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 farther 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 farther 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 farther 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 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 Hên, and they sought to give me to a husband against my will.
But no husband would I have, and that because of my love for thee,
neither will I yet have one unless thou reject me. And hither have I
come to hear thy answer."
"By Heaven," said Pwyll, "behold this is my answer. If I might choose
among all the ladies and damsels in the world, thee would I choose."
"Verily," said she, "if thou art thus minded, make a pledge to meet me
ere I am given to another."
"The sooner I may do so, the more pleasing will it be unto me," said
Pwyll, "and wheresoever thou wilt, there will I meet with thee."
"I will that thou meet me this day twelvemonth, at the palace of
Heveydd. And I will cause a feast to be prepared, so that it be ready
against thou come."
"Gladly," said he, "will I keep this tryst."
"Lord," said she, "remain in health, and be mindful that thou keep thy
promise. And now 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. And when
a year from that time was gone, he caused a hundred knights to equip
themselves, and to go with him to the palace of Heveydd Hên. And he
came to the palace, and there was great joy concerning him, with much
concourse of people, and great rejoicing, and vast preparations for his
coming. And the whole court was placed under his orders.
And the hall was garnished, and they went to meat, and thus did they
sit: Heveydd Hên was on one side of Pwyll, and Rhiannon on the other.
And all the rest according to their rank. And they ate and feasted and
talked, one with another; and at the beginning of the carousal after
the meat, there entered a tall auburn-haired youth, of royal bearing,
clothed in a garment of satin. And when he came into the hall he
saluted Pwyll and his companions.
"The greeting of Heaven be unto thee, my soul," said Pwyll. "Come thou
and sit down."
"Nay," said he, "a suitor am I; and I will do mine errand."
"Do so willingly," said Pwyll.
"Lord," said he, "my errand is unto thee; and it is to crave a boon of
thee that I come."
"What boon soever thou mayest ask of me, as far as I am able, thou
shalt have."
"Ah," said Rhiannon, "wherefore didst thou give that answer?"
"Has he not given it before the presence of these nobles?" asked the
youth.
"My soul," said Pwyll, "what is the boon thou askest?"
"The lady whom best I love is to be thy bride this night: I come to ask
her of thee, with the feast and the banquet that are in this place."
And Pwyll was silent because of the answer which he had given.
"Be silent as long as thou wilt," said Rhiannon. "Never did man make
worse use of his wits than thou hast done."
"Lady," said he, "I knew not who he was."
"Behold, this is the man to whom they would have given me against my
will," said she. "And he is Gwawl the son of Clud, a man of great power
and wealth; and because of the word thou hast spoken, bestow me upon
him, lest shame befall thee."
"Lady," said he, "I understand not thine answer. Never can I do as thou
sayest."
"Bestow me upon him," said she, "and I will cause that I shall never be
his."
"By what means will that be?" asked Pwyll.
"In thy hand will I give thee a small bag," said she. "See that thou
keep it well, and he will ask of thee the banquet and the feast, and
the preparations, which are not in thy power. Unto the hosts and the
household will I give the feast. And such will be thy answer respecting
this. And as concerns myself, I will engage to become his bride this
night twelvemonth. And at the end of the year be thou here," said she,
"and bring this bag with thee, and let thy hundred knights be in the
orchard up yonder. And when he is in the midst of joy and feasting,
come thou in by thyself, clad in ragged garments, and holding thy bag
in thy hand, and ask nothing but a bagful of food: and I will cause
that if all the meat and liquor that are in these seven cantrevs were
put into it, it would be no fuller than before. And after a great deal
has been put therein, he will ask thee whether thy bag will ever be
full. Say thou then that it never will, until a man of noble birth and
of great wealth arise and press the food in the bag with both his feet,
saying, 'Enough has been put therein.' And I will cause him to go and
tread down the food in the bag, and when he does so, turn thou the bag,
so that he shall be up over his head in it, and then slip a knot upon
the thongs of the bag. Let there be also a good bugle-horn about thy
neck, and as soon as thou hast bound him in the bag, wind thy horn, and
let it be a signal between thee and thy knights. And when they hear the
sound of the horn, let them come down upon the palace."
"Lord," said Gwawl, "it is meet that I have an answer to my request."
"As much of that thou hast asked as it is in my power to give, thou
shalt have," replied Pwyll.
"My soul," said Rhiannon unto him, "as for the feast and the banquet
that are here, I have bestowed them upon the men of Dyved, and the
household, and the warriors that are with us. These can I not suffer to
be given to any. In a year from to-night a banquet shall be prepared
for thee in this palace, that I may become thy bride."
So Gwawl went forth to his possessions, and Pwyll went also back to
Dyved. And they both spent that year until it was the time for the
feast at the palace of Heveydd Hên. Then Gwawl the son of Clud set out
to the feast that was prepared for him, and he came to the palace, and
was received there with rejoicing. Pwyll also, the chief of Annwvyn,
came to the orchard with his hundred knights, as Rhiannon had commanded
him, having the bag with him. And Pwyll was clad in coarse and ragged
garments, and wore large clumsy old shoes upon his feet. And when he
knew that the carousal after the meat had begun, he went towards the
hall, and when he came into the hall, he saluted Gwawl the son of Clud,
and his company, both men and women.
"Heaven prosper thee!" said Gwawl, "and the greeting of Heaven be unto
thee!"
"Lord," said he, "may Heaven reward thee! I have an errand unto thee."
"Welcome be thine errand, and, if thou ask of me that which is just,
thou shalt have it gladly."
"It is fitting," answered he. "I crave but from want; and the boon that
I ask is to have this small bag that thou seest filled with meat."
"A request within reason is this," said he, "and gladly shalt thou have
it.--Bring him food."
A great number of attendants arose, and began to fill the bag; but for
all that they put into it, it was no fuller than at first.
"My soul," said Gwawl, "will thy bag be ever full?"
"It will not, I declare to Heaven," said he, "for all that may be put
into it, unless one possessed of lands and domains and treasure shall
arise, and tread down with both his feet the food that is within the
bag, and shall say, 'Enough has been put 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.
"Lord," said the man in the bag, "if thou wouldest but hear me, I merit
not to be slain in a bag."
Said Heveydd Hên, "Lord, he speaks truth. It were fitting that thou
listen to him; for he deserves not this."
"Verily," said Pwyll, "I will do thy counsel concerning him."
"Behold, this is my counsel then," said Rhiannon. "Thou art now in a
position in which it behoves thee to satisfy suitors and minstrels:
let him give unto them in thy stead, and take a pledge from him that he
will never seek to revenge that which has been done to him. And this
will be punishment enough."
"I will do this gladly," said the man in the bag.
"And gladly will I accept it," said Pwyll, "since it is the counsel of
Heveydd and Rhiannon."
"Such, then, is our counsel," answered they.
"I accept it," said Pwyll.
"Seek thyself sureties."
"We will be for him," said Heveydd, "until his men be free to answer
for him." And upon this he was let out of the bag, and his liege-men
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 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."
Said Pwyll, "We will go hence together."
"Willest thou this, lord?" said Heveydd.
"Yes," 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 fourth year a son was born to them, and women were brought
to watch the babe at night.] And the women slept, as did also Rhiannon.
And when they awoke they looked where they had put the boy, and behold
he was not there. [And the women were frightened; and, having plotted
together, they accused Rhiannon of having murdered her child before
their eyes.]
"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.
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 armed himself, and began to watch that night. Teirnyon
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.
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 farther 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."