"I will willingly arise," said he. So he rose up, and put his two feet
into the bag. And Powel 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 Powel threw off his
rags, and his old shoes, and his tattered array. And as they came in,
every one of Powel'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 Heveyth Hen, "Lord, he speaks truth. It were fitting that thou
listen to him; for he deserves not this."
"Verily," said Powel, "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 Powel, "since it is the counsel of
Heveyth and Rhiannon."
"Such, then, is our counsel," answered they.
"I accept it," said Powel.
"Seek thyself sureties."
"We will be for him," said Heveyth, "until his men be free to answer for
him." And upon this he was let out of the bag, and his liege-men were
liberated. "Demand now of Gwawl his sureties," said Heveyth; "we know
which should be taken for him." And Heveyth numbered the sureties.