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. {11a} And that night he tarried there, and early {11b}
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 chace. 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 those.
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.
{Picture: p13.jpg}
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 about 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," answered he;
"Arawn, a King of Annwvyn, {13} 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 will we 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 {15} 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 ever yet beheld.
And she had on a yellow robe of shining satin; and they washed and went
to the table, and they 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 farthest 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."
{Picture: p16.jpg}
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 any thing,
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." {17} "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 enquire 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 wert never so kind nor 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 high way 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 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. 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 eat 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 shall
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 bagfull 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 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. {26} "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 begun 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 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 shall 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
eat, 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. {28} 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." "Wiliest 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 were 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. {29} 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 had
devoured her son, and she alone will not be able to gainsay us six." And
according to this counsel it wast 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. {30} 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, {31a} 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
{31b} 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. 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 unto 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; {33} 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 foundest 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,
enquired 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
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." {35} 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 indeed
is an end to my trouble." {36a} "Lady," said Pendaran Dyved, "well hast
thou named thy son Pryderi, 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, {36b} 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. {37a} 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 {37b} 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 {38} 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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