +maiden went on first, and they proceeded towards the wood which they +saw before them. + +And the heat of the sun was very great, and through the blood and +sweat, Geraint's armour cleaved to his flesh; and when they came into +the wood, he stood under a tree, to avoid the sun's heat; and his +wounds pained him more than they had done at the time when he +received them. And the maiden stood under another tree. And lo! +they heard the sound of horns, and a tumultuous noise; and the +occasion of it was, that Arthur and his company had come down to the +wood. And while Geraint was considering which way he should go to +avoid them, behold, he was espied by a foot-page, who was an +attendant on the Steward of the Household; and he went to the +Steward, and told him what kind of man he had seen in the wood. Then +the Steward caused his horse to be saddled, and he took his lance and +his shield, and went to the place where Geraint was. "Ah, knight!" +said he, "what dost thou here?" "I am standing under a shady tree, +to avoid the heat and the rays of the sun." "Wherefore is thy +journey, and who art thou?" "I seek adventures, and go where I +list." "Indeed," said Kai; "then come with me to see Arthur, who is +here hard by." "That will I not, by Heaven," said Geraint. "Thou +must needs come," said Kai. Then Geraint knew who he was, but Kai +did not know Geraint. And Kai attacked Geraint as best he could. +And Geraint became wroth, and he struck him with the shaft of his +lance, so that he rolled headlong to the ground. But chastisement +worse than this would he not inflict on him. + +Scared and wildly Kai arose, and he mounted his horse, and went back +to his lodging. And thence he proceeded to Gwalchmai's tent. "Oh, +Sir," said he to Gwalchmai, "I was told by one of the attendants, +that he saw in the wood above a wounded knight, having on battered +armour; and if thou dost right, thou wilt go and see if this be +true." "I care not if I do so," said Gwalchmai. "Take, then, thy +horse, and some of thy armour," said Kai; "for I hear that he is not +over courteous to those who approach him." So Gwalchmai took his +spear and his shield, and mounted his horse, and came to the spot +where Geraint was. "Sir Knight," said he, "wherefore is thy +journey?" "I journey for my own pleasure, and to seek the adventures +of the world." "Wilt thou tell me who thou art; or wilt thou come +and visit Arthur, who is near at hand?" "I will make no alliance +with thee, nor will I go and visit Arthur," said he. And he knew +that it was Gwalchmai, but Gwalchmai knew him not. "I purpose not to +leave thee," said Gwalchmai, "till I know who thou art." And he +charged him with his lance, and struck him on his shield, so that the +shaft was shivered into splinters, and their horses were front to +front. Then Gwalchmai gazed fixedly upon him, and he knew him. "Ah, +Geraint," said he, "is it thou that art here?" "I am not Geraint," +said he. "Geraint thou art, by Heaven," he replied, "and a wretched +and insane expedition is this." Then he looked around, and beheld +Enid, and he welcomed her gladly. "Geraint," said Gwalchmai, "come +thou and see Arthur; he is thy lord and thy cousin." "I will not," +said he, "for I am not in a fit state to go and see any one." +Thereupon, behold, one of the pages came after Gwalchmai to speak to +him. So he sent him to apprise Arthur that Geraint was there +wounded, and that he would not go to visit him, and that it was +pitiable to see the plight that he was in. And this he did without +Geraint's knowledge, inasmuch as he spoke in a whisper to the page. +"Entreat Arthur," said he, "to have his tent brought near to the +road, for he will not meet him willingly, and it is not easy to +compel him in the mood he is in." So the page came to Arthur, and +told him this. And he caused his tent to be removed unto the side of +the road. And the maiden rejoiced in her heart. And Gwalchmai led +Geraint onwards along the road, till they came to the place where +Arthur was encamped, and the pages were pitching his tent by the +roadside. "Lord," said Geraint, "all hail unto thee." "Heaven +prosper thee; and who art thou?" said Arthur. "It is Geraint," said +Gwalchmai, "and of his own free will would he not come to meet thee." +"Verily," said Arthur, "he is bereft of his reason." Then came Enid, +and saluted Arthur. "Heaven protect thee," said he. And thereupon +he caused one of the pages to take her from her horse. "Alas! Enid," +said Arthur, "what expedition is this?" "I know not, Lord," said +she, "save that it behoves me to journey by the same road that he +journeys." "My Lord," said Geraint, "with thy permission we will +depart." "Whither wilt thou go?" said Arthur. "Thou canst not +proceed now, unless it be unto thy death." "He will not suffer +himself to be invited by me," said Gwalchmai. "But by me he will," +said Arthur; "and, moreover, he does not go from here until he is +healed." "I had rather, Lord," said Geraint, "that thou wouldest let +me go forth." "That will I not, I declare to Heaven," said he. Then +he caused a maiden to be sent for to conduct Enid to the tent where +Gwenhwyvar's chamber was. And Gwenhwyvar and all her women were +joyful at her coming; and they took off her riding-dress, and placed +other garments upon her. Arthur also called Kadyrieith, and ordered +him to pitch a tent for Geraint and the physicians; and he enjoined +him to provide him with abundance of all that might be requisite for +him. And Kadyrieith did as he had commanded him. And Morgan Tud and +his disciples were brought to Geraint. + +And Arthur and his hosts remained there nearly a month, whilst +Geraint was being healed. And when he was fully recovered, Geraint +came to Arthur, and asked his permission to depart. "I know not if +thou art quite well." "In truth I am, Lord," said Geraint. "I shall +not believe thee concerning that, but the physicians that were with +thee." So Arthur caused the physicians to be summoned to him, and +asked them if it were true. "It is true, Lord," said Morgan Tud. So +the next day Arthur permitted him to go forth, and he pursued his +journey. And on the same day Arthur removed thence. And Geraint +desired Enid to go on, and to keep before him, as she had formerly +done. And she went forward along the high road. And as they +journeyed thus, they heard an exceeding loud wailing near to them. +"Stay thou here," said he, "and I will go and see what is the cause +of this wailing." "I will," said she. Then he went forward unto an +open glade that was near the road. And in the glade he saw two +horses, one having a man's saddle, and the other a woman's saddle +upon it. And, behold, there was a knight lying dead in his armour, +and a young damsel in a riding-dress standing over him, lamenting. +"Ah! Lady," said Geraint, "what hath befallen thee?" "Behold," she +answered, "I journeyed here with my beloved husband, when, lo! three +giants came upon us, and without any cause in the world, they slew +him." "Which way went they hence?" said Geraint. "Yonder by the +high road," she replied. So he returned to Enid. "Go," said he, "to +the lady that is below yonder, and await me there till I come." She +was sad when he ordered her to do thus, but nevertheless she went to +the damsel, whom it was ruth to hear, and she felt certain that +Geraint would never return. Meanwhile Geraint followed the giants, +and overtook them. And each of them was greater of stature than +three other men, and a huge club was on the shoulder of each. Then +he rushed upon one of them, and thrust his lance through his body. +And having drawn it forth again, he pierced another of them through +likewise. But the third turned upon him, and struck him with his +club, so that he split his shield, and crushed his shoulder, and +opened his wounds anew, and all his blood began to flow from him. +But Geraint drew his sword, and attacked the giant, and gave him a +blow on the crown of his head so severe, and fierce, and violent, +that his head and his neck were split down to his shoulders, and he +fell dead. So Geraint left him thus, and returned to Enid. And when +he saw her, he fell down lifeless from his horse. Piercing, and +loud, and thrilling was the cry that Enid uttered. And she came and +stood over him where he had fallen. And at the sound of her cries +came the Earl of Limours, and the host that journeyed with him, whom +her lamentations brought out of their road. And the Earl said to +Enid, "Alas, Lady, what hath befallen thee?" "Ah! good Sir," said +she, "the only man I have loved, or ever shall love, is slain." Then +he said to the other, "And what is the cause of thy grief?" "They +have slain my beloved husband also," said she. "And who was it that +slew them?" "Some giants," she answered, "slew my best-beloved, and +the other knight went in pursuit of them, and came back in the state +thou seest, his blood flowing excessively; but it appears to me that +he did not leave the giants without killing some of them, if not +all." The Earl caused the knight that was dead to be buried, but he +thought that there still remained some life in Geraint; and to see if +he yet would live, he had him carried with him in the hollow of his +shield, and upon a bier. And the two damsels went to the Court; and +when they arrived there, Geraint was placed upon a litter-couch in +front of the table that was in the hall. Then they all took off +their travelling gear, and the Earl besought Enid to do the same, and +to clothe herself in other garments. "I will not, by Heaven," said +she. "Ah! Lady," said he, "be not so sorrowful for this matter." +"It were hard to persuade me to be otherwise," said she. "I will act +towards thee in such wise, that thou needest not be sorrowful, +whether yonder knight live or die. Behold, a good Earldom, together +with myself, will I bestow on thee; be, therefore, happy and joyful." +"I declare to Heaven," said she, "that henceforth I shall never be +joyful while I live." "Come, then," said he, "and eat." "No, by +Heaven, I will not," she answered. "But, by Heaven, thou shalt," +said he. So he took her with him to the table against her will, and +many times desired her to eat. "I call Heaven to witness," said she, +"that I will not eat until the man that is upon yonder bier shall eat +likewise." "Thou canst not fulfil that," said the Earl, "yonder man +is dead already." "I will prove that I can," said she. Then he +offered her a goblet of liquor. "Drink this goblet," he said, "and +it will cause thee to change thy mind." "Evil betide me," she +answered, "if I drink aught until he drink also." "Truly," said the +Earl, "it is of no more avail for me to be gentle with thee than +ungentle." And he gave her a box on the ear. Thereupon she raised a +loud and piercing shriek, and her lamentations were much greater than +they had been before, for she considered in her mind that had Geraint +been alive, he durst not have struck her thus. But, behold, at the +sound of her cry, Geraint revived from his swoon, and he sat up on +the bier, and finding his sword in the hollow of his shield, he +rushed to the place where the Earl was, and struck him a fiercely- +wounding, severely-venomous, and sternly-smiting blow upon the crown +of his head, so that he clove him in twain, until his sword was +stayed by the table. Then all left the board, and fled away. And +this was not so much through fear of the living as through the dread +they felt at seeing the dead man rise up to slay them. And Geraint +looked upon Enid, and he was grieved for two causes; one was, to see +that Enid had lost her colour and her wonted aspect, and the other, +to know that she was in the right. "Lady," said he, "knowest thou +where our horses are?" "I know, Lord, where thy horse is," she +replied, "but I know not where is the other. Thy horse is in the +house yonder." So he went to the house, and brought forth his horse, +and mounted him, and took up Enid from the ground, and placed her +upon the horse with him. And he rode forward. And their road lay +between two hedges. And the night was gaining on the day. And lo! +they saw behind them the shafts of spears betwixt them and the sky, +and they heard the trampling of horses, and the noise of a host +approaching. "I hear something following us," said he, "and I will +put thee on the other side of the hedge." And thus he did. And +thereupon, behold, a knight pricked towards him, and couched his +lance. When Enid saw this, she cried out, saying, "Oh! chieftain, +whoever thou art, what renown wilt thou gain by slaying a dead man?" +"Oh! Heaven," said he, "is it Geraint?" "Yes, in truth," said she. +"And who art thou?" "I am the Little King," he answered, "coming to +thy assistance, for I heard that thou wast in trouble. And if thou +hadst followed my advice, none of these hardships would have befallen +thee." "Nothing can happen," said Geraint, "without the will of +Heaven, though much good results from counsel." "Yes," said the +Little King, "and I know good counsel for thee now. Come with me to +the court of a son-in-law of my sister, which is near here, and thou +shalt have the best medical assistance in the kingdom." "I will do +so gladly," said Geraint. And Enid was placed upon the horse of one +of the Little King's squires, and they went forward to the Baron's +palace. And they were received there with gladness, and they met +with hospitality and attention. And the next morning they went to +seek physicians; and it was not long before they came, and they +attended Geraint until he was perfectly well. And while Geraint was +under medical care, the Little King caused his armour to be repaired, +until it was as good as it had ever been. And they remained there a +fortnight and a month. + +Then the Little King said to Geraint, "Now will we go towards my own +Court, to take rest, and amuse ourselves." "Not so," said Geraint, +"we will first journey for one day more, and return again." "With +all my heart," said the Little King, "do thou go then." And early in +the day they set forth. And more gladly and more joyfully did Enid +journey with them that day than she had ever done. And they came to +the main road. And when they reached a place where the road divided +in two, they beheld a man on foot coming towards them along one of +these roads, and Gwiffert asked the man whence he came. "I come," +said he, "from an errand in the country." "Tell me," said Geraint, +"which is the best for me to follow of these two roads?" "That is +the best for thee to follow," answered he, "for if thou goest by this +one, thou wilt never return. Below us," said he, "there is a hedge +of mist, and within it are enchanted games, and no one who has gone +there has ever returned. And the Court of the Earl Owain is there, +and he permits no one to go to lodge in the town, except he will go +to his Court." "I declare to Heaven," said Geraint, "that we will +take the lower road." And they went along it until they came to the +town. And they took the fairest and pleasantest place in the town +for their lodging. And while they were thus, behold, a young man +came to them, and greeted them. "Heaven be propitious to thee," said +they. "Good Sirs," said he, "what preparations are you making here?" +"We are taking up our lodging," said they, "to pass the night." "It +is not the custom with him who owns the town," he answered, "to +permit any of gentle birth, unless they come to stay in his Court, to +abide here; therefore, come ye to the Court." "We will come, +gladly," said Geraint. And they went with the page, and they were +joyfully received. And the Earl came to the hall to meet them, and +he commanded the tables to be laid. And they washed, and sat down. +And this is the order in which they sat: Geraint on one side of the +Earl, and Enid on the other side, and next to Enid the Little King, +and then the Countess next to Geraint; and all after that as became +their rank. Then Geraint recollected the games, and thought that he +should not go to them; and on that account he did not eat. Then the +Earl looked upon Geraint, and considered, and he bethought him that +his not eating was because of the games, and it grieved him that he +had ever established those games, were it only on account of losing +such a youth as Geraint. And if Geraint had asked him to abolish the +games, he would gladly have done so. Then the Earl said to Geraint, +"What thought occupies thy mind, that thou dost not eat? If thou +hesitatest about going to the games, thou shalt not go, and no other +of thy rank shall ever go either." "Heaven reward thee," said +Geraint, "but I wish nothing better than to go to the games, and to +be shown the way thither." "If that is what thou dost prefer, thou +shalt obtain it willingly." "I do prefer it, indeed," said he. Then +they ate, and they were amply served, and they had a variety of +gifts, and abundance of liquor. And when they had finished eating +they arose. And Geraint called for his horse and his armour, and he +accoutred both himself and his horse. And all the hosts went forth +until they came to the side of the hedge, and the hedge was so lofty, +that it reached as high as they could see in the air, and upon every +stake in the hedge, except two, there was the head of a man, and the +number of stakes throughout the hedge was very great. Then said the +Little King, "May no one go in with the chieftain?" "No one may," +said Earl Owain. "Which way can I enter?" inquired Geraint. "I know +not," said Owain, "but enter by the way that thou wilt, and that +seemeth easiest to thee." + +Then fearlessly and unhesitatingly Geraint dashed forward into the +mist. And on leaving the mist, he came to a large orchard; and in +the orchard he saw an open space, wherein was a tent of red satin; +and the door of the tent was open, and an apple-tree stood in front +of the door of the tent; and on a branch of the apple-tree hung a +huge hunting-horn. Then he dismounted, and went into the tent; and +there was no one in the tent save one maiden sitting in a golden +chair, and another chair was opposite to her, empty. And Geraint +went to the empty chair, and sat down therein. "Ah! chieftain," said +the maiden, "I would not counsel thee to sit in that chair." +"Wherefore?" said Geraint. "The man to whom that chair belongs has +never suffered another to sit in it." "I care not," said Geraint, +"though it displease him that I sit in the chair." And thereupon +they heard a mighty tumult around the tent. And Geraint looked to +see what was the cause of the tumult. And he beheld without a knight +mounted upon a warhorse, proudly snorting, high-mettled, and large of +bone; and a robe of honour in two parts was upon him and upon his +horse, and beneath it was plenty of armour. "Tell me, chieftain," +said he to Geraint, "who it was that bade thee sit there?" "Myself," +answered he. "It was wrong of thee to do me this shame and disgrace. +Arise, and do me satisfaction for thine insolence." Then Geraint +arose; and they encountered immediately; and they broke a set of +lances, and a second set, and a third; and they gave each other +fierce and frequent strokes; and at last Geraint became enraged, and +he urged on his horse, and rushed upon him, and gave him a thrust on +the centre of his shield, so that it was split, and so that the head +of his lance went through his armour, and his girths were broken, and +he himself was borne headlong to the ground the length of Geraint's +lance and arm, over his horse's crupper. "Oh, my Lord!" said he, +"thy mercy, and thou shalt have what thou wilt." "I only desire," +said Geraint, "that this game shall no longer exist here, nor the +hedge of mist, nor magic, nor enchantment." "Thou shalt have this +gladly, Lord," he replied. "Cause, then, the mist to disappear from +this place," said Geraint. "Sound yonder horn," said he, "and when +thou soundest it, the mist will vanish; but it will not go hence +unless the horn be blown by the knight by whom I am vanquished." And +sad and sorrowful was Enid where she remained, through anxiety +concerning Geraint. Then Geraint went and sounded the horn. And at +the first blast he gave, the mist vanished. And all the hosts came +together, and they all became reconciled to each other. And the Earl +invited Geraint and the Little King to stay with him that night. And +the next morning they separated. And Geraint went towards his own +dominions; and thenceforth he reigned prosperously, and his warlike +fame and splendour lasted with renown and honour both to him and to +Enid from that time forth. + + + +KILHWCH AND OLWEN +OR THE +TWRCH TRWYTH + + + +Kilydd the son of Prince Kelyddon desired a wife as a helpmate, and +the wife that he chose was Goleuddydd, the daughter of Prince +Anlawdd. And after their union, the people put up prayers that they +might have an heir. And they had a son through the prayers of the +people. From the time of her pregnancy Goleuddydd became wild, and +wandered about, without habitation; but when her delivery was at +hand, her reason came back to her. Then she went to a mountain where +there was a swineherd, keeping a herd of swine. And through fear of +the swine the queen was delivered. And the swineherd took the boy, +and brought him to the palace; and he was christened, and they called +him Kilhwch, because he had been found in a swine's burrow. +Nevertheless the boy was of gentle lineage, and cousin unto Arthur; +and they put him out to nurse. + +After this the boy's mother, Goleuddydd, the daughter of Prince +Anlawdd, fell sick. Then she called her husband unto her, and said +to him, "Of this sickness I shall die, and thou wilt take another +wife. Now wives are the gift of the Lord, but it would be wrong for +thee to harm thy son. Therefore I charge thee that thou take not a +wife until thou see a briar with two blossoms upon my grave." And +this he promised her. Then she besought him to dress her grave every +year, that nothing might grow thereon. So the queen died. Now the +king sent an attendant every morning to see if anything were growing +upon the grave. And at the end of the seventh year the master +neglected that which he had promised to the queen. + +One day the king went to hunt, and he rode to the place of burial to +see the grave, and to know if it were time that he should take a +wife; and the king saw the briar. And when he saw it, the king took +counsel where he should find a wife. Said one of his counsellors, "I +know a wife that will suit thee well, and she is the wife of King +Doged." And they resolved to go to seek her; and they slew the king, +and brought away his wife and one daughter that she had along with +her. And they conquered the king's lands. + +On a certain day, as the lady walked abroad, she came to the house of +an old crone that dwelt in the town, and that had no tooth in her +head. And the queen said to her, "Old woman, tell me that which I +shall ask thee, for the love of Heaven. Where are the children of +the man who has carried me away by violence?" Said the crone, "He +has not children." Said the queen, "Woe is me, that I should have +come to one who is childless!" Then said the hag, "Thou needest not +lament on account of that, for there is a prediction he shall have an +heir by thee, and by none other. Moreover, be not sorrowful, for he +has one son." + +The lady returned home with joy; and she asked her consort, +"Wherefore hast thou concealed thy children from me?" The king said, +"I will do so no longer." And he sent messengers for his son, and he +was brought to the Court. His stepmother said unto him, "It were +well for thee to have a wife, and I have a daughter who is sought of +every man of renown in the world." "I am not yet of an age to wed," +answered the youth. Then said she unto him, "I declare to thee, that +it is thy destiny not to be suited with a wife until thou obtain +Olwen, the daughter of Yspaddaden Penkawr." And the youth blushed, +and the love of the maiden diffused itself through all his frame, +although he had never seen her. And his father inquired of him, +"What has come over thee, my son, and what aileth thee?" "My +stepmother has declared to me that I shall never have a wife until I +obtain Olwen, the daughter of Yspaddaden Penkawr." "That will be +easy for thee," answered his father. "Arthur is thy cousin. Go, +therefore, unto Arthur, to cut thy hair, and ask this of him as a +boon." + +And the youth pricked forth upon a steed with head dappled grey, of +four winters old, firm of limb, with shell-formed hoofs, having a +bridle of linked gold on his head, and upon him a saddle of costly +gold. And in the youth's hand were two spears of silver, sharp, +well-tempered, headed with steel, three ells in length, of an edge to +wound the wind, and cause blood to flow, and swifter than the fall of +the dewdrop from the blade of reed-grass upon the earth when the dew +of June is at the heaviest. A gold-hilted sword was upon his thigh, +the blade of which was of gold, bearing a cross of inlaid gold of the +hue of the lightning of heaven: his war-horn was of ivory. Before +him were two brindled white-breasted greyhounds, having strong +collars of rubies about their necks, reaching from the shoulder to +the ear. And the one that was on the left side bounded across to the +right side, and the one on the right to the left, and like two sea- +swallows sported around him. And his courser cast up four sods with +his four hoofs, like four swallows in the air, about his head, now +above, now below. About him was a four-cornered cloth of purple, and +an apple of gold was at each corner, and every one of the apples was +of the value of an hundred kine. And there was precious gold of the +value of three hundred kine upon his shoes, and upon his stirrups, +from his knee to the tip of his toe. And the blade of grass bent not +beneath him, so light was his courser's tread as he journeyed towards +the gate of Arthur's Palace. + +Spoke the youth, "Is there a porter?" "There is; and if thou holdest +not thy peace, small will be thy welcome. I am Arthur's porter every +first day of January. And during every other part of the year but +this, the office is filled by Huandaw, and Gogigwc, and Llaeskenym, +and Pennpingyon, who goes upon his head to save his feet, neither +towards the sky nor towards the earth, but like a rolling stone upon +the floor of the court." "Open the portal." "I will not open it." +"Wherefore not?" "The knife is in the meat, and the drink is in the +horn, and there is revelry in Arthur's Hall, and none may enter +therein but the son of a king of a privileged country, or a craftsman +bringing his craft. But there will be refreshment for thy dogs, and +for thy horses; and for thee there will be collops cooked and +peppered, and luscious wine and mirthful songs, and food for fifty +men shall be brought unto thee in the guest chamber, where the +stranger and the sons of other countries eat, who come not unto the +precincts of the Palace of Arthur. Thou wilt fare no worse there +than thou wouldest with Arthur in the Court. A lady shall smooth thy +couch, and shall lull thee with songs; and early to-morrow morning, +when the gate is open for the multitude that come hither to-day, for +thee shall it be opened first, and thou mayest sit in the place that +thou shalt choose in Arthur's Hall, from the upper end to the lower." +Said the youth, "That will I not do. If thou openest the gate, it is +well. If thou dost not open it, I will bring disgrace upon thy Lord, +and evil report upon thee. And I will set up three shouts at this +very gate, than which none were ever more deadly, from the top of +Pengwaed in Cornwall to the bottom of Dinsol, in the North, and to +Esgair Oervel, in Ireland. And all the women in this Palace that are +pregnant shall lose their offspring; and such as are not pregnant, +their hearts shall be turned by illness, so that they shall never +bear children from this day forward." "What clamour soever thou +mayest make," said Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr, "against the laws of Arthur's +Palace shalt thou not enter therein, until I first go and speak with +Arthur." + +Then Glewlwyd went into the Hall. And Arthur said to him, "Hast thou +news from the gate?"--"Half of my life is past, and half of thine. I +was heretofore in Kaer Se and Asse, in Sach and Salach, in Lotor and +Fotor; and I have been heretofore in India the Great and India the +Lesser; and I was in the battle of Dau Ynyr, when the twelve hostages +were brought from Llychlyn. And I have also been in Europe, and in +Africa, and in the islands of Corsica, and in Caer Brythwch, and +Brythach, and Verthach; and I was present when formerly thou didst +slay the family of Clis the son of Merin, and when thou didst slay +Mil Du the son of Ducum, and when thou didst conquer Greece in the +East. And I have been in Caer Oeth and Annoeth, and in Caer +Nevenhyr; nine supreme sovereigns, handsome men, saw we there, but +never did I behold a man of equal dignity with him who is now at the +door of the portal." Then said Arthur, "If walking thou didst enter +in here, return thou running. And every one that beholds the light, +and every one that opens and shuts the eye, let them shew him +respect, and serve him, some with gold-mounted drinking-horns, others +with collops cooked and peppered, until food and drink can be +prepared for him. It is unbecoming to keep such a man as thou sayest +he is, in the wind and the rain." Said Kai, "By the hand of my +friend, if thou wouldest follow my counsel, thou wouldest not break +through the laws of the Court because of him." "Not so, blessed Kai. +It is an honour to us to be resorted to, and the greater our courtesy +the greater will be our renown, and our fame, and our glory." + +And Glewlwyd came to the gate, and opened the gate before him; and +although all dismounted upon the horseblock at the gate, yet did he +not dismount, but rode in upon his charger. Then said Kilhwch, +"Greeting be unto thee, Sovereign Ruler of this Island; and be this +greeting no less unto the lowest than unto the highest, and be it +equally unto thy guests, and thy warriors, and thy chieftains--let +all partake of it as completely as thyself. And complete be thy +favour, and thy fame, and thy glory, throughout all this Island." +"Greeting unto thee also," said Arthur; "sit thou between two of my +warriors, and thou shalt have minstrels before thee, and thou shalt +enjoy the privileges of a king born to a throne, as long as thou +remainest here. And when I dispense my presents to the visitors and +strangers in this Court, they shall be in thy hand at my commencing." +Said the youth, "I came not here to consume meat and drink; but if I +obtain the boon that I seek, I will requite it thee, and extol thee; +and if I have it not, I will bear forth thy dispraise to the four +quarters of the world, as far as thy renown has extended." Then said +Arthur, "Since thou wilt not remain here, chieftain, thou shalt +receive the boon whatsoever thy tongue may name, as far as the wind +dries, and the rain moistens, and the sun revolves, and the sea +encircles, and the earth extends; save only my ship; and my mantle; +and Caledvwlch, my sword; and Rhongomyant, my lance; and +Wynebgwrthucher, my shield; and Carnwenhau, my dagger; and +Gwenhwyvar, my wife. By the truth of Heaven, thou shalt have it +cheerfully, name what thou wilt." "I would that thou bless my hair." +"That shall be granted thee." + +And Arthur took a golden comb, and scissors, whereof the loops were +of silver, and he combed his hair. And Arthur inquired of him who he +was. "For my heart warms unto thee, and I know that thou art come of +my blood. Tell me, therefore, who thou art." "I will tell thee," +said the youth. "I am Kilhwch, the son of Kilydd, the son of Prince +Kelyddon, by Goleuddydd, my mother, the daughter of Prince Anlawdd." +"That is true," said Arthur; "thou art my cousin. Whatsoever boon +thou mayest ask, thou shalt receive, be it what it may that thy +tongue shall name." "Pledge the truth of Heaven and the faith of thy +kingdom thereof." "I pledge it thee, gladly." "I crave of thee +then, that thou obtain for me Olwen, the daughter of Yspaddaden +Penkawr; and this boon I likewise seek at the hands of thy warriors. +I seek it from Kai, and Bedwyr, and Greidawl Galldonyd, and Gwythyr +the son of Greidawl, and Greid the son of Eri, and Kynddelig +Kyvarwydd, and Tathal Twyll Goleu, and Maelwys the son of Baeddan, +and Crychwr the son of Nes, and Cubert the son of Daere, and Percos +the son of Poch, and Lluber Beuthach, and Corvil Bervach, and Gwynn +the son of Nudd, and Edeyrn the son of Nudd, and Gadwy the son of +Geraint, and Prince Fflewddur Fflam, and Ruawn Pebyr the son of +Dorath, and Bradwen the son of Moren Mynawc, and Moren Mynawc +himself, and Dalldav the son of Kimin Cov, and the son of Alun Dyved, +and the son of Saidi, and the son of Gwryon, and Uchtryd Ardywad Kad, +and Kynwas Curvagyl, and Gwrhyr Gwarthegvras, and Isperyr Ewingath, +and Gallcoyt Govynynat, and Duach, and Grathach, and Nerthach, the +sons of Gwawrddur Kyrvach (these men came forth from the confines of +hell), and Kilydd Canhastyr, and Canastyr Kanllaw, and Cors Cant- +Ewin, and Esgeir Gulhwch Govynkawn, and Drustwrn Hayarn, and Glewlwyd +Gavaelvawr, and Lloch Llawwynnyawc, and Aunwas Adeiniawc, and Sinnoch +the son of Seithved, and Gwennwynwyn the son of Naw, and Bedyw the +son of Seithved, and Gobrwy the son of Echel Vorddwyttwll, and Echel +Vorddwyttwll himself, and Mael the son of Roycol, and Dadweir +Dallpenn, and Garwyli the son of Gwythawc Gwyr, and Gwythawc Gwyr +himself, and Gormant the son of Ricca, and Menw the son of +Teirgwaedd, and Digon the son of Alar, and Selyf the son of Smoit, +and Gusg the son of Atheu, and Nerth the son of Kedarn, and Drudwas +the son of Tryffin, and Twrch the son of Perif, and Twrch the son of +Annwas, and Iona king of France, and Sel the son of Selgi, and +Teregud the son of Iaen, and Sulyen the son of Iaen, and Bradwen the +son of Iaen, and Moren the son of Iaen, and Siawn the son of Iaen, +and Cradawc the son of Iaen. (They were men of Caerdathal, of +Arthur's kindred on his father's side.) Dirmyg the son of Kaw, and +Justic the son of Kaw, and Etmic the son of Kaw, and Anghawd the son +of Kaw, and Ovan the son of Kaw, and Kelin the son of Kaw, and Connyn +the son of Kaw, and Mabsant the son of Kaw, and Gwyngad the son of +Kaw, and Llwybyr the son of Kaw, and Coth the son of Kaw, and Meilic +the son of Kaw, and Kynwas the son of Kaw, and Ardwyad the son of +Kaw, and Ergyryad the son of Kaw, and Neb the son of Kaw, and Gilda +the son of Kaw, and Calcas the son of Kaw, and Hueil the son of Kaw +(he never yet made a request at the hand of any Lord). And Samson +Vinsych, and Taliesin the chief of the bards, and Manawyddan the son +of Llyr, and Llary the son of Prince Kasnar, and Ysperni the son of +Fflergant king of Armorica, and Saranhon the son of Glythwyr, and +Llawr Eilerw, and Annyanniawc the son of Menw the son of Teirgwaedd, +and Gwynn the son of Nwyvre, and Fflam the son of Nwyvre, and Geraint +the son of Erbin, and Ermid the son of Erbin, and Dyvel the son of +Erbin, and Gwynn the son of Ermid, and Kyndrwyn the son of Ermid, and +Hyveidd Unllenn, and Eiddon Vawr Vrydic, and Reidwn Arwy, and Gormant +the son of Ricca (Arthur's brother by his mother's side; the Penhynev +of Cornwall was his father), and Llawnrodded Varvawc, and Nodawl +Varyf Twrch, and Berth the son of Kado, and Rheidwn the son of Beli, +and Iscovan Hael, and Iscawin the son of Panon, and Morvran the son +of Tegid (no one struck him in the battle of Camlan by reason of his +ugliness; all thought he was an auxiliary devil. Hair had he upon +him like the hair of a stag). And Sandde Bryd Angel (no one touched +him with a spear in the battle of Camlan because of his beauty; all +thought he was a ministering angel). And Kynwyl Sant (the third man +that escaped from the battle of Camlan, and he was the last who +parted from Arthur on Hengroen his horse). And Uchtryd the son of +Erim, and Eus the son of Erim, and Henwas Adeinawg the son of Erim, +and Henbedestyr the son of Erim, and Sgilti Yscawndroed the son of +Erim. (Unto these three men belonged these three qualities,--With +Henbedestyr there was not any one who could keep pace, either on +horseback or on foot; with Henwas Adeinawg, no four-footed beast +could run the distance of an acre, much less could it go beyond it; +and as to Sgilti Yscawndroed, when he intended to go upon a message +for his Lord, he never sought to find a path, but knowing whither he +was to go, if his way lay through a wood he went along the tops of +the trees. During his whole life, a blade of reed grass bent not +beneath his feet, much less did one ever break, so lightly did he +tread.) Teithi Hen the son of Gwynhan (his dominions were swallowed +up by the sea, and he himself hardly escaped, and he came to Arthur; +and his knife had this peculiarity, that from the time that he came +there no haft would ever remain upon it, and owing to this a sickness +came over him, and he pined away during the remainder of his life, +and of this he died). And Carneddyr the son of Govynyon Hen, and +Gwenwynwyn the son of Nav Gyssevin, Arthur's champion, and +Llysgadrudd Emys, and Gwrbothu Hen (uncles unto Arthur were they, his +mother's brothers). Kulvanawyd the son of Goryon, and Llenlleawg +Wyddel from the headland of Ganion, and Dyvynwal Moel, and Dunard +king of the North, Teirnon Twryf Bliant, and Tegvan Gloff, and Tegyr +Talgellawg, Gwrdinal the son of Ebrei, and Morgant Hael, Gwystyl the +son of Rhun the son of Nwython, and Llwyddeu the son of Nwython, and +Gwydre the son of Llwyddeu (Gwenabwy the daughter of [Kaw] was his +mother, Hueil his uncle stabbed him, and hatred was between Hueil and +Arthur because of the wound). Drem the son of Dremidyd (when the +gnat arose in the morning with the sun, he could see it from Gelli +Wic in Cornwall, as far off as Pen Blathaon in North Britain). And +Eidyol the son of Ner, and Glwyddyn Saer (who constructed Ehangwen, +Arthur's Hall). Kynyr Keinvarvawc (when he was told he had a son +born he said to his wife, 'Damsel, if thy son be mine, his heart will +be always cold, and there will be no warmth in his hands; and he will +have another peculiarity, if he is my son he will always be stubborn; +and he will have another peculiarity, when he carries a burden, +whether it be large or small, no one will be able to see it, either +before him or at his back; and he will have another peculiarity, no +one will be able to resist fire and water so well as he will; and he +will have another peculiarity, there will never be a servant or an +officer equal to him'). Henwas, and Henwyneb (an old companion to +Arthur). Gwallgoyc (another; when he came to a town, though there +were three hundred houses in it, if he wanted anything, he would not +let sleep come to the eyes of any one whilst he remained there). +Berwyn the son of Gerenhir, and Paris king of France, and Osla +Gyllellvawr (who bore a short broad dagger. When Arthur and his +hosts came before a torrent, they would seek for a narrow place where +they might pass the water, and would lay the sheathed dagger across +the torrent, and it would form a bridge sufficient for the armies of +the three Islands of Britain, and of the three islands adjacent, with +their spoil). Gwyddawg the son of Menestyr (who slew Kai, and whom +Arthur slew, together with his brothers, to revenge Kai). Garanwyn +the son of Kai, and Amren the son of Bedwyr, and Ely Amyr,and Rheu +Rhwyd Dyrys, and Rhun Rhudwern, and Eli, and Trachmyr (Arthur's chief +huntsmen). And Llwyddeu the son of Kelcoed, and Hunabwy the son of +Gwryon, and Gwynn Godyvron, and Gweir Datharwenniddawg, and Gweir the +son of Cadell the son of Talaryant, and Gweir Gwrhyd Ennwir, and +Gweir Paladyr Hir (the uncles of Arthur, the brothers of his mother). +The sons of Llwch Llawwynnyawg (from beyond the raging sea). +Llenlleawg Wyddel, and Ardderchawg Prydain. Cas the son of Saidi, +Gwrvan Gwallt Avwyn, and Gwyllennhin the king of France, and Gwittart +the son of Oedd king of Ireland. Garselit Wyddel, Panawr Pen Bagad, +and Ffleudor the son of Nav, Gwynnhyvar mayor of Cornwall and Devon +(the ninth man that rallied the battle of Camlan). Keli and Kueli, +and Gilla Coes Hydd (he would clear three hundred acres at one bound: +the chief leaper of Ireland was he). Sol, and Gwadyn Ossol, and +Gwadyn Odyeith. (Sol could stand all day upon one foot. Gwadyn +Ossol, if he stood upon the top of the highest mountain in the world, +it would become a level plain under his feet. Gwadyn Odyeith, the +soles of his feet emitted sparks of fire when they struck upon things +hard, like the heated mass when drawn out of the forge. He cleared +the way for Arthur when he came to any stoppage.) Hirerwm and +Hiratrwm. (The day they went on a visit three Cantrevs provided for +their entertainment, and they feasted until noon and drank until +night, when they went to sleep. And then they devoured the heads of +the vermin through hunger, as if they had never eaten anything. When +they made a visit they left neither the fat nor the lean, neither the +hot nor the cold, the sour nor the sweet, the fresh nor the salt, the +boiled nor the raw.) Huarwar the son of Aflawn (who asked Arthur +such a boon as would satisfy him. It was the third great plague of +Cornwall when he received it. None could get a smile from him but +when he was satisfied). Gware Gwallt Euryn. The two cubs of Gast +Rhymi, Gwyddrud and Gwyddneu Astrus. Sugyn the son of Sugnedydd (who +would suck up the sea on which were three hundred ships so as to +leave nothing but a dry strand. He was broad-chested). Rhacymwri, +the attendant of Arthur (whatever barn he was shown, were there the +produce of thirty ploughs within it, he would strike it with an iron +flail until the rafters, the beams, and the boards were no better +than the small oats in the mow upon the floor of the barn). +Dygyflwng and Anoeth Veidawg. And Hir Eiddyl, and Hir Amreu (they +were two attendants of Arthur). And Gwevyl the son of Gwestad (on +the day that he was sad, he would let one of his lips drop below his +waist, while he turned up the other like a cap upon his head). +Uchtryd Varyf Draws (who spread his red untrimmed beard over the +eight-and-forty rafters which were in Arthur's Hall). Elidyr +Gyvarwydd. Yskyrdav and Yscudydd (two attendants of Gwenhwyvar were +they. Their feet were swift as their thoughts when bearing a +message). Brys the son of Bryssethach (from the Hill of the Black +Fernbrake in North Britain). And Grudlwyn Gorr. Bwlch, and Kyfwlch, +and Sefwlch, the sons of Cleddyf Kyfwlch, the grandsons of Cleddyf +Difwlch. (Their three shields were three gleaming glitterers; their +three spears were three pointed piercers; their three swords were +three grinding gashers; Glas, Glessic, and Gleisad. Their three +dogs, Call, Cuall, and Cavall. Their three horses, Hwyrdyddwd, and +Drwgdyddwd, and Llwyrdyddwg. Their three wives, Och, and Garym, and +Diaspad. Their three grandchildren, Lluched, and Neved, and +Eissiwed. Their three daughters, Drwg, and Gwaeth, and Gwaethav Oll. +Their three hand-maids, Eheubryd the daughter of Kyfwlch, Gorascwrn +the daughter of Nerth, Ewaedan the daughter of Kynvelyn Keudawd Pwyll +the half-man.) Dwnn Diessic Unbenn, Eiladyr the son of Pen Llarcau, +Kynedyr Wyllt the son of Hettwn Talaryant, Sawyl Ben Uchel, Gwalchmai +the son of Gwyar, Gwalhaved the son of Gwyar, Gwrhyr Gwastawd +Ieithoedd (to whom all tongues were known), and Kethcrwm the Priest. +Clust the son of Clustveinad (though he were buried seven cubits +beneath the earth, he would hear the ant fifty miles off rise from +her nest in the morning). Medyr the son of Methredydd (from Gelli +Wic he could, in a twinkling, shoot the wren through the two legs +upon Esgeir Oervel in Ireland). Gwiawn Llygad Cath (who could cut a +haw from the eye of the gnat without hurting him). Ol the son of +Olwydd (seven years before he was born his father's swine were +carried off, and when he grew up a man he tracked the swine, and +brought them back in seven herds). Bedwini the Bishop (who blessed +Arthur's meat and drink). For the sake of the golden-chained +daughters of this island. For the sake of Gwenhwyvar its chief lady, +and Gwennhwyach her sister, and Rathtyeu the only daughter of +Clemenhill, and Rhelemon the daughter of Kai, and Tannwen the +daughter of Gweir Datharweniddawg. Gwenn Alarch the daughter of +Kynwyl Canbwch. Eurneid the daughter of Clydno Eiddin. Eneuawc the +daughter of Bedwyr. Enrydreg the daughter of Tudvathar. Gwennwledyr +the daughter of Gwaledyr Kyrvach. Erddudnid the daughter of Tryffin. +Eurolwen the daughter of Gwdolwyn Gorr. Teleri the daughter of Peul. +Indeg the daughter of Garwy Hir. Morvudd the daughter of Urien +Rheged. Gwenllian Deg the majestic maiden. Creiddylad the daughter +of Lludd Llaw Ereint. (She was the most splendid maiden in the three +Islands of the mighty, and in the three Islands adjacent, and for her +Gwythyr the son of Greidawl and Gwynn the son of Nudd fight every +first of May until the day of doom.) Ellylw the daughter of Neol +Kynn-Crog (she lived three ages). Essyllt Vinwen and Essyllt +Vingul." And all these did Kilhwch the son of Kilydd adjure to +obtain his boon. + +Then said Arthur, "Oh! chieftain, I have never heard of the maiden of +whom thou speakest, nor of her kindred, but I will gladly send +messengers in search of her. Give me time to seek her." And the +youth said, "I will willingly grant from this night to that at the +end of the year to do so." Then Arthur sent messengers to every land +within his dominions to seek for the maiden; and at the end of the +year Arthur's messengers returned without having gained any knowledge +or intelligence concerning Olwen more than on the first day. Then +said Kilhwch, "Every one has received his boon, and I yet lack mine. +I will depart and bear away thy honour with me." Then said Kai, +"Rash chieftain! dost thou reproach Arthur? Go with us, and we will +not part until thou dost either confess that the maiden exists not in +the world, or until we obtain her." Thereupon Kai rose up. Kai had +this peculiarity, that his breath lasted nine nights and nine days +under water, and he could exist nine nights and nine days without +sleep. A wound from Kai's sword no physician could heal. Very +subtle was Kai. When it pleased him he could render himself as tall +as the highest tree in the forest. And he had another peculiarity,-- +so great was the heat of his nature, that, when it rained hardest, +whatever he carried remained dry for a handbreadth above and a +handbreadth below his hand; and when his companions were coldest, it +was to them as fuel with which to light their fire. + +And Arthur called Bedwyr, who never shrank from any enterprise upon +which Kai was bound. None was equal to him in swiftness throughout +this island except Arthur and Drych Ail Kibddar. And although he was +one-handed, three warriors could not shed blood faster than he on the +field of battle. Another property he had; his lance would produce a +wound equal to those of nine opposing lances. + +And Arthur called to Kynddelig the Guide, "Go thou upon this +expedition with the chieftain." For as good a guide was he in a land +which he had never seen as he was in his own. + +He called Gwrhyr Gwalstawt Ieithoedd, because he knew all tongues. + +He called Gwalchmai the son of Gwyar, because he never returned home +without achieving the adventure of which he went in quest. He was +the best of footmen and the best of knights. He was nephew to +Arthur, the son of his sister, and his cousin. + +And Arthur called Menw the son of Teirgwaedd, in order that if they +went into a savage country, he might cast a charm and an illusion +over them, so that none might see them whilst they could see every +one. + +They journeyed until they came to a vast open plain, wherein they saw +a great castle, which was the fairest of the castles of the world. +And they journeyed that day until the evening, and when they thought +they were nigh to the castle, they were no nearer to it than they had +been in the morning. And the second and the third day they +journeyed, and even then scarcely could they reach so far. And when +they came before the castle, they beheld a vast flock of sheep, which +was boundless and without an end. And upon the top of a mound there +was a herdsman, keeping the sheep. And a rug made of skins was upon +him; and by his side was a shaggy mastiff, larger than a steed nine +winters old. Never had he lost even a lamb from his flock, much less +a large sheep. He let no occasion ever pass without doing some hurt +and harm. All the dead trees and bushes in the plain he burnt with +his breath down to the very ground. + +Then said Kai, "Gwrhyr Gwalstawt Ieithoedd, go thou and salute yonder +man." "Kai," said he, "I engaged not to go further than thou +thyself." "Let us go then together," answered Kai. Said Menw the +son of Teirgwaedd, "Fear not to go thither, for I will cast a spell +upon the dog, so that he shall injure no one." And they went up to +the mound whereon the herdsman was, and they said to him, "How dost +thou fare, O herdsman?" "No less fair be it to you than to me." +"Truly, art thou the chief?" "There is no hurt to injure me but my +own." {5} "Whose are the sheep that thou dost keep, and to whom does +yonder castle belong?" "Stupid are ye, truly! Through the whole +world is it known that this is the castle of Yspaddaden Penkawr." +"And who art thou?" "I am called Custennin the son of Dyfnedig, and +my brother Yspaddaden Penkawr oppressed me because of my possessions. +And ye also, who are ye?" "We are an embassy from Arthur, come to +seek Olwen the daughter of Yspaddaden Penkawr." "Oh men! the mercy +of Heaven be upon you, do not that for all the world. None who ever +came hither on this quest has returned alive." And the herdsman rose +up. And as he arose, Kilhwch gave unto him a ring of gold. And he +sought to put on the ring, but it was too small for him, so he placed +it in the finger of his glove. And he went home, and gave the glove +to his spouse to keep. And she took the ring from the glove when it +was given her, and she said, "Whence came this ring, for thou art not +wont to have good fortune?" "I went," said he, "to the sea to seek +for fish, and lo, I saw a corpse borne by the waves. And a fairer +corpse than it did I never behold. And from its finger did I take +this ring." "O man! does the sea permit its dead to wear jewels? +Show me then this body." "Oh wife, him to whom this ring belonged +thou shalt see here in the evening." "And who is he?" asked the +woman, "Kilhwch the son of Kilydd, the son of Prince Kelyddon, by +Goleuddydd the daughter of Prince Anlawdd, his mother, who is come to +seek Olwen as his wife." And when she heard that, her feelings were +divided between the joy that she had that her nephew, the son of her +sister, was coming to her, and sorrow because she had never known any +one depart alive who had come on that quest. + +And they went forward to the gate of Custennin the herdsman's +dwelling. And when she heard their footsteps approaching, she ran +out with joy to meet them. And Kai snatched a billet out of the +pile. And when she met them she sought to throw her arms about their +necks. And Kai placed the log between her two hands, and she +squeezed it so that it became a twisted coil. "Oh woman," said Kai, +"if thou hadst squeezed me thus, none could ever again have set their +affections on me. Evil love were this." They entered into the +house, and were served; and soon after they all went forth to amuse +themselves. Then the woman opened a stone chest that was before the +chimney-corner, and out of it arose a youth with yellow curling hair. +Said Gwrhyr, "It is a pity to hide this youth. I know that it is not +his own crime that is thus visited upon him." "This is but a +remnant," said the woman. "Three-and-twenty of my sons has +Yspaddaden Penkawr slain, and I have no more hope of this one than of +the others." Then said Kai, "Let him come and be a companion with +me, and he shall not be slain unless I also am slain with him." And +they ate. And the woman asked them, "Upon what errand come you +here?" "We come to seek Olwen for this youth." Then said the woman, +"In the name of Heaven, since no one from the castle hath yet seen +you, return again whence you came." "Heaven is our witness, that we +will not return until we have seen the maiden." Said Kai, "Does she +ever come hither, so that she may be seen?" "She comes here every +Saturday to wash her head, and in the vessel where she washes, she +leaves all her rings, and she never either comes herself or sends any +messengers to fetch them." + +"Will she come here if she is sent to?" "Heaven knows that I will +not destroy my soul, nor will I betray those that trust me; unless +you will pledge me your faith that you will not harm her, I will not +send to her." "We pledge it," said they. So a message was sent, and +she came. + +The maiden was clothed in a robe of flame-coloured silk, and about +her neck was a collar of ruddy gold, on which were precious emeralds +and rubies. More yellow was her head than the flower of the broom, +and her skin was whiter than the foam of the wave, and fairer were +her hands and her fingers than the blossoms of the wood anemone +amidst the spray of the meadow fountain. The eye of the trained +hawk, the glance of the three-mewed falcon was not brighter than +hers. Her bosom was more snowy than the breast of the white swan, +her cheek was redder than the reddest roses. Whoso beheld her was +filled with her love. Four white trefoils sprung up wherever she +trod. And therefore was she called Olwen. + +She entered the house, and sat beside Kilhwch upon the foremost +bench; and as soon as he saw her he knew her. And Kilhwch said unto +her, "Ah! maiden, thou art she whom I have loved; come away with me, +lest they speak evil of thee and of me. Many a day have I loved +thee." "I cannot do this, for I have pledged my faith to my father +not to go without his counsel, for his life will last only until the +time of my espousals. Whatever is, must be. But I will give thee +advice if thou wilt take it. Go, ask me of my father, and that which +he shall require of thee, grant it, and thou wilt obtain me; but if +thou deny him anything, thou wilt not obtain me, and it will be well +for thee if thou escape with thy life." "I promise all this, if +occasion offer," said he. + +She returned to her chamber, and they all rose up and followed her to +the castle. And they slew the nine porters that were at the nine +gates in silence. And they slew the nine watch-dogs without one of +them barking. And they went forward to the hall. + +"The greeting of Heaven and of man be unto thee, Yspaddaden Penkawr," +said they. "And you, wherefore come you?" "We come to ask thy +daughter Olwen, for Kilhwch the son of Kilydd, the son of Prince +Kelyddon." "Where are my pages and my servants? Raise up the forks +beneath my two eyebrows which have fallen over my eyes, that I may +see the fashion of my son-in-law." And they did so. "Come hither +to-morrow, and you shall have an answer." + +They rose to go forth, and Yspaddaden Penkawr seized one of the three +poisoned darts that lay beside him, and threw it after them. And +Bedwyr caught it, and flung it, and pierced Yspaddaden Penkawr +grievously with it through the knee. Then he said, "A cursed +ungentle son-in-law, truly. I shall ever walk the worse for his +rudeness, and shall ever be without a cure. This poisoned iron pains +me like the bite of a gadfly. Cursed be the smith who forged it, and +the anvil whereon it was wrought! So sharp is it!" + +That night also they took up their abode in the house of Custennin +the herdsman. The next day with the dawn they arrayed themselves in +haste and proceeded to the castle, and entered the hall, and they +said, "Yspaddaden Penkawr, give us thy daughter in consideration of +her dower and her maiden fee, which we will pay to thee and to her +two kinswomen likewise. And unless thou wilt do so, thou shalt meet +with thy death on her account." Then he said, "Her four great- +grandmothers, and her four great-grandsires are yet alive, it is +needful that I take counsel of them." "Be it so," answered they, "we +will go to meat." As they rose up, he took the second dart that was +beside him, and cast it after them. And Menw the son of Gwaedd +caught it, and flung it back at him, and wounded him in the centre of +the breast, so that it came out at the small of his back. "A cursed +ungentle son-in-law, truly," said he, "the hard iron pains me like +the bite of a horse-leech. Cursed be the hearth whereon it was +heated, and the smith who formed it! So sharp is it! Henceforth, +whenever I go up a hill, I shall have a scant in my breath, and a +pain in my chest, and I shall often loathe my food." And they went +to meat. + +And the third day they returned to the palace. And Yspaddaden +Penkawr said to them, "Shoot not at me again unless you desire death. +Where are my attendants? Lift up the forks of my eyebrows which have +fallen over my eyeballs, that I may see the fashion of my son-in- +law." Then they arose, and, as they did so, Yspaddaden Penkawr took +the third poisoned dart and cast it at them. And Kilhwch caught it +and threw it vigorously, and wounded him through the eyeball, so that +the dart came out at the back of his head. "A cursed ungentle son- +in-law, truly! As long as I remain alive, my eyesight will be the +worse. Whenever I go against the wind, my eyes will water; and +peradventure my head will burn, and I shall have a giddiness every +new moon. Cursed be the fire in which it was forged. Like the bite +of a mad dog is the stroke of this poisoned iron." And they went to +meat. + +And the next day they came again to the palace, and they said, "Shoot +not at us any more, unless thou desirest such hurt, and harm, and +torture as thou now hast, and even more." "Give me thy daughter, and +if thou wilt not give her, thou shalt receive thy death because of +her." "Where is he that seeks my daughter? Come hither where I may +see thee." And they placed him a chair face to face with him. + +Said Yspaddaden Penkawr, "Is it thou that seekest my daughter?" "It +is I," answered Kilhwch. "I must have thy pledge that thou wilt not +do towards me otherwise than is just, and when I have gotten that +which I shall name, my daughter thou shalt have." "I promise thee +that willingly," said Kilhwch, "name what thou wilt." "I will do +so," said he. + +"Seest thou yonder vast hill?" "I see it." "I require that it be +rooted up, and that the grubbings be burned for manure on the face of +the land, and that it be ploughed and sown in one day, and in one day +that the grain ripen. And of that wheat I intend to make food and +liquor fit for the wedding of thee and my daughter. And all this I +require done in one day." + +"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think +that it will not be easy." + +"Though this be easy for thee, there is yet that which will not be +so. No husbandman can till or prepare this land, so wild is it, +except Amaethon the son of Don, and he will not come with thee by his +own free will, and thou wilt not be able to compel him." + +"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think +that it will not be easy." + +"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. +Govannon the son of Don to come to the headland to rid the iron, he +will do no work of his own good will except for a lawful king, and +thou wilt not be able to compel him." + +"It will be easy for me to compass this." + +"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get; the +two dun oxen of Gwlwlyd, both yoked together, to plough the wild land +yonder stoutly. He will not give them of his own free will, and thou +wilt not be able to compel him." + +"It will be easy for me to compass this." + +"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get; the +yellow and the brindled bull yoked together do I require." + +"It will be easy for me to compass this." + +"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get; the +two horned oxen, one of which is beyond, and the other this side of +the peaked mountain, yoked together in the same plough. And these +are Nynniaw and Peibaw whom God turned into oxen on account of their +sins." + +"It will be easy for me to compass this." + +"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. +Seest thou yonder red tilled ground?" + +"I see it." + +"When first I met the mother of this maiden, nine bushels of flax +were sown therein, and none has yet sprung up, neither white nor +black; and I have the measure by me still. I require to have the +flax to sow in the new land yonder, that when it grows up it may make +a white wimple for my daughter's head, on the day of thy wedding." + +"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think +that it will not be easy." + +"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. +Honey that is nine times sweeter than the honey of the virgin swarm, +without scum and bees, do I require to make bragget for the feast." + +"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think +that it will not be easy." + +"The vessel of Llwyr the son of Llwyryon, which is of the utmost +value. There is no other vessel in the world that can hold this +drink. Of his free will thou wilt not get it, and thou canst not +compel him." + +"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think +that it will not be easy." + +"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. +The basket of Gwyddneu Garanhir, if the whole world should come +together, thrice nine men at a time, the meat that each of them +desired would be found within it. I require to eat therefrom on the +night that my daughter becomes thy bride. He will give it to no one +of his own free will, and thou canst not compel him." + +"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think +that it will not be easy." + +"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. +The horn of Gwlgawd Gododin to serve us with liquor that night. He +will not give it of his own free will, and thou wilt not be able to +compel him." + +"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think +that it will not be easy." + +"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. +The harp of Teirtu to play to us that night. When a man desires that +it should play, it does so of itself, and when he desires that it +should cease, it ceases. And this he will not give of his own free +will, and thou wilt not be able to compel him." + +"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think +that it will not be easy." + +"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. +The cauldron of Diwrnach Wyddel, the steward of Odgar the son of +Aedd, king of Ireland, to boil the meat for thy marriage feast." + +"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think +that it will not be easy." + +"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. It +is needful for me to wash my head, and shave my beard, and I require +the tusk of Yskithyrwyn Penbaedd to shave myself withal, neither +shall I profit by its use if it be not plucked alive out of his +head." + +"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think +that it will not be easy." + +"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. +There is no one in the world that can pluck it out of his head except +Odgar the son of Aedd, king of Ireland." + +"It will be easy for me to compass this." + +"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. I +will not trust any one to keep the tusk except Gado of North Britain. +Now the threescore Cantrevs of North Britain are under his sway, and +of his own free will he will not come out of his kingdom, and thou +wilt not be able to compel him." + +"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think +that it will not be easy." + +"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. I +must spread out my hair in order to shave it, and it will never be +spread out unless I have the blood of the jet-black sorceress, the +daughter of the pure white sorceress, from Pen Nant Govid, on the +confines of Hell." + +"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think +that it will not be easy." + +"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. I +will not have the blood unless I have it warm, and no vessels will +keep warm the liquid that is put therein except the bottles of +Gwyddolwyd Gorr, which preserve the heat of the liquor that is put +into them in the east, until they arrive at the west. And he will +not give them of his own free will, and thou wilt not be able to +compel him." + +"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think +that it will not be easy." + +"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. +Some will desire fresh milk, and it will not be possible to have +fresh milk for all, unless we have the bottles of Rhinnon Rhin +Barnawd, wherein no liquor ever turns sour. And he will not give +them of his own free will, and thou wilt not be able to compel him." + +"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think +that it will not be easy." + +"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. +Throughout the world there is not a comb or scissors with which I can +arrange my hair, on account of its rankness, except the comb and +scissors that are between the two ears of Twrch Trwyth, the son of +Prince Tared. He will not give them of his own free will, and thou +wilt not be able to compel him." + +"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think +that it will not be easy." + +"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. It +will not be possible to hunt Twrch Trwyth without Drudwyn the whelp +of Greid, the son of Eri." + +"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think +that it will not be easy." + +"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. +Throughout the world there is not a leash that can hold him, except +the leash of Cwrs Cant Ewin." + +"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think +that it will not be easy." + +"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. +Throughout the world there is no collar that will hold the leash +except the collar of Canhastyr Canllaw." + +"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think +that it will not be easy." + +"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. +The chain of Kilydd Canhastyr to fasten the collar to the leash." + +"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think +that it will not be easy." + +"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. +Throughout the world there is not a huntsman who can hunt with this +dog, except Mabon the son of Modron. He was taken from his mother +when three nights old, and it is not known where he now is, nor +whether he is living or dead." + +"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think +that it will not be easy." + +"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. +Gwynn Mygdwn, the horse of Gweddw, that is as swift as the wave, to +carry Mabon the son of Modron to hunt the boar Trwyth. He will not +give him of his own free will, and thou wilt not be able to compel +him." + +"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think +that it will not be easy." + +"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. +Thou wilt not get Mabon, for it is not known where he is, unless thou +find Eidoel, his kinsman in blood, the son of Aer. For it would be +useless to seek for him. He is his cousin." + +"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think +that it will not be easy." + +"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. +Garselit the Gwyddelian is the chief huntsman of Ireland; the Twrch +Trwyth can never be hunted without him." + +"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think +that it will not be easy." + +"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. A +leash made from the beard of Dillus Varvawc, for that is the only one +that can hold those two cubs. And the leash will be of no avail +unless it be plucked from his beard while he is alive, and twitched +out with wooden tweezers. While he lives he will not suffer this to +be done to him, and the leash will be of no use should he be dead, +because it will be brittle." + +"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think +that it will not be easy." + +"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. +Throughout the world there is no huntsman that can hold those two +whelps except Kynedyr Wyllt, the son of Hettwn Glafyrawc; he is nine +times more wild than the wildest beast upon the mountains. Him wilt +thou never get, neither wilt thou ever get my daughter." + +"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think +that it will not be easy." + +"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. It +is not possible to hunt the boar Trwyth without Gwynn the son of +Nudd, whom God has placed over the brood of devils in Annwvyn, lest +they should destroy the present race. He will never be spared +thence." + +"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think +that it will not be easy." + +"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. +There is not a horse in the world that can carry Gwynn to hunt the +Twrch Trwyth, except Du, the horse of Mor of Oerveddawg." + +"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think +that it will not be easy." + +"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. +Until Gilennhin the king of France shall come, the Twrch Trwyth +cannot be hunted. It will be unseemly for him to leave his kingdom +for thy sake, and he will never come hither." + +"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think +that it will not be easy." + +"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. +The Twrch Trwyth can never be hunted without the son of Alun Dyved; +he is well skilled in letting loose the dogs." + +"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think +that it will not be easy." + +"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. +The Twrch Trwyth cannot be hunted unless thou get Aned and Aethlem. +They are as swift as the gale of wind, and they were never let loose +upon a beast that they did not kill him." + +"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think +that it will not be easy." + +"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get; +Arthur and his companions to hunt the Twrch Trwyth. He is a mighty +man, and he will not come for thee, neither wilt thou be able to +compel him." + +"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think +that it will not be easy." + +"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. +The Twrch Trwyth cannot be hunted unless thou get Bwlch, and Kyfwlch +[and Sefwlch], the grandsons of Cleddyf Difwlch. Their three shields +are three gleaming glitterers. Their three spears are three pointed +piercers. Their three swords are three griding gashers, Glas, +Glessic, and Clersag. Their three dogs, Call, Cuall, and Cavall. +Their three horses, Hwyrdydwg, and Drwgdydwg, and Llwyrdydwg. Their +three wives, Och, and Garam, and Diaspad. Their three grandchildren, +Lluched, and Vyned, and Eissiwed. Their three daughters, Drwg, and +Gwaeth, and Gwaethav Oll. Their three hand-maids [Eheubryd, the +daughter of Kyfwlch; Gorasgwrn, the daughter of Nerth; and Gwaedan, +the daughter of Kynvelyn]. These three men shall sound the horn, and +all the others shall shout, so that all will think that the sky is +falling to the earth." + +"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think +that it will not be easy." + +"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. +The sword of Gwrnach the Giant; he will never be slain except +therewith. Of his own free will he will not give it, either for a +price or as a gift, and thou wilt never be able to compel him." + +"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think +that it will not be easy." + +"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. +Difficulties shalt thou meet with, and nights without sleep, in +seeking this, and if thou obtain it not, neither shalt thou obtain my +daughter." + +"Horses shall I have, and chivalry; and my lord and kinsman Arthur +will obtain for me all these things. And I shall gain thy daughter, +and thou shalt lose thy life." + +"Go forward. And thou shalt not be chargeable for food or raiment +for my daughter while thou art seeking these things; and when thou +hast compassed all these marvels, thou shalt have my daughter for thy +wife." + + +All that day they journeyed until the evening, and then they beheld a +vast castle, which was the largest in the world. And lo, a black +man, huger than three of the men of this world, came out from the +castle. And they spoke unto him, "Whence comest thou, O man?" "From +the castle which you see yonder." "Whose castle is that?" asked +they. "Stupid are ye truly, O men. There is no one in the world +that does not know to whom this castle belongs. It is the castle of +Gwrnach the Giant." "What treatment is there for guests and +strangers that alight in that castle?" "Oh! Chieftain, Heaven +protect thee. No guest ever returned thence alive, and no one may +enter therein unless he brings with him his craft." + +Then they proceeded towards the gate. Said Gwrhyr Gwalstawt +Ieithoedd, "Is there a porter?" "There is. And thou, if thy tongue +be not mute in thy head, wherefore dost thou call?" "Open the gate." +"I will not open it." "Wherefore wilt thou not?" "The knife is in +the meat, and the drink is in the horn, and there is revelry in the +hall of Gwrnach the Giant, and except for a craftsman who brings his +craft, the gate will not be opened to-night." "Verily, porter," then +said Kai, "my craft bring I with me." "What is thy craft?" "The +best burnisher of swords am I in the world." "I will go and tell +this unto Gwrnach the Giant, and I will bring thee an answer." + +So the porter went in, and Gwrnach said to him, "Hast thou any news +from the gate?" "I have. There is a party at the door of the gate +who desire to come in." "Didst thou inquire of them if they +possessed any art?" "I did inquire," said he, "and one told me that +he was well skilled in the burnishing of swords." "We have need of +him then. For some time have I sought for some one to polish my +sword, and could find no one. Let this man enter, since he brings +with him his craft." The porter thereupon returned and opened the +gate. And Kai went in by himself, and he saluted Gwrnach the Giant. +And a chair was placed for him opposite to Gwrnach. And Gwrnach said +to him, "Oh man! is it true that is reported of thee, that thou +knowest how to burnish swords?" "I know full well how to do so," +answered Kai. Then was the sword of Gwrnach brought to him. And Kai +took a blue whetstone from under his arm, and asked him whether he +would have it burnished white or blue. "Do with it as it seems good +to thee, and as thou wouldest if it were thine own." Then Kai +polished one half of the blade and put it in his hand. "Will this +please thee?" asked he. "I would rather than all that is in my +dominions that the whole of it were like unto this. It is a marvel +to me that such a man as thou should be without a companion." "Oh! +noble sir, I have a companion, albeit he is not skilled in this art." +"Who may he be?" "Let the porter go forth, and I will tell him +whereby he may know him. The head of his lance will leave its shaft, +and draw blood from the wind, and will descend upon its shaft again." +Then the gate was opened, and Bedwyr entered. And Kai said, "Bedwyr +is very skilful, although he knows not this art." + +And there was much discourse among those who were without, because +that Kai and Bedwyr had gone in. And a young man who was with them, +the only son of Custennin the herdsman, got in also. And he caused +all his companions to keep close to him as he passed the three wards, +and until he came into the midst of the castle. And his companions +said unto the son of Custennin, "Thou hast done this! Thou art the +best of all men." And thenceforth he was called Goreu, the son of +Custennin. Then they dispersed to their lodgings, that they might +slay those who lodged therein, unknown to the Giant. + +The sword was now polished, and Kai gave it unto the hand of Gwrnach +the Giant, to see if he were pleased with his work. And the Giant +said, "The work is good, I am content therewith." Said Kai, "It is +thy scabbard that hath rusted thy sword, give it to me that I may +take out the wooden sides of it and put in new ones." And he took +the scabbard from him, and the sword in the other hand. And he came +and stood over against the Giant, as if he would have put the sword +into the scabbard; and with it he struck at the head of the Giant, +and cut off his head at one blow. Then they despoiled the castle, +and took from it what goods and jewels they would. And again on the +same day, at the beginning of the year, they came to Arthur's Court, +bearing with them the sword of Gwrnach the Giant. + +Now, when they told Arthur how they had sped, Arthur said, "Which of +these marvels will it be best for us to seek first?" "It will be +best," said they, "to seek Mabon the son of Modron; and he will not +be found unless we first find Eidoel the son of Aer, his kinsman." +Then Arthur rose up, and the warriors of the Islands of Britain with +him, to seek for Eidoel; and they proceeded until they came before +the Castle of Glivi, where Eidoel was imprisoned. Glivi stood on the +summit of his castle, and he said, "Arthur, what requirest thou of +me, since nothing remains to me in this fortress, and I have neither +joy nor pleasure in it; neither wheat nor oats? Seek not therefore +to do me harm." Said Arthur, "Not to injure thee came I hither, but +to seek for the prisoner that is with thee." "I will give thee my +prisoner, though I had not thought to give him up to any one; and +therewith shalt thou have my support and my aid." + +His followers said unto Arthur, "Lord, go thou home, thou canst not +proceed with thy host in quest of such small adventures as these." +Then said Arthur, "It were well for thee, Gwrhyr Gwalstawt Ieithoedd, +to go upon this quest, for thou knowest all languages, and art +familiar with those of the birds and the beasts. Thou, Eidoel, +oughtest likewise to go with my men in search of thy cousin. And as +for you, Kai and Bedwyr, I have hope of whatever adventure ye are in +quest of, that ye will achieve it. Achieve ye this adventure for +me." + +They went forward until they came to the Ousel of Cilgwri. And +Gwrhyr adjured her for the sake of Heaven, saying, "Tell me if thou +knowest aught of Mabon the son of Modron, who was taken when three +nights old from between his mother and the wall." And the Ousel +answered, "When I first came here, there was a smith's anvil in this +place, and I was then a young bird; and from that time no work has +been done upon it, save the pecking of my beak every evening, and now +there is not so much as the size of a nut remaining thereof; yet the +vengeance of Heaven be upon me, if during all that time I have ever +heard of the man for whom you inquire. Nevertheless I will do that +which is right, and that which it is fitting that I should do for an +embassy from Arthur. There is a race of animals who were formed +before me, and I will be your guide to them." + +So they proceeded to the place where was the Stag of Redynvre. "Stag +of Redynvre, behold we are come to thee, an embassy from Arthur, for +we have not heard of any animal older than thou. Say, knowest thou +aught of Mabon the son of Modron, who was taken from his mother when +three nights old?" The Stag said, "When first I came hither, there +was a plain all around me, without any trees save one oak sapling, +which grew up to be an oak with an hundred branches. And that oak +has since perished, so that now nothing remains of it but the +withered stump; and from that day to this I have been here, yet have +I never heard of the man for whom you inquire. Nevertheless, being +an embassy from Arthur, I will be your guide to the place where there +is an animal which was formed before I was." + +So they proceeded to the place where was the Owl of Cwm Cawlwyd. +"Owl of Cwm Cawlwyd, here is an embassy from Arthur; knowest thou +aught of Mabon the son of Modron, who was taken after three nights +from his mother?" "If I knew I would tell you. When first I came +hither, the wide valley you see was a wooded glen. And a race of men +came and rooted it up. And there grew there a second wood; and this +wood is the third. My wings, are they not withered stumps? Yet all +this time, even until to-day, I have never heard of the man for whom +you inquire. Nevertheless, I will be the guide of Arthur's embassy +until you come to the place where is the oldest animal in this world, +and the one that has travelled most, the Eagle of Gwern Abwy." + +Gwrhyr said, "Eagle of Gwern Abwy, we have come to thee an embassy +from Arthur, to ask thee if thou knowest aught of Mabon the son of +Modron, who was taken from his mother when he was three nights old." +The Eagle said, "I have been here for a great space of time, and when +I first came hither there was a rock here, from the top of which I +pecked at the stars every evening; and now it is not so much as a +span high. From that day to this I have been here, and I have never +heard of the man for whom you inquire, except once when I went in +search of food as far as Llyn Llyw. And when I came there, I struck +my talons into a salmon, thinking he would serve me as food for a +long time. But he drew me into the deep, and I was scarcely able to +escape from him. After that I went with my whole kindred to attack +him, and to try to destroy him, but he sent messengers, and made +peace with me; and came and besought me to take fifty fish spears out +of his back. Unless he know something of him whom you seek, I cannot +tell who may. However, I will guide you to the place where he is." + +So they went thither; and the Eagle said, "Salmon of Llyn Llyw, I +have come to thee with an embassy from Arthur, to ask thee if thou +knowest aught concerning Mabon the son of Modron, who was taken away +at three nights old from his mother." "As much as I know I will tell +thee. With every tide I go along the river upwards, until I come +near to the walls of Gloucester, and there have I found such wrong as +I never found elsewhere; and to the end that ye may give credence +thereto, let one of you go thither upon each of my two shoulders." +So Kai and Gwrhyr Gwalstawt Ieithoedd went upon the two shoulders of +the salmon, and they proceeded until they came unto the wall of the +prison, and they heard a great wailing and lamenting from the +dungeon. Said Gwrhyr, "Who is it that laments in this house of +stone?" "Alas, there is reason enough for whoever is here to lament. +It is Mabon the son of Modron who is here imprisoned; and no +imprisonment was ever so grievous as mine, neither that of Llud Llaw +Ereint, nor that of Greid the son of Eri." "Hast thou hope of being +released for gold or for silver, or for any gifts of wealth, or +through battle and fighting?" "By fighting will whatever I may gain +be obtained." + +Then they went thence, and returned to Arthur, and they told him +where Mabon the son of Modron was imprisoned. And Arthur summoned +the warriors of the Island, and they journeyed as far as Gloucester, +to the place where Mabon was in prison. Kai and Bedwyr went upon the +shoulders of the fish, whilst the warriors of Arthur attacked the +castle. And Kai broke through the wall into the dungeon, and brought +away the prisoner upon his back, whilst the fight was going on +between the warriors. And Arthur returned home, and Mabon with him +at liberty. + + +Said Arthur, "Which of the marvels will it be best for us now to seek +first?" "It will be best to seek for the two cubs of Gast Rhymhi." +"Is it known," asked Arthur, "where she is?" "She is in Aber Deu +Cleddyf," said one. Then Arthur went to the house of Tringad, in +Aber Cleddyf, and he inquired of him whether he had heard of her +there. "In what form may she be?" "She is in the form of a she- +wolf," said he; "and with her there are two cubs." "She has often +slain my herds, and she is there below in a cave in Aber Cleddyf." + +So Arthur went in his ship Prydwen by sea, and the others went by +land, to hunt her. And they surrounded her and her two cubs, and God +did change them again for Arthur into their own form. And the host +of Arthur dispersed themselves into parties of one and two. + + +On a certain day, as Gwythyr the son of Greidawl was walking over a +mountain, he heard a wailing and a grievous cry. And when he heard +it, he sprang forward, and went towards it. And when he came there, +he drew his sword, and smote off an ant-hill close to the earth, +whereby it escaped being burned in the fire. And the ants said to +him, "Receive from us the blessing of Heaven, and that which no man +can give we will give thee." Then they fetched the nine bushels of +flax-seed which Yspaddaden Penkawr had required of Kilhwch, and they +brought the full measure without lacking any, except one flax-seed, +and that the lame pismire brought in before night. + + +As Kai and Bedwyr sat on a beacon carn on the summit of Plinlimmon, +in the highest wind that ever was in the world, they looked around +them, and saw a great smoke towards the south, afar off, which did +not bend with the wind. Then said Kai, "By the hand of my friend, +behold, yonder is the fire of a robber!" Then they hastened towards +the smoke, and they came so near to it, that they could see Dillus +Varvawc scorching a wild boar. "Behold, yonder is the greatest +robber that ever fled from Arthur," said Bedwyr unto Kai. "Dost thou +know him?" "I do know him," answered Kai, "he is Dillus Varvawc, and +no leash in the world will be able to hold Drudwyn, the cub of Greid +the son of Eri, save a leash made from the beard of him thou seest +yonder. And even that will be useless, unless his beard be plucked +alive with wooden tweezers; for if dead, it will be brittle." "What +thinkest thou that we should do concerning this?" said Bedwyr. "Let +us suffer him," said Kai, "to eat as much as he will of the meat, and +after that he will fall asleep." And during that time they employed +themselves in making the wooden tweezers. And when Kai knew +certainly that he was asleep, he made a pit under his feet, the +largest in the world, and he struck him a violent blow, and squeezed +him into the pit. And there they twitched out his beard completely +with the wooden tweezers; and after that they slew him altogether. + +And from thence they both went to Gelli Wic, in Cornwall, and took +the leash made of Dillus Varvawc's beard with them, and they gave it +into Arthur's hand. Then Arthur composed this Englyn - + + +Kai made a leash +Of Dillus son of Eurei's beard. +Were he alive, thy death he'd be. + + +And thereupon Kai was wroth, so that the warriors of the Island could +scarcely make peace between Kai and Arthur. And thenceforth, neither +in Arthur's troubles, nor for the slaying of his men, would Kai come +forward to his aid for ever after. + + +Said Arthur, "Which of the marvels is it best for us now to seek?" +"It is best for us to seek Drudwyn, the cub of Greid the son of Eri." + +A little while before this, Creiddylad the daughter of Lludd Llaw +Ereint, and Gwythyr the son of Greidawl, were betrothed. And before +she had become his bride, Gwyn ap Nudd came and carried her away by +force; and Gwythyr the son of Greidawl gathered his host together, +and went to fight with Gwyn ap Nudd. But Gwyn overcame him, and +captured Greid the son of Eri, and Glinneu the son of Taran, and +Gwrgwst Ledlwm, and Dynvarth his son. And he captured Penn the son +of Nethawg, and Nwython, and Kyledyr Wyllt his son. And they slew +Nwython, and took out his heart, and constrained Kyledyr to eat the +heart of his father. And therefrom Kyledyr became mad. When Arthur +heard of this, he went to the North, and summoned Gwyn ap Nudd before +him, and set free the nobles whom he had put in prison, and made +peace between Gwyn ap Nudd and Gwythyr the son of Griedawl. And this +was the peace that was made: --that the maiden should remain in her +father's house, without advantage to either of them, and that Gwyn ap +Nudd and Gwythyr the son of Greidawl should fight for her every first +of May, from thenceforth until the day of doom, and that whichever of +them should then be conqueror should have the maiden. + +And when Arthur had thus reconciled these chieftains, he obtained +Mygdwn, Gweddw's horse, and the leash of Cwrs Cant Ewin. + +And after that Arthur went into Armorica, and with him Mabon the son +of Mellt, and Gware Gwallt Euryn, to seek the two dogs of Glythmyr +Ledewic. And when he had got them, he went to the West of Ireland, +in search of Gwrgi Seven; and Odgar the son of Aedd king of Ireland +went with him. And thence went Arthur into the North, and captured +Kyledyr Wyllt; and he went after Yskithyrwyn Penbaedd. And Mabon the +son of Mellt came with the two dogs of Glythmyr Ledewic in his hand, +and Drudwyn, the cub of Greid the son of Eri. And Arthur went +himself to the chase, leading his own dog Cavall. And Kaw, of North +Britain, mounted Arthur's mare Llamrei, and was first in the attack. +Then Kaw, of North Britain, wielded a mighty axe, and absolutely +daring he came valiantly up to the boar, and clave his head in twain. +And Kaw took away the tusk. Now the boar was not slain by the dogs +that Yspaddaden had mentioned, but by Cavall, Arthur's own dog. + +And after Yskithyrwyn Penbaedd was killed, Arthur and his host +departed to Gelli Wic in Cornwall. And thence he sent Menw the son +of Teirgwaedd to see if the precious things were between the two ears +of Twrch Trwyth, since it were useless to encounter him if they were +not there. Albeit it was certain where he was, for he had laid waste +the third part of Ireland. And Menw went to seek for him, and he met +with him in Ireland, in Esgeir Oervel. And Menw took the form of a +bird; and he descended upon the top of his lair, and strove to snatch +away one of the precious things from him, but he carried away nothing +but one of his bristles. And the boar rose up angrily and shook +himself so that some of his venom fell upon Menw, and he was never +well from that day forward. + +After this Arthur sent an embassy to Odgar, the son of Aedd king of +Ireland, to ask for the cauldron of Diwrnach Wyddel, his purveyor. +And Odgar commanded him to give it. But Diwrnach said, "Heaven is my +witness, if it would avail him anything even to look at it, he should +not do so." And the embassy of Arthur returned from Ireland with +this denial. And Arthur set forward with a small retinue, and +entered into Prydwen, his ship, and went over to Ireland. And they +proceeded into the house of Diwrnach Wyddel. And the hosts of Odgar +saw their strength. When they had eaten and drunk as much as they +desired, Arthur demanded to have the cauldron. And he answered, "If +I would have given it to any one, I would have given it at the word +of Odgar king of Ireland." + +When he had given them this denial, Bedwyr arose and seized hold of +the cauldron, and placed it upon the back of Hygwyd, Arthur's +servant, who was brother, by the mother's side, to Arthur's servant, +Cachamwri. His office was always to carry Arthur's cauldron, and to +place fire under it. And Llenlleawg Wyddel seized Caledvwlch, and +brandished it. And they slew Diwrnach Wyddel and his company. Then +came the Irish and fought with them. And when he had put them to +flight, Arthur with his men went forward to the ship, carrying away +the cauldron full of Irish money. And he disembarked at the house of +Llwydden the son of Kelcoed, at Porth Kerddin in Dyved. And there is +the measure of the cauldron. + +Then Arthur summoned unto him all the warriors that were in the three +Islands of Britain, and in the three Islands adjacent, and all that +were in France and in Armorica, in Normandy and in the Summer +Country, and all that were chosen footmen and valiant horsemen. And +with all these he went into Ireland. And in Ireland there was great +fear and terror concerning him. And when Arthur had landed in the +country, there came unto him the saints of Ireland and besought his +protection. And he granted his protection unto them, and they gave +him their blessing. Then the men of Ireland came unto Arthur, and +brought him provisions. And Arthur went as far as Esgeir Oervel in +Ireland, to the place where the Boar Trwyth was with his seven young +pigs. And the dogs were let loose upon him from all sides. That day +until evening the Irish fought with him, nevertheless he laid waste +the fifth part of Ireland. And on the day following the household of +Arthur fought with him, and they were worsted by him, and got no +advantage. And the third day Arthur himself encountered him, and he +fought with him nine nights and nine days without so much as killing +even one little pig. The warriors inquired of Arthur what was the +origin of that swine; and he told them that he was once a king, and +that God had transformed him into a swine for his sins. + +Then Arthur sent Gwrhyr Gwalstawt Ieithoedd, to endeavour to speak +with him. And Gwrhyr assumed the form of a bird, and alighted upon +the top of the lair, where he was with the seven young pigs. And +Gwrhyr Gwalstawt Ieithoedd asked him, "By him who turned you into +this form, if you can speak, let some one of you, I beseech you, come +and talk with Arthur." Grugyn Gwrych Ereint made answer to him. +(Now his bristles were like silver wire, and whether he went through +the wood or through the plain, he was to be traced by the glittering +of his bristles.) And this was the answer that Grugyn made: "By him +who turned us into this form, we will not do so, and we will not +speak with Arthur. That we have been transformed thus is enough for +us to suffer, without your coming here to fight with us." "I will +tell you. Arthur comes but to fight for the comb, and the razor, and +the scissors which are between the two ears of Twrch Trwyth." Said +Grugyn, "Except he first take his life, he will never have those +precious things. And to-morrow morning we will rise up hence, and we +will go into Arthur's country, and there will we do all the mischief +that we can." + +So they set forth through the sea towards Wales. And Arthur and his +hosts, and his horses and his dogs, entered Prydwen, that they might +encounter them without delay. Twrch Trwyth landed in Porth Cleis in +Dyved, and Arthur came to Mynyw. The next day it was told to Arthur +that they had gone by, and he overtook them as they were killing the +cattle of Kynnwas Kwrr y Vagyl, having slain all that were at Aber +Gleddyf, of man and beast, before the coming of Arthur. + +Now when Arthur approached, Twrch Trwyth went on as far as Preseleu, +and Arthur and his hosts followed him thither, and Arthur sent men to +hunt him; Eli and Trachmyr, leading Drudwyn the whelp of Greid the +son of Eri, and Gwarthegyd the son of Kaw, in another quarter, with +the two dogs of Glythmyr Ledewic, and Bedwyr leading Cavall, Arthur's +own dog. And all the warriors ranged themselves around the Nyver. +And there came there the three sons of Cleddyf Divwlch, men who had +gained much fame at the slaying of Yskithyrwyn Penbaedd; and they +went on from Glyn Nyver, and came to Cwm Kerwyn. + +And there Twrch Trwyth made a stand, and slew four of Arthur's +champions, Gwarthegyd the son of Kaw, and Tarawc of Allt Clwyd, and +Rheidwn the son of Eli Atver, and Iscovan Hael. And after he had +slain these men, he made a second stand in the same place. And there +he slew Gwydre the son of Arthur, and Garselit Wyddel, and Glew the +son of Ysgawd, and Iscawyn the son of Panon; and there he himself was +wounded. + +And the next morning before it was day, some of the men came up with +him. And he slew Huandaw, and Gogigwr, and Penpingon, three +attendants upon Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr, so that Heaven knows he had not +an attendant remaining, excepting only Llaesgevyn, a man from whom no +one ever derived any good. And together with these he slew many of +the men of that country, and Gwlydyn Saer, Arthur's chief Architect. + +Then Arthur overtook him at Pelumyawc, and there he slew Madawc the +son of Teithyon, and Gwyn the son of Tringad, the son of Neved, and +Eiryawn Penllorau. Thence he went to Aberteivi, where he made +another stand, and where he slew Kyflas the son of Kynan, and +Gwilenhin king of France. Then he went as far as Glyn Ystu, and +there the men and the dogs lost him. + +Then Arthur summoned unto him Gwyn ab Nudd, and he asked him if he +knew aught of Twrch Trwyth. And he said that he did not. + +And all the huntsmen went to hunt the swine as far as Dyffryn +Llychwr. And Grugyn Gwallt Ereint and Llwydawg Govynnyad closed with +them and killed all the huntsmen, so that there escaped but one man +only. And Arthur and his hosts came to the place where Grugyn and +Llwydawg were. And there he let loose the whole of the dogs upon +them, and with the shout and barking that was set up, Twrch Trwyth +came to their assistance. + +And from the time that they came across the Irish sea, Arthur had +never got sight of him until then. So he set men and dogs upon him, +and thereupon he started off and went to Mynydd Amanw. And there one +of his young pigs was killed. Then they set upon him life for life, +and Twrch Llawin was slain, and then there was slain another of the +swine, Gwys was his name. After that he went on to Dyffryn Amanw, +and there Banw and Bennwig were killed. Of all his pigs there went +with him alive from that place none save Grugyn Gwallt Ereint and +Llwydawg Govynnyad. + +Thence he went on to Llwch Ewin, and Arthur overtook him there, and +he made a stand. And there he slew Echel Forddwytwll, and Garwyli +the son of Gwyddawg Gwyr, and many men and dogs likewise. And thence +they went to Llwch Tawy. Grugyn Gwrych Ereint parted from them +there, and went to Din Tywi. And thence he proceeded to Ceredigiawn, +and Eli and Trachmyr with him, and a multitude likewise. Then he +came to Garth Gregyn, and there Llwydawg Govynnyad fought in the +midst of them, and slew Rhudvyw Rhys and many others with him. Then +Llwydawg went thence to Ystrad Yw, and there the men of Armorica met +him, and there he slew Hirpeissawg the king of Armorica, and +Llygatrudd Emys, and Gwrbothu, Arthur's uncles, his mother's +brothers, and there was he himself slain. + +Twrch Trwyth went from there to between Tawy and Euyas, and Arthur +summoned all Cornwall and Devon unto him, to the estuary of the +Severn, and he said to the warriors of this Island, "Twrch Trwyth has +slain many of my men, but, by the valour of warriors, while I live he +shall not go into Cornwall. And I will not follow him any longer, +but I will oppose him life to life. Do ye as ye will." And he +resolved that he would send a body of knights, with the dogs of the +Island, as far as Euyas, who should return thence to the Severn, and +that tried warriors should traverse the Island, and force him into +the Severn. And Mabon the son of Modron came up with him at the +Severn, upon Gwynn Mygdwn, the horse of Gweddw, and Goreu the son of +Custennin, and Menw the son of Teirgwaedd; this was betwixt Llyn +Lliwan and Aber Gwy. And Arthur fell upon him together with the +champions of Britain. And Osla Kyllellvawr drew near, and Manawyddan +the son of Llyr, and Kacmwri the servant of Arthur, and Gwyngelli, +and they seized hold of him, catching him first by his feet, and +plunged him in the Severn, so that it overwhelmed him. On the one +side, Mabon the son of Modron spurred his steed and snatched his +razor from him, and Kyledyr Wyllt came up with him on the other side, +upon another steed, in the Severn, and took from him the scissors. +But before they could obtain the comb, he had regained the ground +with his feet, and from the moment that he reached the shore, neither +dog, nor man, nor horse could overtake him until he came to Cornwall. +If they had had trouble in getting the jewels from him, much more had +they in seeking to save the two men from being drowned. Kacmwri, as +they drew him forth, was dragged by two millstones into the deep. +And as Osla Kyllellvawr was running after the boar, his knife had +dropped out of the sheath, and he had lost it, and after that, the +sheath became full of water, and its weight drew him down into the +deep, as they were drawing him forth. + +Then Arthur and his hosts proceeded until they overtook the boar in +Cornwall, and the trouble which they had met with before was mere +play to what they encountered in seeking the comb. But from one +difficulty to another, the comb was at length obtained. And then he +was hunted from Cornwall, and driven straight forward into the deep +sea. And thenceforth it was never known whither he went; and Aned +and Aethlem with him. Then went Arthur to Gelli Wic, in Cornwall, to +anoint himself, and to rest from his fatigues. + +Said Arthur, "Is there any one of the marvels yet unobtained?" Said +one of his men, "There is--the blood of the witch Orddu, the daughter +of the witch Orwen, of Pen Nant Govid, on the confines of Hell." +Arthur set forth towards the North, and came to the place where was +the witch's cave. And Gwyn ab Nudd, and Gwythyr the son of Greidawl, +counselled him to send Kacmwri, and Hygwyd his brother, to fight with +the witch. And as they entered the cave, the witch seized upon them, +and she caught Hygwyd by the hair of his head, and threw him on the +floor beneath her. And Kacmwri caught her by the hair of her head, +and dragged her to the earth from off Hygwyd, but she turned again +upon them both, and drove them both out with kicks and with cuffs. + +And Arthur was wroth at seeing his two attendants almost slain, and +he sought to enter the cave; but Gwyn and Gwythyr said unto him, "It +would not be fitting or seemly for us to see thee squabbling with a +hag. Let Hiramreu and Hireidil go to the cave." So they went. But +if great was the trouble of the first two that went, much greater was +that of these two. And Heaven knows that not one of the four could +move from the spot, until they placed them all upon Llamrei, Arthur's +mare. And then Arthur rushed to the door of the cave, and at the +door he struck at the witch, with Carnwennan his dagger, and clove +her in twain, so that she fell in two parts. And Kaw, of North +Britain, took the blood of the witch and kept it. + +Then Kilhwch set forward, and Goreu the son of Custennin with him, +and as many as wished ill to Yspaddaden Penkawr. And they took the +marvels with them to his court. And Kaw of North Britain came and +shaved his beard, skin, and flesh clean off to the very bone from ear +to ear. "Art thou shaved, man?" said Kilhwch. "I am shaved," +answered he. "Is thy daughter mine now?" "She is thine," said he, +"but therefore needest thou not thank me, but Arthur who hath +accomplished this for thee. By my free will thou shouldest never +have had her, for with her I lose my life." Then Goreu the son of +Custennin seized him by the hair of his head, and dragged him after +him to the keep, and cut off his head and placed it on a stake on the +citadel. Then they took possession of his castle, and of his +treasures. + +And that night Olwen became Kilhwch's bride, and she continued to be +his wife as long as she lived. And the hosts of Arthur dispersed +themselves, each man to his own country. And thus did Kilhwch obtain +Olwen, the daughter of Yspaddaden Penkawr. + + + +THE DREAM OF RHONABWY + + + +Madawc the son of Maredudd possessed Powys within its boundaries, +from Porfoed to Gwauan in the uplands of Arwystli. And at that time +he had a brother, Iorwerth the son of Maredudd, in rank not equal to +himself. And Iorwerth had great sorrow and heaviness because of the +honour and power that his brother enjoyed, which he shared not. And +he sought his fellows and his foster-brothers, and took counsel with +them what he should do in this matter. And they resolved to dispatch +some of their number to go and seek a maintenance for him. Then +Madawc offered him to become Master of the Household and to have +horses, and arms, and honour, and to fare like as himself. But +Iorwerth refused this. + +And Iorwerth made an inroad into Loegria, slaying the inhabitants, +and burning houses, and carrying away prisoners. And Madawc took +counsel with the men of Powys, and they determined to place an +hundred men in each of the three Commots of Powys to seek for him. +And thus did they in the plains of Powys from Aber Ceirawc, and in +Allictwn Ver, and in Rhyd Wilure, on the Vyrnwy, the three best +Commots of Powys. So he was none the better, he nor his household, +in Powys, nor in the plains thereof. And they spread these men over +the plains as far as Nillystwn Trevan. + +Now one of the men who was upon this quest was called Rhonabwy. And +Rhonabwy and Kynwrig Vrychgoch, a man of Mawddwy, and Cadwgan Vras, a +man of Moelvre in Kynlleith, came together to the house of Heilyn +Goch the son of Cadwgan the son of Iddon. And when they came near to +the house, they saw an old hall, very black and having an upright +gable, whence issued a great smoke; and on entering, they found the +floor full of puddles and mounds; and it was difficult to stand +thereon, so slippery was it with the mire of cattle. And where the +puddles were, a man might go up to his ankles in water and dirt. And +there were boughs of holly spread over the floor, whereof the cattle +had browsed the sprigs. When they came to the hall of the house, +they beheld cells full of dust, and very gloomy, and on one side an +old hag making a fire. And whenever she felt cold, she cast a lapful +of chaff upon the fire, and raised such a smoke, that it was scarcely +to be borne, as it rose up the nostrils. And on the other side was a +yellow calf-skin on the floor; a main privilege was it to any one who +should get upon that hide. + +And when they had sat down, they asked the hag where were the people +of the house. And the hag spoke not, but muttered. Thereupon behold +the people of the house entered; a ruddy, clownish, curly-headed man, +with a burthen of faggots on his back, and a pale slender woman, also +carrying a bundle under her arm. And they barely welcomed the men, +and kindled a fire with the boughs. And the woman cooked something, +and gave them to eat, barley bread, and cheese, and milk and water. + +And there arose a storm of wind and rain, so that it was hardly +possible to go forth with safety. And being weary with their +journey, they laid themselves down and sought to sleep. And when +they looked at the couch, it seemed to be made but of a little coarse +straw full of dust and vermin, with the stems of boughs sticking up +there-through, for the cattle had eaten all the straw that was placed +at the head and the foot. And upon it was stretched an old russet- +coloured rug, threadbare and ragged; and a coarse sheet, full of +slits, was upon the rug, and an ill-stuffed pillow, and a worn-out +cover upon the sheet. And after much suffering from the vermin, and +from the discomfort of their couch, a heavy sleep fell on Rhonabwy's +companions. But Rhonabwy, not being able either to sleep or to rest, +thought he should suffer less if he went to lie upon the yellow calf- +skin that was stretched out on the floor. And there he slept. + +As soon as sleep had come upon his eyes, it seemed to him that he was +journeying with his companions across the plain of Argyngroeg, and he +thought that he went towards Rhyd y Groes on the Severn. As he +journeyed, he heard a mighty noise, the like whereof heard he never +before; and looking behind him, he beheld a youth with yellow curling +hair, and with his beard newly trimmed, mounted on a chestnut horse, +whereof the legs were grey from the top of the forelegs, and from the +bend of the hindlegs downwards. And the rider wore a coat of yellow +satin sewn with green silk, and on his thigh was a gold-hilted sword, +with a scabbard of new leather of Cordova, belted with the skin of +the deer, and clasped with gold. And over this was a scarf of yellow +satin wrought with green silk, the borders whereof were likewise +green. And the green of the caparison of the horse, and of his +rider, was as green as the leaves of the fir-tree, and the yellow was +as yellow as the blossom of the broom. So fierce was the aspect of +the knight, that fear seized upon them, and they began to flee. And +the knight pursued them. And when the horse breathed forth, the men +became distant from him, and when he drew in his breath, they were +drawn near to him, even to the horse's chest. And when he had +overtaken them, they besought his mercy. "You have it gladly," said +he, "fear nought." "Ha, chieftain, since thou hast mercy upon me, +tell me also who thou art," said Rhonabwy. "I will not conceal my +lineage from thee, I am Iddawc the son of Mynyo, yet not by my name, +but by my nickname am I best known." "And wilt thou tell us what thy +nickname is?" "I will tell you; it is Iddawc Cordd Prydain." "Ha, +chieftain," said Rhonabwy, "why art thou called thus?" "I will tell +thee. I was one of the messengers between Arthur and Medrawd his +nephew, at the battle of Camlan; and I was then a reckless youth, and +through my desire for battle, I kindled strife between them, and +stirred up wrath, when I was sent by Arthur the Emperor to reason +with Medrawd, and to show him, that he was his foster-father and his +uncle, and to seek for peace, lest the sons of the Kings of the +Island of Britain, and of the nobles, should be slain. And whereas +Arthur charged me with the fairest sayings he could think of, I +uttered unto Medrawd the harshest I could devise. And therefore am I +called Iddawc Cordd Prydain, for from this did the battle of Camlan +ensue. And three nights before the end of the battle of Camlan I +left them, and went to the Llech Las in North Britain to do penance. +And there I remained doing penance seven years, and after that I +gained pardon." + +Then lo! they heard a mighty sound which was much louder than that +which they had heard before, and when they looked round towards the +sound, they beheld a ruddy youth, without beard or whiskers, noble of +mien, and mounted on a stately courser. And from the shoulders and +the front of the knees downwards the horse was bay. And upon the man +was a dress of red satin wrought with yellow silk, and yellow were +the borders of his scarf. And such parts of his apparel and of the +trappings of his horse as were yellow, as yellow were they as the +blossom of the broom, and such as were red, were as ruddy as the +ruddiest blood in the world. + +Then, behold the horseman overtook them, and he asked of Iddawc a +share of the little men that were with him. "That which is fitting +for me to grant I will grant, and thou shalt be a companion to them +as I have been." And the horseman went away. "Iddawc," inquired +Rhonabwy, "who was that horseman?" "Rhuvawn Pebyr the son of Prince +Deorthach." + +And they journeyed over the plain of Argyngroeg as far as the ford of +Rhyd y Groes on the Severn. And for a mile around the ford on both +sides of the road, they saw tents and encampments, and there was the +clamour of a mighty host. And they came to the edge of the ford, and +there they beheld Arthur sitting on a flat island below the ford, +having Bedwini the Bishop on one side of him, and Gwarthegyd the son +of Kaw on the other. And a tall, auburn-haired youth stood before +him, with his sheathed sword in his hand, and clad in a coat and cap +of jet-black satin. And his face was white as ivory, and his +eyebrows black as jet, and such part of his wrist as could be seen +between his glove and his sleeve, was whiter than the lily, and +thicker than a warrior's ankle. + +Then came Iddawc and they that were with him, and stood before Arthur +and saluted him. "Heaven grant thee good," said Arthur. "And where, +Iddawc, didst thou find these little men?" "I found them, lord, up +yonder on the road." Then the Emperor smiled. "Lord," said Iddawc, +"wherefore dost thou laugh?" "Iddawc," replied Arthur, "I laugh not; +but it pitieth me that men of such stature as these should have this +island in their keeping, after the men that guarded it of yore." +Then said Iddawc, "Rhonabwy, dost thou see the ring with a stone set +in it, that is upon the Emperor's hand?" "I see it," he answered. +"It is one of the properties of that stone to enable thee to remember +that thou seest here to-night, and hadst thou not seen the stone, +thou wouldest never have been able to remember aught thereof." + +After this they saw a troop coming towards the ford. "Iddawc," +inquired Rhonabwy, "to whom does yonder troop belong?" "They are the +fellows of Rhuvawn Pebyr the son of Prince Deorthach. And these men +are honourably served with mead and bragget, and are freely beloved +by the daughters of the kings of the Island of Britain. And this +they merit, for they were ever in the front and the rear in every +peril." And he saw but one hue upon the men and the horses of this +troop, for they were all as red as blood. And when one of the +knights rode forth from the troop, he looked like a pillar of fire +glancing athwart the sky. And this troop encamped above the ford. + +Then they beheld another troop coming towards the ford, and these +from their horses' chests upwards were whiter than the lily, and +below blacker than jet. And they saw one of these knights go before +the rest, and spur his horse into the ford in such a manner that the +water dashed over Arthur and the Bishop, and those holding counsel +with them, so that they were as wet as if they had been drenched in +the river. And as he turned the head of his horse, the youth who +stood before Arthur struck the horse over the nostrils with his +sheathed sword, so that, had it been with the bare blade, it would +have been a marvel if the bone had not been wounded as well as the +flesh. And the knight drew his sword half out of the scabbard, and +asked of him, "Wherefore didst thou strike my horse? Whether was it +in insult or in counsel unto me?" "Thou dost indeed lack counsel. +What madness caused thee to ride so furiously as to dash the water of +the ford over Arthur, and the consecrated Bishop, and their +counsellors, so that they were as wet as if they had been dragged out +of the river?" "As counsel then will I take it." So he turned his +horse's head round towards his army. + +"Iddawc," said Rhonabwy, "who was yonder knight?" "The most eloquent +and the wisest youth that is in this island; Adaon, the son of +Taliesin." "Who was the man that struck his horse?" "A youth of +froward nature; Elphin, the son of Gwyddno." + +Then spake a tall and stately man, of noble and flowing speech, +saying that it was a marvel that so vast a host should be assembled +in so narrow a space, and that it was a still greater marvel that +those should be there at that time who had promised to be by mid-day +in the battle of Badon, fighting with Osla Gyllellvawr. "Whether +thou mayest choose to proceed or not, I will proceed." "Thou sayest +well," said Arthur, "and we will go altogether." "Iddawc," said +Rhonabwy, "who was the man who spoke so marvellously unto Arthur +erewhile?" "A man who may speak as boldly as he listeth, Caradawc +Vreichvras, the son of Llyr Marini, his chief counsellor and his +cousin." + +Then Iddawc took Rhonabwy behind him on his horse, and that mighty +host moved forward, each troop in its order, towards Cevndigoll. And +when they came to the middle of the ford of the Severn, Iddawc turned +his horse's head, and Rhonabwy looked along the valley of the Severn. +And he beheld two fair troops coming towards the ford. One troop +there came of brilliant white, whereof every one of the men had a +scarf of white satin with jet-black borders. And the knees and the +tops of the shoulders of their horses were jet-black, though they +were of a pure white in every other part. And their banners were +pure white, with black points to them all. + +"Iddawc," said Rhonabwy, "who are yonder pure white troop?" "They +are the men of Norway, and March the son of Meirchion is their +prince. And he is cousin unto Arthur." And further on he saw a +troop, whereof each man wore garments of jet-black, with borders of +pure white to every scarf; and the tops of the shoulders and the +knees of their horses were pure white. And their banners were jet- +black with pure white at the point of each. + +"Iddawc," said Rhonabwy, "who are the jet-black troop yonder?" "They +are the men of Denmark, and Edeyrn the son of Nudd is their prince." + +And when they had overtaken the host, Arthur and his army of mighty +ones dismounted below Caer Badou, and he perceived that he and Iddawc +journeyed the same road as Arthur. And after they had dismounted he +heard a great tumult and confusion amongst the host, and such as were +then at the flanks turned to the centre, and such as had been in the +centre moved to the flanks. And then, behold, he saw a knight +coming, clad, both he and his horse, in mail, of which the rings were +whiter than the whitest lily, and the rivets redder than the ruddiest +blood. And he rode amongst the host. + +"Iddawc," said Rhonabwy, "will yonder host flee?" "King Arthur never +fled, and if this discourse of thine were heard, thou wert a lost +man. But as to the knight whom thou seest yonder, it is Kai. The +fairest horseman is Kai in all Arthur's Court; and the men who are at +the front of the army hasten to the rear to see Kai ride, and the men +who are in the centre flee to the side, from the shock of his horse. +And this is the cause of the confusion of the host." + +Thereupon they heard a call made for Kadwr, Earl of Cornwall, and +behold he arose with the sword of Arthur in his hand. And the +similitude of two serpents was upon the sword in gold. And when the +sword was drawn from its scabbard, it seemed as if two flames of fire +burst forth from the jaws of the serpents, and then, so wonderful was +the sword, that it was hard for any one to look upon it. And the +host became still, and the tumult ceased, and the Earl returned to +the tent. + +"Iddawc," said Rhonabwy, "who is the man who bore the sword of +Arthur?" "Kadwr, the Earl of Cornwall, whose duty it is to arm the +King on the days of battle and warfare." + +And they heard a call made for Eirynwych Amheibyn, Arthur's servant, +a red, rough, ill-favoured man, having red whiskers with bristly +hairs. And behold he came upon a tall red horse with the mane parted +on each side, and he brought with him a large and beautiful sumpter +pack. And the huge red youth dismounted before Arthur, and he drew a +golden chair out of the pack, and a carpet of diapered satin. And he +spread the carpet before Arthur, and there was an apple of ruddy gold +at each corner thereof, and he placed the chair upon the carpet. And +so large was the chair that three armed warriors might have sat +therein. Gwenn was the name of the carpet, and it was one of its +properties that whoever was upon it no one could see him, and he +could see every one. And it would retain no colour but its own. + +And Arthur sat within the carpet, and Owain the son of Urien was +standing before him. "Owain," said Arthur, "wilt thou play chess?" +"I will, Lord," said Owain. And the red youth brought the chess for +Arthur and Owain; golden pieces and a board of silver. And they +began to play. + +And while they were thus, and when they were best amused with their +game, behold they saw a white tent with a red canopy, and the figure +of a jet-black serpent on the top of the tent, and red glaring +venomous eyes in the head of the serpent, and a red flaming tongue. +And there came a young page with yellow curling hair, and blue eyes, +and a newly-springing beard, wearing a coat and a surcoat of yellow +satin, and hose of thin greenish-yellow cloth upon his feet, and over +his hose shoes of parti-coloured leather, fastened at the insteps +with golden clasps. And he bore a heavy three-edged sword with a +golden hilt, in a scabbard of black leather tipped with fine gold. +And he came to the place where the Emperor and Owain were playing at +chess. + +And the youth saluted Owain. And Owain marvelled that the youth +should salute him and should not have saluted the Emperor Arthur. +And Arthur knew what was in Owain's thought. And he said to Owain, +"Marvel not that the youth salutes thee now, for he saluted me +erewhile; and it is unto thee that his errand is." Then said the +youth unto Owain, "Lord, is it with thy leave that the young pages +and attendants of the Emperor harass and torment and worry thy +Ravens? And if it be not with thy leave, cause the Emperor to forbid +them." "Lord," said Owain, "thou hearest what the youth says; if it +seem good to thee, forbid them from my Ravens." "Play thy game," +said he. Then the youth returned to the tent. + +That game did they finish, and another they began, and when they were +in the midst of the game, behold, a ruddy young man with auburn +curling hair and large eyes, well-grown, and having his beard new- +shorn, came forth from a bright yellow tent, upon the summit of which +was the figure of a bright red lion. And he was clad in a coat of +yellow satin, falling as low as the small of his leg, and embroidered +with threads of red silk. And on his feet were hose of fine white +buckram, and buskins of black leather were over his hose, whereon +were golden clasps. And in his hand a huge, heavy, three-edged +sword, with a scabbard of red deer-hide, tipped with gold. And he +came to the place where Arthur and Owain were playing at chess. And +he saluted him. And Owain was troubled at his salutation, but Arthur +minded it no more than before. And the youth said unto Owain, "Is it +not against thy will that the attendants of the Emperor harass thy +Ravens, killing some and worrying others? If against thy will it be, +beseech him to forbid them." "Lord," said Owain, "forbid thy men, if +it seem good to thee." "Play thy game," said the Emperor. And the +youth returned to the tent. + +And that game was ended and another begun. And as they were +beginning the first move of the game, they beheld at a small distance +from them a tent speckled yellow, the largest ever seen, and the +figure of an eagle of gold upon it, and a precious stone on the +eagle's head. And coming out of the tent, they saw a youth with +thick yellow hair upon his head, fair and comely, and a scarf of blue +satin upon him, and a brooch of gold in the scarf upon his right +shoulder as large as a warrior's middle finger. And upon his feet +were hose of fine Totness, and shoes of parti-coloured leather, +clasped with gold, and the youth was of noble bearing, fair of face, +with ruddy cheeks and large hawk's eyes. In the hand of the youth +was a mighty lance, speckled yellow, with a newly-sharpened head; and +upon the lance a banner displayed. + +Fiercely angry, and with rapid pace, came the youth to the place +where Arthur was playing at chess with Owain. And they perceived +that he was wroth. And thereupon he saluted Owain, and told him that +his Ravens had been killed, the chief part of them, and that such of +them as were not slain were so wounded and bruised that not one of +them could raise its wings a single fathom above the earth. "Lord," +said Owain, "forbid thy men." "Play," said he, "if it please thee." +Then said Owain to the youth, "Go back, and wherever thou findest the +strife at the thickest, there lift up the banner, and let come what +pleases Heaven." + +So the youth returned back to the place where the strife bore hardest +upon the Ravens, and he lifted up the banner; and as he did so they +all rose up in the air, wrathful and fierce and high of spirit, +clapping their wings in the wind, and shaking off the weariness that +was upon them. And recovering their energy and courage, furiously +and with exultation did they, with one sweep, descend upon the heads +of the men, who had erewhile caused them anger and pain and damage, +and they seized some by the heads and others by the eyes, and some by +the ears, and others by the arms, and carried them up into the air; +and in the air there was a mighty tumult with the flapping of the +wings of the triumphant Ravens, and with their croaking; and there +was another mighty tumult with the groaning of the men, that were +being torn and wounded, and some of whom were slain. + +And Arthur and Owain marvelled at the tumult as they played at chess; +and, looking, they perceived a knight upon a dun-coloured horse +coming towards them. And marvellous was the hue of the dun horse. +Bright red was his right shoulder, and from the top of his legs to +the centre of his hoof was bright yellow. Both the knight and his +horse were fully equipped with heavy foreign armour. The clothing of +the horse from the front opening upwards was of bright red sendal, +and from thence opening downwards was of bright yellow sendal. A +large gold-hilted one-edged sword had the youth upon his thigh, in a +scabbard of light blue, and tipped with Spanish laton. The belt of +the sword was of dark green leather with golden slides and a clasp of +ivory upon it, and a buckle of jet-black upon the clasp. A helmet of +gold was on the head of the knight, set with precious stones of great +virtue, and at the top of the helmet was the image of a flame- +coloured leopard with two ruby-red stones in its head, so that it was +astounding for a warrior, however stout his heart, to look at the +face of the leopard, much more at the face of the knight. He had in +his hand a blue-shafted lance, but from the haft to the point it was +stained crimson-red with the blood of the Ravens and their plumage. + +The knight came to the place where Arthur and Owain were seated at +chess. And they perceived that he was harassed and vexed and weary +as he came towards them. And the youth saluted Arthur, and told him +that the Ravens of Owain were slaying his young men and attendants. +And Arthur looked at Owain and said, "Forbid thy Ravens." "Lord," +answered Owain, "play thy game." And they played. And the knight +returned back towards the strife, and the Ravens were not forbidden +any more than before. + +And when they had played awhile, they heard a mighty tumult, and a +wailing of men, and a croaking of Ravens, as they carried the men in +their strength into the air, and, tearing them betwixt them, let them +fall piecemeal to the earth. And during the tumult they saw a knight +coming towards them, on a light grey horse, and the left foreleg of +the horse was jet-black to the centre of his hoof. And the knight +and the horse were fully accoutred with huge heavy blue armour. And +a robe of honour of yellow diapered satin was upon the knight, and +the borders of the robe were blue. And the housings of the horse +were jet-black, with borders of bright yellow. And on the thigh of +the youth was a sword, long, and three-edged, and heavy. And the +scabbard was of red cut leather, and the belt of new red deer-skin, +having upon it many golden slides and a buckle of the bone of the +sea-horse, the tongue of which was jet-black. A golden helmet was +upon the head of the knight, wherein were set sapphire-stones of +great virtue. And at the top of the helmet was the figure of a +flame-coloured lion, with a fiery-red tongue, issuing above a foot +from his mouth, and with venomous eyes, crimson-red, in his head. +And the knight came, bearing in his hand a thick ashen lance, the +head whereof, which had been newly steeped in blood, was overlaid +with silver. + +And the youth saluted the Emperor: "Lord," said he, "carest thou not +for the slaying of thy pages, and thy young men, and the sons of the +nobles of the Island of Britain, whereby it will be difficult to +defend this island from henceforward for ever?" "Owain," said +Arthur, "forbid thy Ravens." "Play this game, Lord," said Owain. + +So they finished the game and began another; and as they were +finishing that game, lo, they heard a great tumult and a clamour of +armed men, and a croaking of Ravens, and a flapping of wings in the +air, as they flung down the armour entire to the ground, and the men +and the horses piecemeal. Then they saw coming a knight on a lofty- +headed piebald horse. And the left shoulder of the horse was of +bright red, and its right leg from the chest to the hollow of the +hoof was pure white. And the knight and horse were equipped with +arms of speckled yellow, variegated with Spanish laton. And there +was a robe of honour upon him, and upon his horse, divided in two +parts, white and black, and the borders of the robe of honour were of +golden purple. And above the robe he wore a sword three-edged and +bright, with a golden hilt. And the belt of the sword was of yellow +goldwork, having a clasp upon it of the eyelid of a black sea-horse, +and a tongue of yellow gold to the clasp. Upon the head of the +knight was a bright helmet of yellow laton, with sparkling stones of +crystal in it, and at the crest of the helmet was the figure of a +griffin, with a stone of many virtues in its head. And he had an +ashen spear in his hand, with a round shaft, coloured with azure +blue. And the head of the spear was newly stained with blood, and +was overlaid with fine silver. + +Wrathfully came the knight to the place where Arthur was, and he told +him that the Ravens had slain his household and the sons of the chief +men of this island, and he besought him to cause Owain to forbid his +Ravens. And Arthur besought Owain to forbid them. Then Arthur took +the golden chessmen that were upon the board, and crushed them until +they became as dust. Then Owain ordered Gwres the son of Rheged to +lower his banner. So it was lowered, and all was peace. + +Then Rhonabwy inquired of Iddawc who were the first three men that +came to Owain, to tell him his Ravens were being slain. Said Iddawc, +"They were men who grieved that Owain should suffer loss, his fellow- +chieftains and companions, Selyv the son of Kynan Garwyn of Powys, +and Gwgawn Gleddyvrudd, and Gwres the son of Rheged, he who bears the +banner in the day of battle and strife." "Who," said Rhonabwy, "were +the last three men who came to Arthur, and told him that the Ravens +were slaughtering his men?" "The best of men," said Iddawc, "and the +bravest, and who would grieve exceedingly that Arthur should have +damage in aught; Blathaon the son of Mawrheth, and Rhuvawn Pebyr the +son of Prince Deorthach, and Hyveidd Unllenn." + +And with that behold four-and-twenty knights came from Osla +Gyllellvawr, to crave a truce of Arthur for a fortnight and a month. +And Arthur rose and went to take counsel. And he came to where a +tall, auburn, curly-headed man was a little way off, and there he +assembled his counsellors. Bedwini, the Bishop, and Gwarthegyd the +son of Kaw, and March the son of Meirchawn, and Caradawc Vreichvras, +and Gwalchmai the son of Gwyar, and Edeyrn the son of Nudd, and +Rhuvawn Pebyr the son of Prince Deorthach, and Rhiogan the son of the +King of Ireland, and Gwenwynwyn the son of Nav, Howel the son of Emyr +Llydaw, Gwilym the son of Rhwyf Freinc, and Daned the son of Ath, and +Goreu Custennin, and Mabon the son of Modron, and Peredur Paladyr +Hir, and Hyveidd Unllenn, and Twrch the son of Perif, and Nerth the +son of Kadarn, and Gobrwy the son of Echel Vorddwyttwll, Gwair the +son of Gwestyl, and Gadwy the son of Geraint, Trystan the son of +Tallwch, Moryen Manawc, Granwen the son of Llyr, and Llacheu the son +of Arthur, and Llawvrodedd Varvawc, and Kadwr Earl of Cornwall, +Morvran the son of Tegid, and Rhyawd the son of Morgant, and Dyvyr +the son of Alun Dyved, Gwrhyr Gwalstawd Ieithoedd, Adaon the son of +Taliesin, Llary the son of Kasnar Wledig, and Fflewddur Fflam, and +Greidawl Galldovydd, Gilbert the son of Kadgyffro, Menw the son of +Teirgwaedd, Gwrthmwl Wledig, Cawrdav the son of Caradawc Vreichvras, +Gildas the son of Kaw, Kadyriaith the son of Saidi, and many of the +men of Norway and Denmark, and many of the men of Greece, and a crowd +of the men of the host came to that council. + +"Iddawc," said Rhonabwy, "who was the auburn haired man to whom they +came just now?" "Rhun the son of Maelgwn Gwynedd, a man whose +prerogative it is, that he may join in counsel with all." "And +wherefore did they admit into counsel with men of such dignity as are +yonder a stripling so young as Kadyriaith the son of Saidi?" +"Because there is not throughout Britain a man better skilled in +counsel than he." + +Thereupon, behold, bards came and recited verses before Arthur, and +no man understood those verses but Kadyriaith only, save that they +were in Arthur's praise. + +And lo, there came four-and-twenty asses with their burdens of gold +and of silver, and a tired way-worn man with each of them, bringing +tribute to Arthur from the Islands of Greece. Then Kadyriaith the +son of Saidi besought that a truce might be granted to Osla +Gyllellvawr for the space of a fortnight and a month, and that the +asses and the burdens they carried might be given to the bards, to be +to them as the reward for their stay and that their verse might be +recompensed during the time of the truce. And thus it was settled. + +"Rhonabwy," said Iddawc, "would it not be wrong to forbid a youth who +can give counsel so liberal as this from coming to the councils of +his Lord?" + +Then Kai arose, and he said, "Whosoever will follow Arthur, let him +be with him to-night in Cornwall, and whosoever will not, let him be +opposed to Arthur even during the truce." And through the greatness +of the tumult that ensued, Rhonabwy awoke. And when he awoke he was +upon the yellow calf-skin, having slept three nights and three days. + +And this tale is called the Dream of Rhonabwy. And this is the +reason that no one knows the dream without a book, neither bard nor +gifted seer; because of the various colours that were upon the +horses, and the many wondrous colours of the arms and of the panoply, +and of the precious scarfs, and of the virtue-bearing stones. + + + +PWYLL PRINCE OF DYVED + + + +Pwyll Prince of Dyved was lord of the seven Cantrevs of Dyved; and +once upon a time he was at Narberth his chief palace, and he was +minded to go and hunt, and the part of his dominions in which it +pleased him to hunt was Glyn Cuch. So he set forth from Narbeth that +night, and went as far as Llwyn Diarwyd. And that night he tarried +there, and early on the morrow he rose and came to Glyn Cuch, when he +let loose the dogs in the wood, and sounded the horn, and began the +chase. And as he followed the dogs, he lost his companions; and +whilst he listened to the hounds, he heard the cry of other hounds, a +cry different from his own, and coming in the opposite direction. + +And he beheld a glade in the wood forming a level plain, and as his +dogs came to the edge of the glade, he saw a stag before the other +dogs. And lo, as it reached the middle of the glade, the dogs that +followed the stag overtook it and brought it down. Then looked he at +the colour of the dogs, staying not to look at the stag, and of all +the hounds that he had seen in the world, he had never seen any that +were like unto these. For their hair was of a brilliant shining +white, and their ears were red; and as the whiteness of their bodies +shone, so did the redness of their ears glisten. And he came towards +the dogs, and drove away those that had brought down the stag, and +set his own dogs upon it. + +And as he was setting on his dogs he saw a horseman coming towards +him upon a large light-grey steed, with a hunting horn round his +neck, and clad in garments of grey woollen in the fashion of a +hunting garb. And the horseman drew near and spoke unto him thus. +"Chieftain," said he, "I know who thou art, and I greet thee not." +"Peradventure," said Pwyll, "thou art of such dignity that thou +shouldest not do so." "Verily," answered he, "it is not my dignity +that prevents me." "What is it then, O Chieftain?" asked he. "By +Heaven, it is by reason of thine own ignorance and want of courtesy." +"What discourtesy, Chieftain, hast thou seen in me?" "Greater +discourtesy saw I never in man," said he, "than to drive away the +dogs that were killing the stag and to set upon it thine own. This +was discourteous, and though I may not be revenged upon thee, yet I +declare to Heaven that I will do thee more dishonour than the value +of an hundred stags." "O Chieftain," he replied, "if I have done ill +I will redeem thy friendship." "How wilt thou redeem it?" +"According as thy dignity may be, but I know not who thou art?" "A +crowned king am I in the land whence I come." "Lord," said he, "may +the day prosper with thee, and from what land comest thou?" "From +Annwvyn," {2} answered he; "Arawn, a King of Annwvyn, am I." "Lord," +said he, "how may I gain thy friendship?" "After this manner mayest +thou," he said. "There is a man whose dominions are opposite to +mine, who is ever warring against me, and he is Havgan, a King of +Annwvyn, and by ridding me of this oppression, which thou canst +easily do, shalt thou gain my friendship." "Gladly will I do this," +said he. "Show me how I may." "I will show thee. Behold thus it is +thou mayest. I will make firm friendship with thee; and this will I +do. I will send thee to Annwvyn in my stead, and I will give thee +the fairest lady thou didst ever behold to be thy companion, and I +will put my form and semblance upon thee, so that not a page of the +chamber, nor an officer, nor any other man that has always followed +me shall know that it is not I. And this shall be for the space of a +year from to-morrow, and then we will meet in this place." "Yes," +said he; "but when I shall have been there for the space of a year, +by what means shall I discover him of whom thou speakest?" "One year +from this night," he answered, "is the time fixed between him and me +that we should meet at the Ford; be thou there in my likeness, and +with one stroke that thou givest him, he shall no longer live. And +if he ask thee to give him another, give it not, how much soever he +may entreat thee, for when I did so, he fought with me next day as +well as ever before." "Verily," said Pwyll, "what shall I do +concerning my kingdom?" Said Arawn, "I will cause that no one in all +thy dominions, neither man nor woman, shall know that I am not thou, +and I will go there in thy stead." "Gladly then," said Pwyll, "will +I set forward." "Clear shall be thy path, and nothing shall detain +thee, until thou come into my dominions, and I myself will be thy +guide!" + +So he conducted him until he came in sight of the palace and its +dwellings. "Behold," said he, "the Court and the kingdom in thy +power. Enter the Court, there is no one there who will know thee, +and when thou seest what service is done there, thou wilt know the +customs of the Court." + +So he went forward to the Court, and when he came there, he beheld +sleeping-rooms, and halls, and chambers, and the most beautiful +buildings ever seen. And he went into the hall to disarray, and +there came youths and pages and disarrayed him, and all as they +entered saluted him. And two knights came and drew his hunting-dress +from about him, and clothed him in a vesture of silk and gold. And +the hall was prepared, and behold he saw the household and the host +enter in, and the host was the most comely and the best equipped that +he had ever seen. And with them came in likewise the Queen, who was +the fairest woman that he had ever yet beheld. And she had on a +yellow robe of shining satin; and they washed and went to the table, +and sat, the Queen upon one side of him, and one who seemed to be an +Earl on the other side. + +And he began to speak with the Queen, and he thought, from her +speech, that she was the seemliest and most noble lady of converse +and of cheer that ever was. And they partook of meat, and drink, +with songs and with feasting; and of all the Courts upon the earth, +behold this was the best supplied with food and drink, and vessels of +gold and royal jewels. + + +And the year he spent in hunting, and minstrelsy, and feasting, and +diversions, and discourse with his companions until the night that +was fixed for the conflict. And when that night came, it was +remembered even by those who lived in the furthest part of his +dominions, and he went to the meeting, and the nobles of the kingdom +with him. And when he came to the Ford, a knight arose and spake +thus. "Lords," said he, "listen well. It is between two kings that +this meeting is, and between them only. Each claimeth of the other +his land and territory, and do all of you stand aside and leave the +fight to be between them." + +Thereupon the two kings approached each other in the middle of the +Ford, and encountered, and at the first thrust, the man who was in +the stead of Arawn struck Havgan on the centre of the boss of his +shield, so that it was cloven in twain, and his armour was broken, +and Havgan himself was borne to the ground an arm's and a spear's +length over the crupper of his horse, and he received a deadly blow. +"O Chieftain," said Havgan, "what right hast thou to cause my death? +I was not injuring thee in anything, and I know not wherefore thou +wouldest slay me. But, for the love of Heaven, since thou hast begun +to slay me, complete thy work." "Ah, Chieftain," he replied, "I may +yet repent doing that unto thee, slay thee who may, I will not do +so." "My trusty Lords," said Havgan, "bear me hence. My death has +come. I shall be no more able to uphold you." "My Nobles," also +said he who was in the semblance of Arawn, "take counsel and know who +ought to be my subjects." "Lord," said the Nobles, "all should be, +for there is no king over the whole of Annwvyn but thee." "Yes," he +replied, "it is right that he who comes humbly should be received +graciously, but he that doth not come with obedience, shall be +compelled by the force of swords." And thereupon he received the +homage of the men, and he began to conquer the country; and the next +day by noon the two kingdoms were in his power. And thereupon he +went to keep his tryst, and came to Glyn Cuch. + +And when he came there, the King of Annwvyn was there to meet him, +and each of them was rejoiced to see the other. "Verily," said +Arawn, "may Heaven reward thee for thy friendship towards me. I have +heard of it. When thou comest thyself to thy dominions," said he, +"thou wilt see that which I have done for thee." "Whatever thou hast +done for me, may Heaven repay it thee." + +Then Arawn gave to Pwyll Prince of Dyved his proper form and +semblance, and he himself took his own; and Arawn set forth towards +the Court of Annwvyn; and he was rejoiced when he beheld his hosts, +and his household, whom he had not seen so long; but they had not +known of his absence, and wondered no more at his coming than usual. +And that day was spent in joy and merriment; and he sat and conversed +with his wife and his nobles. And when it was time for them rather +to sleep than to carouse, they went to rest. + + +Pwyll Prince of Dyved came likewise to his country and dominions, and +began to inquire of the nobles of the land, how his rule had been +during the past year, compared with what it had been before. "Lord," +said they, "thy wisdom was never so great, and thou wast never so +kind or so free in bestowing thy gifts, and thy justice was never +more worthily seen than in this year." "By Heaven," said he, "for +all the good you have enjoyed, you should thank him who hath been +with you; for behold, thus hath this matter been." And thereupon +Pwyll related the whole unto them. "Verily, Lord," said they, +"render thanks unto Heaven that thou hast such a fellowship, and +withhold not from us the rule which we have enjoyed for this year +past." "I take Heaven to witness that I will not withhold it," +answered Pwyll. + +And thenceforth they made strong the friendship that was between +them, and each sent unto the other horses, and greyhounds, and hawks, +and all such jewels as they thought would be pleasing to each other. +And by reason of his having dwelt that year in Annwvyn, and having +ruled there so prosperously, and united the two kingdoms in one day +by his valour and prowess, he lost the name of Pwyll Prince of Dyved, +and was called Pwyll Chief of Annwvyn from that time forward. + + +Once upon a time, Pwyll was at Narberth his chief palace, where a +feast had been prepared for him, and with him was a great host of +men. And after the first meal, Pwyll arose to walk, and he went to +the top of a mound that was above the palace, and was called Gorsedd +Arberth. "Lord," said one of the Court, "it is peculiar to the mound +that whosoever sits upon it cannot go thence, without either +receiving wounds or blows, or else seeing a wonder." "I fear not to +receive wounds and blows in the midst of such a host as this, but as +to the wonder, gladly would I see it. I will go therefore and sit +upon the mound." + +And upon the mound he sat. And while he sat there, they saw a lady, +on a pure white horse of large size, with a garment of shining gold +around her, coming along the highway that led from the mound; and the +horse seemed to move at a slow and even pace, and to be coming up +towards the mound. "My men," said Pwyll, "is there any among you who +knows yonder lady?" "There is not, Lord," said they. "Go one of you +and meet her, that we may know who she is." And one of them arose, +and as he came upon the road to meet her, she passed by, and he +followed as fast as he could, being on foot; and the greater was his +speed, the further was she from him. And when he saw that it +profited him nothing to follow her, he returned to Pwyll, and said +unto him, "Lord, it is idle for any one in the world to follow her on +foot." "Verily," said Pwyll, "go unto the palace, and take the +fleetest horse that thou seest, and go after her." + +And he took a horse and went forward. And he came to an open level +plain, and put spurs to his horse; and the more he urged his horse, +the further was she from him. Yet she held the same pace as at +first. And his horse began to fail; and when his horse's feet failed +him, he returned to the place where Pwyll was. "Lord," said he, "it +will avail nothing for any one to follow yonder lady. I know of no +horse in these realms swifter than this, and it availed me not to +pursue her." "Of a truth," said Pwyll, "there must be some illusion +here. Let us go towards the palace." So to the palace they went, +and they spent that day. And the next day they arose, and that also +they spent until it was time to go to meat. And after the first +meal, "Verily," said Pwyll, "we will go the same party as yesterday +to the top of the mound. And do thou," said he to one of his young +men, "take the swiftest horse that thou knowest in the field." And +thus did the young man. And they went towards the mound, taking the +horse with them. And as they were sitting down they beheld the lady +on the same horse, and in the same apparel, coming along the same +road. "Behold," said Pwyll, "here is the lady of yesterday. Make +ready, youth, to learn who she is." "My lord," said he, "that will I +gladly do." And thereupon the lady came opposite to them. So the +youth mounted his horse; and before he had settled himself in his +saddle, she passed by, and there was a clear space between them. But +her speed was no greater than it had been the day before. Then he +put his horse into an amble, and thought that notwithstanding the +gentle pace at which his horse went, he should soon overtake her. +But this availed him not; so he gave his horse the reins. And still +he came no nearer to her than when he went at a foot's pace. And the +more he urged his horse, the further was she from him. Yet she rode +not faster than before. When he saw that it availed not to follow +her, he returned to the place where Pwyll was. "Lord," said he, "the +horse can no more than thou hast seen." "I see indeed that it avails +not that any one should follow her. And by Heaven," said he, "she +must needs have an errand to some one in this plain, if her haste +would allow her to declare it. Let us go back to the palace." And +to the palace they went, and they spent that night in songs and +feasting, as it pleased them. + +And the next day they amused themselves until it was time to go to +meat. And when meat was ended, Pwyll said, "Where are the hosts that +went yesterday and the day before to the top of the mound?" "Behold, +Lord, we are here," said they. "Let us go," said he, "to the mound, +to sit there. And do thou," said he to the page who tended his +horse, "saddle my horse well, and hasten with him to the road, and +bring also my spurs with thee." And the youth did thus. And they +went and sat upon the mound; and ere they had been there but a short +time, they beheld the lady coming by the same road, and in the same +manner, and at the same pace. "Young man," said Pwyll, "I see the +lady coming; give me my horse." And no sooner had he mounted his +horse than she passed him. And he turned after her and followed her. +And he let his horse go bounding playfully, and thought that at the +second step or the third he should come up with her. But he came no +nearer to her than at first. Then he urged his horse to his utmost +speed, yet he found that it availed nothing to follow her. Then said +Pwyll, "O maiden, for the sake of him whom thou best lovest, stay for +me." "I will stay gladly," said she, "and it were better for thy +horse hadst thou asked it long since." So the maiden stopped, and +she threw back that part of her headdress which covered her face. +And she fixed her eyes upon him, and began to talk with him. "Lady," +asked he, "whence comest thou, and whereunto dost thou journey?" "I +journey on mine own errand," said she, "and right glad am I to see +thee." "My greeting be unto thee," said he. Then he thought that +the beauty of all the maidens, and all the ladies that he had ever +seen, was as nothing compared to her beauty. "Lady," he said, "wilt +thou tell me aught concerning thy purpose?" "I will tell thee," said +she. "My chief quest was to seek thee." "Behold," said Pwyll, "this +is to me the most pleasing quest on which thou couldst have come; and +wilt thou tell me who thou art?" "I will tell thee, Lord," said she. +"I am Rhiannon, the daughter of Heveydd Hen, and they sought to give +me to a husband against my will. But no husband would I have, and +that because of my love for thee, neither will I yet have one unless +thou reject me. And hither have I come to hear thy answer." "By +Heaven," said Pwyll, "behold this is my answer. If I might choose +among all the ladies and damsels in the world, thee would I choose." +"Verily," said she, "if thou art thus minded, make a pledge to meet +me ere I am given to another." "The sooner I may do so, the more +pleasing will it be unto me," said Pwyll, "and wheresoever thou wilt, +there will I meet with thee." "I will that thou meet me this day +twelvemonth at the palace of Heveydd. And I will cause a feast to be +prepared, so that it be ready against thou come." "Gladly," said he, +"will I keep this tryst." "Lord," said she, "remain in health, and +be mindful that thou keep thy promise; and now I will go hence." So +they parted, and he went back to his hosts and to them of his +household. And whatsoever questions they asked him respecting the +damsel, he always turned the discourse upon other matters. And when +a year from that time was gone, he caused a hundred knights to equip +themselves and to go with him to the palace of Heveydd Hen. And he +came to the palace, and there was great joy concerning him, with much +concourse of people and great rejoicing, and vast preparations for +his coming. And the whole Court was placed under his orders. + +And the hall was garnished and they went to meat, and thus did they +sit; Heveydd Hen was on one side of Pwyll, and Rhiannon on the other. +And all the rest according to their rank. And they ate and feasted +and talked one with another, and at the beginning of the carousal +after the meat, there entered a tall auburn-haired youth, of royal +bearing, clothed in a garment of satin. And when he came into the +hall, he saluted Pwyll and his companions. "The greeting of Heaven +be unto thee, my soul," said Pwyll, "come thou and sit down." "Nay," +said he, "a suitor am I, and I will do mine errand." "Do so +willingly," said Pwyll. "Lord," said he, "my errand is unto thee, +and it is to crave a boon of thee that I come." "What boon soever +thou mayest ask of me, as far as I am able, thou shalt have." "Ah," +said Rhiannon, "wherefore didst thou give that answer?" "Has he not +given it before the presence of these nobles?" asked the youth. "My +soul," said Pwyll, "what is the boon thou askest?" "The lady whom +best I love is to be thy bride this night; I come to ask her of thee, +with the feast and the banquet that are in this place." And Pwyll +was silent because of the answer which he had given. "Be silent as +long as thou wilt," said Rhiannon. "Never did man make worse use of +his wits than thou hast done." "Lady," said he, "I knew not who he +was." "Behold this is the man to whom they would have given me +against my will," said she. "And he is Gwawl the son of Clud, a man +of great power and wealth, and because of the word thou hast spoken, +bestow me upon him lest shame befall thee." "Lady," said he, "I +understand not thine answer. Never can I do as thou sayest." +"Bestow me upon him," said she, "and I will cause that I shall never +be his." "By what means will that be?" asked Pwyll. "In thy hand +will I give thee a small bag," said she. "See that thou keep it +well, and he will ask of thee the banquet, and the feast, and the +preparations which are not in thy power. Unto the hosts and the +household will I give the feast. And such will be thy answer +respecting this. And as concerns myself, I will engage to become his +bride this night twelvemonth. And at the end of the year be thou +here," said she, "and bring this bag with thee, and let thy hundred +knights be in the orchard up yonder. And when he is in the midst of +joy and feasting, come thou in by thyself, clad in ragged garments, +and holding thy bag in thy hand, and ask nothing but a bagful of +food, and I will cause that if all the meat and liquor that are in +these seven Cantrevs were put into it, it would be no fuller than +before. And after a great deal has been put therein, he will ask +thee whether thy bag will ever be full. Say thou then that it never +will, until a man of noble birth and of great wealth arise and press +the food in the bag with both his feet, saying, 'Enough has been put +therein;' and I will cause him to go and tread down the food in the +bag, and when he does so, turn thou the bag, so that he shall be up +over his head in it, and then slip a knot upon the thongs of the bag. +Let there be also a good bugle horn about thy neck, and as soon as +thou hast bound him in the bag, wind thy horn, and let it be a signal +between thee and thy knights. And when they hear the sound of the +horn, let them come down upon the palace." "Lord," said Gwawl, "it +is meet that I have an answer to my request." "As much of that thou +hast asked as it is in my power to give, thou shalt have," replied +Pwyll. "My soul," said Rhiannon unto him, "as for the feast and the +banquet that are here, I have bestowed them upon the men of Dyved, +and the household, and the warriors that are with us. These can I +not suffer to be given to any. In a year from to-night a banquet +shall be prepared for thee in this palace, that I may become thy +bride." + +So Gwawl went forth to his possessions, and Pwyll went also back to +Dyved. And they both spent that year until it was the time for the +feast at the palace of Heveydd Hen. Then Gwawl the son of Clud set +out to the feast that was prepared for him, and he came to the +palace, and was received there with rejoicing. Pwyll, also, the +Chief of Annwvyn, came to the orchard with his hundred knights, as +Rhiannon had commanded him, having the bag with him. And Pwyll was +clad in coarse and ragged garments, and wore large clumsy old shoes +upon his feet. And when he knew that the carousal after the meat had +begun, he went towards the hall, and when he came into the hall, he +saluted Gwawl the son of Clud, and his company, both men and women. +"Heaven prosper thee," said Gwawl, "and the greeting of Heaven be +unto thee." "Lord," said he, "may Heaven reward thee, I have an +errand unto thee." "Welcome be thine errand, and if thou ask of me +that which is just, thou shalt have it gladly." "It is fitting," +answered he. "I crave but from want, and the boon that I ask is to +have this small bag that thou seest filled with meat." "A request +within reason is this," said he, "and gladly shalt thou have it. +Bring him food." A great number of attendants arose and began to +fill the bag, but for all that they put into it, it was no fuller +than at first. "My soul," said Gwawl, "will thy bag be ever full?" +"It will not, I declare to Heaven," said he, "for all that may be put +into it, unless one possessed of lands, and domains, and treasure, +shall arise and tread down with both his feet the food that is within +the bag, and shall say, 'Enough has been put therein.'" Then said +Rhiannon unto Gwawl the son of Clud, "Rise up quickly." "I will +willingly arise," said he. So he rose up, and put his two feet into +the bag. And Pwyll turned up the sides of the bag, so that Gwawl was +over his head in it. And he shut it up quickly and slipped a knot +upon the thongs, and blew his horn. And thereupon behold his +household came down upon the palace. And they seized all the host +that had come with Gwawl, and cast them into his own prison. And +Pwyll threw off his rags, and his old shoes, and his tattered array; +and as they came in, every one of Pwyll's knights struck a blow upon +the bag, and asked, "What is here?" "A Badger," said they. And in +this manner they played, each of them striking the bag, either with +his foot or with a staff. And thus played they with the bag. Every +one as he came in asked, "What game are you playing at thus?" "The +game of Badger in the Bag," said they. And then was the game of +Badger in the Bag first played. + +"Lord," said the man in the bag, "if thou wouldest but hear me, I +merit not to be slain in a bag." Said Heveydd Hen, "Lord, he speaks +truth. It were fitting that thou listen to him, for he deserves not +this." "Verily," said Pwyll, "I will do thy counsel concerning him." +"Behold this is my counsel then," said Rhiannon; "thou art now in a +position in which it behoves thee to satisfy suitors and minstrels; +let him give unto them in thy stead, and take a pledge from him that +he will never seek to revenge that which has been done to him. And +this will be punishment enough." "I will do this gladly," said the +man in the bag. "And gladly will I accept it," said Pwyll, "since it +is the counsel of Heveydd and Rhiannon." "Such then is our counsel," +answered they. "I accept it," said Pwyll. "Seek thyself sureties." +"We will be for him," said Heveydd, "until his men be free to answer +for him." And upon this he was let out of the bag, and his liegemen +were liberated. "Demand now of Gwawl his sureties," said Heveydd, +"we know which should be taken for him." And Heveydd numbered the +sureties. Said Gwawl, "Do thou thyself draw up the covenant." "It +will suffice me that it be as Rhiannon said," answered Pwyll. So +unto that covenant were the sureties pledged. "Verily, Lord," said +Gwawl, "I am greatly hurt, and I have many bruises. I have need to +be anointed; with thy leave I will go forth. I will leave nobles in +my stead, to answer for me in all that thou shalt require." +"Willingly," said Pwyll, "mayest thou do thus." So Gwawl went +towards his own possessions. + +And the hall was set in order for Pwyll and the men of his host, and +for them also of the palace, and they went to the tables and sat +down. And as they had sat that time twelvemonth, so sat they that +night. And they ate, and feasted, and spent the night in mirth and +tranquillity. And the time came that they should sleep, and Pwyll +and Rhiannon went to their chamber. + +And next morning at the break of day, "My Lord," said Rhiannon, +"arise and begin to give thy gifts unto the minstrels. Refuse no one +to-day that may claim thy bounty." "Thus shall it be gladly," said +Pwyll, "both to-day and every day while the feast shall last." So +Pwyll arose, and he caused silence to be proclaimed, and desired all +the suitors and the minstrels to show and to point out what gifts +were to their wish and desire. And this being done, the feast went +on, and he denied no one while it lasted. And when the feast was +ended, Pwyll said unto Heveydd, "My Lord, with thy permission I will +set out for Dyved to-morrow." "Certainly," said Heveydd, "may Heaven +prosper thee. Fix also a time when Rhiannon may follow thee." "By +Heaven," said Pwyll, "we will go hence together." "Willest thou +this, Lord?" said Heveydd. "Yes, by Heaven," answered Pwyll. + +And the next day, they set forward towards Dyved, and journeyed to +the palace of Narberth, where a feast was made ready for them. And +there came to them great numbers of the chief men and the most noble +ladies of the land, and of these there was none to whom Rhiannon did +not give some rich gift, either a bracelet, or a ring, or a precious +stone. And they ruled the land prosperously both that year and the +next. + +And in the third year the nobles of the land began to be sorrowful at +seeing a man whom they loved so much, and who was moreover their lord +and their foster-brother, without an heir. And they came to him. +And the place where they met was Preseleu, in Dyved. "Lord," said +they, "we know that thou art not so young as some of the men of this +country, and we fear that thou mayest not have an heir of the wife +whom thou hast taken. Take therefore another wife of whom thou +mayest have heirs. Thou canst not always continue with us, and +though thou desire to remain as thou art, we will not suffer thee." +"Truly," said Pwyll, "we have not long been joined together, and many +things may yet befall. Grant me a year from this time, and for the +space of a year we will abide together, and after that I will do +according to your wishes. So they granted it. And before the end of +a year a son was born unto him. And in Narberth was he born; and on +the night that he was born, women were brought to watch the mother +and the boy. And the women slept, as did also Rhiannon, the mother +of the boy. And the number of the women that were brought into the +chamber was six. And they watched for a good portion of the night, +and before midnight every one of them fell asleep, and towards break +of day they awoke; and when they awoke, they looked where they had +put the boy, and behold he was not there. "Oh," said one of the +women, "the boy is lost?" "Yes," said another, "and it will be small +vengeance if we are burnt or put to death because of the child." +Said one of the women, "Is there any counsel for us in the world in +this matter?" "There is," answered another, "I offer you good +counsel." "What is that?" asked they. "There is here a stag-hound +bitch, and she has a litter of whelps. Let us kill some of the cubs, +and rub the blood on the face and hands of Rhiannon, and lay the +bones before her, and assert that she herself hath devoured her son, +and she alone will not be able to gainsay us six." And according to +this counsel it was settled. And towards morning Rhiannon awoke, and +she said, "Women, where is my son?" "Lady," said they, "ask us not +concerning thy son, we have nought but the blows and the bruises we +got by struggling with thee, and of a truth we never saw any woman so +violent as thou, for it was of no avail to contend with thee. Hast +thou not thyself devoured thy son? Claim him not therefore of us." +"For pity's sake," said Rhiannon; "the Lord God knows all things. +Charge me not falsely. If you tell me this from fear, I assert +before Heaven that I will defend you." "Truly," said they, "we would +not bring evil on ourselves for any one in the world." "For pity's +sake," said Rhiannon, "you will receive no evil by telling the +truth." But for all her words, whether fair or harsh, she received +but the same answer from the women. + +And Pwyll the chief of Annwvyn arose, and his household, and his +hosts. And this occurrence could not be concealed, but the story +went forth throughout the land, and all the nobles heard it. Then +the nobles came to Pwyll, and besought him to put away his wife, +because of the great crime which she had done. But Pwyll answered +them, that they had no cause wherefore they might ask him to put away +his wife, save for her having no children. "But children has she now +had, therefore will I not put her away; if she has done wrong, let +her do penance for it." + +So Rhiannon sent for the teachers and the wise men, and as she +preferred doing penance to contending with the women, she took upon +her a penance. And the penance that was imposed upon her was, that +she should remain in that palace of Narberth until the end of seven +years, and that she should sit every day near unto a horseblock that +was without the gate. And that she should relate the story to all +who should come there, whom she might suppose not to know it already; +and that she should offer the guests and strangers, if they would +permit her, to carry them upon her back into the palace. But it +rarely happened that any would permit. And thus did she spend part +of the year. + +Now at that time Teirnyon Twryv Vliant was Lord of Gwent Is Coed, and +he was the best man in the world. And unto his house there belonged +a mare, than which neither mare nor horse in the kingdom was more +beautiful. And on the night of every first of May she foaled, and no +one ever knew what became of the colt. And one night Teirnyon talked +with his wife: "Wife," said he, "it is very simple of us that our +mare should foal every year, and that we should have none of her +colts." "What can be done in the matter?" said she. "This is the +night of the first of May," said he. "The vengeance of Heaven be +upon me, if I learn not what it is that takes away the colts." So he +caused the mare to be brought into a house, and he armed himself, and +began to watch that night. And in the beginning of the night, the +mare foaled a large and beautiful colt. And it was standing up in +the place. And Teirnyon rose up and looked at the size of the colt, +and as he did so he heard a great tumult, and after the tumult behold +a claw came through the window into the house, and it seized the colt +by the mane. Then Teirnyon drew his sword, and struck off the arm at +the elbow, so that portion of the arm together with the colt was in +the house with him. And then did he hear a tumult and wailing, both +at once. And he opened the door, and rushed out in the direction of +the noise, and he could not see the cause of the tumult because of +the darkness of the night, but he rushed after it and followed it. +Then he remembered that he had left the door open, and he returned. +And at the door behold there was an infant boy in swaddling-clothes, +wrapped around in a mantle of satin. And he took up the boy, and +behold he was very strong for the age that he was of. + +Then he shut the door, and went into the chamber where his wife was. +"Lady," said he, "art thou sleeping?" "No, lord," said she, "I was +asleep, but as thou camest in I did awake." "Behold, here is a boy +for thee if thou wilt," said he, "since thou hast never had one." +"My lord," said she, "what adventure is this?" "It was thus," said +Teirnyon; and he told her how it all befell. "Verily, lord," said +she, "what sort of garments are there upon the boy?" "A mantle of +satin," said he. "He is then a boy of gentle lineage," she replied. +"My lord," she said, "if thou wilt, I shall have great diversion and +mirth. I will call my women unto me, and tell them that I have been +pregnant." "I will readily grant thee to do this," he answered. And +thus did they, and they caused the boy to be baptized, and the +ceremony was performed there; and the name which they gave unto him +was Gwri Wallt Euryn, because what hair was upon his head was as +yellow as gold. And they had the boy nursed in the Court until he +was a year old. And before the year was over he could walk stoutly. +And he was larger than a boy of three years old, even one of great +growth and size. And the boy was nursed the second year, and then he +was as large as a child six years old. And before the end of the +fourth year, he would bribe the grooms to allow him to take the +horses to water. "My lord," said his wife unto Teirnyon, "where is +the colt which thou didst save on the night that thou didst find the +boy?" "I have commanded the grooms of the horses," said he, "that +they take care of him." "Would it not be well, lord," said she, "if +thou wert to cause him to be broken in, and given to the boy, seeing +that on the same night that thou didst find the boy, the colt was +foaled and thou didst save him?" "I will not oppose thee in this +matter," said Teirnyon. "I will allow thee to give him the colt." +"Lord," said she, "may Heaven reward thee; I will give it him." So +the horse was given to the boy. Then she went to the grooms and +those who tended the horses, and commanded them to be careful of the +horse, so that he might be broken in by the time that the boy could +ride him. + +And while these things were going forward, they heard tidings of +Rhiannon and her punishment. And Teirnyon Twryv Vliant, by reason of +the pity that he felt on hearing this story of Rhiannon and her +punishment, inquired closely concerning it, until he had heard from +many of those who came to his court. Then did Teirnyon, often +lamenting the sad history, ponder within himself, and he looked +steadfastly on the boy, and as he looked upon him, it seemed to him +that he had never beheld so great a likeness between father and son, +as between the boy and Pwyll the Chief of Annwvyn. Now the semblance +of Pwyll was well known to him, for he had of yore been one of his +followers. And thereupon he became grieved for the wrong that he +did, in keeping with him a boy whom he knew to be the son of another +man. And the first time that he was alone with his wife, he told her +that it was not right that they should keep the boy with them, and +suffer so excellent a lady as Rhiannon to be punished so greatly on +his account, whereas the boy was the son of Pwyll the Chief of +Annwvyn. And Teirnyon's wife agreed with him, that they should send +the boy to Pwyll. "And three things, lord," said she, "shall we gain +thereby. Thanks and gifts for releasing Rhiannon from her +punishment; and thanks from Pwyll for nursing his son and restoring +him unto him; and thirdly, if the boy is of gentle nature, he will be +our foster-son, and he will do for us all the good in his power." So +it was settled according to this counsel. + +And no later than the next day was Teirnyon equipped, and two other +knights with him. And the boy, as a fourth in their company, went +with them upon the horse which Teirnyon had given him. And they +journeyed towards Narberth, and it was not long before they reached +that place. And as they drew near to the palace, they beheld +Rhiannon sitting beside the horseblock. And when they were opposite +to her, "Chieftain," said she, "go not further thus, I will bear +every one of you into the palace, and this is my penance for slaying +my own son and devouring him." "Oh, fair lady," said Teirnyon, +"think not that I will be one to be carried upon thy back." "Neither +will I," said the boy. "Truly, my soul," said Teirnyon, "we will not +go." So they went forward to the palace, and there was great joy at +their coming. And at the palace a feast was prepared, because Pywll +was come back from the confines of Dyved. And they went into the +hall and washed, and Pwyll rejoiced to see Teirnyon. And in this +order they sat. Teirnyon between Pwyll and Rhiannon, and Teirnyon's +two companions on the other side of Pwyll, with the boy between them. +And after meat they began to carouse and to discourse. And +Teirnyon's discourse was concerning the adventure of the mare and the +boy, and how he and his wife had nursed and reared the child as their +own. "And behold here is thy son, lady," said Teirnyon. "And +whosoever told that lie concerning thee, has done wrong. And when I +heard of thy sorrow, I was troubled and grieved. And I believe that +there is none of this host who will not perceive that the boy is the +son of Pwyll," said Teirnyon. "There is none," said they all, "who +is not certain thereof." "I declare to Heaven," said Rhiannon, "that +if this be true, there is indeed an end to my trouble." "Lady," said +Pendaran Dyved, "well hast thou named thy son Pryderi, {3} and well +becomes him the name of Pryderi son of Pwyll Chief of Annwvyn." +"Look you," said Rhiannon, "will not his own name become him better?" +"What name has he?" asked Pendaran Dyved. "Gwri Wallt Euryn is the +name that we gave him." "Pryderi," said Pendaran, "shall his name +be." "It were more proper," said Pwyll, "that the boy should take +his name from the word his mother spoke when she received the joyful +tidings of him." And thus was it arranged. + +"Teirnyon," said Pwyll, "Heaven reward thee that thou hast reared the +boy up to this time, and, being of gentle lineage, it were fitting +that he repay thee for it." "My lord," said Teirnyon, "it was my +wife who nursed him, and there is no one in the world so afflicted as +she at parting with him. It were well that he should bear in mind +what I and my wife have done for him." "I call Heaven to witness," +said Pwyll, "that while I live I will support thee and thy +possessions, as long as I am able to preserve my own. And when he +shall have power, he will more fitly maintain them than I. And if +this counsel be pleasing unto thee, and to my nobles, it shall be +that, as thou hast reared him up to the present time, I will give him +to be brought up by Pendaran Dyved, from henceforth. And you shall +be companions, and shall both be foster-fathers unto him." "This is +good counsel," said they all. So the boy was given to Pendaran +Dyved, and the nobles of the land were sent with him. And Teirnyon +Twryv Vliant, and his companions, set out for his country, and his +possessions, with love and gladness. And he went not without being +offered the fairest jewels and the fairest horses, and the choicest +dogs; but he would take none of them. + +Thereupon they all remained in their own dominions. And Pryderi, the +son of Pwyll the Chief of Annwvyn, was brought up carefully as was +fit, so that he became the fairest youth, and the most comely, and +the best skilled in all good games, of any in the kingdom. And thus +passed years and years, until the end of Pwyll the Chief of Annwvyn's +life came, and he died. + +And Pryderi ruled the seven Cantrevs of Dyved prosperously, and he +was beloved by his people, and by all around him. And at length he +added unto them the three Cantrevs of Ystrad Tywi, and the four +Cantrevs of Cardigan; and these were called the Seven Cantrevs of +Seissyllwch. And when he made this addition, Pryderi the son of +Pwyll the Chief of Annwvyn desired to take a wife. And the wife he +chose was Kicva, the daughter of Gwynn Gohoyw, the son of Gloyw Wallt +Lydan, the son of Prince Casnar, one of the nobles of this Island. + +And thus ends this portion of the Mabinogion. + + + +BRANWEN THE DAUGHTER OF LLYR +HERE IS THE SECOND PORTION OF THE MABINOGI + + + +Bendigeid Vran, the son of Llyr, was the crowned king of this island, +and he was exalted from the crown of London. And one afternoon he +was at Harlech in Ardudwy, at his Court, and he sat upon the rock of +Harlech, looking over the sea. And with him were his brother +Manawyddan the son of Llyr, and his brothers by the mother's side, +Nissyen and Evnissyen, and many nobles likewise, as was fitting to +see around a king. His two brothers by the mother's side were the +sons of Eurosswydd, by his mother, Penardun, the daughter of Beli son +of Manogan. And one of these youths was a good youth and of gentle +nature, and would make peace between his kindred, and cause his +family to be friends when their wrath was at the highest; and this +one was Nissyen; but the other would cause strife between his two +brothers when they were most at peace. And as they sat thus, they +beheld thirteen ships coming from the south of Ireland, and making +towards them, and they came with a swift motion, the wind being +behind them, and they neared them rapidly. "I see ships afar," said +the king, "coming swiftly towards the land. Command the men of the +Court that they equip themselves, and go and learn their intent." So +the men equipped themselves and went down towards them. And when +they saw the ships near, certain were they that they had never seen +ships better furnished. Beautiful flags of satin were upon them. +And behold one of the ships outstripped the others, and they saw a +shield lifted up above the side of the ship, and the point of the +shield was upwards, in token of peace. And the men drew near that +they might hold converse. Then they put out boats and came towards +the land. And they saluted the king. Now the king could hear them +from the place where he was, upon the rock above their heads. +"Heaven prosper you," said he, "and be ye welcome. To whom do these +ships belong, and who is the chief amongst you?" "Lord," said they, +"Matholwch, king of Ireland, is here, and these ships belong to him." +"Wherefore comes he?' asked the king, "and will he come to the land?" +"He is a suitor unto thee, lord," said they, "and he will not land +unless he have his boon." "And what may that be?" inquired the king. +"He desires to ally himself with thee, lord," said they, "and he +comes to ask Branwen the daughter of Llyr, that, if it seem well to +thee, the Island of the Mighty may be leagued with Ireland, and both +become more powerful." "Verily," said he, "let him come to land, and +we will take counsel thereupon." And this answer was brought to +Matholwch. "I will go willingly," said he. So he landed, and they +received him joyfully; and great was the throng in the palace that +night, between his hosts and those of the Court; and next day they +took counsel, and they resolved to bestow Branwen upon Matholwch. +Now she was one of the three chief ladies of this island, and she was +the fairest damsel in the world. + +And they fixed upon Aberffraw as the place where she should become +his bride. And they went thence, and towards Aberffraw the hosts +proceeded; Matholwch and his host in their ships; Bendigeid Vran and +his host by land, until they came to Aberffraw. And at Aberffraw +they began the feast and sat down. And thus sat they. The King of +the Island of the Mighty and Manawyddan the son of Llyr on one side, +and Matholwch on the other side, and Branwen the daughter of Llyr +beside him. And they were not within a house, but under tents. No +house could ever contain Bendigeid Vran. And they began the banquet +and caroused and discoursed. And when it was more pleasing to them +to sleep than to carouse, they went to rest, and that night Branwen +became Matholwch's bride. + +And next day they arose, and all they of the Court, and the officers +began to equip and to range the horses and the attendants, and they +ranged them in order as far as the sea. + +And behold one day, Evnissyen, the quarrelsome man of whom it is +spoken above, came by chance into the place, where the horses of +Matholwch were, and asked whose horses they might be. "They are the +horses of Matholwch king of Ireland, who is married to Branwen, thy +sister; his horses are they." "And is it thus they have done with a +maiden such as she, and moreover my sister, bestowing her without my +consent? They could have offered no greater insult to me than this," +said he. And thereupon he rushed under the horses and cut off their +lips at the teeth, and their ears close to their heads, and their +tails close to their backs, and wherever he could clutch their +eyelids, he cut them to the very bone, and he disfigured the horses +and rendered them useless. + +And they came with these tidings unto Matholwch, saying that the +horses were disfigured, and injured so that not one of them could +ever be of any use again. "Verily, lord," said one, "it was an +insult unto thee, and as such was it meant." "Of a truth, it is a +marvel to me, that if they desire to insult me, they should have +given me a maiden of such high rank and so much beloved of her +kindred, as they have done." "Lord," said another, "thou seest that +thus it is, and there is nothing for thee to do but to go to thy +ships." And thereupon towards his ships he set out. + +And tidings came to Bendigeid Vran that Matholwch was quitting the +Court without asking leave, and messengers were sent to inquire of +him wherefore he did so. And the messengers that went were Iddic the +son of Anarawd, and Heveydd Hir. And these overtook him and asked of +him what he designed to do, and wherefore he went forth. "Of a +truth," said he, "if I had known I had not come hither. I have been +altogether insulted, no one had ever worse treatment than I have had +here. But one thing surprises me above all." "What is that?" asked +they. "That Branwen the daughter of Llyr, one of the three chief +ladies of this island, and the daughter of the King of the Island of +the Mighty, should have been given me as my bride, and that after +that I should have been insulted; and I marvel that the insult was +not done me before they had bestowed upon me a maiden so exalted as +she." "Truly, lord, it was not the will of any that are of the +Court," said they, "nor of any that are of the council, that thou +shouldest have received this insult; and as thou hast been insulted, +the dishonour is greater unto Bendigeid Vran than unto thee." +"Verily," said he, "I think so. Nevertheless he cannot recall the +insult." These men returned with that answer to the place where +Bendigeid Vran was, and they told him what reply Matholwch had given +them. "Truly," said he, "there are no means by which we may prevent +his going away at enmity with us, that we will not take." "Well, +lord," said they, "send after him another embassy." "I will do so," +said he. "Arise, Manawyddan son of Llyr, and Heveydd Hir, and Unic +Glew Ysgwyd, and go after him, and tell him that he shall have a +sound horse for every one that has been injured. And beside that, as +an atonement for the insult, he shall have a staff of silver, as +large and as tall as himself, and a plate of gold of the breadth of +his face. And show unto him who it was that did this, and that it +was done against my will; but that he who did it is my brother, by +the mother's side, and therefore it would be hard for me to put him +to death. And let him come and meet me," said he, "and we will make +peace in any way he may desire." + +The embassy went after Matholwch, and told him all these sayings in a +friendly manner, and he listened thereunto. "Men," said he, "I will +take counsel." So to the council he went. And in the council they +considered that if they should refuse this, they were likely to have +more shame rather than to obtain so great an atonement. They +resolved therefore to accept it, and they returned to the Court in +peace. + +Then the pavilions and the tents were set in order after the fashion +of a hall; and they went to meat, and as they had sat at the +beginning of the feast, so sat they there. And Matholwch and +Bendigeid Vran began to discourse; and behold it seemed to Bendigeid +Vran, while they talked, that Matholwch was not so cheerful as he had +been before. And he thought that the chieftain might be sad, because +of the smallness of the atonement which he had, for the wrong that +had been done him. "Oh, man," said Bendigeid Vran, "thou dost not +discourse to-night so cheerfully as thou wast wont. And if it be +because of the smallness of the atonement, thou shalt add thereunto +whatsoever thou mayest choose, and to-morrow I will pay thee the +horses." "Lord," said he, "Heaven reward thee." "And I will enhance +the atonement," said Bendigeid Vran, "for I will give unto thee a +cauldron, the property of which is, that if one of thy men be slain +to-day, and be cast therein, to-morrow he will be as well as ever he +was at the best, except that he will not regain his speech." And +thereupon he gave him great thanks, and very joyful was he for that +cause. + +And the next morning they paid Matholwch the horses as long as the +trained horses lasted. And then they journeyed into another commot, +where they paid him with colts until the whole had been paid, and +from thenceforth that commot was called Talebolion. + +And a second night sat they together. "My lord," said Matholwch, +"whence hadst thou the cauldron which thou hast given me?" "I had it +of a man who had been in thy land," said he, "and I would not give it +except to one from there." "Who was it?" asked he. "Llassar +Llaesgyvnewid; he came here from Ireland with Kymideu Kymeinvoll, his +wife, who escaped from the Iron House in Ireland, when it was made +red hot around them, and fled hither. And it is a marvel to me that +thou shouldst know nothing concerning the matter." "Something I do +know," said he, "and as much as I know I will tell thee. One day I +was hunting in Ireland, and I came to the mound at the head of the +lake, which is called the Lake of the Cauldron. And I beheld a huge +yellow-haired man coming from the lake with a cauldron upon his back. +And he was a man of vast size, and of horrid aspect, and a woman +followed after him. And if the man was tall, twice as large as he +was the woman, and they came towards me and greeted me. 'Verily,' +asked I, 'wherefore are you journeying?' 'Behold, this,' said he to +me, 'is the cause that we journey. At the end of a month and a +fortnight this woman will have a son; and the child that will be born +at the end of the month and the fortnight will be a warrior fully +armed.' So I took them with me and maintained them. And they were +with me for a year. And that year I had them with me not grudgingly. +But thenceforth was there murmuring, because that they were with me. +For, from the beginning of the fourth month they had begun to make +themselves hated and to be disorderly in the land; committing +outrages, and molesting and harassing the nobles and ladies; and +thenceforward my people rose up and besought me to part with them, +and they bade me to choose between them and my dominions. And I +applied to the council of my country to know what should be done +concerning them; for of their own free will they would not go, +neither could they be compelled against their will, through fighting. +And [the people of the country] being in this strait, they caused a +chamber to be made all of iron. Now when the chamber was ready, +there came there every smith that was in Ireland, and every one who +owned tongs and hammer. And they caused coals to be piled up as high +as the top of the chamber. And they had the man, and the woman, and +the children, served with plenty of meat and drink; but when it was +known that they were drunk, they began to put fire to the coals about +the chamber, and they blew it with bellows until the house was red +hot all around them. Then was there a council held in the centre of +the floor of the chamber. And the man tarried until the plates of +iron were all of a white heat; and then, by reason of the great heat, +the man dashed against the plates with his shoulder and struck them +out, and his wife followed him; but except him and his wife none +escaped thence. And then I suppose, lord," said Matholwch unto +Bendigeid Vran, "that he came over unto thee." "Doubtless he came +here," said he, "and gave unto me the cauldron." "In what manner +didst thou receive them?" "I dispersed them through every part of my +dominions, and they have become numerous and are prospering +everywhere, and they fortify the places where they are with men and +arms, of the best that were ever seen." + +That night they continued to discourse as much as they would, and had +minstrelsy and carousing, and when it was more pleasant to them to +sleep than to sit longer, they went to rest. And thus was the +banquet carried on with joyousness; and when it was finished, +Matholwch journeyed towards Ireland, and Branwen with him, and they +went from Aber Menei with thirteen ships, and came to Ireland. And +in Ireland was there great joy because of their coming. And not one +great man or noble lady visited Branwen unto whom she gave not either +a clasp, or a ring, or a royal jewel to keep, such as it was +honourable to be seen departing with. And in these things she spent +that year in much renown, and she passed her time pleasantly, +enjoying honour and friendship. And in the meanwhile it chanced that +she became pregnant, and in due time a son was born unto her, and the +name that they gave him was Gwern the son of Matholwch, and they put +the boy out to be foster-nursed, in a place where were the best men +of Ireland. + +And behold in the second year a tumult arose in Ireland, on account +of the insult which Matholwch had received in Cambria, and the +payment made him for his horses. And his foster-brothers, and such +as were nearest unto him, blamed him openly for that matter. And he +might have no peace by reason of the tumult until they should revenge +upon him this disgrace. And the vengeance which they took was to +drive away Branwen from the same chamber with him, and to make her +cook for the Court; and they caused the butcher after he had cut up +the meat to come to her and give her every day a blow on the ear, and +such they made her punishment. + +"Verily, lord," said his men to Matholwch, "forbid now the ships and +the ferry boats and the coracles, that they go not into Cambria, and +such as come over from Cambria hither, imprison them that they go not +back for this thing to be known there." And he did so; and it was +thus for not less than three years. + +And Branwen reared a starling in the cover of the kneading trough, +and she taught it to speak, and she taught the bird what manner of +man her brother was. And she wrote a letter of her woes, and the +despite with which she was treated, and she bound the letter to the +root of the bird's wing, and sent it towards Britain. And the bird +came to this island, and one day it found Bendigeid Vran at Caer +Seiont in Arvon, conferring there, and it alighted upon his shoulder +and ruffled its feathers, so that the letter was seen, and they knew +that the bird had been reared in a domestic manner. + +Then Bendigeid Vran took the letter and looked upon it. And when he +had read the letter he grieved exceedingly at the tidings of +Branwen's woes. And immediately he began sending messengers to +summon the island together. And he caused sevenscore and four +countries to come unto him, and he complained to them himself of the +grief that his sister endured. So they took counsel. And in the +council they resolved to go to Ireland, and to leave seven men as +princes here, and Caradawc, the son of Bran, as the chief of them, +and their seven knights. In Edeyrnion were these men left. And for +this reason were the seven knights placed in the town. Now the names +of these seven men were, Caradawc the son of Bran, and Heveydd Hir, +and Unic Glew Ysgwyd, and Iddic the son of Anarawc Gwalltgrwn, and +Fodor the son of Ervyll, and Gwlch Minascwrn, and Llassar the son of +Llaesar Llaesgygwyd, and Pendaran Dyved as a young page with them. +And these abode as seven ministers to take charge of this island; and +Caradawc the son of Bran was the chief amongst them. + +Bendigeid Vran, with the host of which we spoke, sailed towards +Ireland, and it was not far across the sea, and he came to shoal +water. It was caused by two rivers; the Lli and the Archan were they +called; and the nations covered the sea. Then he proceeded with what +provisions he had on his own back, and approached the shore of +Ireland. + +Now the swineherds of Matholwch were upon the seashore, and they came +to Matholwch. "Lord," said they, "greeting be unto thee." "Heaven +protect you," said he, "have you any news?" "Lord," said they, "we +have marvellous news, a wood have we seen upon the sea, in a place +where we never yet saw a single tree." "This is indeed a marvel," +said he; "saw you aught else?" "We saw, lord," said they, "a vast +mountain beside the wood, which moved, and there was a lofty ridge on +the top of the mountain, and a lake on each side of the ridge. And +the wood, and the mountain, and all these things moved." "Verily," +said he, "there is none who can know aught concerning this, unless it +be Branwen." + +Messengers then went unto Branwen. "Lady," said they, "what thinkest +thou that this is?" "The men of the Island of the Mighty, who have +come hither on hearing of my ill-treatment and my woes." "What is +the forest that is seen upon the sea?" asked they. "The yards and +the masts of ships," she answered. "Alas," said they, "what is the +mountain that is seen by the side of the ships?" "Bendigeid Vran, my +brother," she replied, "coming to shoal water; there is no ship that +can contain him in it." "What is the lofty ridge with the lake on +each side thereof?" "On looking towards this island he is wroth, and +his two eyes, one on each side of his nose, are the two lakes beside +the ridge." + +The warriors and the chief men of Ireland were brought together in +haste, and they took counsel. "Lord," said the nobles unto +Matholwch, "there is no other counsel than to retreat over the Linon +(a river which is in Ireland), and to keep the river between thee and +him, and to break down the bridge that is across the river, for there +is a loadstone at the bottom of the river that neither ship nor +vessel can pass over." So they retreated across the river, and broke +down the bridge. + +Bendigeid Vran came to land, and the fleet with him by the bank of +the river. "Lord," said his chieftains, "knowest thou the nature of +this river, that nothing can go across it, and there is no bridge +over it?" "What," said they, "is thy counsel concerning a bridge?" +"There is none," said he, "except that he who will be chief, let him +be a bridge. I will be so," said he. And then was that saying first +uttered, and it is still used as a proverb. And when he had lain +down across the river, hurdles were placed upon him, and the host +passed over thereby. + +And as he rose up, behold the messengers of Matholwch came to him, +and saluted him, and gave him greeting in the name of Matholwch, his +kinsman, and showed how that of his goodwill he had merited of him +nothing but good. "For Matholwch has given the kingdom of Ireland to +Gwern the son of Matholwch, thy nephew and thy sister's son. And +this he places before thee, as a compensation for the wrong and +despite that has been done unto Branwen. And Matholwch shall be +maintained wheresoever thou wilt, either here or in the Island of the +Mighty." Said Bendigeid Vran, "Shall not I myself have the kingdom? +Then peradventure I may take counsel concerning your message. From +this time until then no other answer will you get from me." +"Verily," said they, "the best message that we receive for thee, we +will convey it unto thee, and do thou await our message unto him." +"I will wait," answered he, "and do you return quickly." + +The messengers set forth and came to Matholwch. "Lord," said they, +"prepare a better message for Bendigeid Vran. He would not listen at +all to the message that we bore him." "My friends," said Matholwch, +"what may be your counsel?" "Lord," said they, "there is no other +counsel than this alone. He was never known to be within a house, +make therefore a house that will contain him and the men of the +Island of the Mighty on the one side, and thyself and thy host on the +other; and give over thy kingdom to his will, and do him homage. So +by reason of the honour thou doest him in making him a house, whereas +he never before had a house to contain him, he will make peace with +thee." So the messengers went back to Bendigeid Vran, bearing him +this message. + +And he took counsel, and in the council it was resolved that he +should accept this, and this was all done by the advice of Branwen, +and lest the country should be destroyed. And this peace was made, +and the house was built both vast and strong. But the Irish planned +a crafty device, and the craft was that they should put brackets on +each side of the hundred pillars that were in the house, and should +place a leathern bag on each bracket, and an armed man in every one +of them. Then Evnissyen came in before the host of the Island of the +Mighty, and scanned the house with fierce and savage looks, and +descried the leathern bags which were around the pillars. "What is +in this bag?" asked he of one of the Irish. "Meal, good soul," said +he. And Evnissyen felt about it until he came to the man's head, and +he squeezed the head until he felt his fingers meet together in the +brain through the bone. And he left that one and put his hand upon +another, and asked what was therein. "Meal," said the Irishman. So +he did the like unto every one of them, until he had not left alive, +of all the two hundred men, save one only; and when he came to him, +he asked what was there. "Meal, good soul," said the Irishman. And +he felt about until he felt the head, and he squeezed that head as he +had done the others. And, albeit he found that the head of this one +was armed, he left him not until he had killed him. And then he sang +an Englyn:- + + +"There is in this bag a different sort of meal, +The ready combatant, when the assault is made +By his fellow-warriors, prepared for battle." + + +Thereupon came the hosts unto the house. The men of the Island of +Ireland entered the house on the one side, and the men of the Island +of the Mighty on the other. And as soon as they had sat down there +was concord between them; and the sovereignty was conferred upon the +boy. When the peace was concluded, Bendigeid Vran called the boy +unto him, and from Bendigeid Vran the boy went unto Manawyddan, and +he was beloved by all that beheld him. And from Manawyddan the boy +was called by Nissyen the son of Eurosswydd, and the boy went unto +him lovingly. "Wherefore," said Evnissyen, "comes not my nephew the +son of my sister unto me? Though he were not king of Ireland, yet +willingly would I fondle the boy." "Cheerfully let him go to thee," +said Bendigeid Vran, and the boy went unto him cheerfully. "By my +confession to Heaven," said Evnissyen in his heart, "unthought of by +the household is the slaughter that I will this instant commit." + +Then he arose and took up the boy by the feet, and before any one in +the house could seize hold of him, he thrust the boy headlong into +the blazing fire. And when Branwen saw her son burning in the fire, +she strove to leap into the fire also, from the place where she sat +between her two brothers. But Bendigeid Vran grasped her with one +hand, and his shield with the other. Then they all hurried about the +house, and never was there made so great a tumult by any host in one +house as was made by them, as each man armed himself. Then said +Morddwydtyllyon, "The gadflies of Morddwydtyllyon's Cow!" And while +they all sought their arms, Bendigeid Vran supported Branwen between +his shield and his shoulder. + +Then the Irish kindled a fire under the cauldron of renovation, and +they cast the dead bodies into the cauldron until it was full, and +the next day they came forth fighting-men as good as before, except +that they were not able to speak. Then when Evnissyen saw the dead +bodies of the men of the Island of the Mighty nowhere resuscitated, +he said in his heart, "Alas! woe is me, that I should have been the +cause of bringing the men of the Island of the Mighty into so great a +strait. Evil betide me if I find not a deliverance therefrom." And +he cast himself among the dead bodies of the Irish, and two unshod +Irishmen came to him, and, taking him to be one of the Irish, flung +him into the cauldron. And he stretched himself out in the cauldron, +so that he rent the cauldron into four pieces, and burst his own +heart also. + +In consequence of that the men of the Island of the Mighty obtained +such success as they had; but they were not victorious, for only +seven men of them all escaped, and Bendigeid Vran himself was wounded +in the foot with a poisoned dart. Now the seven men that escaped +were Pryderi, Manawyddan, Gluneu Eil Taran, Taliesin, Ynawc, Grudyen +the son of Muryel, and Heilyn the son of Gwynn Hen. + +And Bendigeid Vran commanded them that they should cut off his head. +"And take you my head," said he, "and bear it even unto the White +Mount, in London, and bury it there, with the face towards France. +And a long time will you be upon the road. In Harlech you will be +feasting seven years, the birds of Rhiannon singing unto you the +while. And all that time the head will be to you as pleasant company +as it ever was when on my body. And at Gwales in Penvro you will be +fourscore years, and you may remain there, and the head with you +uncorrupted, until you open the door that looks towards Aber +Henvelen, and towards Cornwall. And after you have opened that door, +there you may no longer tarry, set forth then to London to bury the +head, and go straight forward." + +So they cut off his head, and these seven went forward therewith. +And Branwen was the eighth with them, and they came to land at Aber +Alaw, in Talebolyon, and they sat down to rest. And Branwen looked +towards Ireland and towards the Island of the Mighty, to see if she +could descry them. "Alas," said she, "woe is me that I was ever +born; two islands have been destroyed because of me!" Then she +uttered a loud groan, and there broke her heart. And they made her a +four-sided grave, and buried her upon the banks of the Alaw. + +Then the seven men journeyed forward towards Harlech, bearing the +head with them; and as they went, behold there met them a multitude +of men and of women. "Have you any tidings?" asked Manawyddan. "We +have none," said they, "save that Caswallawn the son of Beli has +conquered the Island of the Mighty, and is crowned king in London." +"What has become," said they, "of Caradawc the son of Bran, and the +seven men who were left with him in this island?" "Caswallawn came +upon them, and slew six of the men, and Caradawc's heart broke for +grief thereof; for he could see the sword that slew the men, but knew +not who it was that wielded it. Caswallawn had flung upon him the +Veil of Illusion, so that no one could see him slay the men, but the +sword only could they see. And it liked him not to slay Caradawc, +because he was his nephew, the son of his cousin. And now he was the +third whose heart had broke through grief. Pendaran Dyved, who had +remained as a young page with these men, escaped into the wood," said +they. + +Then they went on to Harlech, and there stopped to rest, and they +provided meat and liquor, and sat down to eat and to drink. And +there came three birds, and began singing unto them a certain song, +and all the songs they had ever heard were unpleasant compared +thereto; and the birds seemed to them to be at a great distance from +them over the sea, yet they appeared as distinct as if they were +close by, and at this repast they continued seven years. + +And at the close of the seventh year they went forth to Gwales in +Penvro. And there they found a fair and regal spot overlooking the +ocean; and a spacious hall was therein. And they went into the hall, +and two of its doors were open, but the third door was closed, that +which looked towards Cornwall. "See, yonder," said Manawyddan, "is +the door that we may not open." And that night they regaled +themselves and were joyful. And of all they had seen of food laid +before them, and of all they had heard of, they remembered nothing; +neither of that, nor of any sorrow whatsoever. And there they +remained fourscore years, unconscious of having ever spent a time +more joyous and mirthful. And they were not more weary than when +first they came, neither did they, any of them, know the time they +had been there. And it was not more irksome to them having the head +with them, than if Bendigeid Vran had been with them himself. And +because of these fourscore years, it was called "the Entertaining of +the noble Head." The entertaining of Branwen and Matholwch was in +the time that they went to Ireland. + +One day said Heilyn the son of Gwynn, "Evil betide me, if I do not +open the door to know if that is true which is said concerning it." +So he opened the door and looked towards Cornwall and Aber Henvelen. +And when they had looked, they were as conscious of all the evils +they had ever sustained, and of all the friends and companions they +had lost, and of all the misery that had befallen them, as if all had +happened in that very spot; and especially of the fate of their lord. +And because of their perturbation they could not rest, but journeyed +forth with the head towards London. And they buried the head in the +White Mount, and when it was buried, this was the third goodly +concealment; and it was the third ill-fated disclosure when it was +disinterred, inasmuch as no invasion from across the sea came to this +island while the head was in that concealment. + +And thus is the story related of those who journeyed over from +Ireland. + +In Ireland none were left alive, except five pregnant women in a cave +in the Irish wilderness; and to these five women in the same night +were born five sons, whom they nursed until they became grown-up +youths. And they thought about wives, and they at the same time +desired to possess them, and each took a wife of the mothers of their +companions, and they governed the country and peopled it. + +And these five divided it amongst them, and because of this partition +are the five divisions of Ireland still so termed. And they examined +the land where the battles had taken place, and they found gold and +silver until they became wealthy. + +And thus ends this portion of the Mabinogi, concerning the blow given +to Branwen, which was the third unhappy blow of this island; and +concerning the entertainment of Bran, when the hosts of sevenscore +countries and ten went over to Ireland to revenge the blow given to +Branwen; and concerning the seven years' banquet in Harlech, and the +singing of the birds of Rhiannon, and the sojourning of the head for +the space of fourscore years. + + + +MANAWYDDAN THE SON OF LLYR +HERE IS THE THIRD PORTION OF THE MABINOGI + + + +When the seven men of whom we spoke above had buried the head of +Bendigeid Vran, in the White Mount an London, with its face towards +France; Manawyddan gazed upon the town of London, and upon his +companions, and heaved a great sigh; and much grief and heaviness +came upon him. "Alas, Almighty Heaven, woe is me," he exclaimed, +"there is none save myself without a resting-place this night." +"Lord," said Pryderi, "be not so sorrowful. Thy cousin is king of +the Island of the Mighty, and though he should do thee wrong, thou +hast never been a claimant of land or possessions. Thou art the +third disinherited prince." "Yea," answered he, "but although this +man is my cousin, it grieveth me to see any one in the place of my +brother Bendigeid Vran, neither can I be happy in the same dwelling +with him." "Wilt thou follow the counsel of another?" said Pryderi. +"I stand in need of counsel," he answered, "and what may that counsel +be?" "Seven Cantrevs remain unto me," said Pryderi, "wherein +Rhiannon my mother dwells. I will bestow her upon thee and the seven +Cantrevs with her, and though thou hadst no possessions but those +Cantrevs only, thou couldst not have seven Cantrevs fairer than they. +Kicva, the daughter of Gwynn Gloyw, is my wife, and since the +inheritance of the Cantrevs belongs to me, do thou and Rhiannon enjoy +them, and if thou ever desire any possessions thou wilt take these." +"I do not, Chieftain," said he; "Heaven reward thee for thy +friendship." "I would show thee the best friendship in the world if +thou wouldst let me." "I will, my friend," said he, "and Heaven +reward thee. I will go with thee to seek Rhiannon and to look at thy +possessions." "Thou wilt do well," he answered. "And I believe that +thou didst never hear a lady discourse better than she, and when she +was in her prime none was ever fairer. Even now her aspect is not +uncomely." + +They set forth, and, however long the journey, they came at length to +Dyved, and a feast was prepared for them against their coming to +Narberth, which Rhiannon and Kicva had provided. Then began +Manawyddan and Rhiannon to sit and to talk together, and from their +discourse his mind and his thoughts became warmed towards her, and he +thought in his heart he had never beheld any lady more fulfilled of +grace and beauty than she. "Pryderi," said he, "I will that it be as +thou didst say." "What saying was that?" asked Rhiannon. "Lady," +said Pryderi, "I did offer thee as a wife to Manawyddan the son of +Llyr." "By that will I gladly abide," said Rhiannon. "Right glad am +I also," said Manawyddan; "may Heaven reward him who hath shown unto +me friendship so perfect as this." + +And before the feast was over she became his bride. Said Pryderi, +"Tarry ye here the rest of the feast, and I will go into Lloegyr to +tender my homage unto Caswallawn the son of Beli." "Lord," said +Rhiannon, "Caswallawn is in Kent, thou mayest therefore tarry at the +feast, and wait until he shall be nearer." "We will wait," he +answered. So they finished the feast. And they began to make the +circuit of Dyved, and to hunt, and to take their pleasure. And as +they went through the country, they had never seen lands more +pleasant to live in, nor better hunting grounds, nor greater plenty +of honey and fish. And such was the friendship between those four, +that they would not be parted from each other by night nor by day. + +And in the midst of all this he went to Caswallawn at Oxford, and +tendered his homage; and honourable was his reception there, and +highly was he praised for offering his homage. + +And after his return, Pryderi and Manawyddan feasted and took their +ease and pleasure. And they began a feast at Narberth, for it was +the chief palace; and there originated all honour. And when they had +ended the first meal that night, while those who served them ate, +they arose and went forth, and proceeded all four to the Gorsedd of +Narberth, and their retinue with them. And as they sat thus, behold, +a peal of thunder, and with the violence of the thunderstorm, lo +there came a fall of mist, so thick that not one of them could see +the other. And after the mist it became light all around. And when +they looked towards the place where they were wont to see cattle, and +herds, and dwellings, they saw nothing now, neither house, nor beast, +nor smoke, nor fire, nor man, nor dwelling; but the houses of the +Court empty, and desert, and uninhabited, without either man or beast +within them. And truly all their companions were lost to them, +without their knowing aught of what had befallen them, save those +four only. + +"In the name of Heaven," cried Manawyddan, "where are they of the +Court, and all my host beside these? Let us go and see." So they +came into the hall, and there was no man; and they went on to the +castle and to the sleeping-place, and they saw none; and in the mead- +cellar and in the kitchen there was nought but desolation. So they +four feasted, and hunted, and took their pleasure. Then they began +to go through the land and all the possessions that they had, and +they visited the houses and dwellings, and found nothing but wild +beasts. And when they had consumed their feast and all their +provisions, they fed upon the prey they killed in hunting, and the +honey of the wild swarms. And thus they passed the first year +pleasantly, and the second; but at the last they began to be weary. + +"Verily," said Manawyddan, "we must not bide thus. Let us go into +Lloegyr, and seek some craft whereby we may gain our support." So +they went into Lloegyr, and came as far as Hereford. And they betook +themselves to making saddles. And Manawyddan began to make housings, +and he gilded and coloured them with blue enamel, in the manner that +he had seen it done by Llasar Llaesgywydd. And he made the blue +enamel as it was made by the other man. And therefore is it still +called Calch Lasar [blue enamel], because Llasar Llaesgywydd had +wrought it. + +And as long as that workmanship could be had of Manawyddan, neither +saddle nor housing was bought of a saddler throughout all Hereford; +till at length every one of the saddlers perceived that they were +losing much of their gain, and that no man bought of them, but him +who could not get what he sought from Manawyddan. Then they +assembled together, and agreed to slay him and his companions. + +Now they received warning of this, and took counsel whether they +should leave the city. "By Heaven," said Pryderi, "it is not my +counsel that we should quit the town, but that we should slay these +boors." "Not so," said Manawyddan, "for if we fight with them, we +shall have evil fame, and shall be put in prison. It were better for +us to go to another town to maintain ourselves." So they four went +to another city. + +"What craft shall we take?" said Pryderi. "We will make shields," +said Manawyddan. "Do we know anything about that craft?" said +Pryderi. "We will try," answered he. There they began to make +shields, and fashioned them after the shape of the good shields they +had seen; and they enamelled they, as them had done the saddles. And +they prospered in that place, so that not a shield was asked for in +the whole town, but such as was had of them. Rapid therefore was +their work, and numberless were the shields they made. But at last +they were marked by the craftsmen, who came together in haste, and +their fellow-townsmen with them, and agreed that they should seek to +slay them. But they received warning, and heard how the men had +resolved on their destruction. "Pryderi," said Manawyddan, "these +men desire to slay us." "Let us not endure this from these boors, +but let us rather fall upon them and slay them." "Not so," he +answered; "Caswallawn and his men will hear of it, and we shall be +undone. Let us go to another town." So to another town they went. + +"What craft shall we take?" said Manawyddan. "Whatsoever thou wilt +that we know," said Pryderi. "Not so," he replied, "but let us take +to making shoes, for there is not courage enough among cordwainers +either to fight with us or to molest us." "I know nothing thereof," +said Pryderi. "But I know," answered Manawyddan; "and I will teach +thee to stitch. We will not attempt to dress the leather, but we +will buy it ready dressed and will make the shoes from it." + +So he began by buying the best cordwal that could be had in the town, +and none other would he buy except the leather for the soles; and he +associated himself with the best goldsmith in the town, and caused +him to make clasps for the shoes, and to gild the clasps, and he +marked how it was done until he learnt the method. And therefore was +he called one of the three makers of Gold Shoes; and, when they could +be had from him, not a shoe nor hose was bought of any of the +cordwainers in the town. But when the cordwainers perceived that +their gains were failing (for as Manawyddan shaped the work, so +Pryderi stitched it), they came together and took counsel, and agreed +that they would slay them. + +"Pryderi," said Manawyddan, "these men are minded to slay us." +"Wherefore should we bear this from the boorish thieves?" said +Pryderi. "Rather let us slay them all." "Not so," said Manawyddan, +"we will not slay them, neither will we remain in Lloegyr any longer. +Let us set forth to Dyved and go to see it." + +So they journeyed along until they came to Dyved, and they went +forward to Narberth. And there they kindled fire and supported +themselves by hunting. And thus they spent a month. And they +gathered their dogs around them, and tarried there one year. + +And one morning Pryderi and Manawyddan rose up to hunt, and they +ranged their dogs and went forth from the palace. And some of the +dogs ran before them and came to a small bush which was near at hand; +but as soon as they were come to the bush, they hastily drew back and +returned to the men, their hair bristling up greatly. "Let us go +near to the bush," said Pryderi, "and see what is in it." And as +they came near, behold, a wild boar of a pure white colour rose up +from the bush. Then the dogs, being set on by the men, rushed +towards him; but he left the bush and fell back a little way from the +men, and made a stand against the dogs without retreating from them, +until the men had come near. And when the men came up, he fell back +a second time, and betook him to flight. Then they pursued the boar +until they beheld a vast and lofty castle, all newly built, in a +place where they had never before seen either stone or building. And +the boar ran swiftly into the castle and the dogs after him. Now +when the boar and the dogs had gone into the castle, they began to +wonder at finding a castle in a place where they had never before +seen any building whatsoever. And from the top of the Gorsedd they +looked and listened for the dogs. But so long as they were there +they heard not one of the dogs nor aught concerning them. + +"Lord," said Pryderi, "I will go into the castle to get tidings of +the dogs." "Truly," he replied, "thou wouldst be unwise to go into +this castle, which thou hast never seen till now. If thou wouldst +follow my counsel, thou wouldst not enter therein. Whosoever has +cast a spell over this land has caused this castle to be here." "Of +a truth," answered Pryderi, "I cannot thus give up my dogs." And for +all the counsel that Manawyddan gave him, yet to the castle he went. + +When he came within the castle, neither man nor beast, nor boar nor +dogs, nor house nor dwelling saw he within it. But in the centre of +the castle floor he beheld a fountain with marble work around it, and +on the margin of the fountain a golden bowl upon a marble slab, and +chains hanging from the air, to which he saw no end. + +And he was greatly pleased with the beauty of the gold, and with the +rich workmanship of the bowl, and he went up to the bowl and laid +hold of it. And when he had taken hold of it his hands stuck to the +bowl, and his feet to the slab on which the howl was placed, and all +his joyousness forsook him, so that he could not utter a word. And +thus he stood. + +And Manawyddan waited for him till near the close of the day. And +late in the evening, being certain that he should have no tidings of +Pryderi or of the dogs, he went back to the palace. And as he +entered, Rhiannon looked at him. "Where," said she, "are thy +companion and thy dogs?" "Behold," he answered, "the adventure that +has befallen me." And he related it all unto her. "An evil +companion hast thou been," said Rhiannon, "and a good companion hast +thou lost." And with that word she went out, and proceeded towards +the castle according to the direction which he gave her. The gate of +the castle she found open. She was nothing daunted, and she went in. +And as she went in, she perceived Pryderi laying hold of the bowl, +and she went towards him. "Oh, my lord," said she, "what dust thou +do here?" And she took hold of the bowl with him; and as she did so +her hands became fast to the bowl, and her feet to the slab, and she +was not able to utter a word. And with that, as it became night, lo, +there came thunder upon them, and a fall of mist, and thereupon the +castle vanished, and they with it. + +When Kicva the daughter of Gwynn Gloyw saw that there was no one in +the palace but herself and Manawyddan, she sorrowed so that she cared +not whether she lived or died. And Manawyddan saw this. "Thou art +in the wrong," said he, "if through fear of me thou grievest thus. I +call Heaven to witness that thou hast never seen friendship mere pure +than that which I will bear thee, as long as Heaven will that thou +shouldst be thus. I declare to thee that were I in the dawn of youth +I would keep my faith unto Pryderi, and unto thee also will I keep +it. Be there no fear upon thee, therefore," said he, "for Heaven is +my witness that thou shalt meet with all the friendship thou canst +wish, and that it is in my power to show thee, as long as it shall +please Heaven to continue us in this grief and woe." "Heaven reward +thee," she said, "and that is what I deemed of thee." And the damsel +thereupon took courage and was glad. + +"Truly, lady," said Manawyddan, "it is not fitting for us to stay +here, we have lost our dogs, and we cannot get food. Let us go into +Lloegyr; it is easiest for us to find support there." "Gladly, +lord," said she, "we will do so." And they set forth together to +Lloegyr. + +"Lord," said she, "what craft wilt thou follow? Take up one that is +seemly." "None other will I take," answered he, "save that of making +shoes, as I did formerly." "Lord," said she, "such a craft becomes +not a man so nobly born as thou." "By that however will I abide," +said he. + +So he began his craft, and he made all his work of the finest leather +he could get in the town, and, as he had done at the other place, he +caused gilded clasps to be made for the shoes. And except himself +all the cordwainers in the town were idle, and without work. For as +long as they could be had from him, neither shoes nor hose were +bought elsewhere. And thus they tarried there a year, until the +cordwainers became envious, and took counsel concerning him. And he +had warning thereof, and it was told him how the cordwainers had +agreed together to slay him. + +"Lord," said Kicva, "wherefore should this be borne from these +boors?" "Nay," said he, "we will go back unto Dyved." So towards +Dyved they set forth. + +Now Manawyddan, when he set out to return to Dyved, took with him a +burden of wheat. And he proceeded towards Narberth, and there he +dwelt. And never was he better pleased than when he saw Narberth +again, and the lands where he had been wont to hunt with Pryderi and +with Rhiannon. And he accustomed himself to fish, and to hunt the +deer in their covert. And then he began to prepare some ground, and +he sowed a croft, and a second, and a third. And no wheat in the +world ever sprung up better. And the three crofts prospered with +perfect growth, and no man ever saw fairer wheat than it. + +And thus passed the seasons of the year until the harvest came. And +he went to look at one of his crofts, and behold it was ripe. "I +will reap this to-morrow," said he. And that night he went back to +Narberth, and on the morrow in the grey dawn he went to reap the +croft, and when he came there he found nothing but the bare straw. +Every one of the ears of the wheat was cut from off the stalk, and +all the ears carried entirely away, and nothing but the straw left. +And at this he marvelled greatly. + +Then he went to look at another croft, and behold that also was ripe. +"Verily," said he, "this will I reap to-morrow. And on the morrow he +came with the intent to reap it, and when he came there he found +nothing but the bare straw. "Oh, gracious Heaven," he exclaimed, "I +know that whosoever has begun my ruin is completing it, and has also +destroyed the country with me." + +Then he went to look at the third croft, and when he came there, +finer wheat had there never been seen, and this also was ripe. "Evil +betide me," said he, "if I watch not here to-night. Whoever carried +off the other corn will come in like manner to take this. And I will +know who it is." So he took his arms, and began to watch the croft. +And he told Kicva all that had befallen. "Verily," said she, "what +thinkest thou to do?" "I will watch the croft to-night," said he. + +And he went to watch the croft. And at midnight, lo, there arose the +loudest tumult in the world. And he looked, and behold the mightiest +host of mice in the world, which could neither be numbered nor +measured. And he knew not what it was until the mice had made their +way into the croft, and each of them climbing up the straw and +bending it down with its weight, had cut off one of the ears of +wheat, and had carried it away, leaving there the stalk, and he saw +not a single stalk there that had not a mouse to it. And they all +took their way, carrying the ears with them. + +In wrath and anger did he rush upon the mice, but he could no more +come up with them than if they had been gnats, or birds in the air, +except one only, which though it was but sluggish, went so fast that +a man on foot could scarce overtake it. And after this one he went, +and he caught it and put it in his glove, and tied up the opening of +the glove with a string, and kept it with him, and returned to the +palace. Then he came to the hall where Kicva was, and he lighted a +fire, and hung the glove by the string upon a peg. "What hast thou +there, lord?" said Kicva. "A thief," said he, "that I found robbing +me." "What kind of thief may it be, lord, that thou couldst put into +thy glove?" said she. "Behold I will tell thee," he answered. Then +he showed her how his fields had been wasted and destroyed, and how +the mice came to the last of the fields in his sight. "And one of +them was less nimble than the rest, and is now in my glove; to-morrow +I will hang it, and before Heaven, if I had them, I would hang them +all." "My lord," said she, "this is marvellous; but yet it would be +unseemly for a man of dignity like thee to be hanging such a reptile +as this. And if thou doest right, thou wilt not meddle with the +creature, but wilt let it go." "Woe betide me," said he, "if I would +not hang them all could I catch them, and such as I have I will +hang." "Verily, lord," said she, "there is no reason that I should +succour this reptile, except to prevent discredit unto thee. Do +therefore, lord, as thou wilt." "If I knew of any cause in the world +wherefore thou shouldst succour it, I would take thy counsel +concerning it," said Manawyddan, "but as I know of none, lady, I am +minded to destroy it." "Do so willingly then," said she. + +And then he went to the Gorsedd of Narberth, taking the mouse with +him. And he set up two forks on the highest part of the Gorsedd. +And while he was doing this, behold he saw a scholar coming towards +him, in old and poor and tattered garments. And it was now seven +years since he had seen in that place either man or beast, except +those four persons who had remained together until two of them were +lost. + +"My lord," said the scholar, "good day to thee." "Heaven prosper +thee, and my greeting be unto thee. And whence dost thou come, +scholar?" asked he. "I come, lord, from singing in Lloegyr; and +wherefore dost thou inquire?" "Because for the last seven years," +answered he, "I have seen no man here save four secluded persons, and +thyself this moment." "Truly, lord," said he, "I go through this +land unto mine own. And what work art thou upon, lord?" "I am +hanging a thief that I caught robbing me," said he. "What manner of +thief is that?" asked the scholar. "I see a creature in thy hand +like unto a mouse, and ill does it become a man of rank equal to +thine to touch a reptile such as this. Let it go forth free." "I +will not let it go free, by Heaven," said he; "I caught it robbing +me, and the doom of a thief will I inflict upon it, and I will hang +it." "Lord," said he, "rather than see a man of rank equal to thine +at such a work as this, I would give thee a pound which I have +received as alms, to let the reptile go forth free." "I will not let +it go free," said he, "by Heaven, neither will I sell it." "As thou +wilt, lord," he answered; "except that I would not see a man of rank +equal to thine touching such a reptile, I care nought." And the +scholar went his way. + +And as he was placing the crossbeam upon the two forks, behold a +priest came towards him upon a horse covered with trappings. "Good +day to thee, lord," said he. "Heaven prosper thee," said Manawyddan; +"thy blessing." "The blessing of Heaven be upon thee. And what, +lord, art thou doing?" "I am hanging a thief that I caught robbing +me," said he. "What manner of thief, lord?" asked he. "A creature," +he answered, "in form of a mouse. It has been robbing me, and I am +inflicting upon it the doom of a thief." "Lord," said he, "rather +than see thee touch this reptile, I would purchase its freedom." "By +my confession to Heaven, neither will I sell it nor set it free." +"It is true, lord, that it is worth nothing to buy; but rather than +see thee defile thyself by touching such a reptile as this, I will +give thee three pounds to let it go." "I will not, by Heaven," said +he, "take any price for at. As it ought, so shall it be hanged." +"Willingly, lord, do thy good pleasure." And the priest went his +way. + +Then he noosed the string around the mouse's neck, and as he was +about to draw it up, behold, he saw a bishop's retinue with his +sumpter-horses, and his attendants. And the bishop himself came +towards him. And he stayed his work. "Lord bishop," said he, "thy +blessing." "Heaven's blessing be unto thee," said he; "what work art +thou upon?" "Hanging a thief that I caught robbing me," said he. +"Is not that a mouse that I see in thy hand?" "Yes," answered he. +"And she has robbed me." "Aye," said he, "since I have come at the +doom of this reptile, I will ransom it of thee. I will give thee +seven pounds for it, and that rather than see a man of rank equal to +thine destroying so vile a reptile as this. Let it loose and thou +shalt have the money." "I declare to Heaven that I will not set it +loose." "If thou wilt not loose it for this, I will give thee four- +and-twenty pounds of ready money to set it free." "I will not set it +free, by Heaven, for as much again," said he. "If thou wilt not set +it free for this, I will give thee all the horses that thou seest in +this plain, and the seven loads of baggage, and the seven horses that +they are upon." "By Heaven, I will not," he replied. "Since for +this thou wilt not, do so at what price soever thou wilt." "I will +do so," said he. "I will that Rhiannon and Pryderi be free," said +he. "That thou shalt have," he answered. "Not yet will I loose the +mouse, by Heaven." "What then wouldst thou?" "That the charm and +the illusion be removed from the seven Cantrevs of Dyved." "This +shalt thou have also; set therefore the mouse free." "I will not set +it free, by Heaven," said he. "I will know who the mouse may be." +"She is my wife." "Even though she be, I will not set her free. +Wherefore came she to me?" "To despoil thee," he answered. "I am +Llwyd the son of Kilcoed, and I cast the charm over the seven +Cantrevs of Dyved. And it was to avenge Gwawl the son of Clud, from +the friendship I had towards him, that I cast the charm. And upon +Pryderi did I revenge Gwawl the son of Clud, for the game of Badger +in the Bag, that Pwyll Pen Annwvyn played upon him, which he did +unadvisedly in the Court of Heveydd Hen. And when it was known that +thou wast come to dwell in the land, my household came and besought +me to transform them into mice, that they might destroy thy corn. +And it was my own household that went the first night. And the +second night also they went, and they destroyed thy two crofts. And +the third night came unto me my wife and the ladies of the Court, and +besought me to transform them. And I transformed them. Now she is +pregnant. And had she not been pregnant thou wouldst not have been +able to overtake her; but since this has taken place, and she has +been caught, I will restore thee Pryderi and Rhiannon; and I will +take the charm and illusion from off Dyved. I have now told thee who +she is. Set her therefore free." "I will not set her free, by +Heaven," said he. "What wilt thou more?" he asked. "I will that +there be no more charm upon the seven Cantrevs of Dyved, and that +none shall be put upon it henceforth." "This thou shalt have," said +he. "Now set her free." "I will not, by my faith," he answered. +"What wilt thou furthermore?" asked he. "Behold," said he, "this +will I have; that vengeance be never taken for this, either upon +Pryderi or Rhiannon, or upon me." "All this shalt thou have. And +truly thou hast done wisely in asking this. Upon thy head would have +lighted all this trouble." "Yea," said he, "for fear thereof was it, +that I required this." "Set now my wife at liberty." "I will not, +by Heaven," said he, "until I see Pryderi and Rhiannon with me free." +"Behold, here they come," he answered. + +And thereupon behold Pryderi and Rhiannon. And he rose up to meet +them, and greeted them, and sat down beside them. "Ah, Chieftain, +set now my wife at liberty," said the bishop. "Hast thou not +received all thou didst ask?" "I will release her gladly," said he. +And thereupon he set her free. + +Then Llwyd struck her with a magic wand, and she was changed back +into a young woman, the fairest ever seen. + +"Look around upon thy land," said he, "and then thou wilt see it all +tilled and peopled, as it was in its best state." And he rose up and +looked forth. And when he looked he saw all the lands tilled, and +full of herds and dwellings. "What bondage," he inquired, "has there +been upon Pryderi and Rhiannon?" "Pryderi has had the knockers of +the gate of my palace about his neck, and Rhiannon has had the +collars of the asses, after they have been carrying hay, about her +neck." + +And such had been their bondage. + +And by reason of this bondage is this story called the Mabinogi of +Mynnweir and Mynord. + +And thus ends this portion of the Mabinogi. + + + +MATH THE SON OF MATHONWY +THIS IS THE FOURTH PORTION OF THE MABINOGI + + + +Math the son of Mathonwy was lord over Gwynedd, and Pryderi the son +of Pwyll was lord over the one-and-twenty Cantrevs of the South; and +these were the seven Cantrevs of Dyved, and the seven Cantrevs of +Morganwc, the four Cantrevs of Ceredigiawn, and the three of Ystrad +Tywi. + +At that time, Math the son of Mathonwy could not exist unless his +feet were in the lap of a maiden, except only when he was prevented +by the tumult of war. Now the maiden who was with him was Goewin, +the daughter of Pebin of Dol Pebin, in Arvon, and she was the fairest +maiden of her time who was known there. + +And Math dwelt always at Caer Dathyl, in Arvon, and was not able to +go the circuit of the land, but Gilvaethwy the son of Don, and Eneyd +the son of Don, his nephews, the sons of his sisters, with his +household, went the circuit of the land in his stead. + +Now the maiden was with Math continually, and Gilvaethwy the son of +Don set his affections upon her, and loved her so that he knew not +what he should do because of her, and therefrom behold his hue, and +his aspect, and his spirits changed for love of her, so that it was +not easy to know him. + +One day his brother Gwydion gazed steadfastly upon him. "Youth," +said he, "what aileth thee?" "Why," replied he, "what seest thou in +me?" "I see," said he, "that thou hast lost thy aspect and thy hue; +what, therefore, aileth thee?" "My lord brother," he answered, "that +which aileth me, it will not profit me that I should own to any." +"What may it be, my soul?" said he. "Thou knowest," he said, "that +Math the son of Mathonwy has this property, that if men whisper +together, in a tone how low soever, if the wind meet it, it becomes +known unto him." "Yes," said Gwydion, "hold now thy peace, I know +thy intent, thou lovest Goewin." + +When he found that his brother knew his intent, he gave the heaviest +sigh in the world. "Be silent, my soul, and sigh not," he said. "It +is not thereby that thou wilt succeed. I will cause," said he, "if +it cannot be otherwise, the rising of Gwynedd, and Powys, and +Deheubarth, to seek the maiden. Be thou of glad cheer therefore, and +I will compass it." + +So they went unto Math the son of Mathonwy. "Lord," said Gwydion, "I +have heard that there have come to the South some beasts, such as +were never known in this island before." "What are they called?" he +asked. "Pigs, lord." "And what kind of animals are they?" "They +are small animals, and their flesh is better than the flesh of oxen." +"They are small, then?" "And they change their names. Swine are +they now called." "Who owneth them?" "Pryderi the son of Pwyll; +they were sent him from Annwvyn, by Arawn the king of Annwvyn, and +still they keep that name, half hog, half pig." "Verily," asked he, +"and by what means may they be obtained from him?" "I will go, lord, +as one of twelve, in the guise of bards, to seek the swine." "But it +may be that he will refuse you," said he. "My journey will not be +evil, lord," said he; "I will not come back without the swine." +"Gladly," said he, "go thou forward." + +So he and Gilvaethwy went, and ten other men with them. And they +came into Ceredigiawn, to the place that is now called Rhuddlan +Teivi, where the palace of Pryderi was. In the guise of bards they +came in, and they were received joyfully, and Gwydion was placed +beside Pryderi that night. + +"Of a truth," said Pryderi, "gladly would I have a tale from some of +your men yonder." "Lord," said Gwydion, "we have a custom that the +first night that we come to the Court of a great man, the chief of +song recites. Gladly will I relate a tale." Now Gwydion was the +best teller of tales in the world, and he diverted all the Court that +night with pleasant discourse and with tales, so that he charmed +every one in the Court, and it pleased Pryderi to talk with him. + +And after this, "Lord," said he unto Pryderi, "were it more pleasing +to thee, that another should discharge my errand unto thee, than that +I should tell thee myself what it is?" "No," he answered, "ample +speech hast thou." "Behold then, lord," said he, "my errand. It is +to crave from thee the animals that were sent thee from Annwvyn." +"Verily," he replied, "that were the easiest thing in the world to +grant, were there not a covenant between me and my land concerning +them. And the covenant is that they shall not go from me, until they +have produced double their number in the land." "Lord," said he, "I +can set thee free from those words, and this is the way I can do so; +give me not the swine to-night, neither refuse them unto me, and to- +morrow I will show thee an exchange for them." + +And that night he and his fellows went unto their lodging, and they +took counsel. "Ah, my men," said he, "we shall not have the swine +for the asking." "Well," said they, "how may they be obtained?" "I +will cause them to be obtained," said Gwydion. + +Then he betook himself to his arts, and began to work a charm. And +he caused twelve chargers to appear, and twelve black greyhounds, +each of them white-breasted, and having upon them twelve collars and +twelve leashes, such as no one that saw them could know to be other +than gold. And upon the horses twelve saddles, and every part which +should have been of iron was entirely of gold, and the bridles were +of the same workmanship. And with the horses and the dogs he came to +Pryderi. + +"Good day unto thee, lord," said he. "Heaven prosper thee," said the +other, "and greetings be unto thee." "Lord," said he, "behold here +is a release for thee from the word which thou spakest last evening +concerning the swine; that thou wouldst neither give nor sell them. +Thou mayest exchange them for that which is better. And I will give +these twelve horses, all caparisoned as they are, with their saddles +and their bridles, and these twelve greyhounds, with their collars +and their leashes as thou seest, and the twelve gilded shields that +thou beholdest yonder." Now these he had formed of fungus. "Well," +said he, "we will take counsel." And they consulted together, and +determined to give the swine to Gwydion, and to take his horses and +his dogs and his shields. + +Then Gwydion and his men took their leave, and began to journey forth +with the pigs. "Ah, my comrades," said Gwydion, "it is needful that +we journey with speed. The illusion will not last but from the one +hour to the same to-morrow." + +And that night they journeyed as far as the upper part of +Ceredigiawn, to the place which, from that cause, is called Mochdrev +still. And the next day they took their course through Melenydd, and +came that night to the town which is likewise for that reason called +Mochdrev between Keri and Arwystli. And thence they journeyed +forward; and that night they came as far as that Commot in Powys, +which also upon account thereof is called Mochnant, and there tarried +they that night. And they journeyed thence to the Cantrev of Rhos, +and the place where they were that night is still called Mochdrev. + +"My men," said Gwydion, "we must push forward to the fastnesses of +Gwynedd with these animals, for there is a gathering of hosts in +pursuit of us." So they journeyed on to the highest town of +Arllechwedd, and there they made a sty for the swine, and therefore +was the name of Creuwyryon given to that town. And after they had +made the sty for the swine, they proceeded to Math the son of +Mathonwy, at Caer Dathyl. And when they came there, the country was +rising. "What news is there here?" asked Gwydion. "Pryderi is +assembling one-and-twenty Cantrevs to pursue after you," answered +they. "It is marvellous that you should have journeyed so slowly." +"Where are the animals whereof you went in quest?" said Math. "They +have had a sty made for them in the other Cantrev below," said +Gwydion. + +Thereupon, lo, they heard the trumpets and the host in the land, and +they arrayed themselves and set forward and came to Penardd in Arvon. + +And at night Gwydion the son of Don, and Gilvaethwy his brother, +returned to Caer Dathyl; and Gilvaethwy took Math the son of +Mathonwy's couch. And while he turned out the other damsels from the +room discourteously, he made Goewin unwillingly remain. + +And when they saw the day on the morrow, they went back unto the +place where Math the son of Mathonwy was with his host; and when they +came there, the warriors were taking counsel in what district they +should await the coming of Pryderi, and the men of the South. So +they went in to the council. And it was resolved to wait in the +strongholds of Gwynedd, in Arvon. So within the two Maenors they +took their stand, Maenor Penardd and Maenor Coed Alun. And there +Pryderi attacked them, and there the combat took place. And great +was the slaughter on both sides; but the men of the South were forced +to flee. And they fled unto the place which is still called +Nantcall. And thither did they follow them, and they made a vast +slaughter of them there, so that they fled again as far as the place +called Dol Pen Maen, and there they halted and sought to make peace. + +And that he might have peace, Pryderi gave hostages, Gwrgi Gwastra +gave he and three-and-twenty others, sons of nobles. And after this +they journeyed in peace even unto Traeth Mawr; but as they went on +together towards Melenryd, the men on foot could not be restrained +from shooting. Pryderi dispatched unto Math an embassy to pray him +to forbid his people, and to leave it between him and Gwydion the son +of Don, for that he had caused all this. And the messengers came to +Math. "Of a truth," said Math, "I call Heaven to witness, if it be +pleasing unto Gwydion the son of Don, I will so leave it gladly. +Never will I compel any to go to fight, but that we ourselves should +do our utmost." + +"Verily," said the messengers, "Pryderi saith that it were more fair +that the man who did him this wrong should oppose his own body to +his, and let his people remain unscathed." "I declare to Heaven, I +will not ask the men of Gwynedd to fight because of me. If I am +allowed to fight Pryderi myself, gladly will I oppose my body to +his." And this answer they took back to Pryderi. "Truly," said +Pryderi, "I shall require no one to demand my rights but myself." + +Then these two came forth and armed themselves, and they fought. And +by force of strength, and fierceness, and by the magic and charms of +Gwydion, Pryderi was slain. And at Maen Tyriawc, above Melenryd, was +he buried, and there is his grave. + +And the men of the South set forth in sorrow towards their own land; +nor is it a marvel that they should grieve, seeing that they had lost +their lord, and many of their best warriors, and for the most part +their horses and their arms. + +The men of Gwynedd went back joyful and in triumph. "Lord," said +Gwydion unto Math, "would it not be right for us to release the +hostages of the men of the South, which they pledged unto us for +peace? for we ought not to put them in prison." "Let them then be +set free," saith Math. So that youth, and the other hostages that +were with him, were set free to follow the men of the South. + +Math himself went forward to Caer Dathyl. Gilvaethwy the son of Don, +and they of the household that were with him, went to make the +circuit of Gwynedd as they were wont, without coming to the Court. +Math went into his chamber, and caused a place to be prepared for him +whereon to recline, so that he might put his feet in the maiden's +lap. "Lord," said Goewin, "seek now another to hold thy feet, for I +am now a wife." "What meaneth this?" said he. "An attack, lord, was +made unawares upon me; but I held not my peace, and there was no one +in the Court who knew not of it. Now the attack was made by thy +nephews, lord, the sons of thy sister, Gwydion the son of Don, and +Gilvaethwy the son of Don; unto me they did wrong, and unto thee +dishonour." "Verily," he exclaimed, "I will do to the utmost of my +power concerning this matter. But first I will cause thee to have +compensation, and then will I have amends made unto myself. As for +thee, I will take thee to be my wife, and the possession of my +dominions will I give unto thy hands." + +And Gwydion and Gilvaethwy came not near the Court, but stayed in the +confines of the land until it was forbidden to give them meat and +drink. At first they came not near unto Math, but at the last they +came. "Lord," said they, "good day to thee." "Well," said he, "is +it to make me compensation that ye are come?" "Lord," they said, "we +are at thy will." "By my will I would not have lost my warriors, and +so many arms as I have done. You cannot compensate me my shame, +setting aside the death of Pryderi. But since ye come hither to be +at my will, I shall begin your punishment forthwith." + +Then he took his magic wand, and struck Gilvaethwy, so that he became +a deer, and he seized upon the other hastily lest he should escape +from him. And he struck him with the same magic wand, and he became +a deer also. "Since now ye are in bonds, I will that ye go forth +together and be companions, and possess the nature of the animals +whose form ye bear. And this day twelvemonth come hither unto me." + +At the end of a year from that day, lo there was a loud noise under +the chamber wall, and the barking of the dogs of the palace together +with the noise. "Look," said he, "what is without." "Lord," said +one, "I have looked; there are there two deer, and a fawn with them." +Then he arose and went out. And when he came he beheld the three +animals. And he lifted up his wand. "As ye were deer last year, be +ye wild hogs each and either of you, for the year that is to come." +And thereupon he struck them with the magic wand. "The young one +will I take and cause to be baptized." Now the name that he gave him +was Hydwn. "Go ye and be wild swine, each and either of you, and be +ye of the nature of wild swine. And this day twelvemonth be ye here +under the wall." + +At the end of the year the barking of dogs was heard under the wall +of the chamber. And the Court assembled, and thereupon he arose and +went forth, and when he came forth he beheld three beasts. Now these +were the beasts that he saw; two wild hogs of the woods, and a well- +grown young one with them. And he was very large for his age. +"Truly," said Math, "this one will I take and cause to be baptized." +And he struck him with his magic wand, and he become a fine fair +auburn-haired youth, and the name that he gave him was Hychdwn. "Now +as for you, as ye were wild hogs last year, be ye wolves each and +either of you for the year that is to come." Thereupon he struck +them with his magic wand, and they became wolves. "And be ye of like +nature with the animals whose semblance ye bear, and return here this +day twelvemonth beneath this wall." + +And at the same day at the end of the year, he heard a clamour and a +barking of dogs under the wall of the chamber. And he rose and went +forth. And when he came, behold, he saw two wolves, and a strong cub +with them. "This one will I take," said Math, "and I will cause him +to be baptized; there is a name prepared for him, and that is +Bleiddwn. Now these three, such are they:- + + +The three sons of Gilvaethwy the false, +The three faithful combatants, +Bleiddwn, Hydwn, and Hychdwn the Tall." + + +Then he struck the two with his magic wand, and they resumed their +own nature. "Oh men," said he, "for the wrong that ye did unto me +sufficient has been your punishment and your dishonour. Prepare now +precious ointment for these men, and wash their heads, and equip +them." And this was done. + +And after they were equipped, they came unto him. "Oh men," said he, +"you have obtained peace, and you shall likewise have friendship. +Give your counsel unto me, what maiden I shall seek." "Lord," said +Gwydion the son of Don, "it is easy to give thee counsel; seek +Arianrod, the daughter of Don, thy niece, thy sister's daughter." + +And they brought her unto him, and the maiden came in. "Ha, damsel," +said he, "art thou the maiden?" "I know not, lord, other than that I +am." Then he took up his magic wand, and bent it. "Step over this," +said he, "and I shall know if thou art the maiden." Then stepped she +over the magic wand, and there appeared forthwith a fine chubby +yellow-haired boy. And at the crying out of the boy, she went +towards the door. And thereupon some small form was seen; but before +any one could get a second glimpse of it, Gwydion had taken it, and +had flung a scarf of velvet around it and hidden it. Now the place +where he hid it was the bottom of a chest at the foot of his bed. + +"Verily," said Math the son of Mathonwy, concerning the fine yellow- +haired boy, "I will cause this one to be baptized, and Dylan is the +name I will give him." + +So they had the boy baptized, and as they baptized him he plunged +into the sea. And immediately when he was in the sea, he took its +nature, and swam as well as the best fish that was therein. And for +that reason was he called Dylan, the son of the Wave. Beneath him no +wave ever broke. And the blow whereby he came to his death, was +struck by his uncle Govannon. The third fatal blow was it called. + +As Gwydion lay one morning on his bed awake, he heard a cry in the +chest at his feet; and though it was not loud, it was such that he +could hear it. Then he arose in haste, and opened the chest: and +when he opened it, he beheld an infant boy stretching out his arms +from the folds of the scarf, and casting it aside. And he took up +the boy in his arms, and carried him to a place where he knew there +was a woman that could nurse him. And he agreed with the woman that +she should take charge of the boy. And that year he was nursed. + +And at the end of the year he seemed by his size as though he were +two years old. And the second year he was a big child, and able to +go to the Court by himself. And when he came to the Court, Gwydion +noticed him, and the boy became familiar with him, and loved him +better than any one else. Then was the boy reared at the Court until +he was four years old, when he was as big as though he had been +eight. + +And one day Gwydion walked forth, and the boy followed him, and he +went to the Castle of Arianrod, having the boy with him; and when he +came into the Court, Arianrod arose to meet him, and greeted him and +bade him welcome. "Heaven prosper thee," said he. "Who is the boy +that followeth thee?" she asked. "This youth, he is thy son," he +answered. "Alas," said she, "what has come unto thee that thou +shouldst shame me thus? wherefore dost thou seek my dishonour, and +retain it so long as this?" "Unless thou suffer dishonour greater +than that of my bringing up such a boy as this, small will be thy +disgrace." "What is the name of the boy?" said she. "Verily," he +replied, "he has not yet a name." "Well," she said, "I lay this +destiny upon him, that he shall never have a name until he receives +one from me." "Heaven bears me witness," answered he, "that thou art +a wicked woman. But the boy shall have a name how displeasing soever +it may be unto thee. As for thee, that which afflicts thee is that +thou art no longer called a damsel." And thereupon he went forth in +wrath, and returned to Caer Dathyl and there he tarried that night. + +And the next day he arose and took the boy with him, and went to walk +on the seashore between that place and Aber Menei. And there he saw +some sedges and seaweed, and he turned them into a boat. And out of +dry sticks and sedges he made some Cordovan leather, and a great deal +thereof, and he coloured it in such a manner that no one ever saw +leather more beautiful than it. Then he made a sail to the boat, and +he and the boy went in it to the port of the castle of Arianrod. And +he began forming shoes and stitching them, until he was observed from +the castle. And when he knew that they of the castle were observing +him, he disguised his aspect, and put another semblance upon himself, +and upon the boy, so that they might not be known. "What men are +those in yonder boat?" said Arianrod. "They are cordwainers," +answered they. "Go and see what kind of leather they have, and what +kind of work they can do." + +So they came unto them. And when they came he was colouring some +Cordovan leather, and gilding it. And the messengers came and told +her this. "Well," said she, "take the measure of my foot, and desire +the cordwainer to make shoes for me." So he made the shoes for her, +yet not according to the measure, but larger. The shoes then were +brought unto her, and behold they were too large. "These are too +large," said she, "but he shall receive their value. Let him also +make some that are smaller than they." Then he made her others that +were much smaller than her foot, and sent them unto her. "Tell him +that these will not go on my feet," said she. And they told him +this. "Verily," said he, "I will not make her any shoes, unless I +see her foot." And this was told unto her. "Truly," she answered, +"I will go unto him." + +So she went down to the boat, and when she came there, he was shaping +shoes and the boy stitching them. "Ah, lady," said he, "good day to +thee." "Heaven prosper thee," said she. "I marvel that thou canst +not manage to make shoes according to a measure." "I could not," he +replied, "but now I shall be able." + +Thereupon behold a wren stood upon the deck of the boat, and the boy +shot at it, and hit it in the leg between the sinew and the bone. +Then she smiled. "Verily," said she, "with a steady hand did the +lion aim at it." "Heaven reward thee not, but now has he got a name. +And a good enough name it is. Llew Llaw Gyffes be he called +henceforth." + +Then the work disappeared in seaweed and sedges, and he went on with +it no further. And for that reason was he called the third Gold- +shoemaker. "Of a truth," said she, "thou wilt not thrive the better +for doing evil unto me." "I have done thee no evil yet," said he. +Then he restored the boy to his own form. "Well," said she, "I will +lay a destiny upon this boy, that he shall never have arms and armour +until I invest him with them." "By Heaven," said he, "let thy malice +be what it may, he shall have arms." + +Then they went towards Dinas Dinllev, and there he brought up Llew +Llaw Gyffes, until he could manage any horse, and he was perfect in +features, and strength, and stature. And then Gwydion saw that he +languished through the want of horses and arms. And he called him +unto him. "Ah, youth," said he, "we will go to-morrow on an errand +together. Be therefore more cheerful than thou art." "That I will," +said the youth. + +Next morning, at the dawn of day, they arose. And they took way +along the sea coast, up towards Bryn Aryen. And at the top of Cevn +Clydno they equipped themselves with horses, and went towards the +Castle of Arianrod. And they changed their form, and pricked towards +the gate in the semblance of two youths, but the aspect of Gwydion +was more staid than that of the other. "Porter," said he, "go thou +in and say that there are here bards from Glamorgan." And the porter +went in. "The welcome of Heaven be unto them, let them in," said +Arianrod. + +With great joy were they greeted. And the hall was arranged, and +they went to meat. When meat was ended, Arianrod discoursed with +Gwydion of tales and stories. Now Gwydion was an excellent teller of +tales. And when it was time to leave off feasting, a chamber was +prepared for them, and they went to rest. + +In the early twilight Gwydion arose, and he called unto him his magic +and his power. And by the time that the day dawned, there resounded +through the land uproar, and trumpets and shouts. When it was now +day, they heard a knocking at the door of the chamber, and therewith +Arianrod asking that it might be opened. Up rose the youth and +opened unto her, and she entered and a maiden with her. "Ah, good +men," she said, "in evil plight are we." "Yes, truly," said Gwydion, +"we have heard trumpets and shouts; what thinkest thou that they may +mean?" "Verily," said she, "we cannot see the colour of the ocean by +reason of all the ships, side by side. And they are making for the +land with all the speed they can. And what can we do?" said she. +"Lady," said Gwydion, "there is none other counsel than to close the +castle upon us, and to defend it as best we may." "Truly," said she, +"may Heaven reward you. And do you defend it. And here may you have +plenty of arms." + +And thereupon went she forth for the arms, and behold she returned, +and two maidens, and suits of armour for two men, with her. "Lady," +said he, "do you accoutre this stripling, and I will arm myself with +the help of thy maidens. Lo, I hear the tumult of the men +approaching." "I will do so, gladly." So she armed him fully, and +that right cheerfully. "Hast thou finished arming the youth?" said +he. "I have finished," she answered. "I likewise have finished," +said Gwydion. "Let us now take off our arms, we have no need of +them." "Wherefore?" said she. "Here is the army around the house." +"Oh, lady, there is here no army." "Oh," cried she, "whence then was +this tumult?" "The tumult was but to break thy prophecy and to +obtain arms for thy son. And now has he got arms without any thanks +unto thee." "By Heaven," said Arianrod, "thou art a wicked man. +Many a youth might have lost his life through the uproar thou hast +caused in this Cantrev to-day. Now will I lay a destiny upon this +youth," she said, "that he shall never have a wife of the race that +now inhabits this earth." "Verily," said he, "thou wast ever a +malicious woman, and no one ought to support thee. A wife shall he +have notwithstanding." + +They went thereupon unto Math the son of Mathonwy, and complained +unto him most bitterly of Arianrod. Gwydion showed him also how he +had procured arms for the youth. "Well," said Math, "we will seek, I +and thou, by charms and illusion, to form a wife for him out of +flowers. He has now come to man's stature, and he is the comeliest +youth that was ever beheld." So they took the blossoms of the oak, +and the blossoms of the broom, and the blossoms of the meadow-sweet, +and produced from them a maiden, the fairest and most graceful that +man ever saw. And they baptized her, and gave her the name of +Blodeuwedd. + +After she had become his bride, and they had feasted, said Gwydion, +"It is not easy for a man to maintain himself without possessions." +"Of a truth," said Math, "I will give the young man the best Cantrev +to hold." "Lord," said he, "what Cantrev is that?" "The Cantrev of +Dinodig," he answered. Now it is called at this day Eivionydd and +Ardudwy. And the place in the Cantrev where he dwelt, was a palace +of his in a spot called Mur y Castell, on the confines of Ardudwy. +There dwelt he and reigned, and both he and his sway were beloved by +all. + +One day he went forth to Caer Dathyl, to visit Math the son of +Mathonwy. And on the day that he set out for Caer Dathyl, Blodeuwedd +walked in the Court. And she heard the sound of a horn. And after +the sound of the horn, behold a tired stag went by, with dogs and +huntsmen following it. And after the dogs and the huntsmen there +came a crowd of men on foot. "Send a youth," said she, "to ask who +yonder host may be." So a youth went, and inquired who they were. +"Gronw Pebyr is this, the lord of Penllyn," said they. And thus the +youth told her. + +Gronw Pebyr pursued the stag, and by the river Cynvael he overtook +the stag and killed it. And what with flaying the stag and baiting +his dogs, he was there until the night began to close in upon him. +And as the day departed and the night drew near, he came to the gate +of the Court. "Verily," said Blodeuwedd, "the Chieftain will speak +ill of us if we let him at this hour depart to another land without +inviting him in." "Yes, truly, lady," said they, "it will be most +fitting to invite him." + +Then went messengers to meet him and bid him in. And he accepted her +bidding gladly, and came to the Court, and Blodeuwedd went to meet +him, and greeted him, and bade him welcome. "Lady," said he, "Heaven +repay thee thy kindness." + +When they had disaccoutred themselves, they went to sit down. And +Blodeuwedd looked upon him, and from the moment that she looked on +him she became filled with his love. And he gazed on her, and the +same thought came unto him as unto her, so that he could not conceal +from her that he loved her, but he declared unto her that he did so. +Thereupon she was very joyful. And all their discourse that night +was concerning the affection and love which they felt one for the +other, and which in no longer space than one evening had arisen. And +that evening passed they in each other's company. + +The next day he sought to depart. But she said, "I pray thee go not +from me to-day." And that night he tarried also. And that night +they consulted by what means they might always be together. "There +is none other counsel," said he, "but that thou strive to learn from +Llew Llaw Gyffes in what manner he will meet his death. And this +must thou do under the semblance of solicitude concerning him." + +The next day Gronw sought to depart. "Verily," said she, "I will +counsel thee not to go from me to-day." "At thy instance will I not +go," said he, "albeit, I must say, there is danger that the chief who +owns the palace may return home." "To-morrow," answered she, "will I +indeed permit thee to go forth." + +The next day he sought to go, and she hindered him not. "Be +mindful," said Gronw, "of what I have said unto thee, and converse +with him fully, and that under the guise of the dalliance of love, +and find out by what means he may come to his death." + +That night Llew Llaw Gyffes returned to his home. And the day they +spent in discourse, and minstrelsy, and feasting. And at night they +went to rest, and he spoke to Blodeuwedd once, and he spoke to her a +second time. But, for all this, he could not get from her one word. +"What aileth thee?" said he, "art thou well?" "I was thinking," said +she, "of that which thou didst never think of concerning me; for I +was sorrowful as to thy death, lest thou shouldst go sooner than I." +"Heaven reward thy care for me," said he, "but until Heaven take me I +shall not easily be slain" "For the sake of Heaven, and for mine, +show me how thou mightest be slain. My memory in guarding is better +than thine." "I will tell thee gladly," said he. "Not easily can I +be slain, except by a wound. And the spear wherewith I am struck +must be a year in the forming. And nothing must be done towards it +except during the sacrifice on Sundays." "Is this certain?" asked +she. "It is in truth," he answered. "And I cannot be slain within a +house, nor without. I cannot be slain on horseback nor on foot." +"Verily," said she, "in what manner then canst thou be slain?" "I +will tell thee," said he. "By making a bath for me by the side of a +river, and by putting a roof over the cauldron, and thatching it well +and tightly, and bringing a buck, and putting it beside the cauldron. +Then if I place one foot on the buck's back, and the other on the +edge of the cauldron, whosoever strikes me thus will cause my death." +"Well," said she, "I thank Heaven that it will be easy to avoid +this." + +No sooner had she held this discourse than she sent to Gronw Pebyr. +Gronw toiled at making the spear, and that day twelvemonth it was +ready. And that very day he caused her to be informed thereof. + +"Lord," said Blodeuwedd unto Llew, "I have been thinking how it is +possible that what thou didst tell me formerly can be true; wilt thou +show me in what manner thou couldst stand at once upon the edge of a +cauldron and upon a buck, if I prepare the bath for thee?" "I will +show thee," said he. + +Then she sent unto Gronw, and bade him be in ambush on the hill which +is now called Bryn Kyvergyr, on the bank of the river Cynvael. She +caused also to be collected all the goats that were in the Cantrev, +and had them brought to the other side of the river, opposite Bryn +Kyvergyr. + +And the next day she spoke thus. "Lord," said she, "I have caused +the roof and the bath to be prepared, and lo! they are ready." +"Well," said Llew, "we will go gladly to look at them." + +The day after they came and looked at the bath. "Wilt thou go into +the bath, lord?" said she. "Willingly will I go in," he answered. +So into the bath he went, and he anointed himself. "Lord," said she, +"behold the animals which thou didst speak of as being called bucks." +"Well," said he, "cause one of them to be caught and brought here." +And the buck was brought. Then Llew rose out of the bath, and put on +his trowsers, and he placed one foot on the edge of the bath and the +other on the buck's back. + +Thereupon Gronw rose up from the bill which is called Bryn Kyvergyr, +and he rested on one knee, and flung the poisoned dart and struck him +on the side, so that the shaft started out, but the head of the dart +remained in. Then he flew up in the form of an eagle and gave a +fearful scream. And thenceforth was he no more seen. + +As soon as he departed Gronw and Blodeuwedd went together unto the +palace that night. And the next day Gronw arose and took possession +of Ardudwy. And after he had overcome the land, he ruled over it, so +that Ardudwy and Penllyn were both under his sway. + +Then these tidings reached Math the son of Mathonwy. And heaviness +and grief came upon Math, and much more upon Gwydion than upon him. +"Lord," said Gwydion, "I shall never rest until I have tidings of my +nephew." "Verily," said Math, "may Heaven be thy strength." Then +Gwydion set forth and began to go forward. And he went through +Gwynedd and Powys to the confines. And when he had done so, he went +into Arvon, and came to the house of a vassal, in Maenawr Penardd. +And he alighted at the house, and stayed there that night. The man +of the house and his house-hold came in, and last of all came there +the swineherd. Said the man of the house to the swineherd, "Well, +youth, hath thy sow come in to-night?" "She hath," said he, "and is +this instant returned to the pigs." "Where doth this sow go to?" +said Gwydion. "Every day, when the sty is opened, she goeth forth +and none can catch sight of her, neither is it known whither she +goeth more than if she sank into the earth." "Wilt thou grant unto +me," said Gwydion, "not to open the sty until I am beside the sty +with thee?" "This will I do, right gladly," he answered. + +That night they went to rest; and as soon as the swineherd saw the +light of day, he awoke Gwydion. And Gwydion arose and dressed +himself, and went with the swineherd, and stood beside the sty. Then +the swineherd opened the sty. And as soon as he opened it, behold +she leaped forth, and set off with great speed. And Gwydion followed +her, and she went against the course of a river, and made for a +brook, which is now called Nant y Llew. And there she halted and +began feeding. And Gwydion came under the tree, and looked what it +might be that the sow was feeding on. And he saw that she was eating +putrid flesh and vermin. Then looked he up to the top of the tree, +and as he looked he beheld on the top of the tree an eagle, and when +the eagle shook itself, there fell vermin and putrid flesh from off +it, and these the sow devoured. And it seemed to him that the eagle +was Llew. And he sang an Englyn:- + + +"Oak that grows between the two banks; +Darkened is the sky and hill! +Shall I not tell him by his wounds, +That this is Llew?" + + +Upon this the eagle came down until he reached the centre of the +tree. And Gwydion sang another Englyn:- + + +"Oak that grows in upland ground, +Is it not wetted by the rain? Has it not been drenched +By nine score tempests? +It bears in its branches Llew Llaw Gyffes!" + + +Then the eagle came down until he was on the lowest branch of the +tree, and thereupon this Englyn did Gwydion sing:- + + +"Oak that grows beneath the steep; +Stately and majestic is its aspect! +Shall I not speak it? +That Llew will come to my lap?" + + +And the eagle came down upon Gwydion's knee. And Gwydion struck him +with his magic wand, so that he returned to his own form. No one +ever saw a more piteous sight, for he was nothing but skin and bone. + +Then he went unto Caer Dathyl, and there were brought unto him good +physicians that were in Gwynedd, and before the end of the year he +was quite healed. + +"Lord," said he unto Math the son of Mathonwy, "it is full time now +that I have retribution of him by whom I have suffered all this woe." +"Truly," said Math, "he will never be able to maintain himself in the +possession of that which is thy right." "Well," said Llew, "the +sooner I have my right, the better shall I be pleased." + +Then they called together the whole of Gwynedd, and set forth to +Ardudwy. And Gwydion went on before and proceeded to Mur y Castell. +And when Blodeuwedd heard that he was coming, she took her maidens +with her, and fled to the mountain. And they passed through the +river Cynvael, and went towards a court that there was upon the +mountain, and through fear they could not proceed except with their +faces looking backwards, so that unawares they fell into the lake. +And they were all drowned except Blodeuwedd herself, and her Gwydion +overtook. And he said unto her, "I will not slay thee, but I will do +unto thee worse than that. For I will turn thee into a bird; and +because of the shame thou hast done unto Llew Llaw Gyffes, thou shalt +never show thy face in the light of day henceforth; and that through +fear of all the other birds. For it shall be their nature to attack +thee, and to chase thee from wheresoever they may find thee. And +thou shalt not lose thy name, but shalt be always called Blodeuwedd." +Now Blodeuwedd is an owl in the language of this present time, and +for this reason is the owl hateful unto all birds. And even now the +owl is called Blodeuwedd. + +Then Gronw Pebyr withdrew unto Penllyn, and he dispatched thence an +embassy. And the messengers he sent asked Llew Llaw Gyffes if he +would take land, or domain, or gold, or silver, for the injury he had +received. "I will not, by my confession to Heaven," said he. +"Behold this is the least that I will accept from him; that he come +to the spot where I was when he wounded me with the dart, and that I +stand where he did, and that with a dart I take my aim at him. And +this is the very least that I will accept." + +And this was told unto Gronw Pebyr. "Verily," said he, "is it +needful for me to do thus? My faithful warriors, and my household, +and my foster-brothers, is there not one among you who will stand the +blow in my stead?" "There is not, verily," answered they. And +because of their refusal to suffer one stroke for their lord, they +are called the third disloyal tribe even unto this day. "Well," said +he, "I will meet it." + +Then they two went forth to the banks of the river Cynvael, and Gronw +stood in the place where Llew Llaw Gyffes was when he struck him, and +Llew in the place where Gronw was. Then said Gronw Pebyr unto Llew, +"Since it was through the wiles of a woman that I did unto thee as I +have done, I adjure thee by Heaven to let me place between me and the +blow, the slab thou seest yonder on the river's bank." "Verily," +said Llew, "I will not refuse thee this." "Ah," said he, "may Heaven +reward thee." So Gronw took the slab and placed it between him and +the blow. + +Then Llew flung the dart at him, and it pierced the slab and went +through Gronw likewise, so that it pierced through his back. And +thus was Gronw Pebyr slain. And there is still the slab on the bank +of the river Cynvael, in Ardudwy, having the hole through it. And +therefore is it even now called Llech Gronw. + +A second time did Llew Llaw Gyffes take possession of the land, and +prosperously did he govern it. And, as the story relates, he was +lord after this over Gwynedd. And thus ends this portion of the +Mabinogi. + + + +THE DREAM OF MAXEN WLEDIG + + + +Maxen Wledig was emperor of Rome, and he was a comelier man, and a +better and a wiser than any emperor that had been before him. And +one day he held a council of kings, and he said to his friends, "I +desire to go to-morrow to hunt." And the next day in the morning he +set forth with his retinue, and came to the valley of the river that +flowed towards Rome. And he hunted through the valley until mid-day. +And with him also were two-and-thirty crowned kings, that were his +vassals; not for the delight of hunting went the emperor with them, +but to put himself on equal terms with those kings. + +And the sun was high in the sky over their heads and the heat was +great. And sleep came upon Maxen Wledig. And his attendants stood +and set up their shields around him upon the shafts of their spears +to protect him from the sun, and they placed a gold enamelled shield +under his head; and so Maxen slept. + +And he saw a dream. And this is the dream that he saw. He was +journeying along the valley of the river towards its source; and he +came to the highest mountain in the world. And he thought that the +mountain was as high as the sky; and when he came over the mountain, +it seemed to him that he went through the fairest and most level +regions that man ever yet beheld, on the other side of the mountain. +And he saw large and mighty rivers descending from the mountain to +the sea, and towards the mouths of the rivers he proceeded. And as +he journeyed thus, he came to the mouth of the largest river ever +seen. And he beheld a great city at the entrance of the river, and a +vast castle in the city, and he saw many high towers of various +colours in the castle. And he saw a fleet at the mouth of the river, +the largest ever seen. And he saw one ship among the fleet; larger +was it by far, and fairer than all the others. Of such part of the +ship as he could see above the water, one plank was gilded and the +other silvered over. He saw a bridge of the bone of a whale from the +ship to the land, and he thought that he went along the bridge, and +came into the ship. And a sail was hoisted on the ship, and along +the sea and the ocean was it borne. Then it seemed that he came to +the fairest island in the whole world, and he traversed the island +from sea to sea, even to the furthest shore of the island. Valleys +he saw, and steeps, and rocks of wondrous height, and rugged +precipices. Never yet saw he the like. And thence he beheld an +island in the sea, facing this rugged land. And between him and this +island was a country of which the plain was as large as the sea, the +mountain as vast as the wood. And from the mountain he saw a river +that flowed through the land and fell into the sea. And at the mouth +of the river he beheld a castle, the fairest that man ever saw, and +the gate of the castle was open, and he went into the castle. And in +the castle he saw a fair hall, of which the roof seemed to be all +gold, the walls of the hall seemed to be entirely of glittering +precious gems, the doors all seemed to be of gold. Golden seats he +saw in the hall, and silver tables. And on a seat opposite to him he +beheld two auburn-haired youths playing at chess. He saw a silver +board for the chess, and golden pieces thereon. The garments of the +youths were of jet-black satin, and chaplets of ruddy gold bound +their hair, whereon were sparkling jewels of great price, rubies, and +gems, alternately with imperial stones. Buskins of new Cordovan +leather on their feet, fastened by slides of red gold. + +And beside a pillar in the hall he saw a hoary-headed man, in a chair +of ivory, with the figures of two eagles of ruddy gold thereon. +Bracelets of gold were upon his arms, and many rings were on his +hands, and a golden torque about his neck; and his hair was bound +with a golden diadem. He was of powerful aspect. A chessboard of +gold was before him, and a rod of gold, and a steel file in his hand. +And he was carving out chessmen. + +And he saw a maiden sitting before him in a chair of ruddy gold. Not +more easy than to gaze upon the sun when brightest, was it to look +upon her by reason of her beauty. A vest of white silk was upon the +maiden, with clasps of red gold at the breast; and a surcoat of gold +tissue upon her, and a frontlet of red gold upon her head, and rubies +and gems were in the frontlet, alternating with pearls and imperial +stones. And a girdle of ruddy gold was around her. She was the +fairest sight that man ever beheld. + +The maiden arose from her chair before him, and he threw his arms +about the neck of the maiden, and they two sat down together in the +chair of gold: and the chair was not less roomy for them both, than +for the maiden alone. And as he had his arms about the maiden's +neck, and his cheek by her cheek, behold, through the chafing of the +dogs at their leashing, and the clashing of the shields as they +struck against each other, and the beating together of the shafts of +the spears, and the neighing of the horses and their prancing, the +emperor awoke. + +And when he awoke, nor spirit nor existence was left him, because of +the maiden whom he had seen in his sleep, for the love of the maiden +pervaded his whole frame. Then his household spake unto him. +"Lord," said they, "is it not past the time for thee to take thy +food?" Thereupon the emperor mounted his palfrey, the saddest man +that mortal ever saw, and went forth towards Rome. + +And thus he was during the space of a week. When they of the +household went to drink wine and mead out of golden vessels, he went +not with any of them. When they went to listen to songs and tales, +he went not with them there; neither could he be persuaded to do +anything but sleep. And as often as he slept, he beheld in his +dreams the maiden he loved best; but except when he slept he saw +nothing of her, for he knew not where in the world she was. + +One day the page of the chamber spake unto him; now, although he was +page of the chamber, he was king of the Romans. "Lord," said he, +"all the people revile thee." "Wherefore do they revile me?" asked +the emperor. "Because they can get neither message nor answer from +thee as men should have from their lord. This is the cause why thou +art spoken evil of." "Youth," said the emperor, "do thou bring unto +me the wise men of Rome, and I will tell them wherefore I am +sorrowful." + +Then the wise men of Rome were brought to the emperor, and he spake +to them. "Sages of Rome," said he, "I have seen a dream. And in the +dream I beheld a maiden, and because of the maiden is there neither +life, nor spirit, nor existence within me." "Lord," they answered, +"since thou judgest us worthy to counsel thee, we will give thee +counsel. And this is our counsel; that thou send messengers for +three years to the three parts of the world to seek for thy dream. +And as thou knowest not what day or what night good news may come to +thee, the hope thereof will support thee." + +So the messengers journeyed for the space of a year, wandering about +the world, and seeking tidings concerning his dream. But when they +came back at the end of the year, they knew not one word more than +they did the day they set forth. And then was the emperor exceeding +sorrowful, for he thought that he should never have tidings of her +whom best he loved. + +Then spoke the king of the Romans unto the emperor. "Lord," said he, +"go forth to hunt by the way thou didst seem to go, whether it were +to the east, or to the west." So the emperor went forth to the hunt, +and he came to the bank of the river. "Behold," said he, "this is +where I was when I saw the dream, and I went towards the source of +the river westward." + +And thereupon thirteen messengers of the emperor's set forth, and +before them they saw a high mountain, which seemed to them to touch +the sky. Now this was the guise in which the messengers journeyed; +one sleeve was on the cap of each of them in front, as a sign that +they were messengers, in order that through what hostile land soever +they might pass no harm might be done them. And when they were come +over this mountain, they beheld vast plains, and large rivers flowing +there through. + +"Behold," said they, "the land which our master saw." + +And they went along the mouths of the rivers, until they came to the +mighty river which they saw flowing to the sea, and the vast city, +and the many-coloured high towers in the castle. They saw the +largest fleet in the world, in the harbour of the river, and one ship +that was larger than any of the others. "Behold again," said they, +"the dream that our master saw." And in the great ship they crossed +the sea, and came to the Island of Britain. And they traversed the +island until they came to Snowdon. "Behold," said they, "the rugged +land that our master saw." And they went forward until they saw +Anglesey before them, and until they saw Arvon likewise. "Behold," +said they, "the land our master saw in his sleep." And they saw Aber +Sain, and a castle at the mouth of the river. The portal of the +castle saw they open, and into the castle they went, and they saw a +hall in the castle. Then said they, "Behold, the hall which he saw +in his sleep." They went into the hall, and they beheld two youths +playing at chess on the golden bench. And they beheld the hoary- +headed man beside the pillar, in the ivory chair, carving chessmen. +And they beheld the maiden sitting on a chair of ruddy gold. + +The messengers bent down upon their knees. "Empress of Rome, all +hail!" "Ha, gentles," said the maiden, "ye bear the seeming of +honourable men, and the badge of envoys, what mockery is this ye do +to me?" "We mock thee not, lady; but the Emperor of Rome hath seen +thee in his sleep, and he has neither life nor spirit left because of +thee. Thou shalt have of us therefore the choice, lady, whether thou +wilt go with us and be made empress of Rome, or that the emperor come +hither and take thee for his wife?" "Ha, lords," said the maiden, "I +will not deny what ye say, neither will I believe it too well. If +the emperor love me, let him come here to seek me." + +And by day and night the messengers hied them back. And when their +horses failed, they bought other fresh ones. And when they came to +Rome, they saluted the emperor, and asked their boon, which was given +to them according as they named it. "We will be thy guides, lord," +said they, "over sea and over land, to the place where is the woman +whom best thou lovest, for we know her name, and her kindred, and her +race." + +And immediately the emperor set forth with his army. And these men +were his guides. Towards the Island of Britain they went over the +sea and the deep. And he conquered the Island from Beli the son of +Manogan, and his sons, and drove them to the sea, and went forward +even unto Arvon. And the emperor knew the land when he saw it. And +when he beheld the castle of Aber Sain, "Look yonder," said he, +"there is the castle wherein I saw the damsel whom I best love." And +he went forward into the castle and into the hall, and there he saw +Kynan the son of Eudav, and Adeon the son of Eudav, playing at chess. +And he saw Eudav the son of Caradawc, sitting on a chair of ivory +carving chessmen. And the maiden whom he had beheld in his sleep, he +saw sitting on a chair of gold. "Empress of Rome," said he, "all +hail!" And the emperor threw his arms about her neck; and that night +she became his bride. + +And the next day in the morning, the damsel asked her maiden portion. +And he told her to name what she would. And she asked to have the +Island of Britain for her father, from the Channel to the Irish Sea, +together with the three adjacent Islands, to hold under the empress +of Rome; and to have three chief castles made for her, an whatever +places she might choose in the Island of Britain. And she chose to +have the highest castle made at Arvon. And they brought thither +earth from Rome that it might be more healthful for the emperor to +sleep, and sit, and walk upon. After that the two other castles were +made for her, which were Caerlleon and Caermarthen. + +And one day the emperor went to hunt at Caermarthen, and he came so +far as the top of Brevi Vawr, and there the emperor pitched his tent. +And that encamping place is called Cadeir Maxen, even to this day. +And because that he built the castle with a myriad of men, he called +it Caervyrddin. Then Helen bethought her to make high roads from one +castle to another throughout the Island of Britain. And the roads +were made. And for this cause are they called the roads of Helen +Luyddawc, that she was sprung from a native of this island, and the +men of the Island of Britain would not have made these great roads +for any save for her. + +Seven years did the emperor tarry in this Island. Now, at that time, +the men of Rome had a custom, that whatsoever emperor should remain +in other lands more than seven years should remain to his own +overthrow, and should never return to Rome again. + +So they made a new emperor. And this one wrote a letter of threat to +Maxen. There was nought in the letter but only this. "If thou +comest, and if thou ever comest to Rome." And even unto Caerlleon +came this letter to Maxen, and these tidings. Then sent he a letter +to the man who styled himself emperor in Rome. There was nought in +that letter also but only this. "If I come to Rome, and if I come." + +And thereupon Maxen set forth towards Rome with his army, and +vanquished France and Bugundy, and every land on the way, and sat +down before the city of Rome. + +A year was the emperor before the city, and he was no nearer taking +it than the first day. And after him there came the brothers of +Helen Luyddawc from the Island of Britain, and a small host with +them, and better warriors were in that small host than twice as many +Romans. And the emperor was told that a host was seen, halting close +to his army and encamping, and no man ever saw a fairer or better +appointed host for its size, nor more handsome standards. + +And Helen went to see the hosts, and she knew the standards of her +brothers. Then came Kynan the son of Eudav, and Adeon the son of +Eudav, to meet the emperor. And the emperor was glad because of +them, and embraced them. + +Then they looked at the Romans as they attacked the city. Said Kynan +to his brother, "We will try to attack the city more expertly than +this." So they measured by night the height of the wall, and they +sent their carpenters to the wood, and a ladder was made for every +four men of their number. Now when these were ready, every day at +mid-day the emperors went to meat, and they ceased to fight on both +sides till all had finished eating. And in the morning the men of +Britain took their food and they drank until they were invigorated. +And while the two emperors were at meat, the Britons came to the +city, and placed their ladders against it, and forthwith they came in +through the city. + +The new emperor had no time to arm himself when they fell upon him, +and slew him, and many others with him. And three nights and three +days were they subduing the men that were in the city and taking the +castle. And others of them kept the city, lest any of the host of +Maxen should come therein, until they had subjected all to their +will. + +Then spake Maxen to Helen Luyddawc. "I marvel, lady," said he, "that +thy brothers have not conquered this city for me." "Lord, emperor," +she answered, "the wisest youths in the world are my brothers. Go +thou thither and ask the city of them, and if it be in their +possession thou shalt have it gladly." So the emperor and Helen went +and demanded the city. And they told the emperor that none had taken +the city, and that none could give it him, but the men of the Island +of Britain. Then the gates of the city of Rome were opened, and the +emperor sat on the throne, and all the men of Rome submitted them +selves unto him. + +The emperor then said unto Kynan and Adeon, "Lords," said he, "I have +now had possession of the whole of my empire. This host give I unto +you to vanquish whatever region ye may desire in the world." + +So they set forth and conquered lands, and castles, and cities. And +they slew all the men, but the women they kept alive. And thus they +continued until the young men that had come with them were grown +grey-headed, from the length of time they were upon this conquest. + +Then spoke Kynan unto Adeon his brother, "Whether wilt thou rather," +said he, "tarry in this land, or go back into the land whence thou +didst come forth?" Now he chose to go back to his own land, and many +with him. But Kynan tarried there with the other part and dwelt +there. + +And they took counsel and cut out the tongues of the women, lest they +should corrupt their speech. And because of the silence of the women +from their own speech, the men of Armorica are called Britons. From +that time there came frequently, and still comes, that language from +the Island of Britain. + +And this dream is called the Dream of Maxen Wledig, emperor of Rome. +And here it ends. + + + +HERE IS THE STORY OF LLUDD AND LLEVELYS + + + +Beli the Great, the son of Manogan, had three sons, Lludd, and +Caswallawn, and Nynyaw; and according to the story he had a fourth +son called Llevelys. And after the death of Beli, the kingdom of the +Island of Britain fell into the hands of Llud his eldest son; and +Lludd ruled prosperously, and rebuilt the walls of London, and +encompassed it about with numberless towers. And after that he bade +the citizens build houses therein, such as no houses in the kingdoms +could equal. And moreover he was a mighty warrior, and generous and +liberal in giving meat and drink to all that sought them. And though +he had many castles and cities this one loved he more than any. And +he dwelt therein most part of the year, and therefore was it called +Caer Lludd, and at last Caer London. And after the stranger-race +came there, it was called London, or Lwndrys. + +Lludd loved Llevelys best of all his brothers, because he was a wise +and discreet man. Having heard that the king of France had died, +leaving no heir except a daughter, and that he had left all his +possessions in her hands, he came to Lludd his brother, to beseech +his counsel and aid. And that not so much for his own welfare, as to +seek to add to the glory and honour and dignity of his kindred, if he +might go to France to woo the maiden for his wife. And forthwith his +brother conferred with him, and this counsel was pleasing unto him. + +So he prepared ships and filled them with armed knights, and set +forth towards France. And as soon as they had landed, they sent +messengers to show the nobles of France the cause of the embassy. +And by the joint counsel of the nobles of France and of the princes, +the maiden was given to Llevelys, and the crown of the kingdom with +her. And thenceforth he ruled the land discreetly, and wisely, and +happily, as long as his life lasted. + +After a space of time had passed, three plagues fell on the Island of +Britain, such as none in the islands had ever seen the like of. The +first was a certain race that came, and was called the Coranians; and +so great was their knowledge, that there was no discourse upon the +face of the Island, however low it might be spoken, but what, if the +wind met it, it was known to them. And through this they could not +be injured. {4} + +The second plague was a shriek which came on every May-eve, over +every hearth in the Island of Britain. And this went through +people's hearts, and so scared them, that the men lost their hue and +their strength, and the women their children, and the young men and +the maidens lost their senses, and all the animals and trees and the +earth and the waters, were left barren. + +The third plague was, that however much of provisions and food might +be prepared in the king's courts, were there even so much as a year's +provision of meat and drink, none of it could ever be found, except +what was consumed in the first night. And two of these plagues, no +one ever knew their cause, therefore was there better hope of being +freed from the first than from the second and third. + +And thereupon King Lludd felt great sorrow and care, because that he +knew not how he might be freed from these plagues. And he called to +him all the nobles of his kingdom, and asked counsel of them what +they should do against these afflictions. And by the common counsel +of the nobles, Lludd the son of Beli went to Llevelys his brother, +king of France, for he was a man great of counsel and wisdom, to seek +his advice. + +And they made ready a fleet, and that in secret and in silence, lest +that race should know the cause of their errand, or any besides the +king and his counsellors. And when they were made ready, they went +into their ships, Lludd and those whom he chose with him. And they +began to cleave the seas towards France. + +And when these tidings came to Llevelys, seeing that he knew not the +cause of his brother's ships, he came on the other side to meet him, +and with him was a fleet vast of size. And when Lludd saw this, he +left all the ships out upon the sea except one only; and in that one +he came to meet his brother, and he likewise with a single ship came +to meet him. And when they were come together, each put his arms +about the other's neck, and they welcomed each other with brotherly +love. + +After that Lludd had shown his brother the cause of his errand, +Llevelys said that he himself knew the cause of the coming to those +lands. And they took counsel together to discourse on the matter +otherwise than thus, in order that the wind might not catch their +words, nor the Coranians know what they might say. Then Llevelys +caused a long horn to be made of brass, and through this horn they +discoursed. But whatsoever words they spoke through this horn, one +to the other, neither of them could hear any other but harsh and +hostile words. And when Llevelys saw this, and that there was a +demon thwarting them and disturbing through this horn, he caused wine +to be put therein to wash it. And through the virtue of the wine the +demon was driven out of the horn. And when their discourse was +unobstructed, Llevelys told his brother that he would give him some +insects whereof he should keep some to breed, lest by chance the like +affliction might come a second time. And other of these insects he +should take and bruise in water. And he assured him that it would +have power to destroy the race of the Coranians. That is to say, +that when he came home to his kingdom he should call together all the +people both of his own race and of the race of the Coranians for a +conference, as though with the intent of making peace between them; +and that when they were all together, he should take this charmed +water, and cast it over all alike. And he assured him that the water +would poison the race of the Coranians, but that it would not slay or +harm those of his own race. + +"And the second plague," said he, "that is in thy dominion, behold it +is a dragon. And another dragon of a foreign race is fighting with +it, and striving to overcome it. And therefore does your dragon make +a fearful outcry. And on this wise mayest thou come to know this. +After thou hast returned home, cause the Island to be measured in its +length and breadth, and in the place where thou dost find the exact +central point, there cause a pit to be dug, and cause a cauldron full +of the best mead that can be made to be put in the pit, with a +covering of satin over the face of the cauldron. And then, in thine +own person do thou remain there watching, and thou wilt see the +dragon fighting in the form of terrific animals. And at length they +will take the form of dragons in the air. And last of all, after +wearying themselves with fierce and furious fighting, they will fall +in the form of two pigs upon the covering, and they will sink in, and +the covering with them, and they will draw it down to the very bottom +of the cauldron. And they will drink up the whole of the mead; and +after that they will sleep. Thereupon do thou immediately fold the +covering around them, and bury them in a kistvaen, in the strongest +place thou hast in thy dominions, and hide them in the earth. And as +long as they shall bide in that strong place no plague shall come to +the Island of Britain from elsewhere. + +"The cause of the third plague," said he, "is a mighty man of magic, +who take thy meat and thy drink and thy store. And he through +illusions and charms causes every one to sleep. Therefore it is +needful for thee in thy own person to watch thy food and thy +provisions. And lest he should overcome thee with sleep, be there a +cauldron of cold water by thy side, and when thou art oppressed with +sleep, plunge into the cauldron." + +Then Lludd returned back unto his land. And immediately he summoned +to him the whole of his own race and of the Coranians. And as +Llevelys had taught him, he bruised the insects in water, the which +he cast over them all together, and forthwith it destroyed the whole +tribe of the Coranians, without hurt to any of the Britons. + +And some time after this, Lludd caused the Island to be measured in +its length and in its breadth. And in Oxford he found the central +point, and in that place he caused the earth to be dug, and in that +pit a cauldron to be set, full of the best mead that could be made, +and a covering of satin over the face of it. And he himself watched +that night. And while he was there, he beheld the dragons fighting. +And when they were weary they fell, and came down upon the top of the +satin, and drew it with them to the bottom of the cauldron. And when +they had drunk the mead they slept. And in their sleep, Lludd folded +the covering around them, and in the securest place he had in +Snowdon, he hid them in a kistvaen. Now after that this spot was +called Dinas Emreis, but before that, Dinas Ffaraon. And thus the +fierce outcry ceased in his dominions. + +And when this was ended, King Lludd caused an exceeding great banquet +to be prepared. And when it was ready, he placed a vessel of cold +water by his side, and he in his own proper person watched it. And +as he abode thus clad with arms, about the third watch of the night, +lo, he heard many surpassing fascinations and various songs. And +drowsiness urged him to sleep. Upon this, lest he should be hindered +from his purpose and be overcome by sleep, he went often into the +water. And at last, behold, a man of vast size, clad in strong, +heavy armour, came in, bearing a hamper. And, as he was wont, he put +all the food and provisions of meat and drink into the hamper, and +proceeded to go with it forth. And nothing was ever more wonderful +to Lludd, than that the hamper should hold so much. + +And thereupon King Lludd went after him and spoke unto him thus. +"Stop, stop," said he, "though thou hast done many insults and much +spoil erewhile, thou shalt not do so any more, unless thy skill in +arms and thy prowess be greater than mine." + +Then he instantly put down the hamper on the floor, and awaited him. +And a fierce encounter was between them, so that the glittering fire +flew out from their arms. And at the last Lludd grappled with him, +and fate bestowed the victory on Lludd. And he threw the plague to +the earth. And after he had overcome him by strength and might, he +besought his mercy. "How can I grant thee mercy," said the king, +"after all the many injuries and wrongs that thou hast done me?" +"All the losses that ever I have caused thee," said he, "I will make +thee atonement for, equal to what I have taken. And I will never do +the like from this time forth. But thy faithful vassal will I be." +And the king accepted this from him. + +And thus Lludd freed the Island of Britain from the three plagues. +And from thenceforth until the end of his life, in prosperous peace +did Lludd the son of Beli rule the Island of Britain. And this Tale +is called the Story of Lludd and Llevelys. And thus it ends. + + + +TALIESIN + + + +In times past there lived in Penllyn a man of gentle lineage, named +Tegid Voel, and his dwelling was in the midst of the lake Tegid, and +his wife was called Caridwen. And there was born to him of his wife +a son named Morvran ab Tegid, and also a daughter named Creirwy, the +fairest maiden in the world was she; and they had a brother, the most +ill-favoured man in the world, Avagddu. Now Caridwen his mother +thought that he was not likely to be admitted among men of noble +birth, by reason of his ugliness, unless he had some exalted merits +or knowledge. For it was in the beginning of Arthur's time and of +the Round Table. + +So she resolved, according to the arts of the books of the Fferyllt, +to boil a cauldron of Inspiration and Science for her son, that his +reception might be honourable because of his knowledge of the +mysteries of the future state of the world. + +Then she began to boil the cauldron, which from the beginning of its +boiling might not cease to boil for a year and a day, until three +blessed drops were obtained of the grace of Inspiration. + +And she put Gwion Bach the son of Gwreang of Llanfair in Caereinion, +in Powys, to stir the cauldron, and a blind man named Morda to kindle +the fire beneath it, and she charged them that they should not suffer +it to cease boiling for the space of a year and a day. And she +herself, according to the books of the astronomers, and in planetary +hours, gathered every day of all charm-bearing herbs. And one day, +towards the end of the year, as Caridwen was culling plants and +making incantations, it chanced that three drops of the charmed +liquor flew out of the cauldron and fell upon the finger of Gwion +Bach. And by reason of their great heat he put his finger to his +mouth, and the instant he put those marvel-working drops into his +mouth, he foresaw everything that was to come, and perceived that his +chief care must be to guard against the wiles of Caridwen, for vast +was her skill. And in very great fear he fled towards his own land. +And the cauldron burst in two, because all the liquor within it +except the three charm-bearing drops was poisonous, so that the +horses of Gwyddno Garanhir were poisoned by the water of the stream +into which the liquor of the cauldron ran, and the confluence of that +stream was called the Poison of the Horses of Gwyddno from that time +forth. + +Thereupon came in Caridwen and saw all the toil of the whole year +lost. And she seized a billet of wood and struck the blind Morda on +the head until one of his eyes fell out upon his cheek. And he said, +"Wrongfully hast thou disfigured me, for I am innocent. Thy loss was +not because of me." "Thou speakest truth," said Caridwen, "it was +Gwion Bach who robbed me." + +And she went forth after him, running. And he saw her, and changed +himself into a hare and fled. But she changed herself into a +greyhound and turned him. And he ran towards a river, and became a +fish. And she in the form of an otter-bitch chased him under the +water, until he was fain to turn himself into a bird of the air. +She, as a hawk, followed him and gave him no rest in the sky. And +just as she was about to stoop upon him, and he was in fear of death, +he espied a heap of winnowed wheat on the floor of a barn, and he +dropped among the wheat, and turned himself into one of the grains. +Then she transformed herself into a high-crested black hen, and went +to the wheat and scratched it with her feet, and found him out and +swallowed him. And, as the story says, she bore him nine months, and +when she was delivered of him, she could not find it in her heart to +kill him, by reason of his beauty. So she wrapped him in a leathern +bag, and cast him into the sea to the mercy of God, on the twenty- +ninth day of April. + +And at that time the weir of Gwyddno was on the strand between Dyvi +and Aberystwyth, near to his own castle, and the value of an hundred +pounds was taken in that weir every May eve. And in those days +Gwyddno had an only son named Elphin, the most hapless of youths, and +the most needy. And it grieved his father sore, for he thought that +he was born in an evil hour. And by the advice of his council, his +father had granted him the drawing of the weir that year, to see if +good luck would ever befall him, and to give him something wherewith +to begin the world. + +And the next day when Elphin went to look, there was nothing in the +weir. But as he turned back he perceived the leathern bag upon a +pole of the weir. Then said one of the weir-ward unto Elphin, "Thou +wast never unlucky until to-night, and now thou hast destroyed the +virtues of the weir, which always yielded the value of an hundred +pounds every May eve, and to-night there is nothing but this leathern +skin within it." "How now," said Elphin, "there may be therein the +value of an hundred pounds." Well, they took up the leathern bag, +and he who opened it saw the forehead of the boy, and said to Elphin, +"Behold a radiant brow!" {6} "Taliesin be he called," said Elphin. +And he lifted the boy in his arms, and lamenting his mischance, he +placed him sorrowfully behind him. And he made his horse amble +gently, that before had been trotting, and he carried him as softly +as if he had been sitting in the easiest chair in the world. And +presently the boy made a Consolation and praise to Elphin, and +foretold honour to Elphin; and the Consolation was as you may see:- + + +"Fair Elphin, cease to lament! +Let no one be dissatisfied with his own, +To despair will bring no advantage. +No man sees what supports him; +The prayer of Cynllo will not be in vain; +God will not violate his promise. +Never in Gwyddno's weir +Was there such good luck as this night. +Fair Elphin, dry thy cheeks! +Being too sad will not avail. +Although thou thinkest thou hast no gain, +Too much grief will bring thee no good; +Nor doubt the miracles of the Almighty: +Although I am but little, I am highly gifted. +From seas, and from mountains, +And from the depths of rivers, +God brings wealth to the fortunate man. +Elphin of lively qualities, +Thy resolution is unmanly; +Thou must not be over sorrowful: +Better to trust in God than to forbode ill. +Weak and small as I am, +On the foaming beach of the ocean, +In the day of trouble I shall be +Of more service to thee than three hundred salmon. +Elphin of notable qualities, +Be not displeased at thy misfortune; +Although reclined thus weak in my bag, +There lies a virtue in my tongue. +While I continue thy protector +Thou hast not much to fear; +Remembering the names of the Trinity, +None shall be able to harm thee." + + +And this was the first poem that Taliesin ever sang, being to console +Elphin in his grief for that the produce of the weir was lost, and, +what was worse, that all the world would consider that it was through +his fault and ill-luck. And then Gwyddno Garanhir {7} asked him what +he was, whether man or spirit. Whereupon he sang this tale, and +said:- + + +"First, I have been formed a comely person, +In the court of Caridwen I have done penance; +Though little I was seen, placidly received, +I was great on the floor of the place to where I was led; +I have been a prized defence, the sweet muse the cause, +And by law without speech I have been liberated +By a smiling black old hag, when irritated +Dreadful her claim when pursued: +I have fled with vigour, I have fled as a frog, +I have fled in the semblance of a crow, scarcely finding rest; +I have fled vehemently, I have fled as a chain, +I have fled as a roe into an entangled thicket; +I have fled as a wolf cub, I have fled as a wolf in a wilderness, +I have fled as a thrush of portending language; +I have fled as a fox, used to concurrent bounds of quirks; +I have fled as a martin, which did not avail; +I have fled as a squirrel, that vainly hides, +I have fled as a stag's antler, of ruddy course, +I have fled as iron in a glowing fire, +I have fled as a spear-head, of woe to such as has a wish for it; +I have fled as a fierce hull bitterly fighting, +I have fled as a bristly boar seen in a ravine, +I have fled as a white grain of pure wheat, +On the skirt of a hempen sheet entangled, +That seemed of the size of a mare's foal, +That is filling like a ship on the waters; +Into a dark leathern bag I was thrown, +And on a boundless sea I was sent adrift; +Which was to me an omen of being tenderly nursed, +And the Lord God then set me at liberty." + + +Then came Elphin to the house or court of Gwyddno his father, and +Taliesin with him. And Gwyddno asked him if he had had a good haul +at the weir, and he told him that he had got that which was better +than fish. "What was that?" said Gwyddno. "A Bard," answered +Elphin. Then said Gwyddno, "Alas, what will he profit thee?" And +Taliesin himself replied and said, "He will profit him more than the +weir ever profited thee." Asked Gwyddno, "Art thou able to speak, +and thou so little?" And Taliesin answered him, "I am better able to +speak than thou to question me." "Let me hear what thou canst say," +quoth Gwyddno. Then Taliesin sang:- + + +"In water there is a quality endowed with a blessing; +On God it is most just to meditate aright; +To God it is proper to supplicate with seriousness, +Since no obstacle can there be to obtain a reward from him. +Three times have I been born, I know by meditation; +It were miserable for a person not to come and obtain +All the sciences of the world, collected together in my breast, +For I know what has been, what in future will occur. +I will supplicate my Lord that I get refuge in him, +A regard I may obtain in his grace; +The Son of Mary is my trust, great in him is my delight, +For in him is the world continually upholden. +God has been to instruct me and to raise my expectation, +The true Creator of heaven, who affords me protection; +It is rightly intended that the saints should daily pray, +For God, the renovator, will bring them to him." + + +And forthwith Elphin gave his haul to his wife, and she nursed him +tenderly and lovingly. Thenceforward Elphin increased in riches more +and more day after day, and in love and favour with the king, and +there abode Taliesin until he was thirteen years old, when Elphin son +of Gwyddno went by a Christmas invitation to his uncle, Maelgwn +Gwynedd, who some time after this held open court at Christmastide in +the castle of Dyganwy, for all the number of his lords of both +degrees, both spiritual and temporal, with a vast and thronged host +of knights and squires. And amongst them there arose a discourse and +discussion. And thus was it said. + +"Is there in the whole world a king so great as Maelgwn, or one on +whom Heaven has bestowed so many spiritual gifts as upon him? First, +form, and beauty, and meekness, and strength, besides all the powers +of the soul!" And together with these they said that Heaven had +given one gift that exceeded all the others, which was the beauty, +and comeliness, and grace, and wisdom, and modesty of his queen; +whose virtues surpassed those of all the ladies and noble maidens +throughout the whole kingdom. And with this they put questions one +to another amongst themselves: Who had braver men? Who had fairer +or swifter horses or greyhounds? Who had more skilful or wiser +bards--than Maelgwn? + +Now at that time the bards were in great favour with the exalted of +the kingdom; and then none performed the office of those who are now +called heralds, unless they were learned men, not only expert in the +service of kings and princes, but studious and well versed in the +lineage, and arms, and exploits of princes and kings, and in +discussions concerning foreign kingdoms, and the ancient things of +this kingdom, and chiefly in the annals of the first nobles; and also +were prepared always with their answers in various languages, Latin, +French, Welsh, and English. And together with this they were great +chroniclers, and recorders, and skilful in framing verses, and ready +in making englyns in every one of those languages. Now of these +there were at that feast within the palace of Maelgwn as many as +four-and-twenty, and chief of them all was one named Heinin Vardd. + +When they had all made an end of thus praising the king and his +gifts, it befell that Elphin spoke in this wise. "Of a truth none +but a king may vie with a king; but were he not a king, I would say +that my wife was as virtuous as any lady in the kingdom, and also +that I have a bard who is more skilful than all the king's bards." +In a short space some of his fellows showed the king all the +boastings of Elphin; and the king ordered him to be thrown into a +strong prison, until he might know the truth as to the virtues of his +wife, and the wisdom of his bard. + +Now when Elphin had been put in a tower of the castle, with a thick +chain about his feet (it is said that it was a silver chain, because +he was of royal blood), the king, as the story relates, sent his son +Rhun to inquire into the demeanour of Elphin's wife. Now Rhun was +the most graceless man in the world, and there was neither wife nor +maiden with whom he had held converse, but was evil spoken of. While +Rhun went in haste towards Elphin's dwelling, being fully minded to +bring disgrace upon his wife, Taliesin told his mistress how that the +king had placed his master in durance in prison, and how that Rhun +was coming in haste to strive to bring disgrace upon her. Wherefore +he caused his mistress to array one of the maids of her kitchen in +her apparel; which the noble lady gladly did; and she loaded her +hands with the best rings that she and her husband possessed. + +In this guise Taliesin caused his mistress to put the maiden to sit +at the board in her room at supper, and he made her to seem as her +mistress, and the mistress to seem as the maid. And when they were +in due time seated at their supper in the manner that has been said, +Rhun suddenly arrived at Elphin's dwelling, and was received with +joy, for all the servants knew him plainly; and they brought him in +haste to the room of their mistress, in the semblance of whom the +maid rose up from supper and welcomed him gladly. And afterwards she +sat down to supper again the second time, and Rhun with her. Then +Rhun began jesting with the maid, who still kept the semblance of her +mistress. And verily this story shows that the maiden became so +intoxicated, that she fell asleep; and the story relates that it was +a powder that Rhun put into the drink, that made her sleep so soundly +that she never felt it when he cut from off her hand her little +finger, whereupon was the signet ring of Elphin, which he had sent to +his wife as a token, a short time before. And Rhun returned to the +king with the finger and the ring as a proof, to show that he had cut +it from off her hand, without her awaking from her sleep of +intemperance. + +The king rejoiced greatly at these tidings, and he sent for his +councillors, to whom he told the whole story from the beginning. And +he caused Elphin to be brought out of his prison, and he chided him +because of his boast. And he spake unto Elphin on this wise. +"Elphin, be it known to thee beyond a doubt that it is but folly for +a man to trust in the virtues of his wife further than he can see +her; and that thou mayest be certain of thy wife's vileness, behold +her finger, with thy signet ring upon it, which was cut from her hand +last night, while she slept the sleep of intoxication." Then thus +spake Elphin. "With thy leave, mighty king, I cannot deny my ring, +for it is known of many; but verily I assert strongly that the finger +around which it is, was never attached to the hand of my wife, for in +truth and certainty there are three notable things pertaining to it, +none of which ever belonged to any of my wife's fingers. The first +of the three is, that it is certain, by your grace's leave, that +wheresoever my wife is at this present hour, whether sitting, or +standing, or lying down, this ring would never remain upon her thumb, +whereas you can plainly see that it was hard to draw it over the +joint of the little finger of the hand whence this was cut; the +second thing is, that my wife has never let pass one Saturday since I +have known her without paring her nails before going to bed, and you +can see fully that the nail of this little finger has not been pared +for a month. The third is, truly, that the hand whence this finger +came was kneading rye dough within three days before the finger was +cut therefrom, and I can assure your goodness that my wife has never +kneaded rye dough since my wife she has been." + +Then the king was mightily wroth with Elphin for so stoutly +withstanding him, respecting the goodness of his wife, wherefore he +ordered him to his prison a second time, saying that he should not be +loosed thence until he had proved the truth of his boast, as well +concerning the wisdom of his bard as the virtues of his wife. + +In the meantime his wife and Taliesin remained joyful at Elphin's +dwelling. And Taliesin showed his mistress how that Elphin was in +prison because of them, but he bade her be glad, for that he would go +to Maelgwn's court to free his master. Then she asked him in what +manner he would set him free. And he answered her:- + + +"A journey will I perform, +And to the gate I will come; +The hall I will enter, +And my song I will sing; +My speech I will pronounce +To silence royal bards, +In presence of their chief, +I will greet to deride, +Upon them I will break +And Elphin I will free. +Should contention arise, +In presence of the prince, +With summons to the bards, +For the sweet flowing song, +And wizards' posing lore +And wisdom of Druids, +In the court of the sons of the Distributor +Some are who did appear +Intent on wily schemes, +By craft and tricking means, +In pangs of affliction +To wrong the innocent, +Let the fools be silent, +As erst in Badon's fight, - +With Arthur of liberal ones +The head, with long red blades; +Through feats of testy men, +And a chief with his foes. +Woe be to them, the fools, +When revenge comes on them. +I Taliesin, chief of bards, +With a sapient Druid's words, +Will set kind Elphin free +From haughty tyrant's bonds. +To their fell and chilling cry, +By the act of a surprising steed, +From the far distant North, +There soon shall be an end. +Let neither grace nor health +Be to Maelgwn Gwynedd, +For this force and this wrong; +And be extremes of ills +And an avenged end +To Rhun and all his race: +Short be his course of life, +Be all his lands laid waste; +And long exile be assigned +To Maelgwn Gwynedd!" + + +After this he took leave of his mistress, and came at last to the +Court of Maelgwn, who was going to sit in his hall and dine in his +royal state, as it was the custom in those days for kings and princes +to do at every chief feast. And as soon as Taliesin entered the +hall, he placed himself in a quiet corner, near the place where the +bards and the minstrels were wont to come in doing their service and +duty to the king, as is the custom at the high festivals when the +bounty is proclaimed. And so, when the bards and the heralds came to +cry largess, and to proclaim the power of the king and his strength, +at the moment that they passed by the corner wherein he was +crouching, Taliesin pouted out his lips after them, and played +"Blerwm, blerwm," with his finger upon his lips. Neither took they +much notice of him as they went by, but proceeded forward till they +came before the king, unto whom they made their obeisance with their +bodies, as they were wont, without speaking a single word, but +pouting out their lips, and making mouths at the king, playing +"Blerwm, blerwm," upon their lips with their fingers, as they had +seen the boy do elsewhere. This sight caused the king to wonder and +to deem within himself that they were drunk with many liquors. +Wherefore he commanded one of his lords, who served at the board, to +go to them and desire them to collect their wits, and to consider +where they stood, and what it was fitting for them to do. And this +lord did so gladly. But they ceased not from their folly any more +than before. Whereupon he sent to them a second time, and a third, +desiring them to go forth from the hall. At the last the king +ordered one of his squires to give a blow to the chief of them named +Heinin Vardd; and the squire took a broom and struck him on the head, +so that he fell back in his seat. Then he arose and went on his +knees, and besought leave of the king's grace to show that this their +fault was not through want of knowledge, neither through drunkenness, +but by the influence of some spirit that was in the hall. And after +this Heinin spoke on this wise. "Oh, honourable king, be it known to +your grace, that not from the strength of drink, or of too much +liquor, are we dumb, without power of speech like drunken men, but +through the influence of a spirit that sits in the corner yonder in +the form of a child." Forthwith the king commanded the squire to +fetch him; and he went to the nook where Taliesin sat, and brought +him before the king, who asked him what he was, and whence he came. +And he answered the king in verse. + + +"Primary chief bard am I to Elphin, +And my original country is the region of the summer stars; +Idno and Heinin called me Merddin, +At length every king will call me Taliesin. + +I was with my Lord in the highest sphere, +On the fall of Lucifer into the depth of hell +I have borne a banner before Alexander; +I know the names of the stars from north to south; +I have been on the galaxy at the throne of the Distributor; +I was in Canaan when Absalom was slain; +I conveyed the Divine Spirit to the level of the vale of Hebron; +I was in the court of Don before the birth of Gwdion. +I was instructor to Eli and Enoc; +I have been winged by the genius of the splendid crosier; +I have been loquacious prior to being gifted with speech; +I was at the place of the crucifixion of the merciful Son of God; +I have been three periods in the prison of Arianrod; +I have been the chief director of the work of the tower of Nimrod; +I am a wonder whose origin is not known. +I have been in Asia with Noah in the ark, +I have seen the destruction of Sodom and Gomorra; +I have been in India when Roma was built, +I am now come here to the remnant of Troia. + +I have been with my Lord in the manger of the ass: +I strengthened Moses through the water of Jordan; +I have been in the firmament with Mary Magdalene; +I have obtained the muse from the cauldron of Caridwen; +I have been bard of the harp to Lleon of Lochlin. +I have been on the White Hill, in the court of Cynvelyn, +For a day and a year in stocks and fetters, +I have suffered hunger for the Son of the Virgin, +I have been fostered in the land of the Deity, +I have been teacher to all intelligences, +I am able to instruct the whole universe. +I shall be until the day of doom on the face of the earth; +And it is not known whether my body is flesh or fish. + + Then I was for nine months + In the womb of the hag Caridwen; + I was originally little Gwion, + And at length I am Taliesin." + + +And when the king and his nobles had heard the song, they wondered +much, for they had never heard the like from a boy so young as he. +And when the king knew that he was the bard of Elphin, he bade +Heinin, his first and wisest bard, to answer Taliesin and to strive +with him. But when he came, he could do no other but play "blerwm" +on his lips; and when he sent for the others of the four-and-twenty +bards they all did likewise, and could do no other. And Maelgwn +asked the boy Taliesin what was his errand, and he answered him in +song. + + +"Puny bards, I am trying +To secure the prize, if I can; +By a gentle prophetic strain +I am endeavouring to retrieve +The loss I may have suffered; +Complete the attempt I hope, +Since Elphin endures trouble +In the fortress of Teganwy, +On him may there not be laid +Too many chains and fetters; +The Chair of the fortress of Teganwy +Will I again seek; +Strengthened by my muse I am powerful; +Mighty on my part is what I seek, +For three hundred songs and more +Are combined in the spell I sing. +There ought not to stand where I am +Neither stone, neither ring; +And there ought not to be about me +Any bard who may not know +That Elphin the son of Gwyddno +Is in the land of Artro, +Secured by thirteen locks, +For praising his instructor; +And then I Taliesin, +Chief of the bards of the west, +Shall loosen Elphin +Out of a golden fetter." + +* * * * * + +"If you be primary bards +To the master of sciences, +Declare ye mysteries +That relate to the inhabitants of the world; +There is a noxious creature, +From the rampart of Satanas, +Which has overcome all +Between the deep and the shallow; +Equally wide are his jaws +As the mountains of the Alps; +Him death will not subdue, +Nor hand or blades; +There is the load of nine hundred wagons +In the hair of his two paws; +There is in his head an eye +Green as the limpid sheet of icicle; +Three springs arise +In the nape of his neck; +Sea-roughs thereon +Swim through it; +There was the dissolution of the oxen +Of Deivrdonwy the water-gifted. +The names of the three springs +From the midst of the ocean; +One generated brine +Which is from the Corina, +To replenish the flood +Over seas disappearing; +The second, without injury +It will fall on us, +When there is rain abroad, +Through the whelming sky; +The third will appear +Through the mountain veins, +Like a flinty banquet, +The work of the King of kings, +You are blundering bards, +In too much solicitude; +You cannot celebrate +The kingdom of the Britons; +And I am Taliesin, +Chief of the bards of the west, +Who will loosen Elphin +Out of the golden fetter." + +* * * * * + +"Be silent, then, ye unlucky rhyming bards, +For you cannot judge between truth and falsehood. +If you be primary bards formed by heaven, +Tell your king what his fate will be. +It is I who am a diviner and a leading bard, +And know every passage in the country of your king; +I shall liberate Elphin from the belly of the stony tower; +And will tell your king what will befall him. +A most strange creature will come from the sea marsh of Rhianedd +As a punishment of iniquity on Maelgwn Gwynedd; +His hair, his teeth, and his eyes being as gold, +And this will bring destruction upon Maelgwn Gwynedd." + +* * * * * + +"Discover thou what is +The strong creature from before the flood, +Without flesh, without bone, +Without vein, without blood, +Without head, without feet, +It will neither be older nor younger +Than at the beginning; +For fear of a denial, +There are no rude wants +With creatures. +Great God! how the sea whitens +When first it comes! +Great are its gusts +When it comes from the south; +Great are its evaporations +When it strikes on coasts. +It is in the field, it is in the wood, +Without hand, and without foot, +Without signs of old age, +Though it be co-aeval +With the five ages or periods +And older still, +Though they be numberless years. +It is also so wide +As the surface of the earth; +And it was not born, +Nor was it seen. +It will cause consternation +Wherever God willeth. +On sea, and on land, +It neither sees, nor is seen. +Its course is devious, +And will not come when desired; +On land and on sea, +It is indispensable. +It is without an equal, +It is four-sided; +It is not confined, +It is incomparable; +It comes from four quarters; +It will not be advised, +It will not be without advice. +It commences its journey +Above the marble rock, +It is sonorous, it is dumb, +It is mild, +It is strong, it is bold, +When it glances over the land, +It is silent, it is vocal, +It is clamorous, +It is the most noisy +On the face of the earth. +It is good, it is bad, +It is extremely injurious. +It is concealed, +Because sight cannot perceive it. +It is noxious, it is beneficial; +It is yonder, it is here; +It will discompose, +But will not repair the injury; +It will not suffer for its doings, +Seeing it is blameless. +It is wet, it is dry, +It frequently comes, +Proceeding from the heat of the sun, +And the coldness of the moon. +The moon is less beneficial, +Inasmuch as her heat is less. +One Being has prepared it, +Out of all creatures, +By a tremendous blast, +To wreak vengeance +On Maelgwn Gwynedd." + + +And while he was thus singing his verse near the door, there arose a +mighty storm of wind, so that the king and all his nobles thought +that the castle would fall on their heads. And the king caused them +to fetch Elphin in haste from his dungeon, and placed him before +Taliesin. And it is said, that immediately he sang a verse, so that +the chains opened from about his feet. + + +"I adore the Supreme, Lord of all animation, - +Him that supports the heavens, Ruler of every extreme, +Him that made the water good for all, +Him who has bestowed each gift, and blesses it; - +May abundance of mead be given Maelgwn of Anglesey, who supplies us, +From his foaming meadhorns, with the choicest pure liquor. +Since bees collect, and do not enjoy, +We have sparkling distilled mead, which is universally praised. +The multitude of creatures which the earth nourishes +God made for man, with a view to enrich him; - +Some are violent, some are mute, he enjoys them, +Some are wild, some are tame; the Lord makes them; - +Part of their produce becomes clothing; +For food and beverage till doom will they continue. +I entreat the Supreme, Sovereign of the region of peace, +To liberate Elphin from banishment, +The man who gave me wine, and ale, and mead, +With large princely steeds, of beautiful appearance; +May he yet give me; and at the end, +May God of his good will grant me, in honour, +A succession of numberless ages, in the retreat of tranquillity. +Elphin, knight of mead, late be thy dissolution!" + + +And afterwards he sang the ode which is called "The Excellence of the +Bards." + + +"What was the first man +Made by the God of heaven; +What the fairest flattering speech +That was prepared by leuav; +What meat, what drink, +What roof his shelter; +What the first impression +Of his primary thinking; +What became his clothing; +Who carried on a disguise, +Owing to the wilds of the country, +In the beginning? +Wherefore should a stone be hard; +Why should a thorn be sharp-pointed? +Who is hard like a flint; +Who is salt like brine; +Who sweet like honey; +Who rides on the gale; +Why ridged should be the nose; +Why should a wheel be round; +Why should the tongue be gifted with speech +Rather than another member? +If thy bards, Heinin, be competent, +Let them reply to me, Taliesin." + + +And after that he sang the address which is called "The Reproof of +the Bards." + + +"If thou art a bard completely imbued +With genius not to be controlled, +Be thou not untractable +Within the court of thy king; +Until thy rigmarole shall be known, +Be thou silent, Heinin, +As to the name of thy verse, +And the name of thy vaunting; +And as to the name of thy grandsire +Prior to his being baptized. +And the name of the sphere, +And the name of the element, +And the name of thy language, +And the name of thy region. +Avaunt, ye bards above, +Avaunt, ye bards below! +My beloved is below, +In the fetter of Ariansod +It is certain you know not +How to understand the song I utter, +Nor clearly how to discriminate +Between the truth and what is false; +Puny bards, crows of the district, +Why do you not take to flight? +A bard that will not silence me, +Silence may he not obtain, +Till he goes to be covered +Under gravel and pebbles; +Such as shall listen to me, +May God listen to him." + + +Then sang he the piece called "The Spite of the Bards." + + +"Minstrels persevere in their false custom, +Immoral ditties are their delight; +Vain and tasteless praise they recite; +Falsehood at all times do they utter; +The innocent persons they ridicule; +Married women they destroy, +Innocent virgins of Mary they corrupt; +As they pass their lives away in vanity, +Poor innocent persons they ridicule; +At night they get drunk, they sleep the day; +In idleness without work they feed themselves; +The Church they hate, and the tavern they frequent; +With thieves and perjured fellows they associate; +At courts they inquire after feasts; +Every senseless word they bring forward; +Every deadly sin they praise; +Every vile course of life they lead; +Through every village, town, and country they stroll; +Concerning the gripe of death they think not; +Neither lodging nor charity do they give; +Indulging in victuals to excess. +Psalms or prayers they do not use, +Tithes or offerings to God they do not pay, +On holidays or Sundays they do not worship; +Vigils or festivals they do not heed. +The birds do fly, the fish do swim, +The bees collect honey, worms do crawl, +Every thing travails to obtain its food, +Except minstrels and lazy useless thieves. + +I deride neither song nor minstrelsy, +For they are given by God to lighten thought; +But him who abuses them, +For blaspheming Jesus and his service." + + +Taliesin having set his master free from prison, and having protected +the innocence of his wife, and silenced the Bards, so that not one of +them dared to say a word, now brought Elphin's wife before them, and +showed that she had not one finger wanting. Right glad was Elphin, +right glad was Taliesin. + +Then he bade Elphin wager the king, that he had a horse both better +and swifter than the king's horses. And this Elphin did, and the +day, and the time, and the place were fixed, and the place was that +which at this day is called Morva Rhiannedd: and thither the king +went with all his people, and four-and-twenty of the swiftest horses +he possessed. And after a long process the course was marked, and +the horses were placed for running. Then came Taliesin with four- +and-twenty twigs of holly, which he had burnt black, and he caused +the youth who was to ride his master's horse to place them in his +belt, and he gave him orders to let all the king's horses get before +him, and as he should overtake one horse after the other, to take one +of the twigs and strike the horse with it over the crupper, and then +let that twig fall; and after that to take another twig, and do in +like manner to every one of the horses, as he should overtake them, +enjoining the horseman strictly to watch when his own horse should +stumble, and to throw down his cap on the spot. All these things did +the youth fulfil, giving a blow to every one of the king's horses, +and throwing down his cap on the spot where his horse stumbled. And +to this spot Taliesin brought his master after his horse had won the +race. And he caused Elphin to put workmen to dig a hole there; and +when they had dug the ground deep enough, they found a large cauldron +full of gold. And then said Taliesin, "Elphin, behold a payment and +reward unto thee, for having taken me out of the weir, and for having +reared me from that time until now." And on this spot stands a pool +of water, which is to this time called Pwllbair. + +After all this, the king caused Taliesin to be brought before him, +and he asked him to recite concerning the creation of man from the +beginning; and thereupon he made the poem which is now called "One of +the Four Pillars of Song." + + +"The Almighty made, +Down the Hebron vale, +With his plastic hands, + Adam's fair form: + +And five hundred years, +Void of any help, +There he remained and lay + Without a soul. + +He again did form, +In calm paradise, +From a left-side rib, + Bliss-throbbing Eve. + +Seven hours they were +The orchard keeping, +Till Satan brought strife, + With wiles from hell. + +Thence were they driven, +Cold and shivering, +To gain their living, + Into this world. + +To bring forth with pain +Their sons and daughters, +To have possession + Of Asia's land. + +Twice five, ten and eight, +She was self-bearing, +The mixed burden + Of man-woman. + +And once, not hidden, +She brought forth Abel, +And Cain the forlorn, + The homicide. + +To him and his mate +Was given a spade, +To break up the soil, + Thus to get bread. + +The wheat pure and white, +Summer tilth to sow, +Every man to feed, + Till great yule feast. + +An angelic hand +From the high Father, +Brought seed for growing + That Eve might sow; + +But she then did hide +Of the gift a tenth, +And all did not sow + Of what was dug. + +Black rye then was found, +And not pure wheat grain, +To show the mischief + Thus of thieving. + +For this thievish act, +It is requisite, +That all men should pay + Tithe unto God. + +Of the ruddy wine, +Planted on sunny days, +And on new-moon nights; + And the white wine. + +The wheat rich in grain +And red flowing wine +Christ's pure body make, + Son of Alpha. + +The wafer is flesh, +The wine is spilt blood, +The Trinity's words + Sanctify them. + +The concealed books +From Emmanuel's hand +Were brought by Raphael + As Adam's gift, + +When in his old age, +To his chin immersed +In Jordan's water, + Keeping a fast, + +Moses did obtain +In Jordan's water, +The aid of the three + Most special rods. + +Solomon did obtain +In Babel's tower, +All the sciences + In Asia land. + +So did I obtain, +In my bardic books, +All the sciences + Of Europe and Africa. + +Their course, their bearing, +Their permitted way, +And their fate I know, + Unto the end. + +Oh! what misery, +Through extreme of woe, +Prophecy will show + On Troia's race! + +A coiling serpent +Proud and merciless, +On her golden wings, + From Germany. + +She will overrun +England and Scotland, +From Lychlyn sea-shore + To the Severn. + +Then will the Brython +Be as prisoners, +By strangers swayed, + From Saxony. + +Their Lord they will praise, +Their speech they will keep, +Their land they will lose, + Except wild Walia. + +Till some change shall come, +After long penance, +When equally rife + The two crimes come. + +Britons then shall have +Their land and their crown, +And the stranger swarm + Shall disappear. + +All the angel's words, +As to peace and war, +Will be fulfilled + To Britain's race." + +He further told the king various prophecies of things that should be +in the world, in songs, as follows. + + + +Footnotes: + +{1} It is also stated, that there is in the Hengwrt Library, a MS. +containing the Graal in Welsh, as early as the time of Henry I. I +had hoped to have added this to the present collection; but the death +of Col. Vaughan, to whom I applied, and other subsequent +circumstances, have prevented me from obtaining access to it. + +{2} Hades. + +{3} The word "Pryder" or "Pryderi" means anxiety. + +{4} The version in the Greal adds, "And their coin was fairy money;" +literally, dwarf's money: that is, money which, when received, +appeared to be good coin, but which, if kept, turned into pieces of +fungus, &c. + +{5} This dialogue consists of a series of repartees with a play upon +words, which it is impossible to follow in the translation. + +{6} Taliesin. + +{7} The mention of Gwyddno Garanhir instead of Elphin ab Gwyddno in +this place is evidently an error of some transcriber of the MS. + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE MABINOGION *** + +This file should be named mbng10.txt or mbng10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, mbng11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, mbng10a.txt + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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