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Pwyll, Prince of Dyved, was lord of the seven Cantrevs of Dyved; and
once upon a time he was at Narberth his chief palace, and he was minded
to go and hunt, and the part of his dominions in which it pleased him
to hunt was Glyn Cuch.
So he set forth from Narberth that night, and went as far
as Llwyn Diarwyd. And that night he tarried there, and early on the morrow
he rose and came to Glyn Cuch; when he let loose the dogs in the wood
and sounded the horn, and began the chase. And as he followed the dogs,
he lost his companions; and whilst he listened to the hounds, he heard
the cry of other hounds, a cry different from his own, and coming in the
opposite direction.
And he beheld a glade in the wood forming a level plain,
and as his dogs came to the edge of the glade, he saw a stag before the
other dogs. And lo, as it reached the middle of the glade, the dogs that
followed the stag overtook it and brought it down.
Then looked he at the colour of the dogs, staying not to look at the
stag, and of all the hounds that he had seen in the world, he had never
seen any that were like unto these. For their hair was of a brilliant
shining white, and their ears were red; and as the whiteness of their
bodies shone, so did the redness of their ears glisten. And he came towards
the dogs, and drove away those that had brought down the stag, and set
his own dogs upon it.
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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."
"0 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" 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!"
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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.
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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.
"0 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 upheld 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.
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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.
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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.
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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 "0 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 head dress 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 will I 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.
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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; Hevevdd 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 be, "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 fall."
"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 tonight a banquet shall be prepared for thee in
this palace, that I may become thy bride."
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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 Annwn, 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 herein.'"
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.
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"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 twelve month, 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.
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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 today that
may claim thy bounty."
"Thus shall it be gladly" said Pwyll, "both today 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.
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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 anyone 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.
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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 horse-block 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. Bat 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 Teirnyou 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 Tiernyon 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.
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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.
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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.
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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 horse-block. 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 Pwyll
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 (anxiety), and well becomes him the name of Pryderi son of Pwyll,
Chief of Annwvyn."
"Look you" said Rhiannon, "will no this 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.
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"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.
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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 Wlallt Lydan, the son of Prince
Casnar, one of the nobles of this Island.
And thus ends this portion of the Mabinogion.
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Translated from the Welsh
by Lady Charlotte Guest (1849).
This page courtesy of MacLloyd's Murias
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