 Section 5 of the Mabinogen, Volume 3 by Anonymous, translated by Charlotte Guest, this LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Section 5, Math the son of Mothonwee. Math the son of Mothonwee was lured over with Neth, and Praderi the son of Poise was lured over the one and twenty cantrefs of the south, and these were the seven cantrefs of David, and the seven cantrefs of Morgan, Nuuk, the four cantrefs of Sarah de Guion, and the three of Istrad Tywee. At that time Math the son of Mothonwee could not exist unless his feet were in the lap of a maiden, except only when he was prevented by the tumult of war. Now the maiden who was with him was Gowin, the daughter of Peben of Dole Peben in Arvon, and she was the fairest maiden of her time who was known there. And Math dwelt always at Carr, Dathol, and Arvon, and was not able to go the circuit of the land, but Goveethwee, the son of Don, and Enid the son of Don, his nephews, the sons of his sister, with his household, went the circuit of the land in his stead. Now the maiden was Math continually, and Goveethwee, the son of Don, set his affections upon her, and loved her so that he knew not what he should do because of her, and therefore behold his hue and his aspect and his spirits changed for love of her, so that it was not easy to know him. One day his brother, Gwydian, gazed steadfast upon him. You said he, what elith thee? Why? replied he, what seeest thou in me? I cease that he that thou hast lost thy aspect in thy hue, but therefore elith thee. My lord brother, he answered that which elith me, it will not profit me that I should own to any. What may it be my soul, said he, Thou knowest, he said, that math the son of Mothonwee has this property, that if men whisper together in atone, how lo soever, if the wind meet it, it becomes known unto him. Yes, said Gwydian, hold now thy peace, I know thy intent, thou lovest go when. When he found that his brother knew his intent, he gave the heaviest sigh in the world. Be silent, my soul, and sigh not, he said, it is not thereby that thou wilt succeed. I will call, said he, if it cannot be otherwise, the rising of Gwyneth and Powis and Huubarth to seek the maiden. Be thou of glad cheer, therefore, and I will compass it. So they went unto math the son of Mothonwee. Thord said, Gwydian, I have heard that there have come to the Souths and Beasts, such as were never known in this island before. What are they called, he asked. Pigs, lord, and what kind of animals are they? They are small animals, and their flesh is better than the flesh of oxen. They are small then, and they changed their names. Swine are they now called, who owneth them? Prydary the son of Powis, they were sent him from Annun by Arun, the king of Annun, and still they keep that name, half hog, half pig, barely asked thee, and by what means may they be obtained from him. I will go, lord, as one of twelve in the guise of Bards, to seek the swine. But it may be that he will refuse you, said he. My journey will not be evil, lord, said he. I will not come back without the swine. Gladly, said he, go thou forward. So he and Gilbeath, we went and ten other men with them, and they came into Sarah de Guion, to the place that is now called Rudlan Tyvee, where the palace of Prydary was, and the guise of Bards they came in, and they were received joyfully, and Gwydian was placed beside Prydary that night. Of a truce, said Prydary, gladly would I have a tale from some of your men yonder. Lord said, Gwydian, we have accustomed at the first night that we come to the court of a great man, the chief of song recites. Gladly will I relate a tale. Now, Gwydian was the best teller of tales in the world, and he diverted all the court that night with pleasant discourse and with tales, so that he charmed everyone in the court, and it pleased Prydary to talk with him. And after this, Lord, said he unto Prydary, were it more pleasing to thee that another should discharge my errand unto thee than that I should tell thee myself what it is? No, he answered, ample speech hast thou. Behold, then, Lord, said he, my errand, it is to crave from thee the animals that were sent thee from anoon. Barely, he replied, that were the easiest thing in the world to grant, were there not a covenant between me and my land concerning them, and the covenant is that they shall not go from me until they have produced double their number in the land. Lord, said he, I can set thee free from these words, and this is the way I can do so. Give me not the swine tonight, neither refuse them unto me, and tomorrow I will show thee an exchange for them. And that night he and his fellows went unto their lodging and they took counsel. All my men said he, we shall not have the swine for the asking. Well said they, how may they be obtained? I will cause them to be obtained, said Gwydian. Then he but took himself to his arts and began to work a charm. And he caused twelve charges to appear, and twelve black-grey hounds, each of them white, pressed it, and having upon them twelve collars and twelve leashes, such as no one that saw them could know to be other than gold. And upon the horses, twelve saddles, and every part which should have been of iron, was entirely of gold, and the bridles were of the same workmanship. And with the horses and the dogs, he came to Praderi. Good day unto thee, Lord, said he, heaven prosper thee, said the other, and greetings be unto thee. Lord, said he, behold, here is a release for thee from the word which thou spakest last evening concerning the swine, that thou wittest neither give nor sell them. Thou mayest exchange them for that which is better. And I will give these twelve horses, all comparison'd as they are, with their saddles and their bridles, and these twelve grayhounds with their collars, and their leashes, as thou seest, and the twelve gilded shields that thou beholdest yonder. Now these he had formed of fungus. Well said he, we will take counsel, and they consulted together and determined to give the swine to Gwydian, and to take his horses and his dogs and his shields. Then Gwydian and his men took their leave and began to journey forth with the pigs. Ah, my comrades, said Gwydian, it is needful that we journey with speed. The illusion will not last but from the one hour to the same tomorrow. And that night they journeyed as far as the upper part of Sarat de Gion to the place which from that cause was called Maktrev still, and the next day they took their course through Melanith and came that night to the town which is likewise for that reason called Maktrev, between Harry and R. Wistly, and thence they journeyed forward, and that night they came as far as the Comet in Poise, which also upon account thereof is called Maktrev, and there tarried they that night, and they journeyed thence to the Cantref of Rose, and the place where they were that night is still called Maktrev. My men, said Gwydian, we must push forward to the fastnesses of Gwyneth with these animals for there is a gathering of hosts in pursuit of us. So they journeyed on to the highest town of our sec wet, and there they made us die for the swine, and therefore it was the name of crew where Rion given to that town. And after they had made the stye for the swine, they proceeded to math the son of Mothonwy at Kerr Dathol, and when they came there, the country was rising. What news is there here? Ask Gwydian, Prydiri is assembling one and twenty Cantrefs to pursue after you answered they. It is marvelous that you should have journeyed so slowly. Where are the animals? Wherever you went in quest, said Math, they have had a stye made for them in the other Cantref below, said Gwydian. There upon low they heard the trumpets and the host in the land, and they arrayed themselves and set forward and came to Panarth in Arvon. And at night, Gwydian, the son of Don and Gil B. Thwy, his brother returned to Kerr Dathol and Gil Beth Thwy Turk, math the son of Mothonwy's couch. And while he turned out the other damsels from the room discourteously, he made Garwin unwillingly remain. And when they saw the day on the maw, they went back on to the place where math the son of Mothonwy was with his host. And when they came there, the warriors were taking counsel in what district they should await the coming of Prydiri and the men of the south. So they went into the council, and it was resolved to wait in the strongholds of Gwyneth in Arvon. So within the two minors, they took their stand, meaner Panarth, a meaner co-ed Elin, and their Prydiri attacked them, and there the combat took place. And great was the slaughter in both sides, but the men of the south were forced to flee. And they fled into the place which is still called Nant, Caul, and the other did they follow them, and they made a vast slaughter of them there so that they fled again as far as the place called Dole, Penn, Maine, and there they halted and sought to make peace. And that you might have peace, Prydiri gave hostages, Gwyrgy, Gwastra, gave he and three and twenty others sons of nobles. And after this, they journeyed in peace even unto Traff, Mar, but as they went on together towards Mellonryd, and men on foot could not be restrained from shooting. Prydiri dispatched them to math and embassy to pray him to forbid his people and to leave it between him and Gwydion, the son of Don, for that he had caused all this, and the messengers came to math. Of a true said math I call heaven to witness, if it be pleasing unto Gwydion, the son of Don, I will so leave it gladly. Never will I compel any to go to fight, but that we ourselves should do our utmost. Barely, said the messengers, Prydiri saith that it were more fair that the man who did him this wrong should oppose his own body to his, and that his people remain unscathed. I declare to heaven I will not ask the men of Gwyneth to fight because of me. If I am allowed to fight Prydiri myself, gladly will I oppose my body to his. In this answer they took back to Prydiri. Truly said Prydiri, I shall require no one to demand my rights but myself. Then these two came forth and armed themselves, and they fought, and by force of strength and fierceness, and by the magic and charms of Gwydion, Prydiri was slain, and at main tree-react above Mellonryd was he buried, and there is his grave. And the men of the south set forth and soared towards their own land, nor is it at marvel that they should grieve, seeing that they had lost their Lord, and many of their best warriors, and for the most part, their horses and their arms. The men of Gwyneth went back joyful and in triumph. Lord said, Gwydion, unto math, would it not be right for us to release the hostages of the men of the south, which they pledged unto us for peace, for we ought not to put them in prison. Let them then be set free, said math, so that youth and the other hostages that were with him were set free to follow the men of the south. Math himself went forward to Car Dathel, Gilvith, we, the son of Don, and they of the household that were with him went to make the circuit of Gwyneth, as they were wont without coming to the court. Math went into his chamber and caused a place to be prepared for him, whereon to recline so that he might put his feet in the maiden's lap. Lord said, Gowyn, seek now another to hold thy feet for I am now a wife. What meaneth this that he, an attack Lord, was made unawares upon me, but I held not my peace, and there was no one in the court who knew not of it. Now the attack was made by nephew's Lord, the sons of thy sister Gwyneth, the son of Don, and Gilvith thee, the son of Don, and to me they did wrong and unto thee dishonor. Barely, he exclaimed, I will, due to the utmost of my power, concerning this matter, but first I will cause thee to have compensation, and then will I have amends made unto myself. As for thee, I will take thee to be my wife, and the possession of my dominions will I give unto thy hands. And Gwyneth and Gilvith, we came not near the court, but stayed in the confines of the land until it was forbidden to give them meat and drink. At first they came not near unto math, but at last they came. Lord, say they, good day to thee. Well, said he, is it to make me compensation that ye are come? Lord, they said, we are at thy will. By my will I would not have lost my warriors, and so many arms as I've done, you cannot compensate me my shame, setting aside the death of Frideri, but since ye come hither to be at my will, I shall begin your punishment forthwith. Then he took his magic wand and struck Gilvith, we, so that he became a deer, and he seized upon the other hastily, lest he should escape from him, and he struck him with same magic wand, and he became a deer also. Since now ye are in bonds, I will let ye go forth together and be companions, and possess the nature of the animals whose form ye bear, and this day twelve month come hither unto me. At the end of the year, from that day, though there was a loud noise under the chamber wall, and the barking of the dogs of the palace together with the noise, looks at he what is without. Lord said, one, I have looked, there art there, two deer, and a fawn with them. Then he arose and went out, and when he came he beheld the three animals, and he lifted up his wand. As ye were deer last year, be ye wild hogs each and either of you for the year that is to come, and there upon he struck them with the magic wand, the young one will I take and cause to be baptized. Now the name that he gave him was Hydwin, go ye and be wild swine each and either of you, and be ye of the nature of wild swine, and this day twelve month be ye here under the wall. At the end of the year, the barking of dogs was heard under the wall of the chamber, and the court assembled, and there upon he arose and went forth, and when he came forth he beheld three beasts. Now these were the beasts that he saw, two wild hogs of the woods, and a well-grown young one with them, and he was very large for his age. Truly said math, this one will I take and cause to be baptized. And he struck him with his magic wand, and he became a fine, fair, Auburn-haired youth, and the name that he gave him was Hick Down. Now as for you, as ye were wild hogs last year, be ye wolves each and either of you for the year that is to come. Thereupon he struck them with his magic wand, and they became wolves. And be ye of like nature with the animals whose semblance ye bear, and return here this day twelve month beneath his wall. And the same day at the end of the year he heard a clamor and a barking of dogs under the wall of the chamber, and he rose and went forth, and when he came behold he saw two wolves and a strong cub with them. This one will I take, said math, and I will cause him to be baptized. There is a name prepared for him, and that is Blythephone. Now these three, such as they, the three sons of Gil with we, the false, the three faithful combatants, Blythewin, Holden, and Hitchkin, the tall. Then he struck the two with his magic wand, and they resumed their own nature. O men said he, for the wrong that ye did unto me, sufficient has been your punishment and your dishonor. Prepare now fresh assortment for these men, and wash their heads and equip them. And this was done. And after they were equipped they came unto him. O men said he, you have obtained peace, and you shall likewise have friendship. Give your counsel unto me what maiden I shall see. Lord said, Gideon, the son of Don, it is easy to give the counsel. Seek Ariane rod, the daughter of Don, thy niece, thy sister's daughter. And they brought her unto him, and the maiden came in. How damsel said he, art thou the maiden? I know not, Lord, other than that I am. Then he took up his magic wand and bent it. Step over this that he and I shall know if thou art the maiden. Then step she over the magic wand, and there appeared forthwith the fine, chubby, yellow-haired boy. And at the crying out of the boy she went towards the door, and thereupon some small form was seen, but before anyone could get a second glimpse of it, Gideon had taken it and had flung a scarf of velvet around it and hidden it. Now the place where he hid it was the bottom of a chest at the foot of his bed. Barely said Mathis, the son of Mather and Wee, concerning the fine yellow-haired boy, I will cause this one to be baptized, and Dylan is the name I will give him. So they had the boy baptized, and as they baptized him, he plunged into the sea, and immediately when he was in the sea he took its nature and swam as well as the best fish that was therein. And for that reason was he called Dylan, the son of the wave. Beneath him no wave ever broke, and the blow, where about he came to his death, was struck by his uncle, Govanian. The third fatal blow was it called. As Gideon lay one morning on his bed awake, he heard a cry in the chest at his feet, and though it was not loud, it was such that he could hear it. Then he arose in haste and opened the chest, and when he opened it he beheld an infant boy, stretching out his arms from the folds of the scarf, and casting it aside. And he took up the boy in his arms and carried him to a place where he knew there was a woman that could nurse him, and he agreed with the woman that she should take charge of the boy, and that year he was nursed. And at the end of the year he seemed by his size as though he were two years old, and the second year he was a big child and able to go to the court by himself. And when he came to the court, Gideon noticed him, and the boy became familiar with him, and loved him better than anyone else. Then was the boy reared at the court until he was four years old, when he was as big as though he had been eight. And one day Gideon walked forth, and the boy followed him, and he went to the castle of Arianne Rod, having the boy with him, and when he came into the court, Arianne Rod arose to meet him, and greeted him and led him welcome. Heaven prosper thee, said he, who is the boy that followed thee, she asked. This youth he is thy son, he answered. Alas, said she, what has come unto thee that thou shouldest shame me thus? Wherefore dost thou seek my dishonor, and retain it so long as this? Unless thou suffer dishonor, greater than that of my bringing up such a boy as this, small will be thy disgrace. What is the name of the boy, said she. Barely he replied, he has not yet a name. Will, said she, I lay this destiny upon him, that he shall never have a name, until he receives one from me. Heaven bears me witness, answered he, that thou art a wicked woman, but the boy shall have a name, how displeasing so ever it may be unto thee. As for thee, that which afflicts thee, is that thou art no longer called a damsel. And thereupon he went forth and wrapped, and returned to car Gathel, and there he tarried that night. And the next day he arose, and took the boy with him, and went to walk on the sea shore between that place and Aber Menai, and there he saw some sedges and seaweed, and he turned them into a boat. And out of dry sticks and sedges he made some cordovan leather, and a great deal thereof, and he colored it in such a manner that no one ever saw leather more beautiful than it. Then he made a sail to the boat, and he and the boy went in it to the port of the castle of Ariane Rod, and he began forming shoes and stitching them until he was observed from the castle. And when he knew that they of the castle were observing him, he disguised his aspect and put another semblance upon himself and upon the boy so that they might not be known. What men are those in yonder boats at Ariane Rod? They are corduaners, and so they go and see what kind of leather they have, and what kind of work they can do. So they came into them, and when they came he was coloring some cordovan leather, and gilding it, and the messengers came and told her this. Well, said she, take the measure of my foot, and desire the corduana to make shoes for me. So he made the shoes for her, yet not according to the measure, but larger. The shoes then were brought unto her, and behold, they were too large. These are too large, said she, but he shall receive their value. Let him also make some that are smaller than that. Then he made her others that were much smaller than her foot, and sent them unto her, tell him that these will not go on my feet, said she. And they told him thus, barely, said he, I will not make her any shoes unless I see your foot. And this was told unto her, truly she answered, I will go unto him. So she went down to the boat, and when she came there he was shaping shoes, and the boy stitching them. Our lady said he, good day to thee, heaven prosper thee, said she, I marvel that thou canst not manage to make shoes according to a measure. I could not, he replied, but now I shall be able. Thereupon, behold, a wren stood upon the deck of the boat, and the boy shot at it, and hit it in the leg between the sinew and the bone. Then she smiled, barely, says she, with a steady hand, did that lion aim at it. Heaven reward thee not, but now has he got a name, and a good enough name it is. Flew, flaw, gifous, be he called henceforth. Then the work disappeared in seaweed and sedges, and he went on with it no further, and for that reason was he called the third gold shoe maker. Of a true said she, that would not thrive the better for it, doing evil unto me. I've done thee no evil yet, said he, then he restored the boy to his own form. Well said she, I will lay destiny upon this boy, that he shall never have arms and armor until I invest in with them. By heaven, said he, let that malice be what it may, he shall have arms. Then they went towards Dynast din Seth, and there he brought up, Flew, flaw, gifous, until he could manage any horse, and he was perfect in features and strengthened stature. And then Gwydian saw that he languished through the want of horses and arms, and he called him unto him, are you, said he, we will go tomorrow on an errand together, be therefore more cheerful than thou art, that I will, said the youth. Next morning at the dawn of day they arose, and they took their way along the seacoast, up towards Wyn Arion, and at the top of Ken Klednow, they equipped themselves with horses and went towards the castle of Arion Rod, and they changed their form and pricked towards the gate in the semblance of two youths, but the aspect of Gwydian was more stayed than that of the other. Porter said, he go thou in and say that there are here bards from Glamorgan, and the porter went in, the welcome of heaven be unto them, let them in, said Arion Rod. The great joy where they greeted and the hall was arranged, and they went to meet. The meet was ended, Arion Rod discourse with Gwydian of tales and stories. Now Gwydian was an excellent teller of tales, and when it was time to leave off feasting, a chamber was prepared for them, and they went to rest. In the early twilight, Gwydian arose, and he called unto him his magic and his power, and by the time that the day dawned, there resounded through the land, or uproar, and trumpets and shouts. When it was now day, they heard a knocking at the door of the chamber, and there was Arion Rod asking that it might be opened. Up rose the youth, and opened unto her, and she entered, and a maiden with her, argued men, she said, in evil plight are we. Yes, truly, said Gwydian, we have heard trumpets and shouts, but think as thou that they may mean. Barely, said she, we cannot see the color of the ocean by reason of all the ships side by side, and they are making for the land with all the speed they can. And what can we do, said she. Lady, said Gwydian, there is none other counsel them to close the castle upon us, and to defend it as best we may. Truly, said she, may heaven reward you, and do you defend it? In her you may have plenty of arms. And thereupon went she forth for the arms, and behold she returned, and two maidens and suits of armor, for two men with her. Ladies, said he, do thou accoutre the stripling, and I will arm myself with the help of thy maidens. Lo, I hear the tumult of the men approaching. I will do so gladly, so she armed him fully, and that right, cheerfully, has thou finished arming the youth, said he. I have finished, he answered. I likewise have finished, said Gwydian. Let us now take off our arms. We have no need of them. Wherefore, said she, here is the army around the house. Oh, lady, there is here no army. Oh, cried she. Whence then was this tumult? The tumult was but to break thy prophecy, and to obtain arms for thy son. And now has he got arms without any thanks unto thee. By heaven, said Ari and Rod, thou art a wicked man. Many a youth might have lost his life through the uproar that has crossed in this country of today. Now will I lay a destiny upon this youth, she said, that he shall never have a wife of the race that now inhabits this earth. Barely said he, thou wast ever a malicious woman, and no one ought to support thee. A wife shall he have not withstanding. They went there upon unto math, the son of Mathenwee, and complained unto him most bitterly of Ari and Rod. Gwydian showed him also how he had procured arms for the youth. Well, said Math, we will seek, I am thou, by charms and allusion, to form a wife for him out of flowers. He has now come to man's stature, and he is the comliest youth that was ever beheld. So they took the blossoms of the oak, and the blossoms of the brim, and the blossoms of the meadow-sweet, and produced from them a maiden, the fairest and most graceful that man ever saw. And they baptized her and gave her the name of Bloodweth. After he had become as bright, and they had feasted, said Gwydian, it is not easy for a man to maintain himself without possessions. Of a truth, said Math, I will give the young man the best cantref to hold. Lord said he, what cantref is that? The cantref of dinner dig. He answered, Now it is called of this day, Ivan It and Ardu Dwi, and the place in the cantref where he dwelt was a palace of his in a spot called Murry Castle. On the confines of Ardu Dwi, there dwelt he and reigned, and both he and his way were beloved by all. One day he went forth to Car Dothel to visit Math, the son of Math and Dwi, and on the day that he set out for Car Dothel, Bloodweth walked in the court, and she heard the sound of a horn, and after the sound of the horn, behold, a tired stag went by with dogs and huntsmen following it. And after the dogs and huntsmen there came a crowd of men on foot. Senda Yu said she, to ask who yonder host may be. So the youth went and inquired who they were. Growne Peber is this, the Lord of Pen Sin, said they, and thus the youth told her. Growne Peber pursued the stag and by the river, Sin Val, he overtook the stag and killed it. And what with flying the stag and baiting his dogs, he was there until the night began to close in upon him, and as the day departed the night drew near he came to the gate of the court. Rarely said Bloodweth, who chieftain will speak ill of us if we let him at this hour depart to another land without inviting him in. Yes, truly, lady, said they, it will be most bidding to invite him. Then went messengers to meet him and bid him in, and he accepted her bidding gladly and came to the court. And Bloodweth went to meet him and greeted him and bowed him welcome. Lady said he, have not repaid thee thy kindness. When they had discruted themselves they went to sit down. And Bloodweth looked upon him, and from that moment that she looked at him she became filled with his love. And he gazed at her and the same thought came unto him as unto her so that he could not conceal from her that he loved her. But he declared unto her that he did so. Thereupon she was very joyful and all their discourse that night was concerning the affection and love which they felt one for the other and which in no longer space than one evening had arisen. And that evening passed they in each other's company. The next day he sought to depart but she said, I pray thee go not from me today. And that night he tarried also, and that night they consulted by what means they might always be together. There was none other counsel said he, but that thou strived to learn from Thleuth's law, Giphus, in what manner he won't meet his death. And this must thou do under the semblance of solicitude concerning him. The next day Grown sought to depart. Barely said she, I would counsel thee not to go from me today. At thy instance will I not go, said he, albeit I must say there is danger that the chief who owns the palace may return home. Tomorrow answered she, well I indeed permit thee to go forth. The next day he sought to go and she hindered him not. Be mindful, say Grown, of what I have said into thee, and converse with him fully, and that under the guise of the dalliance of love, and find out by what means he may come to his death. That night Thleuth's law Giphus returned to his home, and the day they spent in discourse and minstrelsy and feasting. And at night they went to rest and he spoke to Thleuth once, and he spoke to her a second time. But for all this he could not get from her one word. What a lethese that he art thou well. I was thinking, said she, of that which thou didst never think of concerning me, for I was sorrowful, as to thy death lest thou shouldest go sooner than I. Heaven reward thy care for me, said he, but until heaven take me I shall not easily be slain. For the sake of heaven and for mine show me how thou mightest be slain. My memory in guarding is better than mine. I will tell thee gladly, said he, now that easily can I be slain except by a wound. And the spear wherewith I am struck must be a year in the forming, and nothing must be done towards it except during the sacrifice on Sundays. Is this certain, asked she? It is in truth he answered, and I cannot be slain within a house nor without. I cannot be slain on horseback nor on foot. Barely, said she, in what manner then canst thou be slain? I will tell thee, said he, by making a bath for me by the side of a river, and by putting a roof over the cauldron, and thatching it well and tightly, and bringing a buck and putting it beside the cauldron. Then if I place one foot on the buck's back and the other on the edge of the cauldron, whosoever strikes me thus will cause my death. Well, said she, I thank heaven that it will be easy to avoid this. No sooner had she held this discourse than she sent to groan pebber, groan toward it, making the spear, and that day, twelve months it was ready, and that very day he caused her to be informed thereof. Lord said, blow it with unto the loo. I have been thinking how it is possible that what thou didst tell me formally can be true. Both thou show me in what manner thou could stand it once upon the edge of a cauldron and upon a buck if I prepare the bath for thee. I will show thee, said he. Then she sent unto groan and bet him be in ambush on the hill which is now called Bryn Keverger on the bank of the river Sinbell. She caused also to be collected all the goats that were in the cantref and had them brought to the other side of the river opposite Bryn Kenverger, and the next day she spoke thus Lord said, she I've caused the roof and the bath to be prepared and lo they are ready. Well, said slew we will go gladly to look at them. The day after they came and looked at the bath. Will thou go into the bath? Lord said, she willingly will I go in? He answered. So into the bath he went, and he anointed himself. Lord said, she behold the animals which thou didst speak of as being called bucks. Well, said he caused one of them to be caught and brought here. And the buck was brought. Then the slew rose out of the bath and put on his trousers, and he placed one foot on the edge of the bath and the other on the buck's back. There upon groan rose up from the hill which is called Bryn Keverger, and he rested on one knee and flung the poisoned dart and struck him on the side so that the shaft started out but the head of the dart remained in. Then he flew up in the form of an eagle and gave a fearful scream, and thenceforth was he no more seen. As soon as he departed groan and blowed with went together unto the palace that night, and the next day groan arose and took possession of Ardidhwi, and after he had overcome the land he ruled over it so that Ardidhwi and Penzin were both under his sway. Then these tidings reached Math, the son of Mathanwi, and heaviness and grief came upon Math, and much more upon Gwydian than upon him. Lord said, Gwydian, I shall never rest until I have tidings of my Matthew. Barely, said Math, may heaven be thy strength. Then Gwydian set forth and began to go forward. And he went through Gwyneth and Powis to the confines, and when he had done so he went into Arvan and came to the house of a vassal in Menwarpenard, and he alighted at the house and stayed there that night. The man of the house and his household came in, and last of all came there the swineherd. Said that man of the house to the swineherd, will you hath by Sal come in tonight? She hath said he, and is this instant returned to the pigs. Where doth this Sal go to, said Gwydian, every day when the stye is opened she goeth forth, and none can catch sight of her. Neither is it known whether she goeth more than if she sank into the earth. Whither grant unto me, said Gwydian, not to open the stye until I am beside the stye. With thee this will I do, right gladly he answered. That night they went to rest, and as soon as the swineherd saw the light of day, he awoke Gwydian, and Gwydian arose and dressed himself, and went with the swineherd and stood beside the stye. Then the swineherd opened the stye, and as soon as he opened it, behold, she leaped forth, and set off with great speed, and Gwydian followed her, and she went against the course of a river, and made for a brook, which is now called Nant E. Flu. And there she halted and began feeding, and Gwydian came under the tree and looked what it might be that the Sal was feeding on, and he saw that she was eating putrid flesh and vermin. Then looked he up to the top of the tree, and as he looked, he beheld on the top of the tree an eagle, and when the eagle shook itself there fell vermin and putrid flesh from off it, and these the Sal devoured. And it seemed to him that the eagle was slew, and he sang in England, oak that grows between the two banks, darkened as the sky and hill, shall I not tell him by his wounds that this is slew. Upon this the eagle came down until he reached the center of the tree, and Gwydian sang another England, oak that grows in upland ground, is it not wedded by the rain, has it not been drenched by nine-scored tempests, it bears in its branches, slew flaw gifis. Then the eagle came down until he was on the lowest branch of the tree, and there upon this England did Gwydian sing. Oak that grows beneath the steep, staplian, majestic as its aspect, shall I not speak it, that slew will come to my lap. And the eagle came down upon Gwydian's knee, and Gwydian struck him with his magic wand, so that he returned to his own form. No one ever saw a more piteous sight for he was nothing but skin and bone. Then he went unto car dothel, and there were brought unto him good physicians that were in Gwyneth, before the end of the year he was quite healed. Lord said he unto math, the son of Mathenwy, it is full time now that I have retribution of him by whom I have suffered all this woe. Truly said math, he will never be able to maintain himself in the possession of that which is thy right. Well, saith Lou, the sooner I have my right, the better shall I be pleased. Then they called together the whole of Gwyneth, and set forth to Ardu Dwi, and Gwydian went on before, and proceeded to myrrh E. Castel, and when Bludweth heard that he was coming, she took her maidens with her and fled to the mountain. In the past, though the river can bail, and went towards a court that there was upon the mountain, and through fear they could not proceed except with their faces looking backwards, so that unaware as they fell into the lake, and they were all drowned except Bludweth herself, and Hergwydian overtook. And he said unto her, I will not slay thee, but I will do unto thee worse than that, for I will turn thee into a bird, and because of this shame, the house down unto through th' law githest thou shall never show thy face in the light of day henceforth, and that through fear of all the other birds, for it shall be their nature to attack thee, and to chase thee from wheresoever they may find thee, and thou shall not lose thy name, but shall be always called Bludweth. Now Bludweth is an owl in the language of his present time, and for this reason is the owl hateful unto all birds. And even now the owl is called Bludweth, then grown pepper withdrew unto Pen-sin, and he dispatched thence an embassy, and the messengers he sent asked through th' law githest if he would take land or domain or gold or silver for the injury he received, I will not by my confession to heaven, said he, behold, this is the least that I will accept from him, that he come to the spot where I was when he wounded me with the dark, and that I stand where he did, and that with the dark I take my aim at him, and this is the very least that I will accept. And this was told unto grown pepper, barely said he, is it needful for me to do thus? My faithful warriors and my household and my foster brothers is there not one among you who will stand the blow in my stead? There is not barely answered they, and because of their refusal to suffer one stroke for their Lord, they are called the third disloyal tribe even unto this day. Well, said he, I will meet it. Then they, too, went forth to the banks of the river Sandale, and grown stood in the place where it flew, law, givis was when he struck him, and flew in the place where it grown was, then said grown pepper, unto it flew, since it was through the wiles of a woman that I did unto thee as I have done, adjure thee by heaven to let me place between me and the blow, thus labbed thou seest yonder on the river's bank. Barely said through, I will not refuse thee this, ah, said he, may heaven reward thee. So, grown took the slab and placed it between him and the blow. Then flew, flung the dart at him, and it pierced the slab, and it went through grown likewise so that it pierced through his back. And thus was grown pepper slain. There is still the slab on the bank of the river, Sandale, in our degree, having the hole through it, and therefore, it is even now called fleck grown. A second time did flew, law, give his stake possession of the land, and prosperously did he govern it, and as the story relates, he was lord after this over Gwyneth, and thus ends the exportion of the Mabinogi. End of Section 5. Section 6 of the Mabinogen, Volume 3, by Anonymous, translated by Charlotte Guest. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Section 6. Here is the story of Thelith and the Loveless. Belied, the great son of Manigun, had three sons, Thelith and Casual's son, and Nenia. And according to the story, he had a fourth son called Thelithelus. And after the death of Belied, the kingdom of the island of Britain fell into the hands of Thelith, his eldest son, and Thelith ruled prosperously and rebuilt the walls of London, and encompassed it about with numberless towers. And after that, he bade the citizens build houses therein, such as no houses in the kingdom could equal. And moreover, he was a mighty warrior and generous and liberal in giving meat and drink to all that sought them. And though he had many castles and cities, this one loved he more than any. And he dwelt therein most part of the year, and therefore was it called Car, Luth, and at last Car, London. And after the stranger race came there, it was called London or Lundris. Thelith loved Loveless, best of all his brothers, because he was a wise and a discreet man, having heard that the king of France had died, leaving no heir, except a daughter, and that he had left all his possessions in her hands. He came to Thelith, his brother, to beseech his council and aid. And that not so much for his own welfare as to seek to add to the glory and honor and dignity of his kindred if he might go to France to woo the maiden for his wife. And forthwith, his brother conferred with him, and this council was pleasing unto him. So he prepared ships and filled them with armed knights and set forth towards France, and as soon as they had landed they sent messengers to show the nobles of France, the cause of the embassy, and by the joint council of the nobles of France and of the princes the maiden was given to the Loveless and the crown of the kingdom with her. And then sporthy ruled the land discreetly and wisely, and happily as long as his life lasted. After a space of time had passed, three plagues fell on the island of Britain, such as none on the islands had ever seen the like. The first was a certain race that came and was called the Coranians, and so great was their knowledge that there was no discourse upon the face of the islands, however low it might be spoken, but what if the wind met it, it was known to them, and through this they could not be injured. The second plague was a shriek which came on every May eve over every hearth in the island of Britain, and this went through people's hearts and so scared them that the men lost their hue and their strength and the women their children, and the young men and the maidens lost their senses and all the animals and trees and the earth, and the waters were left barren. The third plague was that however much of provisions and food might be prepared in the king's courts, were there even so much as a year's provision of meat and drink, none of it could ever be found, except what was consumed in the first night. In two of these plagues no one ever knew their cause, therefore was there better hope of being freed from the first than from the second and third. And there upon King Theleth felt great sorrow and care because that he knew not how he might be freed from these plagues, and he called to him all the nobles of his kingdom and asked council of them what they should do against these afflictions. And by the common council of the nobles, Theleth, the son of Belli, went to the leveless, his brother, King of France, for he was a man great of council and wisdom to seek his advice. And they made ready a fleet and that in secret and in silence, lest that race should know the cause of their errand or any besides the king and his counsellors. And when they were made ready, they went into their ships, Theleth and those whom he chose with him, and they began to cleave the seas towards France. And when these tidings came to the leveless, seeing that he knew not the cause of his brother's ships, he came on the other side to meet him and with him was a fleet vast of size. And when Theleth saw this, he left all the ships out upon the sea, except one only, and in that one he came to meet his brother and he likewise with a single ship came to meet him. And when they were come together, each put his arms about the other's neck and they welcomed each other with brotherly love. After that, Theleth had shown his brother the cause of his errand. The leveless said that he himself knew the cause of the coming to those lands. And they took council together to discourse on the matter, otherwise than thus, in order that the wind might not catch their words, nor the Carolinians know what they might say. Then the leveless caused a long horn to be made of brass and through this horn they discoursed, but whatsoever words they spoke through this horn, one to the other, neither of them could hear any other but harsh and hostile words. And when the leveless saw this and that there was a demon thwarting them and disturbing through this horn, he caused wine to be put there and to wash it. And through the virtue of the wine, the demon was driven out of the horn. And when their discourse was unobstructed, the leveless told his brother that he would give him some insects where he should keep some to breed lest by chance the like of fiction might come a second time. And other of these insects he should take in bruise in water. And he assured him that it would have power to destroy the race of the Carolinians that is to say that when he came home to his kingdom he should call together all the people both of his own race and of the race of the Carolinians for a conference as though with the intent of making peace between them. And that when they were all together he should take this charmed water and cast it over all alike and he assured him that the water would poison the race of the Carolinians but that it would not slay or harm those of his own race. And the second plague said he that is in thy dominion behold it is a dragon and another dragon of a foreign race is fighting with it and striving to overcome it and therefore does your dragon make a fearful outcry and on this wise may as thou come to know this after thou hast returned home cause the island to be measured in its length and breadth and in the place where thou does find the exact central point there cause a pit to be dug and cause a cauldron full of the best meat that can be made to be put in the pit without covering up satan over the face of the cauldron and then in thine own person do thou remain there watching and thou wilt see the dragons fighting in the form of terrific animals and at length they will take the form of dragons in the air and last of all after wearying themselves with fierce and furious fighting they will fall in the form of two pigs upon the covering and they will sink in and the covering with them and they will draw it down to the very bottom of the cauldron and they will drink up the whole of the meat and after that they will sleep thereupon do thou immediately fold the covering around them and bury them in a kissed fain in the strongest place thou hast in thy dominions and hide them in the earth and as long as they shall bite in that strong place no plague shall come to the island of Britain from elsewhere the cause of the third plague said he is a mighty man of magic who takes thy meat and thy drink and thy store and he through illusions and charms causes everyone to sleep therefore it is needful for thee and thine own person to watch thy food and thy provisions unless he should overcome thee with sleep be there a cauldron of cold water by thy side and when thou art oppressed with sleep plunge into the cauldron then Theleth returned back unto his land and immediately he summoned to him the whole of his own race and of the Caranians and as the levelists had taught him he bruised the insects and water the witch he cast over them all together and forth with it destroyed the whole tribe of the Caranians without hurt to any of the Britons and sometime after this Theleth caused the island to be measured in its length and in its breadth and in Oxford he found the central point and in that place he caused the earth to be dug and in that pit a cauldron to be set full of the best mead that could be made and a covering of satin over the face of it and he himself watched that night and while he was there he beheld the dragons fighting and when they were weary they fell and came down upon the top of the satin and drew it with them to the bottom of the cauldron and when they had drunk the mead they slept and in their sleep Theleth folded the covering around them and in the secure place he had in Snowden he hid them in a kissed fain now after that this spot was called Dynas and Rice but before that Dynas barren and thus the fierce outcry ceased in his dominions and when this was ended King Theleth caused an exceeding great banquet to be prepared and when it was ready he placed a vessel of cold water by his side and he in his own proper person watched it and as he abode thus clad with arms about the third watch of the night lo he heard many surpassing fascinations and various songs and drowsiness urged him to sleep upon this lest he should be hindered from his purpose and be overcome by sleep he went often into the water and at last behold a man of vast size clad and strong heavy armor came in bearing a hamper and as he was wont he put all the food and provisions of meat and drink into the hamper and proceeded to go with it forth and nothing was ever more wonderful to Theleth than that the hamper should hold so much and there upon King Theleth went after him and spoke unto him thus stop stop said he though thou hast done many insults and much spoil ere while thou shalt not do so any more unless thy skill in arms and thy prowess be greater than mine then he instantly put down the hamper on the floor and awaited him and a fierce encounter was between them so that the glittering fire flew out from their arms and at the last Theleth grappled with him and fate bestowed the victory on Theleth and he threw the plague to the earth and after he had overcome him by strength and might he besought his mercy how can I grant thee mercy said the King after all the many injuries and wrongs that thou hast done me all the losses that ever I have caused thee said he I will make thee atonement for equal to what I have taken and I will never do the light from this time forth but thy faithful vassal will I be and the King accepted this from him and thus Theleth freed the island of Britain from the three plagues and from thence forth until the end of his life in prosperous peace did Theleth the son of Vellie rule the island of Britain and this tale is called the story Theleth and Thilevelus and thus it ends end of section six section seven of the Mabinogen volume three by Anonymous translated by Charlotte Guest this LibriVox recording is in the public domain section seven Thelessen in times past there lived in Penson a man of gentle lineage named Tegid Vowel and his dwelling was in the midst of the lake Tegid and his wife was called Keridwen and there was born to him of his wife a son named Mo Vran Ab Tegid and also a daughter named Kauri the fairest maiden in the world was she and they had a brother the most ill-favored man in the world Avagh Thu now Keridwen his mother thought that he was not likely to be admitted among men of noble birth by reason of his ugliness unless he had some exalted merits for knowledge for it was in the beginning of Arthur's time and of the round table so she resolved according to the arts of the books of the fairest to boil a cauldron of inspiration and science for her son that his reception might be honorable because of his knowledge of the mysteries of the future state of the world then she began to boil the cauldron which from the beginning of its boiling might not cease to boil for a year and a day until three blessed drops were obtained of the grace of inspiration and she put Gwaiinbaq the son of Gwereng of Flaun Fairin Skerranyan in Powis to stir the cauldron and a blind man named Morda to kindle the fire beneath it and she charged them that they should not suffer to cease boiling for the space of a year and a day and she herself according to the books of the astronomers and in planetary hours gathered every day of all charm-bearing herbs and one day towards the end of the year as Gerrit Wen was culling plants and making incantations it chanced that three drops of the charmed liquor flew out of the cauldron and fell upon the finger of Gwaiinbaq and by reason of their great heat he put his finger to his mouth and the instant he put those marvel working drops into his mouth he foresaw everything that was to come and perceived that his chief care must be to guard against the wiles of Gerrit Wen for vast was her skill and in very great fear he fled towards his own land and the cauldron burst into because all the liquor within it except the three charmed bearing drops was poisonous so that the horses of Gwythnoe Geron Her were poisoned by the water of the stream into which the liquor of the cauldron ran and the confluence of that stream was called the poison of the horses of Gwythnoe from that time forth thereupon came in Gerrit Wen and saw all the toil of the whole year lost and she seized a billet of wood and struck the blind mortar on the head until one of his eyes fell out upon his cheek and he said wrongfully hast thou disfigured me for I am innocent thy loss was not because of me thou speakest truth said Gerrit Wen it was Gwythnoe Bach who robbed me and she went forth after him running and he saw her and changed himself into a hair and fled but she changed herself into a grey hound and turned him and he ran towards a river and became a fish and she in the form of an otter bitch chased him under the water until he was feigned to turn himself into a bird of the air then she as a hawk followed him and gave him no rest in the sky and just as she was about to stoop upon him and he was in fear of death he aspired a heap of winnowed wheat on the floor of a barn and he dropped amongst the wheat and turned himself into one of the grains then she transformed herself into a high crested black hen and went to the wheat and scratched it with her feet and found him out and swallowed him and as the story says she bore him nine months and when she was delivered of him she could not find it in her heart to kill him by reason of his beauty so she wrapped him in a loathen bag and cast him into the sea to the mercy of God on the 29th day of April and at that time the weir of Gwithno was on the strand between Dewey and Aberstuth near to his own castle and the value of an hundred pounds was taken in that weir every May Eve and in those days Gwithno had an only son named Elphin the most hapless of youths and the most needy and it grieved his father's sore for he thought that he was born in an evil hour and by the advice of his counsel his father had granted him the drawing of the weir that year to see if good luck would ever befall him and to give him something wherewith to begin the world and the next day when Elphin went to look there was nothing in the weir but as he turned back he perceived the loathen bag upon a pole of the weir then said one of the weir word unto Elphin thou was never unlucky until tonight and now thou hast destroyed the virtues of the weir which always yielded the value of an hundred pounds every May Eve and tonight there is nothing but this loathen skin within it how now said Elphin there may be there in the value of an hundred pounds well they took up the loathen bag and he who opened it saw the forehead of the boy and said to Elphin behold a radiant brow talias and be he called said Elphin and he lifted the boy in his arms and lamenting his mischance he placed him sorrowfully behind him and he made his horse ambo gently that before had been trotting and he carried him as softly as if he had been sitting in the eases chair in the world and presently the boy made a consolation and praised Elphin and foretold honor to Elphin and the consolation was as you may see there Elphin ceased to lament let no one be dissatisfied with his own to despair will bring no advantage no man sees what supports him the prayer of in so will not be in vain God will not violate his promise never in with knows where was there such good luck as this night Bear Elphin dry thy cheeks being too sad will not avail although thou thinkest thou hast no gain too much grief will bring thee no good nor doubt the miracles of the Almighty although I am but little I am highly gifted from seas and from mountains and from the depths of rivers God brings wealth to the fortunate man Elphin of lively qualities thy resolution is unmanly thou must not be over sorrowful better to trust in God than to forebode ill weak and small as I am on the foaming beach of the ocean in the day of trouble I shall be of more service to thee than 300 salmon Elphin of notable qualities be not displeased at thy misfortune although reclined thus weak in my bag there lies a virtue in my tongue while I continue thy protector thou hast not much to fear remembering the names of the Trinity none shall be able to harm thee and this was the first poem that Taliesin ever sang being to console Elphin in his grief for that the produce of the wheel was lost and what was worse that all the world would consider that it was through his fault and ill luck and then with no go wrong her asked him what he was whether man or spirit whereupon he sang this tale and said first I have been formed a comely person in the court of carad when I have done penance though little I was seen placidly received I was great on the floor of the place to where I was led I have been a prized defense the sweet muse the cause and by law without speech I have been liberated by a smiling black old hag when irritated dreadful her claim when pursued I have fled with vigor I have fled as a frog I have fled in the semblance of a crow scarce the finding rest I have fled vehemently I have fled as a chain I have fled as a rogue into an entangled thicket I have fled as a wolf cub I have fled as a wolf in a wilderness I have fled as a thrush of poor tending language I have fled as a fox used to concurrent bounds of quirks I have fled as a martin which did not avail I have fled as a squirrel that mainly hides I have fled as a stag's antler of bloody course I have fled as iron in a glowing fire I have fled as a spearhead of woe too such as has a wish for it I have fled as a fierce bull bitterly fighting I have fled as a bristly boar seen in a ravine I have fled as a white grain of pure wheat on the skirt of a hempen sheet entangled that seemed of the size of a mare's foal that is filling like a ship on the waters into a dark leather bag I was thrown and on a boundless sea I was sent adrift which was to me an omen of being tenderly nursed and the Lord God then set me at liberty then came Elphin to the house or court of Gwythnoe his father Antalyaesson with him and Gwythnoe asked him if he had had a good haul at the weir and he told him that he had got that which was better than fish what was that said Gwythnoe a bard answered Elphin then said Gwythnoe alas what will he profit thee Antalyaesson himself replied and said he will profit him more than the weir ever profit to thee ask Gwythnoe art thou able to speak and thou so little Antalyaesson answered him I am better able to speak than thou to question me let me hear what thou can't say quote Gwythnoe then Talyaesson sang in water there is a quality endowed with a blessing on God it is most just to meditate a right to God it is proper to supplicate with seriousness since no obstacle can there be to obtain a reward from him three times have I been born I know by meditation it were miserable for a person not to come and obtain all the sciences of the world collected together in my breast for I know what has been what in future will occur I will supplicate my Lord that I get refuge in him a regard I may obtain in his grace the son of Mary is my trust great in him is my delight for in him is the world continually upholding God has been to instruct me and to raise my expectation the true creator of heaven who affords me protection it is rightly intended that the saints should daily pray for God the renovator will bring them to him and forth with Elphin gave his hall to his wife and she nursed him tenderly and lovingly then forward Elphin increased in riches more and more day after day and in love and favor with the king and there about Taliesin until he was 13 years old when Elphin son of Gryfno went by a Christmas invitation to his uncle Mel Gwyneth who sometime after this held open court at Christmas time in the castle of Digno we for all the number of his lords of both degrees both spiritual and temporal with a vast enthroned host of knights and squires and amongst them there arose a discourse and discussion and thus was it said is there in the whole world a king so great as Mel Gwyneth or one on whom heaven has bestowed so many spiritual gifts as upon him first form and beauty and meekness and strength besides all the powers of the soul and together with these they said that heaven had given one gift that exceeded all the others which was the beauty and comeliness and grace and wisdom and modesty of his queen whose virtues surpassed those of all the ladies and noble maidens throughout the whole kingdom and with this they put questions one to another amongst themselves who had braver men who had fairer or swifter horses or greyhounds who had more skillful or wiser bards than Mel Gwyneth now at that time the bards were in great favor with the exalted of the kingdom and then none performed the office of those who are now called heralds unless they were learned men not only expert in the service of kings and princes but studious and well-burst in the lineage and arms and exploits of princes and kings and in discussions concerning foreign kingdoms and the ancient things of this kingdom and chiefly in the annals of the first nobles and also were prepared always with their answers in various languages Latin, French, Welsh and English and together with this they were great chroniclers and recorders and skillful in framing verses and ready in making england's in every one of these languages now of these they were at that feast within the palace of Mel Gwyneth as many as four and twenty and chief of them all was one named Hynan Varth when they had all made an ending of thus praising the king and his gifts they befell that Elfin spoke on this wise of a truth none but a king may vie with a king but were he not a king I would say that my wife was as virtuous as any lady in the kingdom and also that I have a bard who is more skillful than all the king's bards in a short space some of his fellows showed the king all the boastings of Elfin and the king ordered him to be thrown into a strong prison until he might know the truth as to the virtues of his wife and the wisdom of his bard now when Elfin had been put in a tower of the castle with a thick chain about his feet it is said that it was a silver chain because he was of royal blood the king as the story relates sent his son Rune to inquire into the demeanor of Elfin's wife now Rune was the most graceless man in the world and there was neither wife nor maiden with whom he had held converse but was evil spoken of while Rune went in haste towards Elfin's dwelling being fully minded to bring disgrace upon his wife Taliesin told his mistress how that the king had placed his master endurance and prison and how that Rune was coming in haste to strive to bring disgrace upon her wherefore he caused his mistress to array one of the maids of her kitchen in her apparel which the noble lady gladly did and she loaded her hands with the best rings that she and her husband possessed in this guise Taliesin caused his mistress to put the maiden to sit at the board in a room at supper and he made her to seem as her mistress and the mistress to seem as the maid and when they were in due time seated at their supper in the manner that has been said Rune suddenly arrived at Elfin's dwelling and was received with joy for all the servants knew him plainly and they brought him in haste to the room of their mistress in the semblance of whom the maid rose up from supper and welcomed him gladly and afterwards she sat down to supper again the second time and Rune with her then Rune began jesting with the maid who still kept the semblance of her mistress and barely this story shows that the maiden became so intoxicated that she fell asleep and the story relates that it was a powder that Rune put into the drink that made her sleep so soundly that she never felt it when he cut from off her hand her little finger wherein was the signet ring of Elfin which he had sent to his wife as a token a short time before and Rune returned to the king with the finger and the ring as approved to show that he had cut it from off her hand without her waking from her sleep of intemperance the king rejoiced greatly at these tidings and he sent for his counselors to whom he told the whole story from the beginning and he caused Elfin to be brought out of his prison and he chided him because of his boast and he spake unto Elfin on this wise Elfin be it known to thee beyond a doubt that it is but folly for a man to trust in the virtues of his wife further than he can see her and that thou mayest be certain of thy wife's vileness behold her finger with thy signet ring upon it which was cut from her hand last night while she slept the sleep of intoxication then thus spake Elfin with thy leave mighty king I cannot deny my ring for it is known of many that verily I assert strongly that the finger around which it is was never attached to the hand of my wife for in truth and certainty there are three notable things pertaining to it none of which ever belong to any of my wife's fingers the first of the three is that it is certain by your grace's leave that wheresoever my wife is at this present hour whether sitting or standing or lying down this ring would never remain upon her thumb whereas you can plainly see that it was hard to draw it over the joint of the little finger of the hand whence this was cut the second thing is that my wife has never let pass one Saturday since I have known her without pairing her nails before going to bed and you can see fully that the nail of this little finger has not been paired for a month the third is truly that the hand whence this finger came was needing rye dough within three days before the finger was cut there from and I can assure your goodness that my wife has never needed rye dough since my wife she has been then the king was mightily wrathed with Elfin for so stoutly was standing him respecting the goodness of his wife wherefore he ordered him to his prison a second time saying that he should not be loosed thence until he approved the truth of his boast as well concerning the wisdom of his bard as the virtues of his wife in the meantime his wife and Taliesin remained joyful at Elfin's dwelling and Taliesin showed his mistress how that Elfin was in prison because of them but he bad her be glad for that he would go to Mel Gwynne's court to free his master then she asked him in what manner he would set him free and he answered her a journey will I perform and to the gate I will come the hall I will enter and my song I will sing my speech I will pronounce to silence royal bards in presence of their chief I will greet to deride upon them I will break and Elfin I will free should contention arise in presence of the prince with summons to the bards for the sweet flowing song and wizards posing lore and wisdom of druids in the court of the sons of the distributor some are who did appear intent on wily schemes by craft and tricking means in pangs of affliction to wrong the innocent let the fools be silent as urged in Baden's fight with Arthur of liberal ones the head with long red blades through feats of testy men and a chief with his foes will be to them the fools when revenge comes on them I Taliesin chief of bards with a sapient druid's words will set kind Elfin free from haughty tyrants bonds to their fell and chilling cry by the act of a surprising steed from the far distant north there soon shall be an end let neither grace nor health be to Melguyn Gwyneth for this force and this wrong and be extremes of ills and an avenged end to rune and all his race short be his course of life be all his lands laid waste and long exile be assigned to Melguyn Gwyneth after this he took leave of his mistress and came at last to the court of Melguyn who was going to sit in his hall and dine in his royal state as it was the custom in those days for kings and princes to do at every chief feast and as soon as Taliesin entered the hall he placed himself in a quiet corner near the place where the bards and the minstrels were want to come to in doing their service and duty to the king as is the custom at the high festivals when the bounty is proclaimed and so when the bards and the heralds came to cry largesse and to proclaim the power of the king and his strength at the moment that they passed by the corner wherein he was crouching Taliesin pouted out his lips after them and played blarem blarem with his finger upon his lips neither took they much notice of him as they went by but proceeded forward till they came before the king unto whom they made their obeisance with their bodies as they were want without speaking a single word but pouting out their lips and making mouths of the king playing blarem blarem upon their lips with their fingers as they had seen the board do elsewhere this sight caused the king to wonder and to deem within himself that they were drunk with many liquors wherefore he commanded one of his lords who served at the board to go to them and desire them to collect their wits and to consider where they stood and what it was fitting for them to do and this lord did so gladly but they seized not from their folly any more than before whereupon he sent to them a second time and a third desiring them to go forth from the hall at the last the king ordered one of his squires to give a blow to the chief of them named Hynan Varth and the squire took a broom and struck him on the head so that he fell back in his seat then he arose and went on his knees and besought leave of the king's grace to show that this their fault was not through want of knowledge neither through drunkenness but by the influence of some spirit that was in the hall and after this Hynan spoke on this wise O honorable king be it known to your grace that not from the strength of drink nor of too much liquor are we dumb without power of speech like drunken men but through the influence of a spirit that sits in the corner yonder in the form of a child forthwith the king commanded the squire to fetch him and he went to the nook where Taliesin sat and brought him before the king who asked him what he was and whence he came and he answered the king in verse primary chief Bart am I to Elphin and my original country is the region of the summer stars idno and Hynan called me mirthin at link every king will call me Taliesin I was with my lord in the highest sphere on the fall of Lucifer into the depth of hell I have borne a banner before Alexander I know the names of the stars from north to south I have been on the galaxy at the throne of the distributor I was in Canaan when Absalom was slain I conveyed the divine spirit to the level of the veil of Hebron I was in the court of dawn before the birth of Gwydian I was instructor to Eli and Enoch I have been winged by the genius of the splendid Crozier I have been loquacious prior to being gifted with speech I was at the place of the crucifixion of the merciful Son of God I have been three periods in the prison of Arian Rod I have been the chief director of the work of the Tower of Nimrod I am a wonder whose origin is not known I have been in Asia with Noah in the Ark I have seen the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah I have been in India when Roma was built I have now come here to the remnant of Troyer I have been with my lord in the manger of the Ass I have strengthened Moses through the water of Jordan I have been in the firmament with Mary Magdalene I have obtained the Muse from the cauldron of Caradwin I have been barred of the harp of Theleon of Lachklin I have been on the White Hill in the court of King Velen for a day and a year in stocks and fetters I have suffered hunger for the Son of the Virgin I have been fostered in the land of the deity I have been teacher to all intelligences I am able to instruct the whole universe I shall be until the day of doom on the face of the earth and it is not known whether my body is flesh or fish then I was for nine months in the womb of the hag Caradwin I was ridden early little Gwellian and at length I am Taliesin and when the king and his nobles had heard the song they wondered much for they had never heard the light from a boy so young as he and when the king knew that he was the bard of Elfin he bade Heinen his first and wisest bard to answer Taliesin and to strive with him but when he came he could do no other but play lured one on his lips and when he sent for the others of the four and twenty bards they all did likewise and could do no other and Melguin asked the boy Taliesin what was his errand and he answered him in song puny bards I am trying to secure the prize if I can by a gentle prophetic strain I am endeavoring to retrieve the loss I may have suffered complete the attempt I hope since Elfin endures trouble in the fortress of Teginwe on him may there not be laid too many chains and fetters the chair of the fortress of Teginwe will I again see strengthened by my muse I am powerful mighty on my part is what I see for three hundred songs and more are combined in the spell I sing there ought not to stand where I am neither stone neither ring and there ought not to be about me any bard who may not know that Elfin the son of Gwythno is in the land of Artrow secured by thirteen locks for praising his instructor and then I Taliesin chief of the bards of the west shall loosen Elfin out of a golden fetter if you be primary bards to the master of sciences declare ye mysteries that relate to the inhabitants of the world there is a noxious creature from the rampart of Satanus which has overcome all between the deep and the shallow equally wide are his jaws as the mountains of the Alps him death will not subdue nor hand or blades there is the load of nine hundred wagons in the hair of his two paws there is in his head and eye green as the limpid sheet of icicle three springs arise in the nape of his neck sea roughs there on swim through it there was the dissolution of the oxen of devra don we the water gifted the names of the three springs from the midst of the ocean one generated brine which is from that Corina to replenish the flood over seas disappearing the second without injury it will fall on us when there is rain abroad through the welcoming sky the third will appear through the mountain veins like a flinty banquet the work of the king of kings you are blundering bards in too much solicitude you cannot celebrate kingdom of the britains and I'm Taliesin chief of the bards of the west who will loosen open out of the golden feather be silent then ye unlucky rhyming bards for you cannot judge between truth and falsehood if you be primary bards formed by heaven tell your king what his fate will be it is I who am a diviner and a leading bard and know every passage in the country of your king I shall liberate Elphin from the belly of the stony tower and will tell your king what will befall him a most strange creature will come from the sea marsh of Rieneth as a punishment of inequity on Melguin Gwyneth his hair, his teeth and his eyes being as gold and this will bring destruction upon Melguin Gwyneth discover thou what is the strong creature from before the flood without flesh without bone without bane without blood without head without feet it will neither be older nor younger than at the beginning for fear of denial there are no rude wants with creatures great god how the sea whitens when first it comes great are its gusts when it comes from the south great are its evaporations when it strikes on coasts it is in the field it is in the wood without hand and without foot without signs of old age though it be co-evil with the five ages or periods and older still though they be numberless years it is also so wide as the surface of the earth and it was not born nor was it seen it will cause consternation wherever god will it on sea and on land it neither sees nor is seen its course is devious and will not come when desired on land and on sea it is indispensable it is without an equal it is foresighted it is not confined it is incomparable it comes from four quarters it will not be advised it will not be without advice it commences its journey above the marble rock it is sonorous it is dumb it is mild it is strong it is bold when it glances over the land it is silent it is vocal it is clamorous it is the most noisy on the face of the earth it is good it is bad it is extremely injurious it is concealed because sight cannot perceive it it is noxious it is beneficial it is yonder it is here it will discompose but will not repair the injury it will not suffer for its doings seeing it is blameless it is wet it is dry it frequently comes proceeding from the heat of the sun and the coldness of the moon the moon is less beneficial in as much as her heat is less one being has prepared it out of all creatures by a tremendous blast to wreak vengeance on Melguin, Gwyneth and while he was thus singing his verse near at the door there arose a mighty storm of wind so that the king and all his nobles thought that the castle would fall upon their heads and the king caused them to fetch elfin and haste from his dungeon and placed him before Taliesin and it is said that immediately he sang a verse so that the chains opened from about his feet I adore the supreme lord of all animation him that supports the heaven ruler of every extreme him that made the water good for all him who has bestowed each gift and blesses it may abundance of mead be given Melguin of angle see who supplies us from his foaming meat horns with the joistest pure liquor since bees collect and do not enjoy we have sparkling distilled meat which is universally praised the multitude of creatures which the earth nourishes God made for man with a view to admit him some are violent some are mute he enjoys them some are wild some are tame the Lord makes them part of their produce becomes clothing for food and beverage till doom where they continue I entreat the supreme sovereign of the region of peace to liberate elfin from banishment the man who gave me wine and ale and mead with large princely steeds of beautiful appearance may he yet give me and at the end may God of his good will grant me in honor a succession of numberless ages in the retreat of tranquility elfin night of mead late be thy dissolution and afterwards he sang the ode which is called the excellence of the bards what was the first man made by the God of heaven what the fairest flattering speech that was prepared by luaf what meat what drink what roof his shelter what the first impression of his primary thinking what became his clothing who carried on a disguise owing to the wiles of the country in the beginning wherefore should a stone be hard why should a thorn be sharp pointed who is hard like a flint who is salt like brine who's sweet like honey who rides on the gale why ridged should be the nose why should a wheel be round why should the tongue be gifted with speech rather than another member if thy bards Hynan be competent let them reply to me tell yesen and after that he sang the address which is called the reproof of the bards if thou art a bard completely imbued with genius not to be controlled be thou not untractable within the court of thy king until thy rigmarole shall be known be thou silent Hynan as to the name of thy verse and the name of thy vaunting and as to the name of thy grand sire prior to his being baptized and the name of the sphere and the name of the element and the name of thy language and the name of thy region avante ye bards above avante ye bards below my beloved is below in the feather of arian rod it is certain you know not how to understand the song I utter nor clearly how to discriminate between the truth and what is false puny bards crows of the district why do you not take to flight a bard that will not silence me silence may he not obtain till he goes to be covered under gravel and pebbles such as shall listen to me may god listen to him then sang ye the peace called the spite of the bards minstrels persevere in their false custom immoral ditties are their delight vain and tasteless praise they recite falsehood at all times do they utter the innocent persons they ridicule married women they destroy innocent versions of married they corrupt as they pass their lives away in vanity poor innocent persons they ridicule at night they get drunk they sleep today in idleness without work they feed themselves the church they hate and the tavern they frequent with thieves and purged fellows they associate at courts they inquire after feasts every senseless word they bring forward every deadly sin they praise every vile course of life they lead through every village town and country they stroll concerning the grip of death they think not neither lodging nor charity do they give indulging in vittles to excess psalms or prayers they do not use tithes or offerings to god they do not pay on holidays or Sundays they do not worship vigils or festivals they do not heed the birds do fly the fish do swim the bees collect honey worms do crawl everything travails to obtain its food except minstrels and lazy useless thieves I deride neither song nor minstrelsy for they are given by god to light and thought but him who abuses them for blaspheming jesus and his service taliesin having set his master free from prison and having protected the innocence of his wife and silenced the bar so that not one of them dared to say a word now brought elfin's wife before them and showed that she had not one finger wanting right glad was elfin right glad was taliesin then he bade elfin wager the king that he had a horse both better and swifter than the king's horses and this elfin did and the day and the time and the place were fixed and the place was that which at this day is called morva re and net and that the king went with all his people and four and twenty of the swiftest horses he possessed and after a long process the course was marked and the horses were placed were running then came taliesin with four and twenty twigs of holly which he had burnt black and he caused the youth who was to ride his master's horse to place them in his belt and he gave him orders to let all the king's horses give before him and as he should overtake one horse after the other to take one of the twigs and strike the horse with it over the cupper and then let that twig fall and after that to take another twig and do in like manner to every one of the horses as he should overtake them enjoying the horsemen strictly to watch when his own horse should stumble and to throw down his cap on the spot all these things to the youth fulfilled giving a blow to every one of the king's horses and throwing down his cap on the spot where his horse stumbled and to this spot taliesin brought his master after his horse had won the race and he caused Elphin to put workmen to dig a hole there and when they had dug the ground deep enough they found a large cauldron full of gold and then said taliesin Elphin behold a payment and reward unto thee for having taken me out of the weir and for having reared me from that time until now and on the spot stands a pool of water which is to this time called pvis there after all this the king caused taliesin to be brought before him and he asked him to recite concerning the creation of man from the beginning and thereupon he made the poem which is now called one of the four pillars of song the almighty made down the hebron veil with his plastic hands Adam's fair form and five hundred years void of any help there he remained and lay without a soul he again did form in calm paradise from a left side rib bliss throbbing eve seven hours they were the orchid keeping till satan brought strife with wiles from hell that's where they driven cold and shivering to gain their living into this world to bring forth with pain their sons and daughters to have possession of Asia's land twice five ten and eight she was self bearing the mixed burden of man woman and once not hidden she brought forth able and came the forlorn the homicide to him and his mate was given a spade to break up the sore of us to get bread the wheat pure and white summer till to sow every man to feed till great yule feast and angelic hand from the high father brought seed for growing the eve might sow but she then did hide of the gift attend and all did not sow of what was done black ride then was found and not pure wheat grain to show the mischief thus of thieving for this thievish act it is requisite that all men should pay tithe unto God of the ready wine planted on sunny days and on new moon nights and the white wine the wheat rich in grain and red flowing wine Christ pure body make son of alpha the way for his flesh the wine has spilt blood the trinity's words sanctify them the concealed books from Immanuel's hand were brought by Raphael as Adam's gift when in his old age to his gin immersed in Jordan's water keeping afast Moses did obtain in Jordan's water the aid of the three most special rods Solomon did obtain in Babel's tower all the sciences in Asia land so did I obtain in my bardic books all the sciences of Europe and Africa their course their bearing their permitted way and their fate I know until the end of what misery through extreme of woe prophecy will show on Troy as race a coiling serpent proud and merciless on her golden wings from Germany she will overrun England and Scotland from Lich then sea shore to the Severn then will the Brython be as prisoners by strangers wade from Saxony their lord they will praise their speech they will keep their land they will lose except wild Wallya till some change shall come after long penance when equally right the two crimes come Britons then shall have their land in their crown and the strangers warm shall disappear all the angels words as to peace and war will be fulfilled to Britain's race he further told the king various prophecies of things that should be in the world in songs as follows end of section seven end of the Mabinogen volume three by anonymous translated by Charlotte Guest