The Mabinogion

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I
THE MABTNOGION.
Til E
MABINOGION.
FROM
THE WELSH OF THE LLYFR COCH 0 HERGES!

(THE RED BOOK OF HERGEST)
IN THE LIBRARY OF JESUS COLLEGE, OXFORD.
TRANSLATED, WITH NOTES,

BV
LADY CHARLOTTE GUEST.
LONDON:
BERNARD QUARITCH, 15 PICCADILLY.
1877.
WVMAS AND SOWS, VKINTJ-.KS, GREAT QUEEN STRT'.ET,
LrMOLN"s-INN FIKLDS, W.C.
TO IVOB AND MEBTHYB.
My dear Children,
Infants as you yet are, I feel that I cannot

dedicate more fitly than to you these venerable relics
of ancient lore, and I do so in the hope of inciting
you to cultivate the Literature of " Owyllt Walia," in
whose beautiful language you are being initiated, and
amongst whose free mountains you were born.
May you become early imbued with the chivalric

and exalted sense ofhonour, and the ferventpatriotism
for which its sons have ever been celebrated.
May you learn to emulate the noble qualities of

Ivor Hael, and the firm attachment to your Native
Country, which distinguished that Ivor Bach, after
whom the elder of you was named.
I am,
Your affectionate Mother,
C. E. GUEST.
Dowlais, August 29<A, 1838.
b
PKEFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION.
ri^HE Arthurian Legends have at all times furnished

a congenial subject to the students of Romance ;
and in the eight-and- thirty years which have elapsed
since the first part of this Translation appeared, my
"Mabinogion" have found their way into the hands
of the learned both among ourselves and on the
Continent.
More recently, however, the publication of the
" Idyls of the King "— and among them of " Enid,"
which is founded on my version of " Geraint "— has
interested a much wider circle of readers in the
Legends, and there has arisen a demand for a new
and more popular edition of my work, which it is the
object of the present issue to supply.
It will be found to differ from its predecessor in the
omission of the Welsh text, of all Welsh quotations in
the Notes, and of the French Metrical Romance of the
" Chevalier au Lion." The notices relating to the
corresponding versions of the Tales in other European
languages have also been condensed.
b 2
viii PREFACE.
It is, then, under these altered conditions, and in

the absence of all means of comparison on their part,
that I ask my new readers to believe that I have
striven to preserve in Saxon English the primitive
simplicity of the Welsh original.
To these remarks it only remains for me to add, that
the text of the Mabinogion exists in the Llyfr Coch o
Hergest (or Red Book of Hergest) preserved in the
Library of Jesus College, Oxford, and that for the
accurate copy which I used, I was indebted to the
learned labours of the Rev. John Jones (Tegid), Fellow
of that College, and to the courtesy of the late
Mr. Justice Bosanquet, for whom the transcript in
question was originally made.
Langham House, London,

18</i January, 1877.
CONTENTS.
PAGE
Preface to the Second Edition ..... vii
Introduction . xi
THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN .... 3
Notes to the Lady of the Fountain . . 31
Versions in other Languages 66
Note on the Forest of Breceliande, &c . . . 67
Llyn Dulyn in Snowdon 77
PEKEDTTR THE SON OF EVRAWC . . 81
Notes to Peredur the Son of Evrawc . . .125
Notice of various other Versions . . . . 136
GERAINT THE SON OF ERBIN 141
Notes to Geraint . . 185
Notice of various other Versions . . .214
KILHWCH AND OLWEN 217
Notes to Kilhwch and Olwen 259
THE DBEAM OF RHONABWY 299
Notes to the Dream of Rhonabwy .... 315
PWYLL PRINCE OF DYVED 339 -
Note to Pwyll Prince of Dyved .... 360
BRANWEN THE DAUGHTER OF LLYR . . 369 -
Notes to Branwen the Daughter of Llyr . 385
MANAWYDDAN THE SON OF LLYR . . . 397
Note to Manawyddan the Son of Llyr . .411
MATH THE SON OF MATHONWY . . 413
Notes to Math the Son of Mathonwy . . . 434
THE DREAM OF MAXEN WLEDIG . . 443 *
Note to Maxen Wledig 453
THE STORY OF LLUDD AND LLEVELYS . . . 459 •
Note to Lludd and Llevelys ..... 466
TALIESIN 471
Notes to Taliesin 495
INTRODUCTION.
WHILST engaged on the Translations contained

in these volumes, and on the Notes appended
to the various Tales, I have found myself led unavoid
ably into a much more extensive course of reading
than I had originally contemplated, and one which
in great measure bears directly upon the earlier Me
diaeval Romance.
Before commencing these labours, I was aware,
generally, that there existed a connexion between
the Welsh Mabinogion and the Romance of the
Continent ; but as I advanced, I became better
acquainted with the closeness and extent of that
connexion, its history, and the proofs by which it
is supported.
At the same time, indeed, I became aware, and
still strongly feel, that it is one thing to collect facts,
and quite another to classify and draw from them
their legitimate conclusions ; and though I am loth
that what has been collected with some pains, should
be entirely thrown away, it is unwillingly, and with
diffidence, that I trespass beyond the acknowledged
province of a translator.
In the twelfth and thirteenth centuries there arose
into general notoriety in Europe, a body of " Ro
mance," which in various forms retained its popularity
till the Reformation. In it the plot, the incidents,
xii INTRODUCTION.
the characters, were almost wholly those of Chivalry,

that bond which united the warriors of France, Spain,
and Italy, with those of pure Teutonic descent, and
embraced more or less firmly all the nations of
Europe, excepting only the Slavonic races, not yet
risen to power, and the Celts who had fallen from
it. It is not difficult to account for this latter
omission. The Celts, driven from the plains into
the mountains and islands, preserved their liberty,
and hated their oppressors with fierce, and not cause
less, hatred. A proud and free people, isolated both
in country and language, were not likely to adopt
customs which implied brotherhood with their foes.
Such being the case, it is remarkable that when
the chief romances are examined, the name of many
of the heroes and their scenes of action are found
to be Celtic, and those of persons and places famous
in the traditions of Wales and Brittany. Of this
the romances of Ywaine and Gawaine, Sir Perceval
de Galles, Eric and Enide, Mort d'Arthur, Sir
Lancelot, Sir Tristan, the Graal, &c, may be cited
as examples. In some cases a tendency to triads,
and other matters of internal evidence, point in the
same direction.
It may seem difficult to account for this. Although
the ancient dominion of the Celts over Europe is
not without enduring evidence in the names of the
mountains and streams, the great features of a
country, yet the loss of their prior language by the
great mass of the Celtic nations in Southern Europe
(if indeed their successors in territory be at all of
their blood), prevents us from clearly seeing, and
makes us wonder, how stories, originally embodied
INTRODUCTION. Xlll
in the Celtic dialects of Great Britain and France,

could so influence the literature of nations to whom
the Celtic languages were utterly unknown. Whence
then came these internal marks, and these proper
names of persons and places, the features of a story
usually of earliest date and least likely to change ?
These romances were found in England, France,
Germany, Norway, Sweden, and even Iceland, as
early as the beginning of the thirteenth and end
of the twelfth century. The Germans, who pro
pagated them through the nations of the North,
derived them certainly from France. Robert Wace
published his Anglo-Norman Romance of the Brut
d'Angleterre about 1155. Sir Tristan was written
in French prose in 1170; and The Chevalier au Lion,
Chevalier de l'Epee, and Sir Lancelot du Lac, in
metrical French, by Chrestien de Troyes, before 1 200.
From these facts it is to be argued that the fur
ther back these romances are traced, the more clearly
does it appear that they spread over the Continent
from the North-west of France. The older versions,
it may be remarked, are far more simple than the
later corruptions. In them there is less allusion
to the habits and usages of Chivalry, and the Welsh
names and elements stand out in stronger relief. It
is a great step to be able to trace the stocks of these
romances back to Wace, or to his country and age.
For Wace's work was not original. He himself,
a native of Jersey, appears to have derived much
of it from the " Historia Britonum " of Gruflydd ab
Arthur, commonly known as " Geoffrey of Monmouth,"
born 1128, who himself professes to have translated
from a British original. It is however very possible
xiv INTRODUCTION.
that Wace may have had access, like Geoffrey, to

independent sources of information.
To the claims set up on behalf of Wace and
Geoffrey, to be regarded as the channels by which
the Cymric tales passed into the Continental romance,
may be added those of a third almost contemporary
author. Layamon, a Saxon priest, dwelling, about
1200, upon the banks of the upper Severn, acknow
ledges for the source of his British history, the
English Bede, the Latin Albin, and the French Wace.
The last-named however is by very much his chief,
and, for Welsh matters, his only avowed authority.
His book, nevertheless, contains a number of names
and stories relating to Wales, of which no traces
appear in Wace, or indeed in Geoffrey, but which he
was certainly in a very favourable position to obtain
for himself. Layamon, therefore, not only confirms
Geoffrey in some points, but it is clear, that, pro
fessing to follow Wace, he had independent access
to the great body of Welsh literature then current.
Sir F. Madden has put this matter very clearly,
in his recent edition of Layamon. The Abbe- de
la Rue, also, was of opinion that Gaimar, an Anglo-
Norman, in the reign of Stephen, usually regarded as
a translator of Geoffrey of Monmouth, had access to a
Welsh independent authority.
In addition to these, is to be mentioned the English
version of Sir Tristrem, which Sir Walter Scott
considered to be derived from a distinct Celtic source,
and not, like the later Amadis, Palmerin, and Lord
Berners's Canon of Romance, imported into English
literature by translation from the French. For the
Auntours of Arthur, recently published by the Camden
INTRODUCTION. XV
Society, their Editor, Mr. Robson, seems to hint at a

similar claim.
Here then are various known channels, by -which
portions of Welsh and Armoric fiction crossed the
Celtic border, and gave rise to the more ornate, and
widely-spread romance of the Age of Chivalry. It is
not improbable that there may have existed many
others. It appears then that a large portion of the
stocks of mediaeval Romance proceeded from "Wales.
We have next to see in what condition they are still
found in that country.
That Wales possessed an ancient literature, con
taining various lyric compositions, and certain triads,
in which are arranged historical facts or moral
aphorisms, has been shown by Sharon Turner, who
has established the high antiquity of many of these
compositions.
The more strictly Romantic Literature of Wales
has been less fortunate, though not less deserving of
critical attention. Small portions only of it have
hitherto appeared in print, the remainder being still
hidden in the obscurity of ancient Manuscripts : of
these the chief is supposed to be the Red Book of
Hergest, now in the Library of Jesus College, Oxford,
and of the fourteenth century. This contains, besides
poems, the prose romances known as Mabinogion.
The Black Book of Caermarthen, preserved at Hen-
gwrt, and considered not to be of later date than the
twelfth century, is said to contain poems only.*
* It is also stated, that there is in the Hengwrt Library, a MS.
containing the Graal in Welsh,. as early as the time of Henry I.
I had hoped to have added this to the present collection ; but the
death of Col. Vaughan, to whom I applied, and other subsequent
circumstances, have prevented me from obtaining access to it.
xvi INTRODUCTION.
The Mabinogion, however, though thus early re

corded in the Welsh tongue, are in their existing form
by no means wholly Welsh. They are of t wo tolerably
distinct classes. Of these, the older contains few
allusions to Norman customs, manners, arts, arms,
and luxuries. The other, and less ancient, are full
of such allusions, and of ecclesiastical terms. Both
classes, no doubt, are equally of Welsh root, but the
former are not more overlaid or corrupted, than might
have been expected, from the communication that so
early took place between the Normans and the Welsh;
whereas the latter probably migrated from Wales, and
were brought back and re-translated after an absence
of centuries, with a load of Norman additions. Kilhwch
and Olwen, and the dream of Rhonabwy, may be cited
as examples of the older and purer class ; the Lady of
the Fountain, Peredur, and Geraint ab Erbin, of the
later, or decorated.
Besides these, indeed, there are a few tales, as
Amlyn and Amic, Sir Bevis of Hamtoun, the Seven
Wise Masters, and the story of Charlemagne, so ob
viously of foreign extraction, and of late introduction
into Wales, not presenting even a Welsh name, or
allusion, and of such very slender intrinsic merit, that
although comprised in the Llyvr Coch, they have not
a shadow of claim to form part of the Canon of Welsh
Romance. Therefore, although I have translated and
examined them, I have given them no place in these
volumes.
There is one argument in favour of the high antiquity
in Wales of many of the Mabinogion, which deserves
to be mentioned here. This argument is founded on
the topography of the country. It is found that Saxon
INTRODUCTION. xvii
names of places are very frequently definitions of the

nature of the locality to which they are attached, as
Clifton, Deepden, Bridge-ford, Thorpe, Ham, Wick,
and the like ; whereas those of Wales are more fre
quently commemorative of some event, real or sup
posed, said to have happened on or near the spot, or
bearing allusion to some person renowned in the
story of the country or district. Such are " Llyn y
Morwynion," the Lake of the Maidens ; " Bhyd y
Bedd," the Ford of the Grave; " Bryn Cyfergyr," the
Hill of Assault ; and so on. But as these names could
not have preceded the events to which they refer, the
events themselves must be not unfrequently as old as
the early settlement in the country. And as some of
these events and fictions are the subjects of, and are
explained by, existing Welsh legends, it follows that
the legends must be, in some shape or other, of very
remote antiquity. It will be observed that this argu
ment supports remote antiquity only for such legends
as are connected with the greater topographical
features, as mountains, lakes, rivers, seas, which must
have been named at an early period in the inhabitation
of the country by man. But there exist, also, legends
connected with the lesser features, as pools, hills,
detached rocks, caves, fords, and the like, places
not necessarily named by the earlier settlers, but the
names of which are, nevertheless, probably very old,
since the words of which they are composed, are in
many cases not retained in the colloquial tongue, in
which they must once have been included, and are in
some instances lost from the language altogether, so
much so as to be only partially explicable even by
scholars. The argument applies likewise, in their
xviii INTKODUCTION.
degree, to camps, barrows, and other artificial earth

works.
Conclusions thus drawn, when established, rest
upon a very firm basis. They depend upon the
number and appositeness of the facts, and it would
be very interesting to pursue this branch of evidence
in detail. In following up this idea, the names to be
sought for might thus be classed :—
I. Names of the great features, involving proper
names and actions.
Cadair Idris and Cadair Arthur, both involve more
than a mere name. Idris and Arthur must have been
invested with heroic qualifications to have been placed
in such " seats."
II. Names of lesser features, as " Bryn y Saeth,"
Hill of the Dart; " Llyn Llyngclys," Lake of the
Engulphed Court ; " Ceven y Bedd," the Ridge of the
Grave ; " Rhyd y Saeson," the Saxons' Ford.
III. Names of mixed natural and artificial objects,
as " Coeten Arthur," Arthur's Coit ; " Cerrig y Dru-
dion," the Crag of the Heroes; which involve actions.
And such as embody proper names only, as " Cerrig
Howel," the Crag of Howell ; " Caer Arianrod," the
Camp of Arianrod; " Bron Goronwy," the Breast (of
the Hill) of Goronwy ; " Castell mab Wynion," the
Castle of the son of Wynion ; " Nant Gwrtheyrn," the
Rill of Vortigern.
The selection of names would demand much care
and discretion. The translations should be indisput
able, and, where known, the connexion of a name with
a legend should be noted. Such a name as " Moch-
drev," Swine-town, would be valueless unless accom
panied by a legend.
INTRODUCTION. xix
It is always valuable to find a place or work called

after an individual, because it may help to support
some tradition of his existence or his actions. But it
is requisite that care be taken not to push the etymo
logical dissection too far. Thus, " Caer Arianrod "
should be taken simply as the " Camp of Arianrod,"
and not rendered the " Camp of the silver circle,"
because the latter, though it might possibly have some
thing to do with the reason for which the name was
borne by Arianrod herself, had clearly no reference
to its application to her camp.
It appears to me, then, looking back upon what has
been advanced :—
I. That we have throughout Europe, at an early
period, a great body of literature, known as Mediaeval
Romance, which, amidst much that is wholly of
Teutonic origin and character, includes certain well-
marked traces of an older Celtic nucleus.
II. Proceeding backwards in time, we find these
romances, their ornaments falling away at each step,
existing towards the twelfth century, of simpler struc
ture, and with less encumbered Celtic features, in
the works of Wace, and other Bards of the Langue
d'Oil.
III. We find that Geoffrey of Monmouth, Layamon,
and other early British and Anglo-Saxon historians,
and minstrels, on the one hand, transmitted to Europe
the rudiments of its after romance, much of which, on
the other hand, they drew from Wales.
IV. Crossing into Wales we find, in the Mabinogion,
the evident counterpart of the Celtic portion of the
continental romance, mixed up, indeed, with various
reflex additions from beyond the border, but still
XX INTRODUCTION.
containing ample internal evidence of a Welsh

original.
V. Looking at the connexion between divers of the
more ancient Mabinogion, and the topographical
nomenclature of part of the country, we find evi
dence of the great, though indefinite, antiquity of
these tales, and of an origin, which, if not indige
nous, is certainly derived from no European nation.
It was with a general belief in some of these con
clusions, that I commenced my labours, and I end them
with my impressions strongly confirmed. The sub
ject is one not unworthy of the talents of a Llwyd or
a Prichard. It might, I think, be shown, by pursuing
the inquiry, that the Cymric nation is not only, as
Dr. Prichard has proved it to be, an early offshoot of
the Indo-European family, and a people of unmixed
descent, but that when driven out of their conquests
by the later nations, the names and exploits of their
heroes, and the compositions of their bards, spread far
and wide among the invaders, and affected intimately
their tastes and literature for many centuries, and that
it has strong claims to be considered the cradle of
European Romance.
Dowlais, August 29th, 1848.

THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN.
Mabinogion . B
KING ARTHUR was at Caerlleon upon Usk; and one

day he sat in his chamber ; and with him were Owain
the son of Urien, and Kynon the son of Clydno, and Kai the
son of Kyner; and Gwenhwyvar and her hand-maidens at
needlework by the window. And if it should be said that
there was a porter at Arthur's palace, there was none.
Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr was there, acting as porter, to welcome
guests and strangers, and to receive them with honour, and
to inform them of the manners and customs of the Court;
and to direct those who came to the Hall or to the presence-
chamber, and those who came to take up their lodging.
In the centre of the chamber King Arthur sat upon a seat
of green rushes, over which was spread a covering of flame-
coloured satin, and a cushion of red satin was under his
elbow.
b 2
4 THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN.
Then Arthur spoke, "If I thought you would not dis

parage me," said he, " I would sleep while I wait for my
repast ; and you can entertain one another with relating tales,
and can obtain a flagon of mead and some meat from Kai."
And the King went to sleep. And Kynon the son of Clydno
asked Kai for that which Arthur had promised them. "I, too,
will have the good tale which he promised to me," said Kai.
" Nay," answered Kynon, " fairer will it be for thee to fulfil
Arthur's behest, in the first place, and then we will tell thee
the best tale that we know." So Kai went to the kitchen
and to the mead-cellar, and returned bearing a flagon of mead
and a golden goblet, and a handful of skewers, upon which
were broiled collops of meat. Then they ate the collops and
began to drink the mead. " Now," said Kai, " it is time for
you to give me my story." " Kynon," said Owain, " do thou
pay to Kai the tale that is his due." " Truly," said Kynon,
" thou art older, and art a better teller of tales, and hast seen
more marvellous things than I; do thou therefore pay Kai
his tale." "Begin thyself," quoth Owain, "with the best
that thou knowest." " I will do so," answered Kynon.
" I was the only son of my mother and father, and I was
exceedingly aspiring, and my daring was very great. I
thought there was no enterprise in the world too mighty for
me, and after I had achieved all the adventures that were in
my own country, I equipped myself, and set forth to journey
through deserts and distant regions. And at length it
chanced that I came to the fairest valley in the world,
wherein were trees of equal growth ; and a river ran through
the valley, and a path was by the side of the river. And I
followed the path until mid-day, and continued my journey
along the remainder of the valley until the evening ; and at
the extremity of a plain I came to a large and lustrous Castle,
at the foot of which was a torrent. And I approached the
Castle, and there I beheld two youths with yellow curling
hair, each with a frontlet of gold upon his head, and clad in a
garment of yellow satin, and they had gold clasps upon their
THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN. 5
insteps. In the hand of each of them was an ivory bow,

strung with the sinews of the stag; and their arrows had
shafts of the bone of the whale, and were winged with pea
cock's feathers ; the shafts also had golden heads. And they
had daggers with blades of gold, and with hilts of the bone
of the whale. And they were shooting their daggers.
" And a little way from them I saw a man in the prime of
life, with his beard newly shorn, clad in a robe and a mantle
of yellow satin ; and round the top of his mantle was a band
of gold lace. On his feet were shoes of variegated leather,
fastened by two bosses of gold. When I saw him, I went
towards him and saluted him, and such was his courtesy that
he no sooner received my greeting than he returned it. And
he went with me towards the castle. Now there were no
dwellers in the castle except those who were in one hall.
And there I saw four-and-twenty damsels, embroidering satin
at a window. And this I tell thee, Kai, that the least fair
of them was fairer than the fairest maid thou hast ever
beheld in the island of Britain, and the least lovely of them
was more lovely than Gwenhwyvar, the wife of Arthur, when
she has appeared loveliest at the Offering, on the day of the
Nativity, or at the feast of Easter. They rose up at my
coming, and six of them took my horse, and divested me of
my armour ; and six others took my arms, and washed them
in a vessel until they were perfectly bright. And the third six
spread cloths upon the tables and prepared meat. And the
fourth six took off my soiled garments, and placed others
upon me ; namely, an under vest and a doublet of fine linen,
and a robe, and a surcoat, and a mantle of yellow satin with a
broad gold band upon the mantle. And they placed cushions
both beneath and around me, with coverings of red linen ; and
I sat down. Now the six maidens who had taken my horse,
unharnessed him, as well as if they had been the best squires
in the island of Britain. Then, behold, they brought bowls
of silver wherein was water to wash, and towels of linen, some
green and some white ; and I washed. And in a little while
the man sat down to the table. And I sat next to him, and
below me sat all the maidens, except those who waited on us.
And the table was of silver, and the cloths upon the table
were of linen ; and no vessel was served upon the table that
was not either of gold or of silver, or of buffalo-horn. And
our meat was brought to us. And verily, Kai, I saw there
every sort of meat and every sort of liquor that I have ever
seen elsewhere; but the meat and the liquor were better
served there than I have ever seen them in any other place.
" Until the repast was half over, neither the man nor any one
of the damsels spoke a single word to me ; but when the man
perceived that it would be more agreeable to me to converse
than to eat any more, he began to inquire of me who I was.
I said I was glad to find that there was some one who would
discourse with me, and that it was not considered so great a
crime at that Court for people to hold converse together.
' Chieftain,' said the man, ' we would have talked to thee
sooner, but we feared to disturb thee during thy repast ; now,
however, we will discourse.' Then I told the man who I was,
and what was the cause of my journey ; and said that I was
seeking whether any one was superior to me, or whether I
could gain the mastery over all. The man looked upon me,
and he smiled and said, ' If I did not fear to distress thee too
much, I would show thee that which thou seekest.' Upon
this I became anxious and sorrowful, and when the man per
ceived it, he said, ' If thou wouldest rather that I should show
thee thy disadvantage than thine advantage, I will do so.
Sleep here to-night, and in the morning arise early, and take
the road upwards through the valley until thou reachest the
wood through which thou eamest hither. A little way within
the wood thou wilt meet with a road branching off to the
right, by which thou must proceed, until thou comest to a
large sheltered glade with a mound in the centre. And thou
wilt see a black man of great stature on the top of the mound.
He is not smaller in size than two of the men of this world.
He has but one foot ; and one eye in the middle of his fore
bead. And he has a club of iron, and it is certain that there

are no two men in the world who would not find their burden
in that club. And he is not a comely man, but on the con
trary he is exceedingly ill-favoured ; and he is the woodward
of that wood. And thou wilt see a thousand wild animals
grazing around him. Inquire of him the way out of the
glade, and he will reply to thee briefly, and will point out
the road by which thou shalt find that which thou art in
quest of.'
"And long seemed that night to me. And the next
morning I arose and equipped myself, and mounted my
horse, and proceeded straight through the valley to the
wood ; and I followed the cross-road which the man had
pointed out to me, till at length I arrived at the glade. And
there was I three times more astonished at the number of
wild animals that I beheld, than the man had said I should
be. And the black man was there, sitting upon the top of
the mound. Huge of stature as the man had told me that he
was, I found him to exceed by far the description he had
given me of him. As for the iron club which the man had
told me was a burden for two men, I am certain, Kai, that it
would be a heavy weight for four warriors to lift ; and this
was in the black man's hand. And he only spoke to me in
answer to my questions. Then I asked him what power he
held over those animals. ' I will show thee, little man,' said
he. And he took his club in his hand, and with it he struck a
stag a great blow so that he brayed vehemently, and at his
braying the animals came together, as numerous as the stars
in the sky, so that it was difficult for me to find room in tho
glade to stand among them. There were serpents, and
dragons, and divers sorts of animals. And he looked at
them, and bade them go and feed; and they bowed their
heads, and did him homage as vassals to their lord.
" Then the black man said to me, ' Seest thou now, little
man, what power I hold over these animals ? ' Then I in
quired of him the way, and he became very rough in his
manner to me ; however, he asked me whither I would go ?

And when I told him who I was and what I sought, he
directed me. ' Take,' said he, ' that path that leads towards
the head of the glade, and ascend the wooded steep until thou
comest to its summit ; and there thou wilt find an open space
like to a large valley, and in the midst of it a tall tree, whose
branches are greener than the greenest pine-trees. Under
this tree is a fountain, and by the side of the fountain a
marble slab, and on the marble slab a silver bowl, attached
by a chain of silver, so that it may not be carried away.
Take the bowl and throw a bowlful of water upon the slab,
and thou wilt hear a mighty peal of thunder, so that thou
wilt think that heaven and earth are trembling with its fury.
With the thunder there will come a shower so severe that it
will be scarce possible for thee to endure it and live. And
the shower will be of hailstones ; and after the shower, the
weather will become fair, but every leaf that was upon the
tree will have been carried away by the shower. Then a
flight of birds will come and alight upon the tree ; and in
thine own country thou didst never hear a strain so sweet as
that which they will sing. And at the moment thou art most
delighted with the song of the birds, thou wilt hear a mur
muring and complaining coming towards thee along the
valley. And thou wilt see a knight upon a coal-black horse,
clothed in black velvet, and with a pennon of black linen
upon his lance ; and he will ride unto thee to encounter thee
with the utmost speed. If thou fleest from him he will over
take thee, and if thou abidest there, as sure as thou art a
mounted knight, he will leave thee on foot. And if thou dost
not find trouble in that adventure, thou needest not seek it
during the rest of thy life.'
" So I journeyed on, until I reached the summit of the
steep, and there I found everything as the Mack man had
described it to me. And I went up to the tree, and beneath
it I saw the fountain, and by its side the marble slab, and the
silver bowl fastened by the chain. Then I took the bowl,
l
and cast a bowlful of water upon the slab; and thereupon,

behold, the thunder came, much more violent than the black
man had led me to expect ; and after the thunder came the
shower ; and of a truth I tell thee, Kai, that there is neither
man nor beast that could endure that shower and live. For
not one of those hailstones would be stopped, either by
the flesh or by the skin, until it had reached the bone. I
turned my horse's flank towards the shower, and placed the
beak of my shield over his head and neck, while I held the
upper part of it over my own head. And thus I withstood
the shower. When I looked on the tree there was not a
single leaf upon it, and then the sky became clear, and with
that, behold the birds lighted upon the tree, and sang. And
truly, Kai, I never heard any melody equal to that, either
before or since. And when I was most charmed with listen
ing to the birds, lo, a murmuring voice was heard through
the valley, approaching me and saying, ' Oh, Knight, what
has brought thee hither ? What evil have I done to thee,
that thou shouldst act towards me and my possessions as thou
hast this day ? Dost thou not know that the shower to-day
has left in my dominions neither man nor beast alive that was
exposed to it ? ' And thereupon, behold, a Knight on a black
horse appeared, clothed in jet-black velvet, and with a tabard
of black linen about him. And we charged each other, and,
as the onset was furious, it was not long before I was over
thrown. Then the Knight passed the shaft of his lanco
through the bridle rein of my horse, and rode off with the
two horses, leaving me where I was. And he did not even
bestow so much notice upon me as to imprison me, nor did
he despoil me of my arms. So I returned along the road by
which I had come. And when I reached the glade where the
black man was, I confess to thee, Kai, it is a marvel that I
did not melt down into a liquid pool, through the shame that
I felt at the black man's derision. And that night I came to
the same castle where I had spent the night preceding. And
I was more agreeably entertained that night than I had been
the night before ; and I was better feasted, and I conversed

freely with the inmates of the castle, and none of them alluded
to my expedition to the fountain, neither did I mention it to
any ; and I remained there that night. When I arose on the
morrow, I found, ready saddled, a dark bay palfrey, with
nostrils as red as scarlet ; and after putting on my armour, and
leaving there my blessing, I returned to my own Court. And
that horse I still possess, and he is in the stable yonder. And
I declare that I would not part with him for the best palfrey
in the island of Britain.
" Now of a truth, Kai, no man ever before confessed to
an adventure so much to his own discredit, and verily it
seems strange to me, that neither before nor since have I
heard of any person besides myself who knew of this
adventure, and that the subject of it should exist within
King Arthur's dominions, without any other person lighting
upon it."
" Now," quoth Owain, " would it not be well to go and
endeavour to discover that place ? "
" By the hand of my friend," said Kai, " often dost thou
utter that with thy tongue which thou wouldst not make
good with thy deeds."
" In very truth," said Gwenhwyvar, " it were better thou
wert hanged, Kai, than to use such uncourteous speech
towards a man like Owain."
" By the hand of my friend, good Lady," said Kai, " thy
praise of Owain is not greater than mine."
With that Arthur awoke, and asked if ho had not been
sleeping a little.
" Yes, Lord," answered Owain, " thou hast slept awhile."
" Is it time for us to go to meat ? "
" It is, Lord," said Owain.
Then the horn for washing was sounded, and the King and
all his household sat down to eat. And when the meal was
ended, Owain withdrew to his lodging, and made ready his
horse and his arms.
THE LADY OP THE FOUNTAIN. 11
On the morrow, with the dawn of day, he pnt on his

armour and mounted his charger, and travelled through dis
tant lands and over desert mountains. And at length he
arrived at the valley which Kynon had described to him ; and
he was certain that it was the same that he sought. And
journeying along the valley by the side of the river, he fol
lowed its course till he came to the plain and within sight of
the Castle. When he approached the Castle, he saw the youths
shooting their daggers in the place where Kynon had seen
them, and the yellow man, to whom the Castle belonged,
standing hard by. And no sooner had Owain saluted the
yellow man than he was saluted by him in return.
And he went forward towards the Castle, and there he saw
the chamber, and when he had entered the chamber he beheld
the maidens working at satin embroidery, in chairs of gold.
And their beauty and their comeliness seemed to Owain far
greater than Kynon had represented to him. And they arose
to wait upon Owain, as they had done to Kynon, and the
meal which they set before him gave more satisfaction to
Owain than it had done to Kynon.
About the middle of the repast, the yellow man asked
Owain the object of his journey. And Owain made it known
to him, and said, " I am in quest of the Knight who guards
the fountain." Upon this the yellow man smiled, and said
that he was as loth to point out that adventure to Owain as he
had been to Kynon. However, he described the whole to
Owain, and they retired to rest.
The next morning Owain found his horse made ready for
him by the damsels, and he set forward and came to the
glade where the black man was. And the stature of the
black man seemed more wonderful to Owain than it had
done to Kynon, and Owain asked of him his road, and he
showed it to him. And Owain followed the road, as Kynon
had done, till he came to the green tree ; and he beheld the
fountain, and the slab beside the fountain, with the bowl
upon it. And Owain took the bowl, and threw a bowlful
of water upon the slab. And, lo, the thunder was heard,
and after the thunder came the shower, much more violent
than Kynon had described, and after the shower the sky
became bright. And when Owain looked at the tree, there
was not one leaf upon it. And immediately the birds came,
and settled upon the tree, and sang. And when their song
was most pleasing to Owain, he beheld a Knight coming
towards him through the valley, and he prepared to receive
him; and encountered him violently. Having broken both
their lances, they drew their swords, and fought blade to
blade. Then Owain struck the Knight a blow through his
helmet, head-piece and visor, and through the skin, and the
flesh, and the bone, until it wounded the very brain. Then
the black Knight felt that he had received a mortal wound,
upon which he turned his horse's head, and fled. And
Owain pursued him, and followed close upon him, although
he was not near enough to strike him with his sword.
Thereupon Owain descried a vast and resplendent Castle.
And they came to the Castle gate. And the black Knight
was allowed to enter, and the portcullis was let fall upon
Owain; and it struck his horse behind the saddle, and cut
him in two, and carried away the rowels of the spurs that
were upon Owain's heels. And the portcullis descended to
the floor. And the rowels of the spurs and part of the horse
were without, and Owain, with the other part of the horse
remained between the two gates, and the inner gate was
closed, so that Owain could not go thence; and Owain was
in a perplexing situation. And while he was in this state,
he could see through an aperture in the gate, a street facing
him, with a row of houses on each side. And he beheld a
maiden, with yellow curling hair, and a frontlet of gold
upon her head ; and she was clad in a dress of yellow satin,
and on her feet were shoes of variegated leather. And she
approached the gate, and desired that it should be opened.
" Heaven knows, Lady," said Owain, " it is no more pos
sible for me to open to thee from hence, than it is for thee
to set me free." " Truly," said the damsel, " it is very sad
that thou canst not be released, and every woman ought to
succour thee, for I never saw one more faithful in the service
of ladies than thou. As a friend thou art the most sincere,
and as a lover the most devoted. Therefore," quoth she,
" whatever is in my power to do for thy release, I will do
it. Take this ring and put it on thy finger, with the stone
inside thy hand ; and close thy hand upon the stone. And
as long as thou concealest it, it will conceal thee. When
they have consulted together, they will come forth to fetch
thee, in order to put thee to death ; and they will be much
grieved that they cannot find thee. And I will await thee
on the horseblock yonder ; and thou wilt be able to see me,
though I cannot see thee ; therefore come and place thy
hand upon my shoulder, that I may know that thou art
near me. And by the way that I go hence, do thou
accompany me."
Then she went away from Owain, and he did all that the
maiden had told him. And the people of the Castle came to
seek Owain, to put him to death, and when they found
nothing but the half of his horse, they were sorely grieved.
And Owain vanished from among them, and went to the
maiden, and placed his hand upon her shoulder ; whereupon
she set off, and Owain followed her, until they came to the
door of a large and beautiful chamber, and the maiden
opened it, and they went in, and closed the door. And
Owain looked around the chamber, and behold there was not
even a single nail in it that was not painted with gorgeous
colours ; and there was not a single panel that had not
sundry images in gold portrayed upon it.
The maiden kindled a fire, and took water in a silver bowl,
and put a towel of white linen on her shoulder, and gave
Owain water to wash. Then she placed before him a silver
table, inlaid with gold ; upon which was a cloth of yellow
linen ; and she brought him food. And of a truth, Owain had
never seen any kind of meat that was not there in abundance,
but it was better cooked there than he had ever found it in any
other place. Nor did he ever see so excellent a display of

meat and drink, as there. And there was not one vessel from
which he was served, that was not of gold or of silver. And
Owain ate and drank, until late in the afternoon, when lo,
they heard a mighty clamour in the Castle ; and Owain asked
the maiden what that outcry was. " They are administering
extreme unction," said she, " to the Nobleman who owns
the Castle." And Owain went to sleep. 1
The couch which the maiden had prepared for him was
meet for Arthur himself; it was of scarlet, and fur, and
satin, and sendall, and fine linen. In the middle of the night
they heard a woful outcry ; " What outcry again is this ? "
said Owain. " The Nobleman who owned the Castle is now
dead," said the maiden. And a Little after daybreak, they
heard an exceeding loud clamour and wailing. And Owain
asked the maiden what was the cause of it. " They are
bearing to the church the body of the Nobleman who
owned the Castle."
And Owain rose up, and clothed himself, and opened a
window of the chamber, and looked towards the Castle ;
and he could see neither the bounds, nor the extent of the
hosts that filled the streets. And they were fully armed ;
and a vast number of women were with them, both on
horseback and on foot; and all the ecclesiastics in the city,
singing. And it seemed to Owain that the sky resounded
with the vehemence of their cries, and with the noise of the
trumpets, and with the singing of the ecclesiastics. In
the midst of the throng, he beheld the bier, over which
was a veil of white linen; and wax tapers were burning
beside and around it, and none that supported the bier
was lower in rank than a powerful Baron.
Never did Owain see an assemblage so gorgeous with
satin, and silk, and sendall. And following the train, he
beheld a lady with yellow hair falling over her shoulders,
and stained with blood; and about her a dress of yellow
satin, which was torn. Upon her feet were shoes of varie
gated leather. And it was a marvel that the ends of her
fingers were not braised, from the violence with which she
smote her hands together. Truly she would have been the
fairest lady Owain ever saw, had she been in her usual
guise. And her cry was louder than the shout of the men,
or the clamour of the trumpets. No sooner had he beheld
the lady, than he became inflamed with her love, so that
it took entire possession of him.
Then he inquired of the maiden who the lady was.
" Heaven knows," replied the maiden, " she may be said
to be the fairest, and the most chaste, and the most liberal,
and the wisest, and the most noble of women. And she
is my mistress; and she is called the Countess of the
Fountain, the wife of him whom thou didst slay yesterday."
" Verily," said Owain, " she is the woman that I love
best." " Verily," said the maiden, " she shall also love thee ,
not a little."
And with that the maid arose, and kindled a fire, and
filled a pot with water, and placed it to warm; and she
brought a towel of white linen, and placed it around Owain's
neck ; and she took a goblet of ivory, and a silver basin,
and filled them with warm water, wherewith she washed
Owain's head. Then she opened a wooden casket, and drew
forth a razor, whose haft was of ivory, and upon which
were two rivets of gold. And she shaved his beard, and
she dried his head, and his throat, with the towel. Then
she rose up from before Owain, and brought him to eat.
And truly Owain had never so good a meal, nor was he ever
so well served.
When he had finished his repast, the maiden arranged his
couch. " Come here," said she, " and sleep, and I will go
and woo for thee." And Owain went to sleep, and the
maiden shut the door of the chamber after her, and went
towards the Castle. When she came there, she found nothing
but mourning, and sorrow ; and the Countess in her chamber
could not bear the sight of any one through grief. Luned
came and saluted her, but the Countess answered her not.
And the maiden bent down towards her, and said, " What
aileth thee, that thou answerest no one to-day ? " " Luned,"
said the Countess, "what change hath befallen thee, that
thou hast not come to visit me in my grief ? It was wrong
in thee, and I haying made thee rich ; it was wrong in thee
that thou didst not come to see me in, my distress. That
was wrong in thee." " Truly," said .Luned, " I thought
thy good sense was greater than I find it to be. Is it well
for thee to mourn after that good man, or for anything
else, that thou canst not have ? " "I declare to heaven,"
said the Countess, "that in the whole world there is not a
man equal to him." "Not so," said Luned, "for an ugly
man would be as good as, or better than he." "I declare
to heaven," said the Countess, " that were it not repugnant
to me to cause to be put to death one whom I have brought
up, I would have thee executed, for making such a com
parison to me. As it is, I will banish thee." " I am glad,"
said Luned, " that thou hast no other cause to do so, than
that I would have been of service to thee where thou didst
not know what was to thine advantage. And henceforth evil
betide whichever of us shall make the first advance towards
reconciliation to the other ; whether I should seek an invi
tation from thee, or thou of thine own accord shouldst send
to invite me."
With that Luned went forth : and the Countess arose and
followed her to the door of the chamber, and began coughing
loudly. And when Luned looked back, the Countess
beckoned to her; and she returned to the Countess. "In
truth," said the Countess, " evil is thy disposition ; but if
thou knowest what is to my advantage, declare it to me."
"I will do so," quoth she.
" Thou knowest that except by warfare and arms it is
impossible for thee to preserve thy possessions; delay not,
therefore, to seek some one who can defend them." " And
how can I do that ? " said the Countess. " I will tell thee,"
said Luned, "unless thou canst defend the fountain, thou
canst not maintain thy dominions; and no one can defend
the fountain, except it be a knight of Arthur's household;
and I will go to Arthur's Court, and ill betide me, if I return

thence without a warrior who can guard the fountain, as well
as, or even better than, he who defended it formerly." " That
will be hard to perform," said the Countess. " Go, however,
and make proof of that which thou hast promised."
Luned set out, under the pretence of going to Arthur's
Court; but she went back to the chamber where she had
left Owain ; and she tarried there with him as long as it
might have taken her to have travelled to the Court of King
Arthur. And at the end of that time, she apparelled herself
and went to visit the Countess. And the Countess was
much rejoiced when she saw her, and enquired what news
she brought from the Court. "I bring thee the best of
news," said Luned, " for I have compassed the object of my
mission. When wilt thou, that I should present to thee the
chieftain who has come with me hither ? " " Bring him
here to visit me to-morrow, at mid-day," said the Countess,
" and I will cause the town to be assembled by that time.'*
And Luned returned home. And the next day, at noon,
Owain arrayed himself in a coat, and a surcoat, and a mantle
of yellow satin, upon which was a broad band of gold lace ;
and on his feet were high shoes of variegated leather, which
were fastened by golden clasps, in the form of lions. And
they proceeded to the chamber of the Countess.
Right glad was the Countess of their coming, and she gazed
steadfastly upon Owain, and said, "Luned, this knight has
not the look of a traveller." " What harm is there in that,
lady ? " said Luned. " I am certain," said the Countess,
"that no other man than this chased the soul from the body
of my lord." " So much the better for thee, lady," said
Luned, " for had he not been stronger than thy lord he could
not have deprived him of life. There is no remedy for that
which is past, be it as it may." " Go back to thine abode,"
said the Countess, " and I will take counsel."
The next day the Countess caused all her subjects to
assemble, and showed them that her earldom was left defence
less, and that it could not be protected but with horse and
Mabinogicn. C
arms, and military skill. "Therefore," said she, "this is

what I offer for your choice : either let one of you take me,
or give your consent for me to take a husband from elsewhere
to defend my dominions."
So they came to the determination that it was better that
she should have permission to marry some one from else
where; and, thereupon, she sent for the bishops and arch
bishops to celebrate her nuptials with Owain. And the men
of the earldom did Owain homage.
And Owain defended the Fountain with lance and sword.
And this is the manner in which he defended it : Whensoever
a knight came there he overthrew him, and sold him for his
fall worth, and what he thus gained he divided among his
barons and his knights ; and no man in the whole world could
be more beloved than he was by his subjects. And it was
thus for the space of three years.
It befell that as Gwalchmai went forth one day with King

Arthur, he perceived him to be very sad and sorrowful. And
Gwalchmai was much grieved to see Arthur in this state ; and
he questioned him, saying, " Oh, my lord ! what has befallen
thee ? " " In sooth, Gwalchmai," said Arthur, " I am grieved
concerning Owain, whom I have lost these three years, and I
shall certainly die if the fourth year passes without my seeing
him. Now I am sure, that it is through the tale which Kynon
the son of Clydno related, that I have lost Owain." " There
is no need for thee," said Gwalchmai, " to summon to arms
thy whole dominions on this account, for thou thyself and the
men of thy household will be able to avenge Owain, if he be
slain ; or to set him free, if he be in prison ; and, if alive, to
bring him back with thee." And it was settled according to
what Gwalchmai had said.
Then Arthur and the men of his household prepared to go
and reek Owain, and their number was three thousand, besides
their attendants. And Kynon the son of Clydno acted as
their guide. And Arthur came to the Castle where Kynon
had been before, and when he came there the youths were
shooting in the same place, and the yellow man was standing
hard by. When the yellow man saw Arthur he greeted him,
and invited him to the Castle ; and Arthur accepted his invi
tation, and they entered the Castle together. And great as
was the number of his retinue, their presence was scarcely
observed in the Castle, so vast was its extent. And the
maidens rose up to wait on them, and the service of the
maidens appeared to them all to excel any attendance they
had ever met with ; and even the pages who had charge of
the horses were no worse served, that night, than Arthur
himself would have been in his own palace.
The next morning Arthur set out thence, with Kynon for
his guide, and came to the place where the black man was.
And the stature of the black man was more surprising to
Arthur than it had been represented to him. And they came
to the top of the wooded steep, and traversed the valley till
they reached the green tree, where they saw the fountain, and
the bowl, and the slab. And upon that, Kai came to Arthur
and spoke to him. " My lord," said he, " I know the mean
ing of all this, and my request is, that thou wilt permit me to
throw the water on the slab, and to receive the first adventure
that may befall." And Arthur gave him leave.
Then Kai threw a bowlful of water upon the slab, and
immediately there came the thunder, and after the thunder
the shower. And such a thunderstorm they had never known
before, and many of the attendants who were in Arthur's
train were killed by the shower. After the shower had
ceased the sky became clear ; and on looking at the tree they
beheld it completely leafless. Then the birds descended upon
the tree, and the song of the birds was far sweeter than any
strain they had ever heard before. Then they beheld a
knight on a coal-black horse, clothed in black satin, coming
rapidly towards them. And Kai met him and encountered
him, and it was not long before Kai was overthrown. And
the Knight withdrew, and Arthur and his host encamped for
the night.
And when they arose in the morning, they perceived the
c 2
signal of combat upon the lance of the Knight. And Kai

came to Arthur, and spoke to him : " My lord," said he,
" though I was overthrown yesterday, if it seem good to thee,
I would gladly meet the Knight again to-day." "Thou
mayst do so," said Arthur. And Kai went towards the
Knight. And on the spot he overthrew Kai, and struck him
with the head of his lance in the forehead, so that it broke his
helmet and the headpiece, and pierced the skin and the flesh,
the breadth of the spear-head, even to the bone. And Kai
returned to his companions.
After this, all the household of Arthur went forth, one
after the other, to combat the Knight, until there was not
one that was not overthrown by him, except Arthur and
Gwalchmai. And Arthur armed himself to encounter the
Knight. " Oh, my lord," said Gwalchmai, " permit me to
fight with him first." And Arthur permitted him. And he
went forth to meet the Knight, having over himself and his
horse a satin robe of honour which had been sent him by the
daughter of the Earl of Rhangyw, and in this dress he was
not known by any of the host. And they charged each other,
and fought all that day until the evening, and neither of them
was able to unhorse the other.
The next day they fought with strong lances, and neither
of them could obtain the mastery.
And the third day they fought with exceeding strong lances.
And they were incensed with rage, and fought furiously, even
until noon. And they gave each other such a shock that the
girths of their horses were broken, so that they fell over their
horses' cruppers to the ground. And they rose up speedily,
and drew their swords, and resumed the combat; and the
multitude that witnessed their encounter felt assured that
they had never before seen two men so valiant or so power
ful. And had it been midnight, it would have been light
from the fire that flashed from their weapons. And the
Knight gave Gwalchmai a blow that turned his helmet from
off his face, so that the Knight knew that it was Gwalchmai.
Then Owain said, " My lord Gwalchmai, I did not know thee
for my cousin, owing to the robe of honour that enveloped

thee; take my sword and my arms." Said Gwalchmai,
" Thou, Owain, art the victor ; take thou my sword." And
with that Arthur saw that they were conversing, and advanced
towards them. "My lord Arthur," said Gwalchmai, "here
is Owain, who has vanquished me, and will not take my
arms." " My lord," said Owain, " it is he that has vanquished
me, and he will not take my sword." " Give me your
•swords," said Arthur, "and then neither of you has van
quished the other." Then Owain put his arms around
Arthur's neck, and they embraced. And all the host hurried
forward to see Owain, and to embrace him ; and there was
nigh being a loss of life, so great was the press.
And they retired that night, and the next day Arthur pre
pared to depart. " My lord," said Owain, " this is not well
of thee ; for I have been absent from thee these three years,
and during all that time, up to this very day, I have been pre
paring a banquet for thee, knowing that thou wouldst come
to seek me. Tarry with me, therefore, until thou and thy
attendants have recovered the fatigues of the journey, and
have been anointed."
And they all proceeded to the Castle of the Countess of the
Fountain, and the banquet which had been three years pre
paring was consumed in three months. Never had they a
more delicious or agreeable banquet. And Arthur prepared
to depart. Then he sent an embassy to the Countess, to
beseech her to permit Owain to go with him for the space of
three months, that he might show him to the nobles and the
fair dames of the island of Britain. And the Countess gave
her consent, although it was very painful to her. So Owain
came with Arthur to the island of Britain. And when he
was once more amongst his kindred and friends, he remained
three years, instead of three months, with them.
And as Owain one day sat at meat, in the city of Caerlleon

upon Usk, behold a damsel entered upon a bay horse, with a
curling mane and covered with foam, and the bridle and so
much as was seen of the saddle were of gold. And the

damsel was arrayed in a dress of yellow satin. And she came
up to Owain, and took the ring from off his hand. " Thus,"
said she, " shall be treated the deceiver, the traitor, the faith
less, the disgraced, and the beardless." And she turned her
horse's head and departed.
Then his adventure came to Owain's remembrance, and he
was sorrowful ; and having finished eating he went to his own
abode and made preparations that night. And the next day he*
arose but did not go to the court, but wandered to the distant
parts of the earth and to uncultivated mountains. And he
remained there until all his apparel was worn out, and his
body was wasted away, and his hair was grown long. And
he went about with the wild beasts and fed with them, until
they became familiar with him ; but at length he grew so
weak that he could no longer bear them company. Then he
descended from the mountains to the valley, and came to a
park that was the fairest in the world, and belonged to a
widowed Countess.
One day the Countess and her maidens went forth to walk
by a lake, that was in the middle of the park. And they
saw the form of a man. And they were terrified. Never
theless they went near him, and touched him, and looked at
him. And they saw that there was life in him, though he
was exhausted by the heat of the sun. And the Countess
returned to the Castle, and took a flask full of precious
ointment, and gave it to one of her maidens. " Go with
this," said she, "and take with thee yonder horse and
clothing, and place them near the man we saw just now.
And anoint him with this balsam, near his heart ; and if
there is life in him, he will arise through the efficacy of this
balsam. Then watch what he will do."
And the maiden departed from her, and poured the whole
of the balsam upon Owain, and left the horse and the gar
ments hard by, and went a little way off, and hid herself to
watch him. In a short time she saw him begin to move his
arms ; and he rose up, and looked at his person, and became
THE LADY OP THE FOUNTAIN. 23
ashamed of the unseemliness of his appearance. Then he

perceived the horse and the garments that were near him.
And he crept forward till he was able to draw the garments
to him from off the saddle. And he clothed himself, and
with difficulty mounted the horse. Then the damsel dis
covered herself to him, and saluted him. And he was rejoiced
when he saw her, and enquired of her, what land and what
territory that was. " Truly," said the maiden, " a widowed
Countess owns yonder Castle ; at the death of her husband,
he left her two Earldoms, but at this day she has but this
one dwelling that has not been wrested from her by a young
Earl, who is her neighbour, because she refused to become
his wife." "That is pity," said Owain. And he and the
maiden proceeded to the Castle ; and he alighted there, and
the maiden conducted him to a pleasant chamber, and kindled
a fire and left him.
And the maiden came to the Countess, and gave the flask
into her hand. "Ha! maiden," said the Countess, "where
is all the balsam ? " " Have I not used it all ? " said she.
" Oh, maiden," said the Countess, " I cannot easily forgive
thee this ; it is sad for me to have wasted seven-score
pounds' worth of precious ointment, upon a stranger whom
I know not. However, maiden, wait thou upon him, until
he is quite recovered."
And the maiden did so, and furnished him with meat and
drink, and fire, and lodging, and medicaments, until he was
well again. And in three months he was restored to his
former guise, and became even more comely than he had
ever been before.
One day Owain heard a great tumult, and a sound of arms
in the Castle, and he enquired of the maiden the cause thereof.
" The Earl," said she, " whom I mentioned to thee, has come
before the Castle, with a numerous army, to subdue the
Countess." And Owain enquired of her whether the Countess
had a horse and arms in her possession. " She has the best
in the world," said the maiden. " Wilt thou go and request
the loan of a horse and arms for me," said Owain, " that
I may go and look at this army ? " "I will," said the
maiden.
And she came to the Conntess, and told her what Owain
had said. And the Countess laughed. "Truly," said she,
" I will even give him a horse and arms for ever ; such a
horse and such arms had he never yet, and I am glad that
they should be taken by him to-day, lest my enemies should
have them against my will to-morrow. Yet I know not what
he would do with them."
The Countess bade them bring out a beautiful black steed,
upon which was a beechen saddle, and a suit of armour, for
man and horse. And Owain armed himself, and mounted
the horse, and went forth, attended by two pages completely
equipped, with horses and arms. And when they came near
to the Earl's army, they could see neither its extent, nor its
extremity. And Owain asked the pages in which troop the
Earl was. " In yonder troop/' said they, " in which are
four yellow standards. Two of them are before, and two
behind him." " Now," said Owain, " do you return and await
me near the portal of the Castle." So they returned, and
Owain pressed forward until he met the Earl. And Owain
drew him completely out of his saddle, and turned his horse's
head towards the Castle, and, though it was with difficulty,
he brought the Earl to the portal, where the pages awaited
him. And in they came. And .Owain presented the Earl as
a gift .to the Countess. And said to her, "Behold a requital
to thee for thy blessed balsam-"
The army encamped around the Castle- And the Earl
restored to the Countess the two Earldoms he had taken from
her, as a ransom for his life ; and for his freedom he gave
her the half of his own dominions, and all his gold, and his
silver, and his jewels, besides hostages.
And Owain took his departure. And the Countess and all
her subjects besought him to remain, but Owain chose rather
to wander through distant lands and deserts.
And as he journeyed, he heard a loud yelling in a wood.
And it was repeated a second and a third time. And Owain
THE LA.DY OF THE FOUNTAIN. 25
went towards the spot, and beheld a huge craggy mound, in

the middle of the wood ; on the side of which was a grey
rock. And there was a cleft in the rock, and a serpent was
within the cleft. And near the rock stood a black lion, and
every time the lion sought to go thence, the serpent darted
towards him to attack him. And Owain unsheathed his
sword, and drew near to the rock ; and as the serpent sprang
out, he struck him with his sword, and cut him in two.
And he dried his sword, and went on his way, as before.
But behold the lion followed him, and played about him, as.
though it had been a greyhound that he had reared.
They proceeded thus throughout the day, until the evening.
And when it was time for Owain to take his rest, he dis
mounted, and turned his horse loose in a flat and wooded
meadow. And he struck fire, and when the fire was kindled,
the lion brought him fuel enough to last for three nights.
And the lion disappeared. And presently the lion returned,
bearing a fine large roebuck. And he threw it down before
Owain, who went towards the fire with it.
And Owain took the roebuck, and skinned it, and placed
collops of its flesh upon skewers, around the fire. The rest
of the buck he gave to the lion to devour. While he was
doing this, he heard a deep sigh near him, and a second, and
a third. And Owain called out to know whether the sigh
he heard proceeded from a mortal ; and he received answer
that it did. " Who art thou ? " said Owain. " Truly," said
the voice, " I am Luned, the hand-maiden of the Countess of
the Fountain." " And what dost thou here 2 " said Owain.
" I am imprisoned," said she, " on account of the knight
who came from Arthur's Court, and married the Countess.
And he stayed a short time with her, but he afterwards
departed for the Court of Arthur, and has not returned
since. And he was the friend I loved best in the world.
And two of the pages in the Countess's chamber traduced
him, and called him a deceiver. And I told them that they
two were not a match for him alone. So they imprisoned
me in the stone vault, and said that I should be put to death,
26 THE LADY OP THE FOUNTAIN.
unless he came himself, to deliver me, by a certain day ; and

that is no further off than the day after to-morrow. And I
have no one to send to seek him for me. And his name is
Owain the son of Urien." " And art thou certain that if that
knight knew all this, he would come to thy rescue P " "I
am most certain of it," said she.
When the collops were cooked, Owain divided them into
two parts, between himself and the maiden; and after they
had eaten, they talked together, until the day dawned. And
the next morning Owain enquired of the damsel, if there
was any place where he could get food and entertainment for
that night. " There is, lord," said she ; " cross over yonder,
and go along the side of the river, and in a short time thou
wilt see a great Castle, in which are many towers, and the
Earl who owns that Castle is the most hospitable man in the
world. There thou mayst spend the night."
Never did sentinel keep stricter watch over his lord, than
the lion that nighb over Owain.
And Owain accoutred his horse, and passed across by the
ford, and came in sight of the Castle. And he entered it,
and was honourably received. And his horse was well cared
for, and plenty of fodder was placed before him. Then the
lion went and lay down in the horse's manger ; so that none
of the people of the Castle dared to approach him. The
treatment which Owain met with there, was such as he had
never known elsewhere, for every one was as sorrowful,
as though death had been upon him. And they went to meat ;
and the Earl sat upon one side of Owain, and on the other
side his only daughter. And Owain had never seen any more
lovely than she. Then the lion came and placed himself
between Owain's feet, and he fed him with every kind of
food that he took himself. And he never saw anything equal
to the sadness of the people.
In the middle of the repast the Earl began to bid Owain
welcome. " Then," said Owain, " behold, it is time for thee
to be cheerful." " Heaven knows," said the Earl, " that it is
not thy coming that makes us sorrowful, but we have cause
enough for sadness and care." " What is that ? " said Owain.
" I have two sons/' replied the Earl, " and yesterday they
went to the mountains to hunt. Now there is on the moun
tain a monster who kills men and devours them, and he
seized my sons ; and to-morrow is the time he has fixed to be
here, and he threatens that he will then slay my sons before
my eyes, unless I will deliver into his hands this my daughter.
He has the form of a man, but in stature he is no less than a
giant."
" Truly," said Owain, " that is lamentable. And which
wilt thou do ? " " Heaven knows," said the Earl, " it will be
better that my sons should be slain against my will, than
that I should voluntarily give up my daughter to him to ill-
treat and destroy." Then they talked about other things,
and Owain stayed there that night.
The next morning they heard an exceeding great clamour,
which was caused by the coming of the giant with the two
youths. And the Earl was anxious both to protect his Castle
and to release his two sons. Then Owain put on his armour
and went forth to encounter the giant, and the lion followed
him. And when the giant saw that Owain was armed, he
rushed towards him and attacked him. And the lion fought
with the giant, much more fiercely than Owain did. " Truly,"
said the giant, " I should find no difficulty in fighting with
thee, were it not for the animal that is with thee." Upon
that Owain took the lion back to the Castle and shut the gate
upon him, and then he returned to fight the giant, as before.
And the lion roared very loud, for he heard that it went hard
with Owain. And he climbed up till he reached the top of
the Earl's hall, and thence he got to the top of the Castle,
and he sprang down from the walls and went and joined
Owain. And the lion gave the giant a stroke with his paw,
which tore him from his shoulder to hie hip, and his heart
was laid bare, and the giant fell down dead. Then Owain
restored the two youths to their father.
The Earl besought Owain to remain with him, and he
would not, but set forward towards the meadow where Luned
was. And when lie came there he saw a great fire kindled,
and two youths with beautiful curling auburn hair were
leading the maiden to cast her into the fire. And Owain
asked them what charge they had against her. And they
told him of the compact that was between them, as the
maiden had done the night before. "And," said they,
" Owain has failed her, therefore we are taking her to be
burnt." " Truly," said Owain, " he is a good knight, and if
he knew that the maiden was in such peril, I marvel that he
came not to her rescue; but if you will accept me in his
stead, I will do battle with you." "We will," said the
youths, " by him who made us."
And they attacked Owain, and he was hard beset by them.
And with that the lion came to Owain's assistance, and they
two got the better of the young men. And they said to him,
" Chieftain, it was not agreed that we should fight save with
thyself alone, and it is harder for us to contend with yonder
animal than with thee." And Owain put the lion in the place
where the maiden had been imprisoned, and blocked up the
door with stones, and he went to fight with the young men,
as before. But Owain had not his usual strength, and the
two youths pressed hard upon him. And the lion roared in
cessantly at seeing Owain in trouble ; and he burst through
the wall until he found a way out, and rushed upon the young
men, and instantly slew them. So Luned was saved from
being burned.
Then Owain returned with Luned to the dominions of the
Countess of the Fountain. And when he went thence he
took the Countess with him to Arthur's Court, and she was
his wife as long as she lived.
And then he took the road that led to the Court of the savage
black man, and Owain fought with him, and the lion did not
quit Owain until he had vanquished him. And when he
reached the Court of the savage black man he entered the
hall, and beheld four-and-twenty ladies, the fairest that could
be seen. And the garments which they had on were not
worth four-and-twenty pence, and they were as sorrowful as

death. And Owain asked them the cause of their sadness. And
they said, "We are the daughters of Earls, and we all came
here with our husbands, whom we dearly loved. And we
were received with honour and rejoicing. And we were
thrown into a state of stupor, and while we were thus, the
demon who owns this Castle slew all our husbands, and took
from us our horses, and our raiment, and our gold, and our
silver ; and the corpses of our husbands are still in this house,
and many others with them. And this, Chieftain, is the
cause of our grief, and we are sorry that thou art come hither,
lest harm should befall thee."
And Owain was grieved when he heard this. And he went
forth from the Castle, and he beheld a knight approaching
him, who saluted him in a friendly and cheerful manner, as if
he had been a brother. And this was the savage black man.
" In very sooth," said Owain, " it is not to seek thy friendship
that I am here." " In sooth," said he, " thou shalt not find
it then." And with that they charged each other, and fought
furiously. And Owain overcame him, and bound his hands
behind his back. Then the black savage besought Owain to
spare his life, and spoke thus : " My lord Owain," said he,
" it was foretold that thou shouldst come hither and vanquish
me, and thou hast done so. I was a robber here, and my
house was a house of spoil ; but grant me my life, and I will
become the keeper of an Hospice, and I will maintain this
house as an Hospice for weak and for strong, as long as I
live, for the good of thy soul." And Owain accepted this
proposal of him, and remained there that night.
And the next day he took the four-and-twenty ladies, and
their horses, and their raiment, and what they possessed of
goods and jewels, and proceeded with them to Arthur's
Court. And if Arthur was rejoiced when he saw him, after
he had lost him the first time, his joy was now much
greater. And of those ladies, such as wished to remain in
Arthur's Court remained there, and such as wished to depart
departed.
And thenceforward Owain dwelt at Arthur's Court greatly

beloved, as the head of his household, until he went away
with his followers ; and those were the army of three hundred
ravens which Kenverchyn had left him. And wherever
Owain went with these he was victorious.
And this is the tale of The Lady of the Fountain.
31
NOTES TO THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN.
Ahthub.—Page 3.
Among the various characters introduced into the foregoing tale,

none is more strictly and successfully maintained than that of
Arthur. In him we see the dignified and noble-hearted sovereign,
the stately warrior, and the accomplished knight, courteous of
demeanour and dauntless in arms. And whilst the lofty bearing of
the monarch himself excites our admiration, we are scarcely less
struck with the devoted attachment evinced towards him by his
knights, who are ever solicitous that he should be the last to en
counter danger, and ever ready themselves to dare the most perilous
adventures to uphold the dignity of his crown. But it is not
merely the consistency observed in these several characters that
arrests our attention in this and similar compositions professing to
record the achievements of Arthur and his knights ; we are also
forcibly struck with the powerful influence which those legends
exercised over society, and the ascendancy which their principal hero
so decidedly maintained. Nor can we withhold our wonder at the
singular destiny which has awaited this extraordinary being.
Whilst by some his very existence has been called in question, his
name has become celebrated throughout the civilised world ; and his
exploits, whether fabulous or real, have afforded the most ample and
interesting materials to the poet, the antiquary, and the historian.
To this very day the memory of the mighty warrior, " whose sword
extended from Scandinavia to Spain," exercises a power over our
imagination which we are as unable as we are unwilling to dispel.
His image adorned our earliest visions of Chivalry and Romance,
and though the weightier cares of maturer age must supervene,
they serve but to deepen, not to efface the impression ; and while
in the eddying stream of life we pause to look back upon the
days when Caerlleon and its Round Table formed to us an ideal
world, we feel that, in our hearts at least, " King Arthur is
not dead."
The real history of this chieftain is so veiled in obscurity, and has
led to so much unsatisfactory discussion, that I shall in this place
only consider him with reference to the position which he occupies
in the regions of Fiction.
Amongst the many incidents of a highly imaginative character, in
the legendary history of Arthur, we may more particularly notice
his introduction upon the scene of his exploits.
During the turbulent times which followed the death of Uther
Pendragon, the nobles of Britain assembled to elect a successor to
him, but, after protracted debate, they were unable to come to any
decision upon the subject. At length a large stone was discovered
near the place of assembly, in which was a sword fastened as it were
in a sheath. Around it was an inscription in gold letters, signifying
that whoever should draw out that sword was rightful heir to the
throne. After all those who were ambitious of this dignity had
made the attempt in vain, Arthur, who was previously unknowD,
came forward, and drew out the sword from the stone as easily as he
would have drawn it out of the scabbard. He was thereupon
immediately acknowledged king.
Being thus placed at the head of the Chivalry of Britain, he
proceeded in a glorious and triumphant career, until, by the treachery
of his nephew, Modred, he sustained a defeat in the battle of
Canilan.
After witnessing the destruction of his army in that fatal conflict,
Arthur, finding himself mortally wounded, delivered his sword
to Caliburn one of his knights, with a request that he would cast it
into a certain lake. The knight, thus commissioned, proceeded to
the appointed spot, and, standing upon the bank, flung the sword
forward with all his might. As it was descending, a hand and arm
came out of the lake, and seizing it by the hilt brandished it three
times, and disappeared with it in the water.
Arthur was afterwards conducted by the Knight to the border of
the lake, where he found a little bark moored, in which were Viviane,
the Lady of the Lake, and Morgan le Fay, and other ladies, who
carried him off to the Island of Avalon, in Fairy-land, where it was
affirmed that he was healed of his wounds, and continued to live
in all the splendour of that luxurious country, waiting for the time
when he should return once more to take possession of his ancient
dominions.
In confirmation of this idea it was asserted that the place of his
NOTES. 33
sepulture was not known. This tradition was current for many ages,
and is found among the Welsh, in the Memorials of the Graves of
the Warriors,—
" The grave of March is this, and this the grave of Gwythyr.
Here is the grave of Gwgawn Gleddyfrndd
But unknown is the grave of Arthur."*
Our English ears are so familiarized with the name of King
Arthur, that it seems impossible to give him the appellation of
Emperor, by which he is designated in the original Welsh, and
to which, according to the old Romances, he was fully entitled,
since once upon a time, "at crystemas," he was crowned " Einperour
with creme as it bylongeth to so hyhe astata"—Morte d'Arthur.
We find the title of Emperor bestowed upon Arthur in Llywarch
Hen's Elegy upon Geraint ab Erbin.
" At Llongborth were slain to Arthur
Valiant men, who hewed down with steel ;
He was the emperor, and conductor of the toil of war."
Owen's Heroic Elegies.
Caerlleon upon Use.—Page 3.
This place derives its name from the circumstance of its being the
'- station of the Second Legion (Legio Secunda Augusta) during the
dominion of the Romans. The name by which they originally called
it was Isca Silurum, evidently from its situation upon the river Usk ;
but by later Latin writers it is named Urbs Legionum, which pro
bably is a translation of the Welsh Caer-lleon, and not the original
of that appellation. This place still exhibits many traces of Roman
magnificence, and among others the remains of an amphitheatre.
It is natural to suppose that, upon the departure of the Legions,
Caerlleon would attract the attention of the native Sovereigns, who
were at that time beginning to resume their power ; accordingly,
tradition informs us that it was the principal residence of King
, Arthur ; and the amphitheatre is still called Arthur's Round Table.
In confirmation of this traditionary evidence, Nennius asserts that
one of Arthur's battles was fought at Cairlion.
* March ap Meirchion, Gwythyr ap Greidiol, and Gwgawn Gleddyfrudd,

were three of Arthur's Knights ; the second of them was father to Queen
Gwenhwyvar.
Mabinogion. p
In the old English version of this tale the opening scene is laid
at Cardiff.
" He made a feste, the soth to say,
Opon the Witsononday,
At Kerdyf, that es in Wales."—line 17.
And on a subsequent occasion we find the City of Chester named —
" The kyng that time at Cester lay."—line 1567.
In the French Copy,—

" Q' li rois cort a cestre tint."
Of Chester it may be remarked, that it bears in Welsh the name
of Caerlleon Gawr, which seems to indicate its having been the
station of the Twentieth Legion, called Legio Vicesima Valens Victrix,
the word Gawr being nearly equivalent to the Latin Valens.
Owain the Sox of Urien.—Page 3.

Owain ab Urien Eiieged.—Amongst all the characters of ancient
British history, none is more interesting, or occupies a more con
spicuous place, than the hero of this tale. Urien, his father, was prince
of Rheged, a district comprising the present Cumberland and part of
the adjacent country. His valour and the consideration in which he
was held, are a frequent theme of Bardic song, and form the subject
of several very spirited odes by Taliesin, particularly those upon the
battles of Gwenystrad and Argoed Llwyfein, which are given, with
English translations, in the Myvyrian Archaiology, i. 52, 3, 4. The
name of Fflamddwyn, the flame-bearer, which occurs in these poems,
is supposed to be that by which the Welsh designated Ida, the
Anglian King of Northumberland. In the Appendix to Gale's
Nennius, it is mentioned that Urien was one of the four Northern
princes who opposed the progress of Deodric the son of Ida. Urien
besieged the latter in the island of Lindisfarne. The other princes
were Rhydderch Hael, Gwallawc ap Llenawc, and Morcant,* the
latter of whom beiug jealous of Urien's military skill, in which he is
* In the Life of St. Kentigern, mention is made of a wicked king of Strath-

clyde, called Morken. Perhaps he is the Morcant, who caused the death of
Urien Bheged.
Probably it is through a confusion of names, by no means unusual in those
days, that Utien's wife, Morgan le Pay, is by the old romancers accused of an
attempt to assassinate him.
NOTES. 35
said to have excelled all the other kings, procured his assassination
during the expedition.
According to Llywarch Hen's Elegy upon Urien Rheged, this
event occurred in a place called Aberlleu.*
The Triads mention Llovan Llawdivo as the assassin. Of him
little is known ; but that he was a person of some note is evident
from the circumstance of his grave being recorded.
" The grave of Llovan Llawdivo
Is on the strand of Menai, where makes the wave a sullen sound." t
"The Genealogy of the Saints records that Urien came into South
Wales, and was instrumental with the sons of Ceredig ab Cunedda,
and. his nephews, in expelling the Gwyddelians, who had gained a
footing there from about the time of Maxen Wledig."—Camb. Biog.
The old Romancers connect him with South Wales, and call
him King Uryens of Gore, evidently intended for Gower in
Glamorganshire.
Thus it is recorded in the Morte d'Arthur, " Thenne the Kyng
remeued in to Walys, and lete crye a grete feste that it shold be
holdyn at Pentecost after the incoronacion of hym at the Cyte of
Carlyon, vnto the feste come kyng Lott of Lowthean, and of Orkeney
with fiue C knygtes with hym. Also there come to the feste kynge
Uryens of gore with four C knyghtes with hym."
But to return to Owain ; it appears from the manner in which
he is always mentioned by contemporary Bards, that he greatly
distinguished himself in his country's cause, subsequently to the
death of his father, but with what ultimate success we are not
acquainted.
There exists an ancient Poem, printed among those of Taliesin,
called the Elegy of Owain ap Urien, and containing several very
beautiful and spirited passages. It commences,
" The soul of Owain ap Urien
May its Lord consider its exigencies,—
Reged's chief the green turf covers."
In the course of this Elegy, the Bard bursts forth with all the
energy of the Awen,
" Could Lloegria sleep with the light upon her eyes 1 " }
• Myv. Arch. i. 105. t Myv. Arch. i. 78.

X This line, with the substitution of Cambria for Lloegria [England], was
taken as the subject of a speech to rouse the Welsh to the due consideration
of their literature, by the Rev. Thomas Price of Crickhowel, at the Meeting
D 2
Alluding to the incessant warfare with which this chieftain, during
his lifetime, had harassed his Saxon foes.
In the Myvyrian Archaiology (II. 80) we have the following
Triad relating to him.
" Three Knights of battle were in the Court of Arthur ; Cadwr,
the Earl of Cornwall; Lancelot du Lac;* and Owain the son of
Urien Rheged. And this was their characteristic, that they would
not retreat from battle, neither for Spear, nor for Arrow, nor for
Sword, and Arthur never had shame in battle, the day he saw their
faces there, aud they were called the Knights of Battle."
Owain is also mentioned with Rhun mab Maelgwn, and Rhufawn
befr mab Deorath Wledig, as one of the Three blessed Kings ; t and
in the 52nd Triad, we are informed that his Mother's name was
Modron, the daughter of Afallach, and that he was born a twin
with his sister Merwydd, or Morvyth, to whom Cynon ap Clydno's
attachment is well known.
His place of sepulture is thus mentioned in the Graves of the
Warriors.
" The grave of Owain ap Urien is of quadrangular form,
Under the turf of Llan Morvael."
Frequent allusions are made to Owain by the Bards of the Middle
Ages, especially by Lewis Glyn Cothi, who in an ode to Gruffudd
ap Nicholas, a powerful chieftain of Carmarthenshire," and one of
the descendants of Urien Rheged, has, among other things, the
following passage :
" Gruffudd will give three ravens of one hue,
And a white lion to Owain, [his son]."—I. 133.
The Editor of the works of Glyn Cothi supposes that " this
expression may allude to Griffith presenting his son with a shield,
with his own arms emblazoned upon it, and the royal lion for a
of the Cymreigyddion Society of Abergavenny, in the Autumn of 1835. The
effect it produced was quite electric.
* Lancelot du Lac is generally considered as an exception to the general
rule, that all the heroes of the Arthurian Romances are of Welsh origin. But
it has been suggested to me by a learned Antiquary, that this distinction does
not really exist, the name of Lancelot being nothing more than a translation of
Paladr-ddellt (spliutered spear), which was the name of a knight of Arthur's
Court, celebrated in the Triads.
t The arrangement of ancient pedigrees is at all times attended with diffi
culty, but vain indeed would be the attempt to reconcile the genealogies of
Romance with those of history.
In Morte d'Arthur, Owain's Mother is Morgan le Fay, sister to King Arthur.
NOTES. 37
crest" The three ravens undoubtedly apply to the armorial bearings
of Urien Rheged, which are still borne by his descendants of the
House of Dynevor ; the lion also may have been an heraldic
bearing of the family, but I am inclined to think that the Bard here
intended an allusion to one of the principal incidents of the Lady
of the Fountain. That he was acquainted with this Tale is evident,
from some lines occurring in one of his Poems, addressed to Thomas
ap Philip of Picton Castle, in which Owain and Luned are men
tioned together.
In the early French compositions, called Lays and Fabliaux,
Owain's name frequently occurs. He is mentioned in the Lay of
Lanfal, and in Court Mantel, where he is particularized for his love
of dogs and hawks.
" Li rois prit par la destre main
L'amiz monsegnor Ivain,
Qui au roi Urien fu filz,
Et bona chevaliers et hardiz
Qui tant ama chiens et oisiaux."
(Fab. MSS. du roi, n. 7615, fol. 114 recto, col. 3.)
He acts a conspicuous part in the Romances of the Round Table ;
and it is on such authority that Ste. Palaye celebrates him, " pour
avoir introduit l'usage des fourrures ou zibelines aux manteaux, des
ceintures aux robes, et des boucles pour attacher les eperons et
I'ecu, et pour avoir encore inventé la mode des gants."
Kynon the son of Clydno.—Page 3.

Cynon ap Clydno Eiddin. — This ancient British Warrior is
celebrated in the Triads as one of the Three wisely-counselling
Knights of Arthur's Court.
' Three counselling Knights were in the Court of Arthur, which
were Cynon the son of Clydno Eiddin, Aron the son of Kynfarch ap
Meirchion gul, and Llywarch hen the son of Elidir Lydanwyn. And
these three knights were the Counsellors of Arthur, and whatever
dangers threatened him in any of his wars, they counselled him, so
that none was able to overcome Arthur ; and thus he conquered all
the nations through three things which followed him ; and these
were, Good hope, and the consecrated arms which had been sent him,
and the virtue of his warriors ; and through these he came to wear
twelve crowns upon his head, and he became Emperor of Rome."
And in another place it is added,
" And he had nothing but success when he acted by the advice
38 TIIE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN.
which he received from them, and reverses when, he did not follow
their counsel."
Kynon is also called one of the three ardent Lovers, on account
of his passion for Morvyth, daughter of Urien Rheged, and sister of
Owain, the Hero of this Tale.
" The three ardent lovers of the Island of Britain, Caswallawn the
son of Beli for Fluv the daughter of Mugnach Gorr, and Trystan
the son of Talluch for Yseult the wife of March Meirchawn his
uncle, and Kynon the son of Clydno Eiddin for Morvyth the
daughter of Urien."
This warrior is mentioned by Aneurin,
" And Kynon like rushes they fell before his hand.
O son of Clydno, a song of lasting praise will I sing unto thee."
And it is probable that he was one of the three, who, together
with the Bard himself, escaped from the disastrous battle of
Cattraeth.
" The Warriors who went to Cattraeth were renowned ;
Wine and Mead out of golden goblets was their beverage.
That year was to them one of exalted dignity,
Three warriors and three score and three hundred, wearing
the golden torques.
Of those who marched forth after the excess of revelling,
But three escaped from the conflict of gashing weapons ;
The two War-dogs of Aeron and Kynon the dauntless,
(And I myself from the spilling of blood) worthy are they of
my song."
Gray has given a poetical version of this passage in his frag
ments, commencing with the words, " To Cattraeth's vale in
glittering row."
Also, in another poem by Aneurin, named the Gwarchan (or
Incantation) of Cynvelyn, are the following lines :
" Three Warriors and three score and three hundred,
To the conflict of Cattraeth went forth.
Of those who hastened from the banquet of mead,
Three only returned,
Kynon, and Kadreith, and Katlew of Catnant,
And I myself from the shedding of blood."
Kynon is frequently mentioned by the bards of the Middle Ages,
and celebrated both for his bravery and for his devotion as a lover.
NOTES. 39
It is in the latter character that he is alluded to by Gruffudd ap
Meredith, in the beginning of the fourteenth Century, who compares
the force of his own passion to that of Kynon for Horvyth, and that
of Uther Pendragon for the fair Ygrayne.
" As the sigh of Uther for the love of Ygraine, the fair and splendid,
And the sigh of Kynon for the love of the beauteous daughter
of Urien,
Such is the sigh of the bard for the lovely object of his affections .
Myv. Arch.
In the Memorials of the Graves of the Warriors, the following
stanza records the place of the sepulture of Kynon.
" The grave of a warrior of high renown
Is in a lofty region—but a lowly bed,
The grave of Kynon the son of Clydno Eiddin."
In another stanza, the term lowly bed seems to be explained, and
it would appear that a little hollow among the mountains was
meant :
" Whose is the grave beneath the hill ]
It is the grave of a warrior valiant in the conflict—
The grave of Kynon the son of Clydno Eiddin."
Clydno.—Page 3.
Clydno Eiddin, the father of Cynon.—But little is known of the
history of this Chieftain, although as late as the fourteenth Century,
his name is found recorded by the Bards, in such terms as to make
it evident that he still continued to occcupy a place of considerable
distinction among the heroes of the Principality, as may be seen in a
poem by Risierdyn, a bard who flourished about the year 1300. In
this poem, which records the burial of Hywel ap Gruffudd in the
Church of St. Beuno, that Warrior is compared in point of bravery
to Clydno.
" The red-weaponed chief, the ruler of the golden region
of costly wine,
Saint Beuno's blessed choir now conceals ;
The mighty high- famed leader, daring as Clydno.
Silent are his remains within their oaken cell."
Myv. Arch. I. 432.
Kai the Son of Kyner.—Page 3.

Cai ap Cynyr. —According to the Welsh pedigrees, Kai was the
son of Cynyr Cainvarvawc, the son of Gwron, the son of Cunedda
Wledig. In the Triads he is called one of the three diadem'd chiefs
of battle, and is said to have been possessed of magical powers, by
which he could transform himself into any shape he pleased.* Of
his real history, however, nothing is known. It is supposed that
Caer Gai, in North Wales, bears his name ; and it was the opinion
of Iolo Morganwg, that the place of his sepulture was at Cai Hir,
at Aberavan, in Glamorganshire.
In the Brut he is called the Dapifer, or Sewer of King Arthur.
And in the French Romances he is mentioned as the Seneschal, and
is styled Messire Queux, and Maitre Queux, or Keux—the original
name being evidently altered in this manner in order to adapt it to
his office of Chief of the Cooks. In these productions, his general
character is a compound of valour and buffoonery : always ready to
fight, and generally getting the worst of the battle.
There is much that is very entertaining concerning him in the
Morte dArthur, particularly a story of his want of courtesy to
Sir Gareth, Gwalchmai's (Gawain's) brother, which led him into
trouble.
" Whan Arthur held his round table moost plenour, it fortuned
that he commaunded that the hyhe feest of Pentecost shold be holden
at a cyte and a Castel the whiche in tho dayes was called kynke
kenadonne upon the sondes that marched nyghe walys." Upon this
occasion, a youth who would not declare his name, presented himself
tjefore Arthur, and craved a boon, which the monarch immediately
promised to grant. The boon he asked was, that he should be allowed
meat and drink for the space of a twelvemonth in the King's palace.
This the King considered a very unworthy petition, and counselled
him to ask something more honourable, but the youth still persisted
in his request. " Well sayde the kynge ye shal haue mete and drynke
ynouz, I neuer deffended y' none, nother my frende ne my foo."
" Thenne the kyng betook hym to sir Kay the steward and charged
hym that he shold gyue hym of al manner of metes and drynkes of
the best, and also that he hadde al maner of fyndynge as though he
were a lordes sone. That shal lytel nede sayd syr Kay to doo suche
* Kai's horse, according to the Welsh authorities, was called Gwineu gxvddwf
hir, the loiuj-necked bay.
NOTES. 41
cost upon hym. For I dare undertake he is a vylayne borne, and
neuer will make man, for and he had come of gentylmen he wold
haue axed of you hors and armour, but such as he is so he asketh.
And sythen he hath no name, I shall yeue hym a name that shall be
Beaumayns that is fayre handes, and in to the kechen I shalle brynge
hym, and there he shalle haue fatte broweys euery day y' he shall
be as fatte by the twelue monethes ende as a porke hog." So Sir
Kai "scorned hym and mocked hym."
At the end of the twelvemonth, Beaumayns desired to be knighted,
in order to achieve a certain perilous adventure ;* and Sir Kai called
him a " kechyn knave." And when the youn^ man left the Court,
to set out on his expedition, Kai armed himself and followed him,
thinking to vanquish him without difficulty, and bring him to disgrace.
But Beaumayns unhorsed Sir Kai, and took possession of his arms,
with which he performed several gallant exploits to the great surprise
of all, inasmuch as he was taken by his shield to be Sir Kai, whose
prowess was by no means in high repute. Afterwards Beaumayns
proved to be Sir Gareth of Orkney, the son of King Lot, and brother
of Sir Gawain.
Gwenhwyvar. —Page 3.
According to the Welsh Legends, Arthur had three queens, one
of whom was daughter of Gwythyr ap Greidiol, another of Gwryd
Gwent, and a third of Gogyrvan Gawr ; and each of them bore the
name of Gwenhwyvar. Concerning the latter lady,t the following
couplet is still current in the Principality :—
" Gwenhwyvar, the daughter of Gogyrvan the Giant,
Bad when little, worse when great."
This confusion of names and persons is only what might be expected
from the mass of traditionary matter that has accumulated among the
Welsh. As the exploits of Arthur began to assume a fabulous
character, it is evident that many of the more ancient legends of
Britain became blended with those of the Bound Table, and perhaps
* It is somewhat singular that this adventure was undertaken on behalf of

Lnned, who, under the title of the damoysel saneage, rode to Arthur's Court,
to beseech the championship of some of the Knights of the Table rounde, for
her sister dame Lyones, of the Castel peryllous. The story is again referred
to in a subsequent Note.
t According to the Romances, Arthur's Queen was daughter of King
Lcodegrance.
some of the mythological traditions of the Druidic age are to be found
amongst them. This continual accession of fable tends to render still
more obscure that which a redundancy of imagination had already
sufficiently involved.
The name of Gwenhwyvar, under the various forms of Gttenever,
Genievre, and Geneura, must be familiar to all who are conversant
with chivalric lore. And it is to her adventures, and those of her
true knight, Sir Lancelot, that Dante alludes in the beautiful episode
of Francesca da Rimini.
Porter.—Page 3.
The absence of a Porter was formerly considered as an indication
of hospitality, and as such is alluded to by Rhys Brychan, a bard
who flourished at the close of the fifteenth century.
" The stately entrance is without porters,

And his mansions are open to every honest man."
Lewis Glyn Cothi also (about 1450), in an eulogium upon Owain,

the son of Gruffudd ap Nicholas, says, that his establishment was
complete in every respect, with the exception of a Porter : —
" Every officer there is to the great Knight
Of the South, except a Porter."—I. 139.
Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr.—Page 3.
" The dusky hero of the mighty grasp " is said to have escaped
from the battle of Camlan by means of his extraordinary strength
and stature. There is nothing of his real history known : in
deed, from the construction of his name, he appears to be altogether
a fictitious character ; and it is not impossible that he may be one of
those mythological personages who formed the subjects of the Welsh
legendary tales, before the adventures of Arthur had assumed the
character of fiction, and that when those adventures became objects
of fabulous composition, this and other ancient Druidical traditions
were incorporated with them.
Among the Bardic remains there is a poem, called a Dialogue
betwixt Arthur and Kai, and Glewlwyd, some lines in which
are considered by Davies to have reference to some Druidical
mysteries. Although it may appear presumptuous to differ from
NOTES. 43
so high an authority, I shall venture to give the following trans
lation—
" Who is the Porter ?
Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr. .
Who is it that asks 1
Arthur and the blessed Kai.
If thou shouldst bring with thee
The best wine in the world,
Into my house thou shalt not come,
Unless it be by force, <fcc."
On a Seat of Green Rushes.—Page 3.

The use of green rushes in apartments was by no means peculiar
to the Court of Caerleon upon Usk. Our ancestors had a great
predilection for them, and they seem to have constituted an essential
article, not only of comfort but of luxury. The custom of strewing
the floor with rushes is well known to have existed in England during
the Middle Ages, and that it also prevailed in the Principality we
have evidence from allusions which occur in the works of native
writers. Of this, one example will suffice, from a tale written appa
rently in the 14th Century; and as the passage contains several
curious traits of ancient manners, I shall give it at some leDgth.
In this tale Davydd ap Owain Gwynedd, Prince of North Wales,
wishing to send an embassy to Rhys, Prince of South Wales, and
having fixed upon Gwgan the Bard as a proper person for that
mission, despatches a messenger called y Paun Bach (the Little
Peacock) in search of him. This person, after a long and tedious
journey, arrives towards the close of evening at a house in a wooded
valley, where he hears the tuning of a harp. From the style of
playing, and the modulation, he supposes that the performer can be
no other than Gwgan himself. In order to ascertain if his surmise is
correct, he addresses him in a rambling high-flown style of language.
The Bard answers him in the same strain, and asks him what he
requires. To which Y Paun Bach thus replies : —" I want lodging
for to-night And that not better than I know how to ask for.
A lightsome hall, floored with tile, and swept, in which there
has been neither flood nor rain-drop for the last hundred years, dressed
with fresh green rushes, laid so evenly that one rush be not higher
than the other the height of a gnat's eye, so that my foot should not
slip either backward or forward the space of a mote in the sunshine
of June. Then I would have a chair with a cushion beneath me, and
a pillow under each elbow,"* &c. Y Paun Bach then goes on to
describe the entertainment he desires to have. The fire is to be of
ashen billets, without smoke or sparks ; and the supper is to consist
of wine, and swans,t and bitterns, and sundry spiced collops besides ;
and the servants, all dressed in one livery,t are to ply him continually
with ale, and urge him to drink, for his own good and the honour of
his entertainers.
In France, the practice of strewing rushes on the floor was also
prevalent. We find the Seigneur Amanieu des Escas giving his
instructions to the young men of his household on the Art of Love,
" dans sa salle bien joncb.ee."—Poesies Provencales, cited by Ste.
Palaye, L 453.
* We trace the customs of a country in what may appear accidental expres

sions. Thus a cushion in a chair was one of the requisites of a Welsh
establishment.
Three things proper for a man to have in his house,—
A virtuous wife,
His cushion in his chair,
And his harp in tune.
In like manner it is particularly mentioned in the present tale, that Arthur
had " a cushion of red satin under his elbow," p. 3 ; and that ;at the Castle
where Kynon was received, on his way to the adventure of the Fountain, the
maidens, in doing him honour, " placed cushions both beneath and around
him," when ho sat down to meat, p. 6. In this latter instance, the cushions
we find were covered with red linen.
t Swans appear to have been a great dainty in those days. Of the luxurious
Monk in the Pilgrimage to Canterbury, Chaucer tells ns, " A fat swan loved
he best of any rost."—line 206.
X Uniformity of dress in those who held the same office, appears to be
dwelt upon with much satisfaction by the writers of the Middle Ages. In
Geoffrey of Monmouth, the thousand young noblemen, who, at Arthur's
Coronation Banquet, assisted Kai in serving up the dishes, were clothed like
him in robes of Ermine. The same writer proceeds to tell us, that " at
that Time Britain was arrived to such a pitch of Grandeur, that whether we
respect its Affluence of Biches, Luxury of Ornaments, or Politeness of
Inhabitants, it far surpassed all other Kingdoms." And he adds, "The
Knights in it that were famous for Feats of Chivalry, wore their Clothes and
Arms all of the same colour and Fashion. And the Women also no less cele-
brated for their Wit, wore all the same Kind of Apparel."—Thompson's
Translation.
In the Procession to Canterbury, Chancer relates that
" An Haberdasher, and a Carpenter,
A Webue, a Deyer, and a Tapiser,
Were alle yclothed in o livere,
Of a solempne and gretc fraternite."—line 363.
N0TE8. 45
Flame-coloured Satin.—Page 3.
The literal translation of this expression is yellow-red. With
regard to this mixture of colours, Ellis, in his notes to Way's
Fabliaux, remarks, " The old French writers speak also of pourpre
and ecarlate blanches {white crimson) ; of pourpre sanguine (sanguine
crimson) ; and, in the Fabliau de Gautier d'Aupais, mention is
made of " un vert mantel porprin, (a mantel of green crimson)."
Hence, M. Le Grand conjectures, " that the crimson dye being, from
its costliness, used only on cloths of the finest manufacture, the term
crimson came at length to signif}*, not the colour, but the texture, of
the stuff. Were it allowable to attribute to the Weavers of the
Middle Ages the art now common amongst us, of making what are
usually called shot silks (or silks of two colours, predominating
interchangeably as in the neck of the drake or pigeon), the con
tradictory compounds above given (white crimson, green crimson,
<fcc.) would be easily accounted for." II. 227.
Distant Regions.—Page 4.
Literally, " desert places, aud the extremities of the earth."
It is possible that some peculiar district of romantic geography was
intended to be here alluded to, since we find that " la terre deserte "
was formerly a kingdom of no inconsiderable importance, the
sovereign of which, named Claudas, overran the territories of King
Ban of Benoic, one of Arthur's allies in Gaul. And in the Morte
d'Arthur, it is said that Arthur, being wounded in the battle of
Camlan, was conveyed to the Island of Avalon " in a shyppe wherin
were thre quenes, that one was kyng Arthurs syster quene Morgan
le fay, the other was the quene of North galys, the thyrd was the
quene of the waste londes. Also there was Nynyue (Viviane) the
cbyef lady of the lake," &c.
Trees of equal growth.—Page 4.

This species of scenery appears to have been much admired by
our ancestors.
A similar description occurs in a chivalric tale of considerable
interest, by Gruffydd ab Adda, a Bard who was killed at Dolgellau,
about 1370.
" In the furthermost end of this forest he saw a level green valley,
and trees of equal height, &c."
4G THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN.
Chaucer describes a bower in the same style, in his Flour and

Leaf. It was composed of " sicamour and eglatere,"
" Wrethen in fere so well and cunningly
That every branch and leafe grew by mesure
Plaine as a bord, of an height by and by."
The whole account which he gives us of the " pleasaunt herber " is
very poetical, particularly the following beautiful lines, descriptive
of the avenues of " okes " which led to it.
" In which were okes great, streight as a line,
Under the which the grasse so fresh of hew
Was newly sprong, and an eight foot or nine
Every tree well fro his fellow grew,
"With branches brode, laden with leves new,
That sprongen out agen the sunne-shene,
Some very red, and some a glad light grene."
Yellow Satin.— Page 4.

Pali melyn. — The exact signification of the word Pali in the
original is not quite obvious, as it sometimes seems to imply satin
and sometimes velvet, according to the rank of the persons who are
represented as wearing it. Nor is the question so immaterial as at
first sight it may appear ; for, in the best days of Chivalry, the most
exact etiquette was observed by the different grades of society with
regard to the materials of which their dress was composed. Ste.
Palaye mentions that, on occasions where the Knights wore cloth of
damask, the Squires were restricted to dresses of satin ; and where
the Knights were clothed in velvet, the Squires could only appear in
cloth of damask. The colour cf scarlet was permitted to be worn
only by Knights. (I. 247, 283.)
Sinews of the Stag.—Page 4.

Moseley, in his work upon Archery, says that " bowstrings were
composed from the sinews of beasts, and on that account are termed
' Nervus,' rcvpa." " It was customary for this purpose," says he, " to
select the sinews of several of those kinds of animals remarkable for
their strength or activity, such as Bulls, Lions, Stags, <tc, and from
those particular parts of each animal in which their respective strength
was conceived to lie. From Bulls, the sinews about the back and
shoulders were collected ; and from Stags, they took those of the
legs."
NOTES. 47
Bone of the Whale.—Page 5.

A similar substance is mentioned in the ancient Romance of " The
Erie of Tolous,"—
" Hur hondys whyte as whallys bonne,"—verse 355.
Upon which Ritson has the following note :—" This allusion is not to
•what we now call whale-bone, which is well known to be black, but to
the ivory of the horn or tooth of the Narwhal, or Sea-unicorn, which
seems to have been mistakeen for the whale. The simile is a remark
able favourite. Thus, in Syr Eglamour of Artoys,
' The erle had no chylde but one,
A mayden as white as whales lone.'
Again, in Syr Isembras,
' His wyfe as white as whales bone.'
Again, in ' The Squyr of low degree,'
' Lady as white as whales bone.'
It even occurs in Skelton's and Surrey's Poems ; and, what is still
more extraordinary, in Spenser's Faery Quene, and Shakespeare's
Love's Labour Lost (if, in fact, that part of it ever received the
illuminating touch of our great dramatist). Mister Steevens, in his
Note on the last instance, observes that wJtales ' is the Saxon genitive
case,' meaning that it requires to be pronounced as a dissyllable
(thus, whales, or, more properly, whalees), which it certainly is, in
every instance."—Kit. Met. Bom. III. 343, 344.
Winged with Peacock's Feathers.—Page 5.

That it was fashionable to feather arrows in this manner, we learn
from the following description of the Yeman who attended upon the
Knight, in the Prologue to Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.
" A shefe of peacock arwes bright and kene
Under his belt he bare fill thriftily,
Wei coude he dresse his takel yemanly :
His arwes drouped not with fetheres low,
And in his hond he bare a mighty bowe."—line 104-8.
In a Wardrobe account, 4th of Ed. II., the following entry occurs :
" Pro duodecim flecchiis cum pennis de pavone emptis pro rege, de
12 den'." For twelve arrows with peacock's feathers, bought for the
King, twelvepence.
There was much art and care required in the construction and
feathering of arrows. That the Welsh archers paid much attention
to their equipments may be seen in an interesting passage from the
composition already noticed, p. 43. In this Tale the messenger
from the Court of North Wales, who appears to be a skilful archer,
on being told by Gwgan the Bard that a robber will ride away with
his horse, answers, " But what if I were opposite to him in yonder
Wood, with a bow of red yew in my hand, ready bent, with a
tough tight string, and a straight round shaft with a compass-
rounded nock, and long slender feathers fastened on with green
silk, and a steel head heavy and thick, and an inch across, of a
green blue temper, that would draw blood out of a weathercock ;
and with my foot to a hillock, and an oak behind me, and the wind
to my back, and the sun to my side, and the maid I love best on the
footpath hard by looking at me, and I conscious of her being there ;
then would I shoot him such a shot, so strong and long-drawn, so
low and sharp, that it would be no more avail to him there were
between him and me a breastplate and Milan hauberk, than a tuft of
fern, or a kiln mat, or a herring net."
It is well known that bows and arrows formed a subject of legis
lation in England, and among the Welsh Laws we find the following
clause :—
" Three weapons by law :—A sword, a spear, and a bow with
twelve arrows in a quiver. And it is required of every master of a
family to keep them in readiness against the attacks of a foreign
army, and of strangers, and other depredators."
Golden Heads.—Blades of Gold.—Page 5.

To Knights and to their families was exclusively confined the
privilege of decorating their dress, their arms, and the accoutrements
of their horses with gold ; Squires being only permitted the use of
silver.— Ste. Palaye, I. 247, 283. By the sumptuary laws of Ed. III.
(an. 27. c. ix. x. xi. xii.) Esquires were to possess property of at
least 200 marks yearly value, before they could be permitted to
wear " cloth of silk and of silver, ribband, girdle, and other apparel
reasonably garnished with silver." And Knights, their wives,
daughters, and children, were not entitled to wear " cloth of gold,
nor cloths, mantle, nor gold furred with miniver, nor of ermins, nor
NOTES. 49
no apparel bordered of stone, nor otherwise," if their possessions
were below the yearly value of 251 marks. But to such Knights
and Ladies as possessed 400 marks annually, there was no restric
tion as to dress, except with respect to " ermins and letuses and
apparel of pearl and stone," which they might only wear upon the
head. Merchants and burgesses of 500 marks had the same privi
lege of dress as Esquires of 200 markland. Hence perhaps it may
be inferred that the two Youths mentioned in this Tale were of
knightly origin.
That the gilding of bows was customary iu the 14 th Century,
we have the authority of Davydd ap Gwilym. In lines addressed
to his fair countrywomen against gaudiness of dress, and which
have been thus elegantly rendered by Arthur Johnes, Esq., in
his Poetical Translation of the Works of that celebrated Bard,
he says :—
" The vilest bow that e'er was framed of Yew,
That in the hand abruptly snaps in two,
"When all its faults are varnished o'er with gold,
Looks strong, and fair, and faultless, and—is sold."—(p. 412.)
Lewis Glyn Cothi has the following line,
" With gold shall be adorned thy fingers, thy sword, and thy
mantle."
And examples might be multiplied to almost any extent
Where arrow-heads, and the blades of weapons are mentioned as
golden, it is very evident that in many instances steel inlaid with
gold is meant. Thus, the Bard above alluded to says,—
" A gold Brigandine like the casting of a Dragon's skin."
And subsequently this gold Brigandine is said to be of steel,—
" Good is the band of this steel vestment."—(I. 158.)
Variegated Leather.—Page f>.

Cordwal.—This word occurs in another of the Mabinogion ; and
from the manner that it is used, it is evidently intended for the
French Cordouan, or Cordovan leather, which derived its name from
Cordova, where it was manufactured.
Mabinogion. jj
Damsels embroidering Satin.—Page 5.
Is the English Romance of " Ywayne and Gawain," paraphrased
from the French " Chevalier au Lyon," we find a similar picture.
In a beautiful city, named in English the " Castel of the Hevy
Sorrow," and in the French the " Chastel de Pesme Auenture," the
hero, Ywayne or Owen, finds a number of ladies, " wirkand silk and
gold wir." They are very meanly attired, and inform Owen that
they were once of great estate in the country of Mayden-land, whence
they were sent as hostages by their sovereign. They complain that
they have to work very hard, and for a very slight remuneration ;
the best of them receiving only " four penys " in a week, which was
scarce sufficient to maintain them, whereas they consider that they
might earn " fourty shilling."
More Lovely than Gwenhwyvar. — Page 5.

This was the highest compliment that Kynon could pay to the
beauty of these four-and-twenty damsels, since Gwenhwyvar is
celebrated in the Triads (with Enid and Tegau Euron,) as one of
the three fair ladies of Arthur's Court.
Lewis Glyn Cothi, in extolling the charms of Annes, the daughter
of John, of Caerlleon upon Usk, has the following allusion to this
Triad :—
" The beauteous and amiable Annes is where Tegau was,
Where Gwenhwyvar was, with all her charms ;
Where Enid was seen, wearing azure robes,
Where the Castle of the valorous Arthur stands."
They rose up at my coming.—Page 5.

It was very usual in the chivalric days, for the ladies to perform
those courteous offices for the Knights, even where there were male
attendants, to whom we may consider that they would have been more
appropriately assigned. Ste. Palaye tells us, " Les jeunes demoi
selles .... prevenoient de civilite les chevaliers qui arrivoient dans
les chateaux ; suivant nos romanciers, elles les desarmoient au retour
des tournois et des expeditions de guerre, leur donnoient de nou-
veaux habits et les servoient a table. Les examples en sont trop
souvent et trop uniformtment rcpetes, pour nous permettie de
revoquer en doute la realitfi de cet usage." (I. 10.) I should imagine,
however, it was the absence of male assistance that induced the
damsels in Kynon's story to extend their cares to his horse, for I am
not aware that in general their courtesy went so far.
NOTES. 51
Gold Band upon the Mantle. —Page 6.
The word in the original Welsh is gorffoys, which is evidently the
same as orfrays, or aurifrigia.* This was a kind of fretwork, or
embroidery of gold, and is mentioned thus in the playful description
of the allegorical figure of Idlenesse, which occurs in the Romaunt
of the Rose :
" And of fine orfrais had she eke
A chapelet, so semely on,
Ne wered never maide upon ;
And faire above that chapelet
A rose garlonde had she set."— 562-6.
Buffalo Horn.— Page 6.

Drinking-horns of this material are frequently mentioned by the
Bards, and appear to have been made use of by the Welsh in all
their banquets. There is still extant in the Welsh language, a
spirited poem by Owain Kyveiliog, Prince of Powis, called the
Hirlas, a name by which his drinking-horn was known, and which
he describes as
" The highly honoured buffalo-horn Hirlas, enriched with ancient
silver."
In the course of this poem, one passage occurs of a highly
dramatic character. The Prince having sent round the horn to
several chieftains, at length orders it to be filled with the choicest
beverage, and borne to Tudur and Moreiddig, at the same time
expatiating with gratitude and admirat'on upon their valour, and
the eminent services they had rendered him in the arduous con
flicts in which he had been engaged. Turning round in the fulnees
of his hesrt to address them personally, he perceives their places
vacant ; and suddenly recollecting that they had both fallen in one
of the late encounters, he bursts out in a pathetic strain of lament
ation, " The wail of death has been heard, they both have departed !
—O, lost Moreiddig, how greatly shall I miss thee !"
Fountain.—Page 8.
This description answers to that of the Fountain of Barrnton, in
the forest of Breceliande, to which locality it is referred in the
* See Dn Cnnge, in roce.
E 2
" Chevalier an Lion."* Breceliande is in Brittany, and is the
fabled scene of Merlin's imprisonment, by the enchantments of his
Mistress Viviane, the Lady of the Lake. Within the precincts of
this Forest also lay the Val sans Retour, or the Vallon des Faux
A mans.
The English poem tells us of a Chapel that was hard by the
Fountain, and says,
" An amerawd was the stane,
Richer saw i never nane,
On fowr rubyes on heght standand,
Their light lasted over al the land."—line 364.
An adventure so much to his own discredit.— Page 10.

By the laws of Chivalry, the knights were under a solemn obliga
tion, when relating their adventures, to give a faithful account of
what befell them, without concealing anything, however disadvan
tageous to themselves.
Uncourtf.ous Speech. —Page 10.

Sir Kai's uncourteous speech was proverbial. In Ywain and
Gawin, we are told,
" And than als smertly sayd Sir Kay ;
He karpet to tham wordes grete."
And so rude was his manner, that at length
" The quene answered, with milde mode,
And said, Sir Kay, ertow wode 1
What the devyl es the withyn,
At thi tong may never blyn
Thi felows so fowly to shende 1
Sertes, sir Kay, thou ert unhende."—line 488.
Horn for Washing.—Page 10.

It was customary to prepare for dinner by washing the hands, and
the summons for this preparation was given by sounding a horn,
which, by the French, was termed corner I'eau, or corner Veue.
Amongst the Monks, the same notice was given by ringing a bell.
* A long note on the story of the Fountain of Barenton is printed separately
on p. 67, to which the reader is referred.
A fountain possessed of the like properties occurs in the Fabliau of " The
Paradise of Love," and a similar one is mentioned in " The noble Hystory of
Kyng Ponthus of Galyce."
NOTES. 53
Black Knight.—Page 12.

We have the name of the Black Knight given ns both in the
English and in the French version. In the former, the appellation
of Saiudos the rouse is bestowed upon him, and in the latter he is
called Elcadoc le rous, which bears some resemblance to the Welsh
Cadoc or Cattwg.
Maiden.— Page 12.

This maiden, whose name we subsequently find to be Luned, is
supposed, in the Notes to Jones's Welsh Bards, to be the same person
as Elined the daughter of Brychan ; although from the accounts
transmitted to us of that illustrious lady, bhe appears to have differed
much in disposition and pursuits from the handmaid of the Lady
of the Fountain. Mr. Rees, in his valuable Essay on the Welsh
Saints, has the lollowing notice concerning her :—
" Elined, the Almedha of Giraldus Cambrensis, who says that she
suffered martyrdom upon a hill called Penginger, near Brecknock,
which the Historian of that County, so often quoted, identifies with
Slwch.
' Crug goreeddawl,'* mentioned after the name of Elined in the
Myvyrian Archaiology, has been taken for Wyddgrug, or Mold, in
Flintshire ; but it may be no more than a descriptive appellation of
Slwch, on which there were lately some remains of a British Camp.
Cressy, speaking of St. Almedha, says, ' This devout virgin, rejecting
the proposals of an earthly prince, who sought her in marriage, and
espousing herself to the eternal king, consummated her life by a
triumphant martyrdom. The day of her solemnity is celebrated
every year on the fir3tday of August.' "— (149-50.)
The beauty of Luned was much celebrated amongst the Bards of the
Middle Ages. Gruffudd ap Meredydd, who flourished between 1290
and 1 340, thus alludes to her charms, in an Elegy on Gwenhwyvar
of Anglesey :—
" Alas, for the loss of her who was equal to Luned, that gem of
light! "
And Dafydd ap Gwilym mentions her in the same strain.
She is in the French Romances generally called Lunette, and in
the Morte d'Arthur she acts a conspicuous part in the story of Sir
Gareth of Orkney, who undertook the adventure of the " Castel
* Crng gorseddawl, " the hill of Judicature."—Dr. Pughe's Welsh Dic
tionary.
peryllous" on her behalf, and whose illtreatment by Sir Kai is related,
p. 40. Sir Gareth took his full revenge upon Sir Kai, but his conduct
under the taunts he received from Luned, who called him a kechen
knaue, and used towards him very discourteous language, considering
that he was taking up her quarrel, is generous and high-minded in
the extreme. It ended in Sir Gareth marrying Luned's sister, Dame
Lyones, of the Castel peryllous ; and in Luned herself, who is also
called the " daymoysel saueage," becoming the wife of Sir Gaherys,
who was Sir Gareth's brother. And these nuptials were solemnized
with great pomp and splendour at King Arthur's Court. See Morte
d'Arthur, Book VII. Compare Mr. Tennyson's poem of Gareth
and Lynette in the Idylls of the King.
Whatever is in my Power. — Page 13.

It appears rather extraordinary at first sight that Luned should
take so lively an interest in Owain, and give herself so much trouble
to forward his suit with the Countess, and also thatshs should express
herself so well acquaiuted with his character. But from the English
Metrical Romance, we find that they were old frieuds, Luned having
been on an embassy to Arthur's Court some time previously.
Take this Ring.—Page 13.

The ring is enumerated among the "Thirteen Rarities of Kingly
Regalia of the Island of Britain, which were formerly kept at
Caerlleon, on the river Usk, in Monmouthshire. These curiosities
went with Myrddin the son of Morvran, into the house of Glass, in
Enlli, or Bardsey Island. It has also been recorded by others that
it was Taliesin, the Chief of the Bards, who possessed them."
" The Stone of the Ring of Luned, which liberated Owen the son of
Urien from between the portcullis and the wall. Whoever concealed
that stone, the stone or bezel would conceal him."
The properties of this magical ring will, doubtless, call to mind
the ring of Gyges, which was most probably the prototype from
which it was indirectly derived.
Horseblock.—Page 13.
Ellis, in his Notes to Way's Fabliaux, has the following remarks
upon horseblocks, which are mentioned in a vast number of the old
Romances : " They were frequently placed on the roads and in the
forests, and were almost numberless in the towns. Many of them
still remain in Paris, where they were used by the magistrates in
order to mount their mules, on which they rode to the courts of
NOTES. 55
justice. On these blocks, or on the tree which was generally planted
near them, were usually suspended the shields of those Knights who
wished to challenge all comers to feats of arms. The}' were also
sometimes used as a place of judgment, and a rostrum, on which the
barons took their seats when they determined the differences between
their vassals, and from whence the publick criers made proclamations
to the people."— (II. 229.)
Paikted with gobcjeous Colours.—Page 13.

This custom of painting figures upon the panels of rooms was
much practised and esteemed at the time when we may suppose that
this Tale was put into its present dress. Chaucer has several in
stances, of which we may notice more particularly the allegorical
figures on the wall, at the opening of the Romaunt of the Rose, aDd
the far more interesting and descriptive representations in the Temples
of Mars, Venus, and Diana, in the " Knightes Tale." The paintings
at the Temple of Mars were executed with so much art that even
sounds were emitted by them.
" First on the wall was peinted a forest
In which ther wonneth neyther man ne best
With knotty knarry barrein trees old
Of stubbes sharpe and hidous to behold,
In which ther ran a romble and a swough,
As though a storme shuld bresten every bough," <fec.—(1977.)
Sendall.—Page 14.
This word is the same as that in the original Welsh, and is used
by the old writers to signify a thin kind of silk like Cyprus. The
dress of the " Doclour of Phisike," one of the pilgrims to Canterbury,
was, no doubt, a handsome one, and of him we are told—
" In sanguine and in perse he clad was alle
Lined with taffata and with sendalle."—(441.)
She washed Owais's Head.—Page 15.

However these personal services may appear to be at variance
•with the manners of the present day, it is clear that they were in
perfect accordance with those of our ancestors. Of this, the following
passage from the Life of Merlin will afford an example :—
" When tbey went to the palace and had disarmed themselves,
King Leodagan made his daughter Genievre (Gwenhwyvar) take the
richest cloths which were in the house, and warm water, and fair
basins of silver, and made them be placed before King Arthur, and
King Ban, and King Boors ; and his daughter would* wait upon
Arthur, and would wash his neck and his face ; but he would not
allow thereof, till Leodagan and Merlin requested him, and made
him accept the lady's service. The damsel washed hia face right
humbly, and then she wiped it with a fine towel, full gently ; and
then she went and ministered in like manner to the other twain."
Countess. —Page 15.

The English Version gives this Countess the title of
" The riche lady Alundyne,
The dukes doghter of Landuit."—line 1255.
And it is very satisfactory to find that she was not that Penarwen,
daughter of Culfynawyt Prydein, who is mentioned as Owain's wife
in the Triads, though in terms which are anything but complimentary.
Perhaps Penarwen may have been a subsequent wife, since we may
infer that Owain survived the Lady of the Fountain, from the cir
cumstance so naively mentioned in the text, of her continuing to be
his wife as long as she lived.
In Owen's Llywarch Hen, it is stated that after the death of Pen
arwen, Owain was married to Denyw, the daughter of Llewddyn
Luyddawg of Edinburgh, by whom he had Kendeyrn Garthwys, the
celebrated St. Kentigern, who founded the Cathedral at Glasgow.
Her Nuptials with Owain. —Page 18.

This trait of manners is very characteristic of the times in which
the present Tale was written. It was very usual for widows and
heiresses in the troublous days of Knight-errantry to marry those
whose strength and valour rendered them best able to defend and
preserve to them their possessions. Ste. Palaye, in enumerating the
advantages of the order of Knighthood, does not forget to mention
this easy mode of advancing to fortune.—(I. 2G7, 326.)
Gwalchmai.—Page 18.
Gwalchmai ap Gwyar. — This ancient British name, Gwalchmai,
which signifies the Hatch ofBattle, is in the French Romances changed
NOTES. 57
into the not very similar form of Gawain, having first been Latinized
into Walganus and Walweyn. In the Triads, he is mentioned in
the following manner :—
" There were three golden-tongued Knights in the Court of Arthur :
Gwalchmai the son of Gwyar ; Drudwas the son of Tryfnn, and
Eliwlod the son of Madog ap tlthur. For there was neither King,
nor Earl, nor Lord, to whom these came, but would listen to them
before all others ; and whatever request they made, it would be
granted them, whether willingly or unwillingly ; and thence were
they called the Golden Toiigued."
As a proof of the high estimation in which Gwalchmai's powers
of persuasion were held, the following translation from the Myvy-
rian Archaiology (I. 178) may be adduced :—
HERE ABE ENGLYN3

Between Trystan the son of Tallwch, and Gwalchmai the son of
Gwyar, after Trystan had been absent three years from Arthur's
Court, in displeasure, and Arthur had sent eight-and-twenty warriors
to seize him, and bring him to Arthur, and Trystan smote them all
down, one after another, and came not for any one, but for Gwalch
mai with the Golden Tongue.
GWALCHMAI.
Tumultuous is the nature of the wave,
When the sea is at its height. —
Who art thou, mysterious warrior ?
TRYSTAN.
Tumultuous are the waves and the thunder.
In their bursting forth let them be tumultuous.
In the day of conflict I am Trystan.
GWALCHMAI.
Trystan of the faultless speech,
Who, in the day of battle, would not retreat,
A companion of thine was Gwalchmai.
TRYSTAN.
I would do for Gwalchmai in that day,
In the which the work of slaughter is let loose,
That which one brother would not do for another.
GWALCHMAI.
Trystan, endowed with brilliant qualities,
Whose spear has oft been shivered in the toil of war,
I am Gwalchoiai the nephew of Arthur.
TRYSTAN.
Gwalchmai, there swifter than Mydrin,
Sbouldst thou be in danger,
I would cause blood to flow till it reached the knees.
GWALCHMAI.
Trystan, for thy sake would I strive
Until my wrist should fail me ;
Also for thee I would do my utmost.
TRYSTAN.
I ask it in defiance,
I ask it not through fear,—
Who are the warriors before me t
GWALCHMAI.
Trystan, of distinguished qualities,
Are they not known to thee 1
It is the household of Arthur that comes.
TRYSTAN.
Arthur will I not shun,
To nine hundred combats will I dare him,—
If I am slain, I will also slay.
GWALCHMAI.
Trystan, the friend of damsels,
Before commencing the work of strife,
The best of all things is peace.
TRYSTAN.
Let me but have my sword upon my thigh,
And my right hand to defend me,
And I myself will be more formidable than they all.
GWALCHMAI.
Trystan of brilliant qualities,
Before exciting the tumult of conflict,—
Reject not Arthur as a friend.
NOTES. 59
TRYSTAN.
Gwalchmai, for thy sake will I deliberate,
And with my mouth I utter it. —
As I am loved, so will I love.
GWALCHMAI.
Trystan, of aspiring mind,
The shower wets a hundred oaks.
Come to an interview with thy kinsman.
TRYSTAN.
Gwalchmai, of persuasive answers,
The shower wets a hundred furrows.
I will go where'er thou wilt.
Then came Trystan with Gwalchmai to Arthur.
UWALCHMAI.
Arthur, of courteous replies,
The shower wets a hundred heads.
Here is Trystan, be thou joyful.
ARTHUR.
Gwalchmai, of faultless answers,
The shower wets a hundred dwellings.
A welcome to Trystan, my nephew.
Worthy Trystan, chief of the host,
Love thy race, remember the past ;
Am I not the Chief of the Tribe 1
Trystan, leader of onsets,
Take equal with the best,
But leave the sovereignty to me.
Trystan, wise and mighty chieftain,
Love thy kindred, none shall harm thee,
Let there be no coldness between friend and friend.
TRYSTAN.
Arthur, to thee will I attend,
To thy command will I submit,
And that thou wishest will I do.
In one Triad we find Gwalchmai extolled as one of the three most
courteous men towards guests and strangers ; and from another we
learn that he added scientific attainments to his other remarkable
qualities.
GO THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN.
" The three learned ones of the island of Britain, Gwalchmai ab

Gwyar, and Llecheu ab Arthur, and Rhiwallon with the broom-bush
hair ; and there was nothing of which they did not know the elements
and the material essence."
William of Malmsbury says, that during the reign of William the
Conqueror (A.D. 108tj) the tomb of Gwalchmai, or Walwen, as he
calls him, was discovered on the sea-shore, in a certain province of
Wales called Rhos, which is understood to be that still known by
the same name, in the county of Pembroke, where there is a district
called in Welsh Castell Gwalchmai, and in English Walwyn's Castle.
In the Graves of the Warriors a similar locality is indicated :—
" The grave of Gwalchmai is in Pyton,
Where the ninth wave flows."
The Romances make Gawain one of the four sons of King Lot of
Orkney, and of Morgawse, sister to King Arthur ; and in them the
character for courtesy given to him in the Triads is fully maintained.
So proverbial, indeed, was he for this quality, that the highest praise
the Squier could beatow upon the address of the Knight who rode the
" stede of bras " was,
" That Gawain with his olde curtesie,
Though he were come agen out of faerie,
Ne coude him not amenden with a word."—line 10410.
Satin Robe op Honour.—Page 20.

This species of honourable dress could only be worn by knights ;
and, according to Ste. Palaye, was generally the gift of the sovereign,
who accompanied it with a palfrey, or, at least, with a horse's bit,
either golden or gilded. His words are, " Le manteau long et
trainant qui enveloppoit toute la personne, étoit reserve" particu-
lierement au chevalier, comme la plus auguste et la plus noble decora
tion qu'il put avoir lorsqu'il n'étoit point paré de ses armes .... on
l'appeloit le manteau d'honneur."—(I. 287.)
Earl of Rhangyw.—Paye 20.

Probably this is meant for the Earl of Anjou, and was originally
written larll yr Angyw, the Welsh particle yr, in its contracted
form V, being by some error of the transcriber incorporated with
Angyw, which is the Welsh name for Anjou. What renders this
the more likely is, that the Earldom of Anjou, or Angyw, was
NOTES. Gl
according to the Brat, one of the possessions of Arthur, who bestowed
it upon his seneschal Sir Kai.
Strong Lances. —Page 20.

It would be vain to attempt to find English terms corresponding
precisely with those used in the Welsh text, to designate the various
kinds of arms which the knights fought with, in this Tale.
Cousin.—Page 21.
The following genealogical table will explain this consanguinity,
as given in the Welsh Pedigrees.
Cynvarch, sox Of Meirchion.
I
Arawn, TJrien Eheged, Llew,
called, in the Latin Brnt, also called Lot, King of
Auguselns. Lothian and of Orkney,
I
Owain ap Urien. Gwalchmai, or Gawain.
From very remote periods down to the time of Elizabeth, the

Welsh kept up their Pedigrees with much care, and many copies of
them are extant both in public and private collections ; and although
in these occasional discrepancies may be perceived, yet, in general,
their authenticity is well established. It must be allowed, that it
appears somewhat extraordinary that these family records should be
transmitted with such accuracy through so many generations. But
when we consider the imperative obligations of the Welsh Laws upon
this subject, we are no longer surprised at the existence of such
ancient documents, nor at the solicitude of the Welsh to preserve
them.
" It has been observed," says the Essayist on Welsh Pedigrees, in
the Transactions of the Cymmrodorion Society, " that genealogies
were preserved as a matter of necessity, under the ancient British
constitution. A man's pedigree was to him of the first importance,
as thereby he was enabled to ascertain and prove his birthright, and
claim the privileges which the law attached to it. Every one was
obliged to show his descent through nine generations, in order to be
acknowledged a free nitive, by which right he claimed his portion of
land in the community. He was also affected with respect to legal
process in his collateral affinities through nine degrees ; for instance,
every murder committed had a fine levied on the relations of the
murderer, divided into nine degrees ; his brother paying the greatest,
and the ninth in relationship the least. The fine thus levied was in
the same proportions distributed among the relations of the victim.
A person beyond the ninth descent formed a new family ; every
family was represented by its elder, and these elders from every
family were delegates to the national council."
Give me your Swords.—Page 21.

This modesty, in disclaiming praise, and attaching merit to others,
was one of the most esteemed qualities of knighthood. Ste. Palaye
quotes from Olivier de la Marche (Mem. i. 315), a contest of gene
rosity somewhat similar to that between Owain and Gwalchmai.
"Jacques de Lalain et PiStois, en 1450, ayant fait armes a pied, se
renverserent lun sur l'autre ; ils furent releves par les escortes et
amends aux juges qui les firent toucher ensemble en Signe de paix.
Comme Lalain, par modestie, voulut envoyer son bracelet, suivant
la convention faite pour le piix, Pietois declara qu'ayant ete aussi
bien que lui port6 par terre, il se croiroit egalement oblige de lui
donner le sien. Ce nouveau combat de politesse finit par ne plus
parler de bracelet, et par former une etroite liaison d'amiti6 entre ces
genereux ennemis."— (I. 150.)
Banquet. — Page 21.

A feast which took three years to prepare, and three months to
consume, appears in our degenerate days as something quite enormous;
but it is a trifle to what we read in another of the Mabinogion, where
a party speed eighty years in listening to the songs of the birds of
Rhianon, that charm away the remembrance of their sorrows.
A Damsel entered, upon a bay Horse.— Page 21.

The custom of riding into a hall, while the Lord and his guests sat
at meat, the memory of which is still preserved in the coronation
ceremonials of this country, might be illustrated by innumerable
passages of ancient Eomance and History. But I shall content
myself with a quotation from Chaucer's beautiful and half-told
Tale of Cambuscan.
" And so befell that after the thridde cours
While that this king nit thus iu his nobley,
Herking his ministralles hir thinges pley
Beforne him at his bord deliciously,
NOTES. 63
In at the halle dore al sodenly

Ther came a knight upon a stede of bra",
And in his hond a brod mirrour of glas ;
Upon his thombe he had of gold a ring,
And by his side a naked swerd hanging :
And up he rideth to the highe bord.
In all the halle ne was ther spoke a word,
For mervaille of this knight ; him to behold
Ful besily they waiten yong and old."— 10,390-10,401.
And anoint him with this Balsam.—Page 22.

The healing art was always confined to females in chivalric times,
a principal part of whose education it formed, and to the wives and
daughters of knights was confided the care of such as were sick or
wounded. Of this, the iustances are so numerous, that it is needless
to adduce any here.
"We find, from the English metrical version of this Tale, that the oint
ment here mentioned, was the gift of Morgant le sage, very probably
the same as Morgan le fay, who was sister of King Arthur, and wife to
Urien Rheged, and whose skill in magic was justly celebrated, as the
adventure of the Manteau mal taillfi will unfortunately prove.
"Wrested from her by a young Earl.—Page 23.

The name of this invader is in Ywain and Gawin, " The ryche
eryl, syr Alers,"—line 1871 ; and the "Cuens Alers," in the Chevalier
au Lion.
A beautiful black Steed.—Page 24.

The name of Owain's horse is recorded, with the epithet of " irre-
strainable" (Anrheithfarch), but we cannot venture to affirm that the
Cam Ajlawg (or grasping-hoofed) of the Triads, was either the charger
which he received from the Lady of the Castle, or that which met
with so disastrous a fate at the falling of the portcullis.
Went on his Way, as before.—Page 25.

The story of this adventure, as well as that of the fountain, ap
pears to have been popular in the Principality, during the Middle
Ages, as it is alluded to in an Ode addressed to Owain Glendower, by
Gruffydd Llwyd ab Davydd ab Einion, one of his Bards, about the

year 1400.
Of this, the following translation is given in Jones's Welsh Bards,
I. 41 :-
" On sea, on land, thou still didst brave
The dangerous cliff, and rapid wave ;
Like Ouoain, who subdued the knight,
And the fell dragon put to flight,
Yon moss-grown fount beside ;
The grim, black warrior of the flood,
The dragon, gorged with human blood,
The water's scaly pride."
Stone Vault.— Page 25.

This part of the Tale is by no means clearly expressed, but it is
evidently intended to be understood that Luned was incarcerated in
a stone cell, near which Owain chanced to halt for the night. We
subsequently find that he shut up the Lion in the same place, during
his contest with Luned'a persecutors.
A Monster. —Page 27.

This monster is in the English called " Harpyns of Mowntain," and
he is, moreover, said to have been " a devil of mekil pryde." Ac
cording to this and the French version, the good knight (who, it
appears, had married a sister of Sir Gawain) was, originally, the
father of " sex knyghts," two of whom Harpyns had already slain,
while he threatened to put the remaining four to death, unless their
sister was given " hym to wyve." The costume of the Harpyns and
the four young men is very characteristic.
" With wreched ragges war thai kled
And fast bunden thus er thai led :
The geant was both large and lang,
And bar a lever of yren ful Strang,
Tharwith he bet them bitterly,
Grete rewth it was to her tham cry,
Thai had no thing tham for to hyde.
A dwergh yode on the tother syde ;
He bar a scowrge with cordes ten,
Thar-with he bet tha gentil men."
NOTES. 65
And further on, it is said of the giant,
" Al the armure he was yn
Was noght bot of a bul-skyn."
State of Stupor.—Page 29.

The literal meaning of this passage is not advantageous to the four-
and-twenty ladies, as it gives them a character for anything but
sobriety. It is possible, however, that allusion is made to some act
of necromancy (not by any means unusual in the old writers of
romance), by which they were thrown into a state of insensibility.
Hospice.—Page 29.
Spytty.—This term is derived from the Latin word Hospitium,
and is used to designate those establishments which were erected
and maintained by the monks for the reception of travellers.
They bore some remote resemblance to our present inns, and were
generally placed in secluded spots at a distauce from any town.
Several places in Wales retain the recollection of these hospitable
institutions in the name they still bear, as Spytty Ivan, Spytty
Cynvyn, <tc.
Ravens. —Page 30.

As some explanation of this strange expression, it may be noticed,
that in another of the Mabinogion, called the " Dream of Rhonabwy,"
Owain is represented as having an army of Ravens in his service,
which are engaged in combat with some of Arthur's attendants. But
in that, as well as in the present Tale, the adventure is introduced
with an abruptness that can only be accounted for by supposing that
the story was well known, and that it formed a part of that great
store of Romance which existed among the Welsh, and which
furnished to the other nations of Europe the earliest materials of
imaginative composition. This Raven Army of the Prince of Rheged
has evidently a connection with the armorial bearings of that house
already alluded to.
liabincgton. F
6f> THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN
VERSIONS IN OTHER LANGUAGES

oy
THE TALE OF "THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN.1
The story of Owain and the Lady of the Fountain was very
popular in the days of Chivalry, and we meet with it in many
European languages besides the Welsh.
The English version, under the title of " Ywaine and Gawin "
(derived from the French work of Chrestien de Troyes), was pub
lished by Ritson in the first volume of his Metrical Romances,
from a MS. in the British Museum, supposed by him to be of the
reign of Richard II.
Towards the end of the 12th century, the trouvere Chrestien de
Troyes made Owain's adventures the subject of his metrical Romance
of the " Cheualier au Lyon," which I have printed in the first
edition of this work, and of which there are several MS. copies" in the
Bibliotheque Nationale.
Chrestien's French poem was turned into German verse by
-Hartmann von der Aue, a Meister-sanger of the end of the 12th or
the beginning of the 13th century. Of this production many copies
exist, that in the Library of the Vatican being considered by Tieck
to be the oldest German MS. preserved there. It has appeared more
than once in print, and is to be found in Professor Myller's Collection
of Teutonic Romances, 2 vols. 4to., Berlin, 1784. It was also pub
lished by Michaeler in four small 8vo. volumes. Vienna, 1786.
Ulrich Fiirterer, a Bavarian rhymer, who flourished in the later
part of the 15th century, has likewise left a poem on the subject of
Iwein, as one of an immense series of metrical compositions embracing
the entire story of the Grail and the Round Table heroes.
In the Royal Library at Stockholm are preserved MS. versions of
the Tale of " Ivain," both in the Danish and Swedish languages, and
the British Museum, as well as the University Library of Copen
hagen, possesses MSS. of the Icelandic " Ivent Saga."
XOTES. 67
NOTE ON THE FOREST OF BRECELIANDE,

AND THE
FOUNTAIN OF BARANTON.
The Forest of BrecSliande, in Brittany, the scene of the leading

incident in the Chevalier au Lion, has ever been one of the most
favoured haunts of Romance, and one whose marvels the Trouv&res
have most delighted to celebrate. Amongst those whose names have
contributed to add to the renown of this remarkable spot, is the
mighty Enchanter, Merlin, whose prison it became through the
artifices of his Lady love. The manner of his being incarcerated
there is very circumstantially detailed in the Romance which bears
his name, as quoted by Mr. Southey, in the Preface to the Morte
d'Arthur.
Merlin, having become enamoured of the fair Viviane,* was weak
enough to impart to her various important secrets of his art,t being
impelled by a fatal destiny, of which he was at the same time fully
aware. The Lady, however, was not content with his devotion,
unbounded as it seems to have been, but " cast about," as the
Romance tells us, how she might " detain him for evermore," and
with a view of learning some mode of accomplishing this object, she
one day addressed him in these terms,—" Sir," said she, " I would
have you teach and show me how to enclose and imprison a man
• This Viviane is said to be the daughter of a Vavasour of high lineage,

called Dyonas, from Dyane, a goddess of the sea. He married a niece of the
Duchess of Burgundy, with whom he received as a dowry half the Forest of
Briogne ; the other half was granted him soon after in reward for his good
services. Under the title of the " Lady of the Lake " Viviane is well known.
t Of the nature and extent of the powers with which Merlin was endowed,
Spenser has left us a most marvellous account.
" For he by wordes could call out of the sky
Both Sonne and moone, and make them him obay ;
The land to sea, and sea to maineland dry,
And darksom night he eke could turno to day ;
I 2
6S THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN.
without a tower, without walls, without chains, but by enchantment

alone, in such manner that he may never be able to go out, except by
me." Aware of her design, Merlin shook his head, and evinced great
reluctance to comply with her request. But Viviane, " for her great
treason," began to fawn and to flatter him, and used many subtle argu
ments to prove that he ought to perform her will, whatever it might
be. So at last he said to her, " Certes, lady, yes, and I will do it ;
tell me what you would have." " Sir," said she, " I would that we
should make a fair place and a suitable, so contrived by art and by
cunning, that it might never be undone, and that you and I should
be there in joy and in solace." " My lady," said Merlin, " I will
perform all this." " Sir," said she, " I would not have you do it,
but you shall teach me, and I will do it, and then it will be more
to my will." " I grant you this," said Merlin. Then he began to
devise, and the damsel put it all in writing. And when he had
devised the whole, then had the damsel full great joy, and showed
him greater semblance of loving him than she had ever before made ;
and they sojourned together a long while. At length it fell out that,
as they were going one day hand in hand through the forest of
Broceliande, they found a bush of white thorn which was laden
with flowers ; and they seated themselves under the shade of this
white thorn upon the green grass, and they disported together and
took their solace, and Merlin laid his head upon the damsel's lap,
and then she began to feel if he were asleep. Then the damsel rose
and made a ring with her wimple round the bush and round Merliu,
and began her enchantments such as he himself had taught her ; and
nine times she made the ring, and nine times she made the enchant
ments ; and then she went and sate down by him, and placed his head
again upon her lap ; and when he awoke, and looked round him, it
seemed to him that he was enclosed in the strongest tower in the
world, and laid upon a fair bed. Then said he to the dame, " My
Huge hostes of men be could alone dismay,

And hostes of men of meanest thinges could frame,
Whenso him list his enimies to fray :
That to this day, for terror of his fame,
The feendes do quake when any him to them does name."
Faerie Queene, b. iii. c. 3. st. xii.
What wonder is it then that be should elsewhere characterize him as the
being
" Which whylome did ezcell
All living wightes in might of magicke spell."
Ibid. b. i. c. 7. st. xxxvi.
NOTES. G9
lady, you have deceived me unless you abide with me, for no one
hath power to unmake this tower, save you alone." She then
promised she would be often there, and we are told that in this she
held her covenant to him. " And Merlin never went out of that
tower where his mistress Viviane had enclosed him. But she
entered and went out again when she listed ; and oftentime she
regretted what slie had done, for she had thought that the thing
which he taught her could not be true, and willingly would she
have let him out if she could."—(T. 2. f. 134.)
From the same authority, it appears that after this event Merlin
was never more known to hold converse with any mortal but
Viviane, except on one occasioD. Arthur having for some time missed
him from his Court, sent several of his Knights in search of him,
and among the number Sir Gawain, who met with a very unpleasant
adventure while engaged in this quest. Happening to pass a damsel
on his road, as he journeyed along, and neglecting to salute her, she
revenged herself for his incivility, by transforming him into a
hideous dwarf. He was bewailing aloud his evil fortune as he went
through the Forest of Brece"liande, when " suddenly he heard the
voice of one groaning on his right hand ;" and " looking that way he
could see nothing save a kind of smoke which seemed like air, and
through which he could not pass." Merlin then addressed him from
out the smoke, and told him by what misadventure he was imprisoned
there. " Ah, Sir," he added, " you will never see me more, and
that grieves me, but I cannot remedy it ; and when you shall have
departed from this place, I shall never more speak to you, nor to
any other person, save only my mistress." And after this he com
forted Gawain under his transformation, assuring him that he should
speedily be disenchanted, and he predicted to him that he should find
the King at Carduel, in Wales, on his return, and that all the other
Knights who had been on the like quest, would arrive there the same
day as himself. And all this came to pass as Merlin had said.—
(T. 2. f. 146.)*
It is evident that the wonders ascribed by Chrestien de Troyes to
* Preface—Morte d'Arthnr, xliii—xlviii.

In the " Prophecies of Merlin," thongh the result is the same, the circum
stances attending his disappearance are differently related. There the scene
is laid, not in Breocliande, but in the Forest of Arvantes, and Merlin's living
sepulchre is not a white-thorn bush, bat a tomb which ho had constructed for
himself, and which Viviane persuaded him to lie down in, under pretence of
trying whether it would be large enongh for her to be buried in it with him.
As soon as he had entered it, Viviane put down the lid, and closed it so effec
the Fountain of Baranton, in this famous Forest, were not the

creation of his own fancy, but were in his time already in no small
repute ; for we find his precursor Wace so much impressed with the
desire to be an eye-witness of them, that he actually made a journey
to the spot for that purpose. In his Roman de Rou he relates
the whole affair with admirable naivete. After adverting to the
marvels of the slab, he tells us, that if what the Bretons say is true,
Fairies are often to be seen sporting on the Fountain's bank ; but
he very frankly owns that he met with nothing but disappointment
to repay the trouble of his expedition, and he reproaches himself for
his folly in having ever undertaken it.
The passage is brought in by the mention of the Barons who
accompanied William of Normandy to the conquest of England,
some of whom he says were
" de verz Brecheliant,
Dune Bretunz vont sovent fablant,
Une forest mult lunge h lee,
Ki en Bretaigne est mult loee ;
La Fontaine de Berenton
Sort d'une part lez le perron ;
Aler i solent veneor
A Berenton par grant chalor,
Et o lor cors l'ewe puisier
Et li perron de suz moillier,
Por 90 soleient pluee aveir ;
Issi soleit jadis pluveir
En la forest tut envirun,
Maiz jo ne sai par kel raisun.
La solt Ten li fSes veir,
Se li Bretunz disent veir,
Et altres merveilles plusors ;
Aigres solt aveir destors
E de granz cers mult grant plente,
Maiz li vilain ont deserte.
La alai jo merveilles querre,
Vis la forest e vis la terre ;
tually, by arts which he himself had taught her, that it never after could be
opened.—See Morte d'Arthur, ii. 463—8.
It is this version that Ariosto appears to have followed ; but he places in the
South of France, somewhere in the neighbourhood of the Garonne, the tomb
in which
" Col corpo morto il vivo spirto alberga."
Orlando Furioso, C. iii.
NOTES. 71
Merveilles quis, maiz nes' trovai ;
Fol m'en revins, fol i alai,
Fol i alai, fol m'en revins,
Folie quis, por fol me tins."—v. 11514-11539.
Roman de Rou, publié par F. Pluquet
Rouen, 1827.—iL 143, 4.
Huon de Méry, a subsequent trouvère, set out on a similar errand,
and was cither more fortunate, or less ingenuous than Wace. One
cannot help suspecting him of reckoning rather largely upon the
credulity of his readers, in the narrative he gives of his journey ;
however, he shall tell his story in his own words.
Being one of those who accompanied an expedition made by the
" Hois Loeys en Bretaingne," he considered the opportunity thus
afforded him of visiting its Forest of wonders too tempting to be
overlooked.
" Por çou que n'iert pas mult lontaingne
La forés de Brecéliande,
Mes cuers ki souvent me commande
Faire autre cose ke mon preu,
Me fist faire, aussi comme veu,
Ke ge en Brecéliande iroie,
Ge m'en tornai et pris ma voie
Vers la forest, sans plus atendre,
Kar la Vreté voloie aprendre
De la périlleuse fontaine,
Une espée ou ot fer d'Andainne
Dont lameure n'estoit pas double
Et un hauberc à maille double
Portai qui puis m'orent mestier,
Sans tenir voie ne sentier
Chevauchai .iiij. jours entiers.
Adonc m'aparut uns sentiers
Qui par une gaste lande,
Me mena en Brecéliande,
Mult est espesse et oscure,
En la forest par aventure
Perdi le sens de mon sentier,
Car li solaus s'aloit couchier,
Qui avoit faite sa journée.
Mais la clartés est ajornée
De la lune qui lors leva."
* # * # #
" Cele nuis resambla le jour.
Sans faire alonge ne sejour,
Ce fu la quinte nuis de mai ;
La fontainne mult esgardai
Ke la trouvai par aventure.
La fontaine n'iert pas oscure
Ains ert clere com fins argens,
Mult estoit li praales gens.
Qui 80mbroioit de desous l'arbre
Le bachin, le perron de marbre,
Et le vert pin et la caiere
Trouvai en icele maniere,
Comme l'a descrit Crestiens
En plus clere eve crestiens ....
Ne sambla pas que ce fust cresme.
Quant le bachin ting en ma maiu,
Car tout aussi le puisai plain
Com se la vousisse espuisier.
Quand ge mis la main au puisier,
Lors vi le firmament doubler.
Quant oi puisid, lors vi doubler
Le torment, quant l'eve versai,
Je qui, tous seus le sai,
Ne talent n'en ai du meutir,
Mais le chiel 01 desmentir
Et esclarcir de toutes pars.
De plus de .vc. mile pars
Ert la fores enluminee ;
Se tous li chiex ert queminee
Et tous li mons ardoit ensamble,
Ne fesist-il pas, ce me samble,
Tel clarW, ne si grant orage.
.C. fois maudis en mon corage
Par cui conseill ting la mon oirre,
Car a cascun cop de tonnoirre
La foudre du ciel descendoit
Qui troncounoit et porfendoit
Farmi le bois, caines et fals.
Or escoutes com ge fui fals
Et tresperdus et entrepris,
K'encor plain bachin d'iaue pris
NOTES. 78
Et seur le perron le flasti
Mais se le ciel ot bien glati
Et envoies foudres en terre.
Lors double la noise et la guerre
Ke j'oï mené à tout le monde,
Can del' tounoire à la réonde
Toute la terre vi tranbler
Ge cuidai bien que assambler
Fesist del' chiel et terre ensamble.
Ce fu folie, ce me samble,
De .ij. fois le bachin widier,
Mais ce fu par mon fol cuidier,
Car le tans apaisier cuidai
Quant le secont bachin widai ;
Mais lors perchui que cil qui cuide
Qu'il a de seus la teste wide.
* * * * *
Lours commencha à aprochier
Li jours dont l'aube ert ja' venue ;
Joie firent de sa venue J
Trestout li oiseillon menu
Ke à voleter ai véu
De par tout Berchëliande.
En broche, n'en forest, n'en lande
N'en vit mais nus tant amassés
Sus le pin en ot plus amassés.
Ke n'en vit Kalogrinans.
Et faisoient de divers cans
Une si douce mélodie
Ke à ma mort, ni à ma vie,
Ne kéisse avoir autre gloire.
Encore, quant me vient en mémoire,
En mon cuer en ai si grant joie
Qn'encore me sanlle qu'eus ge oie ;
M'est-il tous vraiement avis
Que c'est terrestre paradis.
Tournoiement Ante-Crist,* MS. du Roi,
No. 541. S. F. (fol. 72. col. 2. v. 5.)
* Livre des Legendes. Par le Ronx de Lincy. Intro. 230, 4. Paris, 1836.
Huon de Mery was a Monk of St. Germain des Prés, near Paris. He wrote
the Poem above quoted abont A.D. 1228. See Warton's History of English
Poetry, ii. 121.
74, THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN.
The Fairies, who are reported to haunt the Forest of Brec6liande,

appear to have patronized children in an especial manner, and to have
delighted in showering down gifts upon such as were brought there
soon after their birth to receive their benediction. There is extant in
the Bibliotheque du Roi (MS. du Roi, n. 7989—4 Bal.) a fragment
of a curious Romance, named Brun de la Montagne, which is founded
entirely upon this circumstance. It is printed in Le Roux de Lincy's
Livre des Legendes. The outline of the story is as follows :—
Bator de la Montagne, on the birth of his infant son, is desirous
that he should receive a Fairy's blessing ; and after revolving in his
mind the names of all the "lieux faes"* with which he is acquainted,
he determines on sending him to the haunt of the Fairies in the " bois
Bersillant." The little Brun is accordingly conveyed thither by a
trusty Knight, and placed on the margin of the enchanted fountain.
It is not long before the Fairies t appear, and the child is endowed
with the choicest gifts which they have in their power to bestow.
One of them, however, envious of the extreme brightness of his
prospects, dooms him to misfortune and disappointment in love.
On his return to his parents, one of the benevolent Fairies, who
had taken a particular liking to him, disguises herself, and becomes
his nurse. The MS. breaks off abruptly, just as the story of his
disastrous love-adventure is about to commence.}
I shall conclude this Note with a description of the state of the
* " II a des lieux faes es marches de Champaigne,

Et ausi en a il en la roche grifaigne,
Et si croy qu'il en a anssi en Alemaigne,
Et on bois Bersillant, par desous la mont&igne ;
Et non por quant ausi en a il en Espaigne,
Et tout cil lien fae sont Artu de Bretaigne."
Livre des Legendes, 264.
t The following is the description given of these Ladies in the Romance :—
" Les dames dont je di si estoient faces
Qui si tres noblement estoient ascsmces.
Lenr cors furent pins blanc que n'est noif sor gelee,
Et si tres chierement estoient atonrnees.
Car de couronnes d'or furent toutes dorees
Et de blans dras de soio estoient aonrnees ;
En mi de la portrine estoient escollees.
Se uns hom en enst erre .ij. .c. mile journees
Ne fussent point par li trois plus belles trouvees
Et s'eust converse en cent mile contrees."
Liv. des Leg. 267—8.
J Ibid. 260, 284.
NOTES. 75
famous Forest of Brécéliande, in our own times, from an account of
a visit made to it by the Vicomte de la Villemarqué, and published
by him in the Revue de Paris for May, 1837.
" J'avais tant de fois, dans mon enfance, entendu parler de Merlin,
et lu, dans nos romans de chevalerie bretonne, de si merveilleuses
choses sur son tombeau, la forêt de Brécilien, la fontaine de Baranton,
et la vallee de Concoret, que je fus pris d'un vif désir de visiter ces
lieux, et qu'un beau matin je partis.
" Ploërmel est la ville la plus voisine de Concoret ; de là au bourg
la route est longue et difficile ; toujours des chemins creux, des mon
tagnes, des bois, ou des landes sans fin."
**#**##
" La plaine qu'on appelle en breton Concoret,* et dans les romans
du moyen-âge le Val-des-Fies, est un immense amphithéâtre couronné
de bois sombres, jadis nommés Broc'hallean,t aujourd'hui par corrup
tion Brécilien. A l'une de ses extrémités, coule une fontaine près de
laquelle on voit deux pierres couvertes de mousse que domine une
vieille croix de bois vermoulue ; c'est la fontaine de Barandon et le
tombeau de Merlin ; là dort, dit-on, le vieux druide, au murmure
des eaux et du vent qui gémit dans les bruyères d'alentour.
" De cette hauteur, l'œil embrasse toute la vallee, et un horizon sans
bornes de bois, de champs remplis de bles ou de genets aux fleurs
jaunes, de paroisses et de lointains clochers.
" Brécilien était une de ces forets sacrées qu'habitaient les prê
tresses du dmidisme dans les Gaules ; son nom et celui de sa vallee
l'attesteraient à défaut d'autre témoignage ; les noms de lieux sont les
plus sûrs garans des événemens passés."
All the old traditions which give an interest to the Forest continue
to be current there. The Fairies, who are kind to children, are still
reported to be seen in their white apparel upon the banks of the
Fountain ; and the Fountain itself (whose waters are now considered
salubrious) is still said to be possessed of its marvellous rain-
producing properties. In seasons of drought, the inhabitants of the
surrounding parishes go to it in procession, headed by their five
great banners, and their priests, ringing bells and chanting Psalms.
On arriving at the Fountain, the Rector of the Canton dips the
foot of the Cross into its waters, and it is sure to rain before a week
elapses.
* " Kun-ivred, vallée des drnidesBes."
t " Le bois de la Nonne, de l'Hermite, de la Solitaire."
The Fountain of Baranton is supplied by a mineral Bpring, and it
bubbles up on a piece of iron or copper being thrown into it.
" Les enfans s'amusent a y jeter des épingles, et disent par commun
proverbe : ' Jiia donc, fontaine de Berendon, et je te donnerai une
épingle.' "*
* Kevue de Paria. Tome 41. 7 Mai, 1837, pp. 47—58, article " Visite au
Tombeau de Merlin," par Théodore de la Villemarqué.
NOTES. 77
LLYN DULYN IN SNOWDON.
The extraordinary property of producing rain, when spilt upon

a stone, is attributed to the waters of Llyn Dulyn, in Snowdon,
according to the following account, which is translated from the
Greal, a Welsh Magazine, published in London, 1805.
" There is a lake in the mountains of Snowdon, called Dulyn, in a
rugged valley, encircled by high steep rocks. This lake is extremely
black, and its fish are deformed and unsightly, having large heads
and small bodies. No wild swans are ever seen alighting upon it
(such as are on all the other lakes in Snowdon), nor ducks, nor any
bird whatever. And there is a causeway of stones leading into this
lake ; and if any one goes along this causeway, even when it is hot
sunshine, and throws water so as to wet the furthest stone, which is
called the Red Altar [yr Allawr Goch], it is a chance if it do not
rain before night. Witness, T. Prys, of Plas Iolyn, and Sion Davydd,
of Bhiwlas, in Llan Silin."
I
PEEEDUE THE SON OF EVEAWC.

PEREDUR THE SON OF EYRAWC.
TTURL EVRAWC owned the Earldom of the North. And

he had seven sons. And Evrawc maintained himself
not so much by his own possessions as by attending tourna
ments, and wars, and combats. And, as it often befalls those
who join in encounters and wars, he was slain, and six of his
sons likewise. Now the name of his seventh son was Peredur,
and he was the youngest of them. And he was not of an age
to go to wars and encounters, otherwise he might have been
slain as well as his father and brothers. His mother was a
scheming and thoughtful woman, and she was very solicitous
concerning this her only son and his possessions. So she
took counsel with herself to leave the inhabited country, and
to flee to the deserts and unfrequented wildernesses. And she
permitted none to bear her company thither but women and
boys, and spiritless men, who were both unaccustomed and
unequal to war and fighting. And none dared to bring either
horses or arms where her son was, lest he should set his mind
upon them. And the youth went daily to divert himself in
Itabmogwn. q
82 PEREDOR THE SON OP EVRAWC.
the forest, by flinging sticks and staves. And one day he saw
his mother's flock of goats, and near the goats two hinds were
standing. And he marvelled greatly that these two should be
without horns, while the others had them. And he thought
they had long run wild, and on that account they had lost
their horns. And by activity and swiftness of foot, he drove
the hinds and the goats together into the house which there
was for the goats at the extremity of the forest. Then Peredur
returned to his mother. " Ah, mother," said he, " a marvel
lous thing have I seen in the wood ; two of thy goats have run
wild, and lost their horns ; through their having been so long
missing in the wood. And no man had ever more trouble than
I had to drive them in." Then they all arose and went to see.
And when they beheld the hinds they were greatly astonished.
And one day they saw three knights coming along the
horse-road on the borders of the forest. And the three knights
were Gwalchmai the son of Gwyar, and Geneir Gwystyl, and
Owain the son of Urien. And Owain kept on the track of
the knight who had divided the apples in Arthur's Court,
whom they were in pursuit of. " Mother," said Peredur,
" what are those yonder ? " " They are angels, my son,"
said she. " By my faith," said Peredur, " I will go and
become an angel with them." And Peredur went to the road,
and met them. " Tell me, good soul," said Owain, " sawest
thou a knight pass this way, either to-day or yesterday ? "
" I know not," answered he, " what a knight is." " Such
an one as I am," said Owain. " If thou wilt tell me what
I ask thee, I will tell thee that which thou askest me."
" Gladly will I do so," replied Owain. " What is this ? "
demanded Peredur, concerning the saddle. " It is a saddle,"
said Owain. Then he asked about all the accoutrements
which he saw upon the men, and the horses, and the arms,
and what they were for, and how they were used. And
Owain shewed him all these things fully, and told him what
use was made of them. " Go forward," said Peredur, " for I
saw such an one as thou enquirest for, and I will follow thee."
Then Peredur returned to his mother and her company,
PEREDUR THE SON OF EVRAWC. S3
and he said to her, " Mother, those were not angels, but
honourable knights." Then his mother swooned away. And
Peredur went to the place where they kept the horses that
carried firewood, and that brought meat and drink from the
inhabited country to the desert. And he took a bony piebald
horse, which seemed to him the strongest of them. And he
pressed a pack into the form of a saddle, and with twisted
twigs he imitated the trappings which he had seen upon the
horses. And when Peredur came again to his mother, the
Countess had recovered from her swoon. " My son," said
she, " desirest thou to ride forth ? " " Yes, with thy leave,"
said he. " Wait, then, that I may counsel thee before thou
goest." " "Willingly," he answered ; " speak quickly."
" Go forward, then," she said, " to the Court of Arthur,
where there are the best, and the boldest, and the most
bountiful of men. And wherever thou seest a church, repeat
there thy Paternoster unto it. And if thou see meat and
drink, and have need of them, and none have the kindness
or the courtesy to give them to thee, take them thyself. If
thou hear an outcry, proceed towards it, especially if it be
the outcry of a woman. If thou see a fair jewel, possess
thyself of it, and give it to another, for thus thou shalt
obtain praise. If thou see a fair woman, pay thy court to
her, whether she will or no ; for thus thou wilt render thyself
a better and more esteemed man than thou wast before."
After this discourse, Peredur mounted the horse, and taking
a handful of sharp-pointed forks in his hand, he rode forth.
And he journeyed two days and two nights in the woody
wildernesses, and in desert places, without food and without
drink. And then he came to a vast wild wood, and far
within the wood he saw a fair even glade, and in the glade he
saw a tent, and the tent seeming to him to be a church, he
repeated his Paternoster to it. And he went towards it, and
the door of the tent was open. And a golden chair was near
the door. And on the chair sat a lovely auburn-haired
maiden, with a golden frontlet on her forehead, and sparkling
stones in the frontlet, and with a large gold ring on her
o 2
84 PEREDUR THE SON OF EVRAWC.
hand. And Peredur dismounted, and entered the tent. And

the maiden was glad at his coming, and bade him welcome.
At the entrance of the tent he saw food, and" two flasks full of
wine, and two loaves of fine wheaten flour, and collops of the
flesh of the wild boar. " My mother told me," said Peredur,
" wheresoever I saw meat and drink, to take it." " Take the
meat and welcome, chieftain," said she. So Peredur took
half of the meat and of the liquor himself, and left the rest
to the maiden. And when Peredur had finished eating,
he bent upon his knee before the maiden. " My mother,"
said he, " told me, wheresoever I saw a fair jewel, to take it."
" Do so, my soul," said she. So Peredur took the ring.
And he mounted his horse, and proceeded on his journey.
After this, behold the knight came, to whom the tent
belonged ; and he was the Lord of the Glade. And he saw
the track of the horse, and he said to the maiden, " Tell me
who has been here since I departed." " A man," said she,
" of wonderful demeanour." And she described to him what
Peredur's appearance and conduct had been. "Tell me,"
said he, " did he offer thee any wrong ? " " No," answered
the maiden, " by my faith, he harmed me not." " By my
faith, I do not believe thee ; and until I can meet with him,
and revenge the insult he has done me, and wreak my ven
geance upon him, thou shalt not remain two nights in the same
house." And the knight arose, and set forth to seek Peredur.
Meanwhile Peredur journeyed on towards Arthur's Court.
And before he reached it, another knight had been there,
who gave a ring of thick gold at the door of the gate for
holding his horse, and went into the Hall where Arthur and
his household, and Gwenhwyvar and her maidens, were
assembled. And the page of the chamber was serving
Gwenhwyvar with a golden goblet. Then the knight dashed
the liquor that was therein upon her face, and upon her
stomacher, and gave her a violent blow on the face, and said,
"If any have the boldness to dispute this goblet with me,
and to revenge the insult to Gwenhwyvar, let him follow me
to the meadow, and there I will await him." So the knight
PEREDUR THE SON OP EVRAWC 85
took his horse, and rode to the meadow. And all the house
hold hung down their heads, lest any of them should be
requested to go and avenge the insult to Gwenhwyvar. For
it seemed to them, that no one would have ventured on so
daring an outrage, unless he possessed such powers, through
magic or charms, that none could be able to take vengeance
upon him. Then, behold, Peredur entered the Hall, upon
the bony piebald horse, with the uncouth trappings upon it ;
and in this way he traversed the whole length of the Hall.
In the centre of the Hall stood Kai. " Tell me, tall man,"
said Peredur, " is that Arthur, yonder ? " " What wouldest
thou with Arthur ? " asked Kai. " My mother told me to go
to Arthur, and receive the honour of knighthood." " By my
faith," said he, " thou art all too meanly equipped with horse
and with arms." Thereupon he was perceived by all the
household, and they threw sticks at him. Then, behold, a
dwarf came forward. He had already been a year at Arthur's
Court, both he and a female dwarf. They had craved har
bourage of Arthur, and had obtained it ; and during the
whole year, neither of them had spoken a single word to any
one. "When the dwarf beheld Peredur, " Haha ! " said he,
" the welcome of Heaven be unto thee, goodly Peredur, son
of Evrawc, the chief of warriors, and flower of knighthood."
"Truly," said Kai, "thou art ill-taught to remain a year
mute at Arthur's Court, with choice of society ; and now,
before the face of Arthur and all his household, to call out,
and declare such a man as this the chief of warriors, and the
flower of knighthood." And he gave him such a box on the
ear, that he fell senseless to the ground. Then exclaimed the
female dwarf, " Haha ! goodly Peredur, son of Evrawc ; the
welcome of Heaven be unto thee, flower of knights, and light
of chivalry." " Of a truth, maiden," said Kai, " thou art ill-
bred to remain mute for a year at the Court of Arthur, and
then to speak as thou dost of such a man as this." And Kai
kicked her with his foot, so that she fell to the ground sense
less. " Tall man," said Peredur, " shew me which is Arthur."
" Hold thy peace," said Kai, " and go after the knight who
86 PEREDUR THE SON Of EVRAWC.
went hence to the meadow, and take from him the goblet, and
overthrow him, and possess thyself of his horse and arms,
and then thou shalt receive the order of knighthood." " I
will do so, tall man," said Peredur. So he turned his horse's
head towards the meadow. And when he came there, the
knight was riding up and down, proud of his strength, and
valour, and noble mien. " Tell me," said the knight, " didst
thou see any one coming after me from the Court ? " " The
tall man that was there," said he, " desired me to come, and
overthrow thee, and to take from thee the goblet, and thy
horse and thy armour for myself." " Silence ! " said the
knight ; " go back to the Court, and tell Arthur, from me,
either to come himself, or to send some other to fight with
me ; and unless he do so quickly, I will not wait for him."
" By my faith," said Peredur, " choose thou whether it shall
be willingly or unwillingly, but I will have the horse, and the
arms, and the goblet." And upon this the knight ran at him
furiously, and struck him a violent blow with the shaft of his
spear, between the neck and the shoulder. " Haha ! lad,"
said Peredur, " my mother's servants were not used to play
with me in this wise ; therefore, thus will I play with thee."
And thereupon he struck him with a sharp -pointed fork, and
it hit him in the eye, and came out at the back of his neck, so
that he instantly fell down lifeless.
" Verily, " said Owain the son of Urien to Kai, " thou wert
ill-advised, when thou didst send that madman after the
knight. For one of two things must befall him. He must
either be overthrown, or slain. If he is overthrown by the
knight, he will be counted by him to be an honourable person
of the Court, and an eternal disgrace will it be to Arthur and
his warriors. And if he is slain, the disgrace will be the same,
and moreover, his sin will be upon him ; therefore will I go
to see what has befallen him." So Owain went to the meadow,
and he found Peredur dragging the man about. " What art
thou doing thus ? " said Owain. " This iron coat," said
Peredur, "will never come from off him; not by my efforts,
at any rate." And Owain unfastened his armour and his
PEREDUR THE SON OF EVRAWC. 87
clothes. " Here, my good soul," said he, " is a horse and
armour better than thine. Take them joyfully, and come
with me to Arthur, to receive the order of knighthood, for
thou dost merit it." " May I never shew my face again, if I
go," said Peredur ; " but take thou the goblet to Gwenhwyvar,
and tell Arthur, that wherever I am, I will be his vassal, and
will do him what profit and service I am able. And say that
I will not come to his Court, until I have encountered the
tall man that is there, to revenge the injury he did to the
dwarf and dwarfess." And Owain went back to the Court,
and related all these things to Arthur and Gwenhwyvar, and
to all the household.
And Peredur rode forward. And as he proceeded, behold
a knight met him. "Whence comest thou?" said the
knight. "I come from Arthur's Court," said Peredur.
" Art thou one of his men ? " asked he. " Yes, by my faith,"
he answered. "A good service, truly, is that of Arthur/'
" Wherefore sayest thou so ? " said Peredur. " I will tell
thee," said he; "I have always been Arthur's enemy, and all
such of his men as I have ever encountered I have slain."
And without further parlance they fought, and it was not long
before Peredur brought him to the ground, over his horse's
crupper. Then the knight besought his mercy. " Mercy
thou shalt have," said Peredur, " if thou wilt make oath to me,
that thou wilt go to Arthur's Court, and tell him that it was I
that overthrew thee, for the honour of his service ; and say,
that I will never come to the Court until I have avenged the
insult offered to the dwarf and dwarfess." The knight pledged
him his faith of this, and proceeded to the Court of Arthur,
and said as he had promised, and conveyed the threat to Kai.
And Peredur rode forward. And within that week he
encountered sixteen knights, and overthrew them all shame
fully. And they all went to Arthur's Court, taking with
them the same message which the first knight had conveyed
from Peredur, and the same threat which he had sent to Kai.
And thereupon Kai was reproved by Arthur; and Kai was
greatly grieved thereat.
!
88 PEREDUR THE SOlf OF EVRAWC.
And Peredur rode forward. And he came to a vast and

desert wood, on the confines of which was a lake. And on
the other side was a fair castle. And on the border of
the lake he saw a venerable, hoary-headed man, sitting
upon a velvet cushion, and having a garment of velvet
upon him. And his attendants were fishing in the lake.
When the hoary-headed man beheld Peredur approaching,
he arose and went towards the castle. And the old man was
lame. Peredur rode to the palace, and the door was open,
and he entered the hall. And there was the hoary-headed
man sitting on a cushion, and a large blazing fire burning
before him. And the household and the company arose to
meet Peredur, and disarrayed him. And the man asked the
youth to sit" on the cushion ; and they sat down, and con
versed together. When it was time, the tables were laid,
and they went to meat. And when they had finished their
meal, the man enquired of Peredur, if he knew well how to
fight with the sword. " I know not," said Peredur, " but
were I to bo taught, doubtless I should." "Whoever can
play well with the cudgel and shield, will also be able to fight
with a sword." And the man had two sons ; the one had
yellow hair, and the other auburn. " Arise, youths," said
he, "and play with the cudgel and the shield." And so
did they. " Tell me, my soul," said the man, " which of the
youths thinkest thou plays best." " I think," said Peredur,
" that the yellow-haired youth could draw blood from the
other, if he chose." " Arise thou, my life, and take the cudgel
and the shield from the hand of the youth with the auburn
hair, and draw blood from the yellow-haired youth if thou
canst." So Peredur arose, and went to play with the yellow-
haired youth ; and he lifted up his arm, and struck him such
a mighty blow, that his brow fell over his eye, and the blood
flowed forth. "Ah, my life," said the man, "come now,
and sit down, for thou wilt become the best fighter with the
sword of any in this island ; and I am thy uncle, thy mother's
brother. And with me shalt thou remain a space, in order to
learn the manners and customs of different countries, and
PEKEBUR THE SON OF EVRAWC. 89
courtesy, and gentleness, and noble bearing. Leave, then,

the habits and the discourse of thy mother, and I will be thy
teacher ; and I will raise thee to the rank of knight from
this time forward. And thus do thou. If thou seest aught
to cause thee wonder, ask not the meaning of it ; if no
one has the courtesy to inform thee, the reproach will not
fall upon thee, but upon me that am thy teacher." And they
had abundance of honour and service. And when it was
time they went to sleep. At the break of day, Peredur arose,
and took his horse, and with his uncle's permission he rode
forth. And he came to a vast desert wood, and at the further
end of the wood was a meadow, and on the other side of the
meadow he saw a large castle. And thitherward Peredur
bent his way, and he found the gate open, and he proceeded
to the hall. And he beheld a stately hoary-headed man
sitting on one side of the hall, and many pages around him,
who arose to receive and to honour Peredur. And they
placed him by the side of the owner of the palace. Then they
discoursed together ; and when it was time to eat, they caused
Peredur to sit beside the nobleman during the repast. And
when they had eaten and drunk as much as they desired, the
nobleman asked Peredur, whether he could fight with a
sword ? " Were I to receive instruction," said Peredur, " I
think I could." Now, there was on the floor of the hall a
huge staple, as large as a warrior could grasp. " Take yonder
sword," said the man to Peredur, "and strike the iron
staple." So Peredur arose and struck the staple, so that
he cut it in two ; and the sword broke into two parts also.
" Place the two parts together, and reunite them," and
Peredur placed them together, and they became entire as
they were before. And a second time he struck upon the
staple, so that both it and the sword broke in two, and as
before they reunited. And the third time he gave a like
blow, and placed the broken parts together, and neither the
staple nor the sword would unite as before. " Youth," said
the nobleman, " come now, and sit down, and my blessing be
upon thee. Thou fightest best with the sword of any man in
90 PEEEDUR THE SON OF EVRAWC.
the kingdom. Thou hast arrived at two-thirds of thy strength,

and the other third thou hast not yet obtained ; and when thou
attainest to thy full power, none will be able to contend with
thee. I am thy uncle, thy mother's brother, and I am brother
to the man in whose house thou wast last night/' Then
Peredur and his uncle discoursed together, and he beheld
two youths enter the hall, and proceed up to the chamber,
bearing a spear of mighty size, with three streams of blood
flowing from the point to the ground. And when all the
company saw this, they began wailing and lamenting. But
for all that, the man did not break off his discourse with
Peredur. And as he did not tell Peredur the meaning of
what he saw, he forbore to ask him concerning it. And
when the clamour had a little subsided, behold two maidens
entered, with a large salver between them, in which was a
man's head, surrounded by a profusion of blood. And there
upon the company of the court made so great an outcry, that
it was irksome to be in the same hall with them. But at
length they were silent. And when time was that they should
sleep, Peredur was brought into a fair chamber.
And the next day, with his uncle's permission, he rode
forth. And he came to a wood, and far within the wood he
heard a loud cry, and he saw a beautiful woman with auburn
hair, and a horse with a saddle upon it, standing near her,
and a corpse by her side. And as she strove to place the
corpse upon the horse, it fell to the ground, and thereupon
she made a great lamentation. "Tell me, sister," said
Peredur, " wherefore art thou bewailing ? " " Oh ! accursed
Peredur, little pity has my ill-fortune ever met with from
thee." " Wherefore," said Peredur, " am I accursed ? " " Be
cause thou wast the cause of thy mother's death; for when
thou didst ride forth against her will, anguish seized upon
her heart, so that she died ; and therefore art thou accursed.
And the dwarf and the dwarfess that thou sawest at Arthur's
Court were the dwarfs of thy father and mother; and I am
thy foster-sister, and this was my wedded husband, and he
was slain by the knight that is in the glade in the wood ;
PEREDUR THE SON OF EVBAWC. 91
and do not thou go near him, lest thou shouldest be slain by

him likewise." " My sister, thou dost reproach me wrong
fully ; through my having so long remained amongst you, I
shall scarcely vanquish him ; and had I continued longer, it
would, indeed, be difficult for me to succeed. Cease, there
fore, thy lamenting, for it is of no avail, and I will bury the
body, and then I will go in quest of the knight, and see if
I can do vengeance upon him." And when he had buried
the body, they went to the place where the knight was, and
found him riding proudly along the glade ; and he enquired
of Peredur whence he came. " I come from Arthur's Court."
" And art thou one of Arthur's men ? " " Yes, by my faith."
"A profitable alliance, truly, is that of Arthur." And
without further parlance, they encountered one another, and
immediately Peredur overthrew the knight, and he besought
mercy of Peredur. " Mercy shalt thou have," said he, " upon
these terms, that thou take this woman in marriage, and do
her all the honour and reverence in thy power, seeing thou
hast, without cause, slain her wedded husband; and that
thou go to Arthur's Court, and shew him that it was I that
overthrew thee, to do him honour and service ; and that thou
tell him that I will never come to his Court again until I have
met with the tall man that is there, to take vengeance upon
him for his insult to the dwarf and dwarfess." And he took
the knight's assurance, that he would perform all this.
Then the knight provided the lady with a horse and garments
that were suitable for her, and took her with him to Arthur's
Court. And he told Arthur all that had occurred, and gave the
defiance to Kai. And Arthur and all his household reproved
Kai, for having driven such a youth as Peredur from his Court.
Said Owain the son of Urien, "this youth will never come
into the Court until Kai has gone forth from it." " By my
faith," said Arthur, " I will search all the deserts in the Island
of Britain, until I find Peredur, and then let him and his
adversary do their utmost to each other."
Then Peredur rode forward. And he came to a desert
wood, where he saw not the track either of men or animals.
and where there was nothing but bushes and weeds. And at
the upper end of the wood he saw a vast castle, wherein were
many strong towers; and when he came near the gate, he
found the weeds taller than he had seen them elsewhere. And
he struck the gate with the shaft of his lance, and thereupon
behold a lean, auburn-haired youth came to an opening in the
battlements. " Choose thou, chieftain," said he, " whether
shall I open the gate unto thee, or shall I announce unto those
that are chief, that thou art at the gateway ? " " Say that I am
here," said Peredur, " and if it is desired that I should enter,
I will go in." And the youth came back, and opened the
gate for Peredur. And when he went into the hall, he beheld
eighteen youths, lean and red-headed, of the same height,
and of the same aspect, and of the same dress, and of tho
same age as the one who had opened the gate for him. And
they were well skilled in courtesy and in service. And they
disarrayed him. Then they sat down to discourse. There
upon, behold five maidens came from the chamber into the
hall. And Peredur was certain that he had never seen another
of so fair an aspect as the chief of the maidens. And she had
an old garment of satin upon her, which had once been hand
some, but was then so tattered, that her skin could be seen
through it. And whiter was her skin than the bloom of
crystal, and her hair and her two eyebrows were blacker than
jet, and on her cheeks were two red spots, redder than what
ever is reddest. And the maiden welcomed Peredur, and put her
arms about his neck, and made him sit down beside her. Not
long after this he saw two nuns enter, and a flask full of wine
was borne by one, and six loaves of white bread by the other.
" Lady," said they, " Heaven is witness, that there is not so
much of food and liquor as this left in yonder Convent this
night." Then they went to meat, and Peredur observed that
the maiden wished to give more of the food and of the liquor
to him than to any of the others. " My sister," said Peredur,
" I will share out the food and the liquor." " Not so, my
soul," said she. " By my faith but I will." So Peredur
took the bread, and he gave an equal portion of it to each
PEREDTJE THE SON OP EYRAWC. 9:1
alike, as well as a cup full of the liquor. And when it was

time for them to sleep, a chamber was prepared for Peredur,
and he went to rest.
"Behold, sister," said the youths to the fairest and most
exalted of the maidens, " we have counsel for thee." " What
may it be ? " she enquired. " Go to the youth that is in the
upper chamber, and offer to become his wife, or the lady of
his love, if it seem well to him." " That were indeed unfit
ting," said she. " Hitherto I have not been the lady-love
of any knight, and to make him such an offer before I am
wooed by him, that, truly, can I not do." " By our confes
sion to Heaven, unless thou actest thus, we will leave thee
here to thy enemies, to do as they will with thee." And
through fear of this, the maiden went forth; and shedding
tears, she proceeded to the chamber. And with the noise of
the door opening, Peredur awoke ; and the maiden was weep
ing and lamenting. " Tell me, my sister," said Peredur,
" wherefore dost thou weep t " "I will tell thee, lord,"
said she. " My father possessed these dominions as their
chief, and this palace was his, and with it he held the best
earldom in the kingdom ; then the son of another earl sought
me of my father, and I was not willing to be given unto him,
and my father would not give me against my will, either to
him or any earl in the world. And my father had no child
except myself. And after my father's death, these dominions
came into my own hands, and then was I less willing to accept
him than before. So he made war upon me, and conquered
all my possessions, except this one house. And through the
valour of the men whom thou hast seen, who are my foster-
brothers, and the strength of the house, it can never be taken
while food and drink remain. And now our provisions are
exhausted ; but as thou hast seen, we have been fed by the
nuns, to whom the country is free. And at length they also
are without supply of food or liquor. And at no later date
than to-morrow, the earl will come against this place with all
his forces ; and if I fall into his power, my fate will be no
better than to be given over to the grooms of his horses.
94 PEREDUE THE SON OF EVEAWC.
Therefore, lord, I am come to offer to place myself in thy

hands, that thou mayest succour me, either by taking me
hence, or by defending me here, whichever may seem best
unto thee." " Go, my sister," said he, " and sleep ; nor will
I depart from thee until I do that which thou requirest, or
prove whether I can assist thee or not." The maiden went
again to rest ; and the next morning she came to Peredur,
and saluted him. " Heaven prosper thee, my soul, and what
tidings dost thou bring ? " " None other, than that the earl
and all his forces have alighted at the gate, and I never beheld
any place so covered with tents, and thronged with knights
challenging others to the combat." " Truly," said Peredur,
" let my horse be made ready." So his horse was accoutred,
and he arose and sallied forth to the meadow. And there
was a knight riding proudly along the meadow, having raised
the signal for battle. And they encountered, and Peredur
threw the knight over his horse's crupper to the ground.
And at the close of the day, one of the chief knights came to
fight with him, and he overthrew him also, so that he besought
his mercy. " Who art thou ? " said Peredur. " Verily,"
said he, " I am Master of the Household to the earl." " And
how much of the countess's possessions is there in thy power ? "
" The third part, verily," answered he. " Then," said
Peredur, " restore to her the third of her possessions in full,
and all the profit thou hast made by them, and bring meat
and drink for a hundred men, with their horses and arms, to
her court this night. And thou shalt remain her captive,
unless she wish to take thy life." And this he did forth
with. And that night the maiden was right joyful, and they
fared plenteously.
And the next day Peredur rode forth to the meadow ; and
that day he vanquished a multitude of the host. And at
the close of the day, there came a proud and stately knight,
and Peredur overthrew him, and he besought his mercy.
" Who art thou ? " said Peredur. " I am Steward of the
Palace," said he. "And how much of the maiden's posses
sions are under thy control ? " " One-third part," answered
PEREDUR THE SON OP EVRAWC.
he. " Verily," said Peredur, " thou shalt fully restore to
the maiden her possessions, and, moreover, thou shalt give
her meat and drink for two hundred men, and their horses
and their arms. And for thyself, thou shalt be her captive."
And immediately it was so done.
And the third day Peredur rode forth to the meadow ;
and he vanquished more that day than on either of the
preceding. And at the close of the day, an earl came to
encounter him, and he overthrew him, and he besought his
mercy. " Who art thou ? " said Peredur. " I am the earl,"
said he. " I will not conceal it from thee." " Verily," said
Peredur, " thou shalt restore the whole of the maiden's
earldom, and shalt give her thine own earldom in addition
thereto, and meat and drink for three hundred men, and their
horses and arms, and thou thyself shalt remain in her power."
And thus it was fulfilled. And Peredur tarried three weeks
in the country, causing tribute and obedience to be paid to
the maiden, and the government to be placed in her hands.
"With thy leave," said Peredur, "I will go hence."
" Verily, my brother, desirest thou this ? " " Yes, by my
faith ; and had it not been for love of thee, I should not have
been here thus long." "My soul," said she, "who art
thou ? " "I am Peredur the son of Evrawc from the North ;
and if ever thou art in trouble or in danger, acquaint me
therewith, and if I can, I will protect thee."
So Peredur rode forth. And far thence there met him a
lady, mounted on a horse that was lean, and covered with
sweat ; and she saluted the youth. " Whence comest thou,
my sister ? " Then she told him the cause of her journey.
Now she was the wife of the Lord of the Glade. " Behold,"
said he, " I am the knight through whom thou art in trouble,
and he shall repent it, who has treated thee thus." There
upon, behold a knight rode up, and he enquired of Peredur,
if he had seen a knight such as he was seeking. " Hold thy
peace," said Peredur, " I am he whom thou seekest ; and
by my faith, thou deservest ill of thy household for thy treat
ment of the maiden, for she is innocent concerning me." So
96 PEREDUR THE SON OF EVEAWC.
they encountered, and they were not long in combat ere

Peredur overthrew the knight, and he besought his mercy.
" Mercy thou shalt have," said Peredur, " so thou wilt return
by the way thou eamest, and declare that thou holdest the
maiden innocent, and so that thou wilt acknowledge unto her
the reverse thou hast sustained at my hands." And the
knight plighted him his faith thereto.
Then Peredur rode forward. And above him he beheld a
Castle, and thitherward he went. And he struck upon the
gate with his lance, and then, behold, a comely auburn-haired
, youth opened the gate, and he had the stature of a warrior,
and the years of a boy. And when Peredur came into the
hall, there was a tall and stately lady sitting in a chair, and
many handmaidens around her ; and the lady rejoiced at his
coming. And when it was time, they went to meat. And
after their repast was finished, " It were well for thee, chief
tain," said she, " to go elsewhere to sleep." " Wherefore can
I not sleep here ? " said Peredur. " Nine sorceresses are
here, my soul, of the sorceresses of Gloucester, and their
father and their mother are with them ; and unless we can
make our escape before daybreak, we shall be slain ; and
already they have conquered and laid waste all the country,
except this one dwelling." " Behold," said Peredur, " I
will remain here to-night, and if you are in trouble, I will do
you what service I can ; but harm shall you not receive from
me." So they went to rest. And with the break of day,
Peredur heard a dreadful outcry. And he hastily arose, and
went forth in his vest and his doublet, with his sword about
his neck, and he saw a sorceress overtake one of the watch,
who cried out violently. Peredur attacked the sorceress,
and struck her upon the head with his sword, so that he
flattened her helmet and her headpiece like a dish upon her
head. " Thy mercy, goodly Peredur, son of Evrawc, and the
mercy of Heaven." "How knowest thou, hag, that I am
Peredur ? " " By destiny, and the foreknowledge that I
should suffer harm from thee. And thou shalt take a horse
and armour of me; and with me thou shalt go to learn
PEEEDUE THE SON OF EVEAWC. 97
chivalry and the use of thy arms." Said Peredur, " Thou
shalt have mercy, if thou pledge thy faith thou wilt never
more injure the dominions of the Countess." And Peredur
took surety of this, and with permission of the Countess, he
set forth with the sorceress to the palace of the sorceresses.
And there he remained for three weeks, and then he made
choice of a horse and arms, and went his way.
And in the evening he entered a valley, and at the head
of the valley he came to a hermit's cell, and the hermit
welcomed him gladly, and there he spent the night. And
in the morning he arose, and when he went forth, behold a
shower of snow had fallen the night before, and a hawk had
killed a wild fowl in front of the cell. And the noise of the
horse scared the hawk away, and a raven alighted upon the
bird. And Peredur stood, and compared the blackness of
the raven and the whiteness of the snow, and the redness of
the blood, to the hair of the lady that best he loved, which
was blacker than jet, and to her skin which was whiter
than the snow, and to the two red spots upon her cheeks,
which were redder than the blood upon the snow appeared
to be.
Now Arthur and his household were in search of Peredur.
" Know ye," said Arthur, " who is the knight with the long
spear that stands by the brook up yonder ? " " Lord," said
one of them, " I will go and learn who he is." So the youth
came to the place where Peredur was, and asked him what he
did thus, and who he was. And from the intensity with
which he thought upon the lady whom best he loved, he gave
him no answer. Then the youth thrust at Peredur with his
lance, and Peredur turned upon him, and struck him over
his horse's crupper to the ground. And after this, four-and-
twenty youths came to him, and he did not answer one more
than another, but gave the same reception to all, bringing
them with one single thrust to the ground. And then came
Kai, and spoke to Peredur rudely and angrily ; and Peredur
took him with his lance under the jaw, and cast him from
him with a thrust, so that he broke his arm and his shoulder-
Mabinogion. g
blade, and he rode over him one-and-twenty times. And

while he lay thus, stunned with the violence of the pain that
he had suffered, his horse returned back at a wild and
prancing pace. And when the household saw the horse
come back without his rider, they rode forth in haste to the
place where the encounter had been. And when they first
came there, they thought that Kai was slain ; but they found
that if he had a skilful physician, he yet might live. And
Peredur moved not from his meditation, on seeing the con
course that was around Kai. And Kai was brought to
Arthur's tent, and Arthur caused skilful physicians to come
to him. And Arthur was grieved that Kai had met with
this reverse, for he loved him greatly.
" Then," said Gwalchmai, " it is not fitting that any should
disturb an honourable knight from his thought unadvisedly ;
for either he is pondering some damage that he has sustained,
or he is thinking of the lady whom best he loves. And
through such ill-advised proceeding, perchance this misad
venture has befallen him who last met with him. And if
it seem well to thee, lord, I will go and see if this knight has
changed from his thought ; and if he has, I will ask him
courteously to come and visit thee." Then Kai was wrath,
and he spoke angry and spiteful words. " Gwalchmai," said
he, " I know that thou wilt bring him because he is fatigued.
Little praise and honour, nevertheless, wilt thou have from
vanquishing a weary knight, who is tired with fighting.
Yet thus hast thou gained the advantage over many. And
while thy speech and thy soft words last, a coat of thin linen
were armour sufficient for thee, and thou wilt not need to
break either lance or sword in fighting with the knight in
the state he is in." Then said Gwalchmai to Kai, " Thou
mightest use more pleasant words, wert thou so minded ;
and it behoves thee not upon me to wreak thy wrath and
thy displeasure. Methinks I shall bring the knight hither
with me without breaking either my arm or my shoulder."
Then said Arthur to Gwalchmai, " Thou speakest like a
wise and prudent man ; go, and take enough of armour
about thee, and choose thy horse." And Gwalchmai ac

coutred himself, and rode forward hastily to the place where
Peredur was.
And Peredur was resting on the shaft of his spear, pon
dering the same thought, and Gwalchmai came to him
without any signs of hostility, and said to him, " If I thought
that it would be as agreeable to thee as it would be to me, I
would converse with thee. I have also a message from Arthur
unto thee, to pray thee to come and visit him. And two men
have been before on this errand." " That is true," said
Peredur, " and uncourteously they came. They attacked me,
and I was annoyed thereat, for it was not pleasing to me to be
drawn from the thought that I was in, for I was thinking of
the lady whom best I love, and thus was she brought to my
mind :—I was looking upon the snow, and upon the raven,
and upon the drops of the blood of the bird that the hawk
had killed upon the snow. And I bethought me that her
whiteness was like that of the snow, and that the blackness of
her hair and her eyebrows like that of the raven, and that
the two red spots upon her cheeks were like the two drops of
blood." Said Gwalchmai, " This was not an ungentle thought,
and I should marvel if it were pleasant to thee to be drawn
from it." "Tell me," said Peredur, "is Kai in Arthur's
Court ? " " He is," said he, " and behold he is the knight
that fought with thee last ; and it would have been better for
him had he not come, for his arm and his shoulder-blade
were broken with the fall which he had from thy spear."
" Verily," said Peredur, " I am not sorry to have thus begun
to avenge the insult to the dwarf and dwarfess." Then
Gwalchmai marvelled to hear him speak of the dwarf and the
dwarfess ; and he approached him, and threw his arms around
his neck, and asked him what was his name. " Peredur the
son of Evrawc am I called," said he ; " and thou, Who art
thou ? " "I am called Gwalchmai," he replied. " I am right
glad to meet with thee," said Peredur, " for in every country
where I have been I have heard of thy fame for prowess and
uprightness, and I solicit thy fellowship." " Thou shalt have
h 2
it, by my faith, and grant me thine," said he. " Gladly will
I do so," answered Peredur.
So they rode forth together joyfully towards the place
where Arthur was, and when Kai saw them coming, he said,
"I knew that Gwalchmai needed not to fight the knight.
And it is no wonder that he should gain fame; more can he
do by his fair words than I by the strength of my arm."
And Peredur went with Gwalchmai to his tent, and they took
off their armour. And Peredur put on garments like those
that Gwalchmai wore, and they went together unto Arthur,
and saluted him. " Behold, lord," said Gwalchmai, " him
whom thou hast sought so long." "Welcome unto thee,
chieftain," said Arthur. " With me thou shalt remain ; and
had I known thy valour had been such, thou shouldst not
have left me as thou didst; nevertheless, this was predicted
of thee by the dwarf and the dwarfess, whom Kai ill treated
and whom thou hast avenged." And hereupon, behold there
came the Queen and her handmaidens, and Peredur saluted
them. And they were rejoiced to see him, and bade him
welcome. And Arthur did him great honour and respect,
and they returned towards Caerlleon.
And the first night Peredur came to Caerlleon to Arthur's
Court, and as he walked in the city after his repast, behold,
there met him Angharad Law Eurawc. " By my faith,
sister," said Peredur, "thou art a beauteous and lovely
maiden; and, were it pleasing to thee, I could love thee
above all women." " I pledge my faith," said she, " that I
do not love thee, nor will I ever do so." " I also pledge my
faith," said Peredur, " that I will never speak a word to any
Christian again, until thou come to love me above all men."
The next day Peredur went forth by the high road, along a
mountain-ridge, and he saw a valley of a circular form, the
confines of which were rocky and wooded. And the flat
part of the valley was in meadows, and there were fields
betwixt the meadows and the wood. And in the bosom of
the wood he saw large black houses of uncouth workman
ship. And he dismounted, and led his horse towards the
PEREDUE THE SON OF EYRAWC. 101
wood. And a little way within the wood he saw a rocky

ledge, along which the road lay. And upon the ledge was a
lion bound by a chain, and sleeping. And beneath the lion he
saw a deep pit of immense size, full of the bones of men and
animals. And Peredur drew his sword and struck the lion,
so that he fell into the mouth of the pit and hung there by
the chain ; and with a second blow he struck the chain and
broke it, and the lion fell into the pit ; and Peredur led his
horse over the rocky ledge, until he came into the valley.
And in the centre of the valley he saw a fair Castle, and he
went towards it. And in the meadow by the Castle he
beheld a huge grey man sitting, who was larger than any
man he had ever before seen. And two young pages were
shooting the hilts of their daggers, of the bone of the sea
horse. And one of the pages had red hair, and the other
auburn. And they went before him to the place where the
grey man was, and Peredur saluted him. And the grey man
said, " Disgrace to the beard of my porter." Then Peredur
understood that the porter was the lion.—And the grey man
and the pages went together into the Castle, and Peredur
accompanied them; and he found it a fair and noble place.
And they proceeded to the hall, and the tables were already
laid, and upon them was abundance of food and liquor.
And thereupon he saw an aged woman and a young woman
come from the chamber ; and they were the most stately women
he had ever seen. Then they washed and went to meat, and
the grey man sat in the upper seat at the head of the table,
and the aged woman next to him. And Peredur and the
maiden were placed together, and the two young pages served
them. And the maiden gazed sorrowfully upon Perednr, and
Peredur asked the maiden wherefore she was sad. "For
thee, my soul ; for, from when I first beheld thee, I have
loved thee above all men. And it pains me to know that so
gentle a youth as thou should have such a doom as awaits thee
to-morrow. Sawest thou the numerous black houses in the
bosom of the wood ? All these belong to the vassals of the
grey man yonder, who is my father. And they are all giants.
102 PEREDUB THE SON OF EVEAWC.
And to-morrow they will rise up against thee, and will slay
thee. And the Round Valley is this valley called." " Listen,
fair maiden, wilt thou contrive that my horse and arms be in
the same lodging with me to-night ? " " Gladly will I cause
it so to be, by Heaven, if I can."
And when it was time for them to sleep rather than to
carouse, they went to rest. And the maiden caused Peredur's
horse and arms to be in the same lodging with him. And
the next morning Peredur heard a great tumult of men and
horses around the Castle. And Peredur arose, and armed
himself and his horse, and went to the meadow. Then the
aged woman and the maiden came to the grey man : " Lord,"
said they, " take the word of the youth, that he will never
disclose what he has seen in this place, and we will be his
sureties that he keep it." " I will not do so, by my faith,"
said the grey man. So Peredur fought with the host, and
towards evening he had slain the one-third of them without
receiving any hurt himself. Then said the aged woman,
" Behold, many of thy host have been slain by the youth ; do
thou, therefore, grant him mercy." " I will not grant it, by
my faith," said he. And the aged woman and the fair maiden
were upon the battlements of the Castle, looking forth. And
at that juncture, Peredur encountered the yellow-haired youth
and slew him. " Lord," said the maiden, " grant the young
man mercy." " That will I not do, by Heaven," he replied ;
and thereupon Peredur attacked the auburn-haired youth, and
slew him likewise. "It were better thou hadst accorded
mercy to the youth before he had slain thy two sons ; for now
scarcely wilt thou thyself escape from him." " Go, maiden,
and beseech the youth to grant mercy unto us, for we yield
ourselves into his hands." So the maiden came to the place
where Peredur was, and besought mercy for her father, and
for all such of his vassals as had escaped alive. " Thou shalt
have it, on condition that thy father and all that are under
him go and render homage to Arthur, and tell him that it was
his vassal Peredur that did him this service." " This will we
do willingly, by Heaven." " And you shall also receive bap
tism ; and I will send to Arthur, and beseech him to bestow

this valley upon thee and upon thy heirs after thee for ever."
Then they went in, and the grey man and the tall woman
saluted Peredur. And the grey man said unto him, " Since
I have possessed this valley I have not seen any Christian
depart with his life, save thyself. And we will go to do
homage to Arthur, and to embrace the faith and be baptized."
Then said Peredur, " To Heaven I render thanks that I
have not broken my vow to the lady that best I love,
which was, that I would not speak one word unto any
Christian."
That night they tarried there. And the next day, in the
morning, the grey man, with his company, set forth to
Arthur's Court ; and they did homage unto Arthur, and he
caused them to be baptized. And the grey man told Arthur
that it was Peredur that had vanquished them. And Arthur
gave the valley to the grey man and his company, to hold it
of him as Peredur had besought. And with Arthur's per
mission, the grey man went back to the Round Valley.
Peredur rode forward next day, and he traversed a vast
tract of desert, in which no dwellings were. And at length
he came to a habitation, mean and small. And there he
heard that there was a serpent that lay upon a gold ring, and
suffered none to inhabit the country for seven miles around.
And Peredur came to the place where he heard the serpent
was. And angrily, furiously, and desperately fought he with
the serpent ; and at last he killed it, and took away the ring.
And thus he was for a long time without speaking a word to
any Christian. And therefrom he lost his colour and his
aspect, through extreme longing after the Conrt of Arthur,
and the society of the lady whom best he loved, and of his
companions. Then he proceeded forward to Arthur's Court,
and on the road there met him Arthur's household going on
a particular errand, with Kai at their head. And Peredur
knew them all, but none of the household recognized him.
" Whence comest thou, chieftain ? " said Kai. And this he
asked him twice and three times, and he answered him not.
104 PEREDUR THE SON OP EVRAWC.
And Kai thrust him through the thigh with his lance. And
lest he should be compelled to speak, and to break his vow,
he went on without stopping. "Then," said Gwalchmai,
"I declare to Heaven, Kai, that thou hast acted ill in com
mitting such an outrage on a youth like this, who cannot
speak." And Gwalchmai returned back to Arthur's Court.
"Lady," said he to Gwenhwyvar, "seest thou how wicked
an outrage Kai has committed upon this youth who cannot
speak ; for Heaven's sake, and for mine, cause him to have
medical care before I come back, and I will repay thee the
charge."
And before the men returned from their errand, a knight
came to the meadow beside Arthur's Palace, to dare some
one to the encounter. And his challenge was accepted ; and
Peredur fought with him, and overthrew him. And for a
week he overthrew one knight every day.
And one day, Arthur and his household were going to
Church, and they beheld a knight who had raised the signal
for combat. " Verily," said Arthur, " by the valour of men,
I will not go hence until I have my horse and my arms to
overthrow yonder boor." Then went the attendants to fetch
Arthur's horse and arms. And Peredur met the attendants
as they were going back, and he took the horse and arms
from them, and proceeded to the meadow ; and all those who
saw him arise and go to do battle with the knight, went
upon the tops of the houses, and the mounds, and the high
places, to behold the combat. And Peredur beckoned with
his hand to the knight to commence the fight. And the
knight thrust at him, but he was not thereby moved from
where he stood. And Peredur spurred his horse, and ran
at him wrathfully, furiously, fiercely, desperately, and with
mighty rage, and he gave him a thrust, deadly-wounding,
severe, furious, adroit, and strong, under his jaw, and
raised him out of his saddle, and cast him a long way from
him. And Peredur went back, and left the horse and the
arms with the attendant as before, and he went on foot to
the Palace.
Then Peredur went by the name of the Dumb Youth. And

behold, Angharad Law Eurawc met him. "I declare to
Heaven, chieftain," said she, " woful is it that thou canst not
speak ; for couldst thou speak, I would love thee best of all
men ; and by my faith, although thou canst not, I do love
thee above all." "Heaven reward thee, my sister," said
Peredur, " by my faith I also do love thee." Thereupon it
was known that he was Peredur. And then he held fellow
ship with Gwalchmai, and Owain the son of Urien, and all
the household, and he remained in Arthur's Court.
Arthur was in Caerlleon upon Usk ; and he went to hunt,

and Peredur went with him. And Peredur let loose his dog
upon a hart, and the dog killed the hart in a desert place.
And a short space from him he saw signs of a dwelling,
and towards the dwelling he went, and ho beheld a hall, and
at the door of the hall he found bald swarthy youths playing
at chess. And when he entered, he beheld three maidens
sitting on a bench, and they were all clothed alike, as became
persons of high rank. And he came, and sat by them upon
the bench ; and one of the maidens looked steadfastly upon
Peredur, and wept. And Peredur asked her wherefore she
was weeping. " Through grief, that I should see so fair a
youth as thou art, slain." "Who will slay me?" inquired
Peredur. " If thou art so daring as to remain here to-night,
I will tell thee." "How great soever my danger may be
from remaining here, I will listen unto thee." " This Palace
is owned by him who is my father," said the maiden, " and
he slays every one who comes hither without his leave."
" What sort of a man is thy father, that he is able to slay
every one thus ? " "A man who does violence and wrong
unto his neighbours, and who renders justice unto none."
And hereupon he saw the youths arise and clear the
chessmen from the board. And he heard a great tumult;
and after the tumult there came in a huge black one-eyed
man, and the maidens arose to meet him. And they dis
arrayed him, and he went and sat down ; and after he had
106 PEREDBR THE SON OP EVRAWC.
rested and pondered awhile, lie looked at Peredur, and asked

who the knight was. " Lord," said one of the maidens, " he
is the fairest and gentlest youth that ever thou didst see.
And for the sake of Heaven, and of thine own dignity, have
patience with him." " For thy sake I will have patience, and
I will grant him his life this night/' Then Peredur came
towards them to the fire, and partook of food and liquor,
and entered into discourse with the ladies. And being elated
with the liquor, he said to the black man, " It is a marvel to
me, so mighty as thou sayest thou art, who could have put out
thine eye." " It is one of my habits," said the black man,
" that whosoever puts to me the question which thou hast
asked, shall not escape with his life, either as a free gift or
for a price." " Lord," said the maiden, " whatsoever he may
say to thee in jest, and through the excitement of liquor,
make good that which thou saidst and didst promise me
just now." "I will do so, gladly, for thy sake," said he.
" Willingly will I grant him his life this night." And that
night thus they remained.
And the next day the black man got up, and put on his
armour, and said to Peredur, " Arise, man, and suffer death."
And Peredur said unto him, " Do one of two things, black
man ; if thou wilt fight with me, either throw off thy own
armour, or give arms to me, that I may encounter thee."
" Ha ! man," said he, " couldst thou fight, if thou hadst
arms ? Take, then, what arms thou dost choose." And
thereupon the maiden came to Peredur with such arms as
pleased him ; and he fought with the black man, and forced
him to crave his mercy. " Black man, thou shalt have mercy,
provided thou tell me who thou art, and who put out thine
eye." " Lord, I will tell thee ; I lost it in fighting with the
Black Serpent of the Cam. There is a mound, which is called
the Mound of Mourning; and on the mound there is a earn,
and in the earn there is a serpent, and on the tail of the
serpent there is a stone, and the virtues of the stone are such,
that whosoever should hold it in one hand, in the other he will
have as much gold as he may desire. And in fighting with this
PEREDUE THE SON OF EVRAWC. 107
serpent was it that I lost my eye. And the Black Oppressor

am I called. And for this reason I am called the Black
Oppressor, that there is not a single man around me whom
I have not oppressed, and justice have I done unto none."
" Tell me," said Peredur, " how far is it hence V " The same
day that thou settest forth, thou wilt come to the Palace of
the Sons of the King of the Tortures." " Wherefore are they
called thus ? " " The Addanc of the Lake slays them once
every day. When thou goest thence, thou wilt come to the Court
of the Countess of the Achievements." " What achievements
are there ? " asked Peredur. " Three hundred men there are in
her household, and unto every stranger that comes to the Court,
the achievements of her household are related. And this is
the manner of it,—the three hundred men of the household sit
next unto the Lady ; and that not through disrespect unto
the guests, but that they may relate the achievements of the
household. And the day that thou goest thence, thou wilt
reach the Mound of Mourning, and round about the mound
there are the owners of three hundred tents guarding the
serpent." " Since thou hast, indeed, been an oppressor so
long," said Peredur, " I will cause that thou continue so no
longer." So he slew him.
Then the maiden spoke, and began to converse with him.
" If thou wast poor when thou eamest here, henceforth thou
wilt be rich through the treasure of the black man whom thou
hast slain. Thou seest the many lovely maidens that there
are in this Court ; thou shalt have her whom thou best likest
for the lady of thy love." " Lady, I came not hither from my
country to woo ; but match yourselves as it liketh you with
the comely youths I see here ; and none of your goods do I
desire, for I need them not." Then Peredur rode forward,
and he came to the Palace of the Sons of the King of tho
Tortures ; and when he entered the Palace, he saw none but
women ; and they rose up, and were joyful at his coming ;
and as they began to discourse with him, he beheld a charger
arrive, with a saddle upon it, and a corpse in the saddle. And
one of the women arose, and took the corpse from the saddle,
108 PEREDUR THE SON OP EVRAWC.
and anointed it in a vessel of warm water, which was below

the door, and placed precious balsam upon it ; and the man
rose up alive, and came to the place where Peredur was,
and greeted him, and was joyful to see him. And two other
men came in upon their saddles, and the maiden treated
these two in the same manner as she had done the first.
Then Peredur asked the chieftain wherefore it was thus.
And they told him, that there was an Addanc in a cave,
which slew them once every day. And thus they remained
that night.
And next morning the youths arose to sally forth, and
Peredur besought them, for the sake of the ladies of their
love, to permit him to go with them ; but they refused him,
saying, " If thou shouldst be slain there, thou hast none to
bring thee back to life again." And they rode forward, and
Peredur followed after them ; and, after they had disappeared
out of his sight, he came to a mound, whereon sat the fairest
lady he had ever beheld. "I know thy quest," said she;
"thou art going to encounter the Addanc, and he will slay
thee, and that not by courage, but by craft. He has a cave,
and at the entrance of the cave there is a stone pillar, and he
sees every one that enters, and none see him; and from
behind the pillar he slays every one with a poisonous dart.
And if thou wouldst pledge me thy faith to love me above
all women, I would give thee a stone, by which thou shouldst
see him when thou goest in, and he should not see thee."
"I will, by my troth," said Peredur, "for when first I
beheld thee I loved thee ; and where shall I seek thee ? "
"When thou seekest me, seek towards India." And
the maiden vanished, after placing the stone in Peredur's
hand.
And he came towards a valley, through which ran a river ;
and the borders of the valley were wooded, and on each side
of the river were level meadows. And on one side of the
river he saw a flock of white sheep, and on the other a flock
of black sheep. And whenever one of the white sheep
bleated, one of the black sheep would cross over and
PEEKDUR THE SON OF EVRAWC. 109
become white ; and when one of the black sheep bleated,

one of the white sheep would cross over, and become
black. And he saw a tall tree by the side of the river, one
half of which was in flames from the root to the top, and
the other half was green and in full leaf. And nigh thereto
he saw a youth sitting upon a mound, and two greyhounds,
white-breasted and spotted, in leashes, lying by his side.
And certain was he that he had never seen a youth of so
royal a bearing as he. And in the wood opposite he heard
hounds raising a herd of deer. And Peredur saluted the
youth, and the youth greeted him in return. And there
were three roads leading from the mound; two of them
were wide roads, and the third was more narrow. And
Peredur inquired where the three roads went. " One of
them goes to my palace," said the youth ; " and one of two
things I counsel thee to do ; either to proceed to my palace,
which is before thee, and where thou wilt find my wife, or
else to remain here to see the hounds chasing the roused
deer from the wood to the plain. And thou shalt see the
best greyhounds thou didst ever behold, and the boldest in
the chase, kill them by the water beside us ; and when it is
time to go to meat, my page will come with my horse to
meet me, and thou shalt rest in my palace to-night."
" Heaven reward thee ; but I cannot tarry, for onward must
I go." " The other road leads to the town, which is near
here, and wherein food and liquor may be bought ; and the
road which is narrower than the others goes towards the
cave of the Addanc." "With thy permission, young man,
I will go that way."
And Peredur went towards the cave. And he took the
stone in his left hand, and his lance in his right. And as
he went in he perceived the Addanc, and he pierced him
through with his lance, and cut off his head. And as he
came from the cave, behold the three companions were at the
entrance ; and they saluted Peredur, and told him that there
was a prediction that he should slay that monster. And
Peredur gave the head to the young men, and they offered
him in marriage whichever of the three sisters he might

choose, and half their kingdom with her. " I came not hither
to woo," said Peredur, " but if peradventure I took a wife,
I should prefer your sister to all others." And Peredur rode
forward, and he heard a noise behind him. And he looked
back, and saw a man upon a red horse, with red armour upon
him ; and the man rode up by his side, and saluted him, and
wished him the favour of Heaven and of man. And Peredur
greeted the youth kindly. " Lord, I come to make a request
unto thee." " What wouldest thou ? " " That thou shouldest
take me as thine attendant." " Whom then should I take as
my attendant, if I did so ? " "I will not conceal from thee
what kindred I am of. Etlym Gleddyv Coch am I called, an
Earl from the East Country." " I marvel that thou shouldest
offer to become attendant to a man whose possessions are no
greater than thine own ; for I have but an earldom like
thyself. But since thou desirest to be my attendant, I will
take thee joyfully."
And they went forward to the Court of the Countess, and
all they of the Court were glad at their coming ; and they
were told it was not through disrespect they were placed
below the household, but that such was the usage of the
Court. For, whoever should overthrow the three hundred
men of her household, would sit next the Countess, and she
would love him above all men. And Peredur having over
thrown the three hundred men of her household, sat down
beside her, and the Countess said, " I thank Heaven that I
have a youth so fair and so valiant as thou, since I have not
obtained the man whom best I love." "Who is he whom
best thou lovest ? " " By my faith, Etlym Gleddyv Coch is
the man whom I love best, and I have never seen him."
" Of a truth, Etlym is my companion ; and behold here he is,
and for his sake did I come to joust with thy household. And
he could have done so better than I, had it pleased him. And
I do give thee unto him." " Heaven reward thee, fair youth,
and I will take the man whom I love above all others." And
the Countess became Etlym's bride from that moment.
PEREDUR THE SON OF EVRAWC. Ill
And the next day Peredur set forth towards the Mound of
Mourning. "By thy hand, lord, but I will go with thee,"
said Etlym. Then they went forwards till they came in sight
of the mound and the tents. " Go unto yonder men," said
Peredur to Etlym, "and desire them to come and do me
homage." So Etlym went unto them, and said unto them
thus,—" Come and do homage to my lord." " Who is thy
lord ? " said they. " Peredur with the long lance is my
lord/' said Etlym. " Were it permitted to slay a messenger,
thou shouldest not go back to thy lord alive, for making unto
Kings, and Earls, and Barons, so arrogant a demand as to go
and do him homage." Peredur desired him to go back to
them, and to give them their choice, either to do him homage,
or to do battle with him. And they chose rather to do battle.
And that day Peredur overthrew the owners of a hundred
tents ; and the next day he overthrew the owners of a hundred
more ; and the third day the remaining hundred took counsel
to do homage to Peredur. And Peredur inquired of them,
wherefore they were there. And they told him they were
guarding the serpent until he should die. " For then should
we fight for the stone among ourselves, and whoever should be
conqueror among us would have the stone." "Await here,"
said Peredur, "and I will go to encounter the serpent."
"Not so, lord," said they; "we will go altogether to en
counter the serpent." " Verily," said Peredur, " that will I
not permit ; for if the serpent be slain, I shall derive no more
fame therefrom than one of you." Then he went to the place
where the serpent was, and slew it, and came back to them,
and said, " Reckon up what you have spent since you have
been here, and I will repay you to the full." And he paid to
each what he said was his claim. And he required of them
only that they should acknowledge themselves his vassals.
And he said to Etlym, " Go back unto her whom thou lovest
best, and I will go forwards, and I will reward thee for
having been my attendant." And he gave Etlym the stone.
" Heaven repay thee and prosper thee," said Etlym.
And Peredur rode thence, and he came to the fairest valley
he had ever seen, through which ran a river ; and there he

beheld many tents of various colours. And he marvelled still
more at the number of water-mills and of wind-mills that he
saw. And there rode up with him a tall auburn-haired man,
in a workman's garb, and Peredur inquired of him who he
was. "I am the chief miller," said he, "of all the mills
yonder." " Wilt thou give me lodging ? " said Peredur. " I
will, gladly," he answered. And Peredur came to the miller's
house, and the miller had a fair and pleasant dwelling. And
Peredur asked money as a loan from the miller, that he might
buy meat and liquor for himself and for the household, and he
promised that he would pay him again ere he went thence.
And he inquired of the miller, wherefore such a multitude was
there assembled. Said the miller to Peredur, " One thing is
certain : either thou art a man from afar, or thou art beside
thyself. The Empress of Cristinobyl the Great is here ; and
she will have no one but the man who is most valiant ; for
riches does she not require. And it was impossible to bring
food for so many thousands as are here, therefore were all
these mills constructed." And that night they took their rest.
And the next day Peredur arose, and he equipped himself
and his horse for the tournament. And among the other
tents he beheld one, which was the fairest he had ever seen.
And he saw a beauteous maiden leaning her head out of a
window of the' tent, and he had never seen a maiden more
lovely than she. And upon her was a garment of satin.
And he gazed fixedly on the maiden, and began to love her
greatly. And he remained there, gazing upon the maiden
from morning until mid-day, and from mid-day until evening ;
and then the tournament was ended, and he went to his
lodging and drew off his armour. Then he asked money of
the miller as a loan, and the miller's wife was wroth with
Peredur ; nevertheless, the miller lent him the money. And
the next day he did in like manner as he had done the day
before. And at night he came to his lodging, and took money
as a loan from the miller. And the third day, as he was in
the same place, gazing upon the maiden, he felt a hard blow
PEREDUK THE SON OF EVRAWC. 118
between the neck and the shoulder, from the edge of an axe.
And when he looked behind him, he saw that it was the
miller ; and the miller said to him, " Do one of two things :
either turn thy head from hence, or go to the tournament."
And Perednr smiled on the miller, and went to the tourna
ment ; and all that encountered him that day he overthrew.
And as many as he vanquished he sent as a gift to the
Empress, and their horses and arms he sent as a gift to the
wife of the miller, in payment of the borrowed money.
Peredur attended the tournament until all were overthrown,
and he sent all the men to the prison of the Empress, and the
horses and arms to the wife of the miller, in payment of the
borrowed money. And the Empress sent to the Knight of
the Mill, to ask him to come and visit her. And Peredur
went not for the first nor for the second message. And the
third time she sent a hundred knights to bring him against
his will, and they went to him and told him their mission from
the Empress. And Peredur fought well with them, and
caused them to be bound like stags, and thrown into the mill-
dyke. And the Empress sought advice of a wise man who
was in her counsel; and he said to her, "With thy per
mission, I will go to him myself." So he came to Peredur,
and saluted him, and besought him, for the sake of the lady
of his love, to come and visit the Empress. And they went,
together with the miller. And Peredur went and sat down in
the outer chamber of the tent, and she came and placed herself
by his side. And there was but little discourse between them.
And Peredur took his leave, and went to his lodging.
And the next day he came to visit her, and when be came
into the tent there was no one chamber less decorated than
the others. And they knew not where he would sit. And
Peredur went and sat beside the Empress, and discoursed
with her courteously. And while they were thus, they beheld
a black man enter with a goblet full of wine in his hand.
And he dropped upon his knee before the Empress, and
besought her to give it to no one who would not fight with
him for it. And she looked upon Peredur. " Lady," said he,
Mabinogion. I
" bestow on me the goblet." And Peredur drank the wine,

and gave the goblet to the miller's wife. And while they were
thus, behold there entered a black man of larger stature than
the other, with a wild beast's claw in his hand, wrought into
the form of a goblet and filled with wine. And he presented
it to the Empress, and besought her to give it to no one but
the man who would fight with him. " Lady," said Peredur,
" bestow it on me." And she gave it to him. And Peredur
drank the wine, and sent the goblet to the wife of the miller.
And while they were thus, behold a rough-looking, crisp-
haired man, taller than either of the others, came in with a
bowl in his hand full of wine ; and he bent upon his knee, and
gave it into the hands of the Empress, and he besought her to
give it to none but him who would fight with him for it ; and
she gave it to Peredur, and he sent it to the miller's wife.
And that night Peredur returned to his lodging; and the
next day he accoutred himself and his horse, and went to the
meadow and slew the three men. Then Peredur proceeded to
the tent, and the Empress said to him, " Goodly Peredur, re
member the faith thou didst pledge me when I gave thee the
stone, and thou didst kill the Addanc." " Lady," answered he,
"thou sayest truth, I do remember it." And Peredur was
entertained by the Empress fourteen years, as the story relates.
Arthur was at Caerlleon upon Usk, his principal palace;

and in the centre of the floor of the hall were four men sitting
on a carpet of velvet, Owain the son of Urien, and Gwalch-
mai the son of Gwyar, and Howel the son of Emyr Llydaw,
and Peredur of the long lance. And thereupon they saw a
black curly-headed maiden enter, riding upon a yellow mule,
with jagged thongs in her hand to urge it on ; and having
a rough and hideous aspect. Blacker were her face and
her two hands than the blackest iron covered with pitch;
and her hue was not more frightful than her form. High
cheeks had she, and a face lengthened downwards, and
a short nose with distended nostrils. And one eye was of
PEEEDUB THE SON OF EVRAWC. 115
a piercing mottled grey, and the other was as black as jet,

deep- sunk in her head. And her teeth were long and yellow,
more yellow were they than the flower of the broom. And
her stomach rose from the breast-bone, higher than her chin.
And her back was in the shape of a crook, and her legs
were large and bony. And her figure was very thin and
spare, except her feet and her legs, which were of huge size.
And she greeted Arthur and all his household except Peredur.
And to Peredur she spoke harsh and angry words. " Peredur,
I greet thee not, seeing that thou dost not merit it. Blind
was fate in giving thee fame and favour. When thou wast
in the Court of the Lame King, and didst see there the youth
bearing the streaming spear, from the points of which were
drops of blood flowing in streams, even to the hand of the
youth, and many other wonders likewise, thou didst not in
quire their meaning nor their cause. Hadst thou done so,
the King would have been restored to health, and his domi
nions to peace. Whereas from henceforth, he will have to
endure battles and conflicts, and his knights will perish, and
wives will be widowed, and maidens will be left portionless,
and all this is because of thee." Then said she unto Arthur,
" May it please thee, lord, my dwelling is far hence, in the
stately castle of which thou hast heard, and therein are five
hundred and sixty-six knights of the order of Chivalry, and
the lady whom best he loves with each ; and whoever would
acquire fame in arms, and encounters, and conflicts, he will
gain it there, if he deserve it. And whoso would reach the
summit of fame and of honour, I know where he may find it.
There is a Castle on a lofty mountain, and there is a maiden
therein, and she is detained a prisoner there, and whoever
shall set her free will attain the summit of the fame of the
world." And thereupon she rode away.
Said Gwalchmai, " By my faith, I will not rest tranquilly
until I have proved if I can release the maiden." And many
of Arthur's household joined themselves with him. Then,
likewise, said Peredur, " By my faith, I will not rest tran
quilly until I know the story and the meaning of the lance
i 2
116 PEREDUE THE SON OF EVKAWC.
whereof the black maiden spoke." And while they were

equipping themselves, behold a knight came to the gate.
And he had the size and the strength of a warrior, and was
equipped with arms and habiliments. And he went forward,
and saluted Arthur and all his household; except Gwalchmai.
And the knight had upon his shoulder a shield, ingrained
with gold, with a fesse of azure blue upon it, and his whole
armour was of the same hue. And he said to Gwalchmai,
" Thou didst slay my lord by thy treachery and deceit, and
that will I prove upon thee." Then Gwalchmai rose up.
" Behold," said he, " here is my gage against thee, to main
tain, either in this place or wherever else thou wilt, that I am
not a traitor or deceiver." "Before the King whom I obey,
will I that my encounter with thee take place," said the
knight. " Willingly," said Gwalchmai ; " go forward, and I
will follow thee." So the knight went forth, and Gwalchmai
accoutred himself, and there was offered unto him abundance
of armour, but he would take none but his own. And when
Gwalchmai and Peredur were equipped, they set forth to
follow him, by reason of their fellowship and of the great
friendship that was between them. And they did not go
after him in company together, but each went his own way.
At the dawn of day Gwalchmai came to a valley, and in the
valley he saw a fortress, and within the fortress a vast palace
and lofty towers around it. And he beheld a knight coming
out to hunt from the other side, mounted on a spirited black
snorting palfrey, that advanced at a prancing pace, proudly
stepping, and nimbly bounding, and sure of foot ; and this
was the man to whom the palace belonged. And Gwalchmai
saluted him. " Heaven prosper thee, chieftain," said he, " and
whence comest thou ? " " I come," answered Gwalchmai,
"from the Court of Arthur." "And art thou Arthur's
vassal ? " " Yes, by my faith," said Gwalchmai. " I will
give thee good counsel," said the knight. " I see that thou
art tired and weary ; go unto my palace, if it may please thee,
and tarry there to-night." " Willingly, lord," said he, " and
Heaven reward thee." " Take this ring as a token to the
PEREDUR THE SON OP EVRAWC. 117
porter, and go forward to yonder tower, and therein thou wilt

find my sister." And Gwalchmai went to the gate, and
showed the ring, and proceeded to the tower. And on enter
ing he beheld a large blazing fire, burning without smoke and
with a bright and lofty flame, and a beauteous and stately
maiden was sitting on a chair by the fire. And the maiden
was glad at his coming, and welcomed him, and advanced to
meet him. And he went and sat beside the maiden, and they
took their repast. And when their repast was over, they
discoursed pleasantly together. And while they were thus,
behold there entered a venerable, hoary-headed man. " Ah !
base girl," said he, " if thou didst think that it was right for
thee to entertain and to sit by yonder man, thou wouldest
not do so." And he withdrew his head, and went forth.
" Ah ! chieftain," said the maiden, " if thou wilt do as I
counsel thee, thou wilt shut the door, lest the man should
have a plot against thee." Upon that Gwalchmai arose, and
when he came near unto the door, the man, with sixty others,
fully armed, were ascending the tower. And Gwalchmai de
fended the door with a chess-board, that none might enter
until the man should return from the chase. And thereupon,
behold the Earl arrived. " What is all this ? " asked he.
" It is a sad thing," said the hoary-headed man ; " the young
girl yonder has been sitting and eating with him who slew
your father. He is Gwalchmai, the son of Gwyar." " Hold
thy peace, then," said the Earl, " I will go in." And the Earl
was joyful concerning Gwalchmai. " Ha ! chieftain," said
he, " it was wrong of thee to come to my court, when thou
knewest that thou didst slay my father; and though we
cannot avenge him, Heaven will avenge him upon thee."
" My soul," said Gwalchmai, " thus it is : I came not here
either to acknowledge or to deny having slain thy father ; but
I am on a message from Arthur, and therefore do I crave the
space of a year until I shall return from my embassy, and
then, upon my faith, I will come back unto this palace, and
do one of two things, either acknowledge it, or deny it."
And the time was granted him willingly; and he remained
there that night. And the next morning he rode forth. And
the story relates nothing further of Gwalchinai respecting this
adventure.
And Peredur rode forward. And he wandered over the
whole island, seeking tidings of the black maiden, and he
could meet with none. And he came to an unknown land, in
the centre of a valley, watered by a river. And as he tra
versed the valley he beheld a horseman coming towards him,
and wearing the garments of a priest ; and he besought his
blessing. "Wretched man," said he, "thou meritest no
blessing, and thou wouldest not be profited by one, seeing that
thou art clad in armour on such a day as this." " And what
day is to-day ?" said Peredur. " To-day is Good Friday," he
answered. " Chide me not that I knew not this, seeing that
it is a year to-day since I journeyed forth from my country."
Then he dismounted, and led his horse in his hand. And he
had not proceeded far along the high road before he came to
a cross road, and the cross road traversed a wood. And on
the other side of the wood he saw an unfortified castle, which
appeared to be inhabited. And at the gate of the castle there
met him the priest whom he had seen before, and he asked
his blessing. " The blessing of Heaven be unto thee," said
he, " it is more fitting to travel in thy present guise than as
thou wast erewhile ; and this night thou shalt tarry with me."
So he remained there that night.
And the next day Peredur sought to go forth. " To-day
may no one journey. Thou shalt remain with me to-day and
to-morrow, and the day following, and I will direct thee as
best I may to the place which thou art seeking." And the
fourth day Peredur sought to go forth, and he entreated the
priest to tell him how he should find the Castle of Wonders.
" What I know thereof I will tell thee," he replied. " Go
over yonder mountain, and on the other side of the mountain
thou wilt come to a river, and in the valley wherein the river
runs is a King's Palace, wherein the King sojourned during
Easter. And if thou mayest have tidings anywhere of the
Castle of Wonders, thou wilt have them there."
PEEEDUR THE SON OF EVRAWC. 119
Then Peredur rode forward. And he came to the valley in

which was the river, and there met him a number of men
going to hunt, and in the midst of them was a man of exalted
rank, and Peredur saluted him. " Choose, chieftain," said
the man, " whether thou wilt go with me to the chase, or wilt
proceed to my palace, and I will dispatch one of my household
to commend thee to my daughter, who is there, and who will
entertain thee with food and liquor until I return from
hunting ; and whatever may be thine errand, such as I can
obtain for thee thou shalt gladly have." And the King sent
a little yellow page with him as an attendant ; and when they
came to the palace the lady had arisen, and was about to wash
before meat. Peredur went forward, and she saluted him
joyfully, and placed him by her side. And they took their
repast. And whatsoever Peredur said unto her, she laughed
loudly, so that all in the palace could hear. Then spoke the
yellow page to the lady. "By my faith," said he, "this
youth is already thy husband ; or if he be not, thy mind and
thy thoughts are set upon him." And the little yellow page
went unto the King, and told him that it seemed to him that
the youth whom he had met with was his daughter's husband,
or if he were not so already that he would shortly become so
unless he were cautious. " What is thy counsel in this matter,
youth ?" said the King. " My counsel is," he replied, "that
thou set strong men upon him, to seize him, until thou hast
ascertained the truth respecting this." So he set strong men
upon Peredur, who seized him and cast him into prison.
And the maiden went before her father, and asked him
wherefore he had caused the youth from Arthur's Court to be
imprisoned. " In truth," he answered, " he shall not be free
to-night, nor to-morrow, nor the day following, and he shall
not come from where he is." She replied not to what the
King had said, but she went to the youth. " Is it unpleasant
to thee to be here ? " said she. " I should not care if I were
not," he replied. " Thy couch and thy treatment shall be in
no wise inferior to that of the King himself, and thou shalt
have the best entertainment that the palace affords. And if
it were more pleasing to thee that my couch should be here,

that I might discourse with thee, it should be so, cheerfully."
" This can I not refuse," said Peredur. And he remained in
prison that night. And the maiden provided all that she had
promised him.
And the next day Peredur heard a tumult in the town.
" Tell me, fair maiden, what is that tumult ? " said Peredur.
" All the King's hosts and his forces have come to the town
to-day." " And what seek they here ? " he inquired. " There
is an Earl near this place who possesses two Earldoms, and is
as powerful as a King; and an engagement will take place
between them to-day." " I beseech thee," said Peredur, " to
cause a horse and arms to be brought, that I may view the
encounter, and I promise to come back to my prison again."
" Gladly," said she, " will I provide thee with horse and
arms." So she gave him a horse and arms, and a bright
scarlet robe of honour over his armour, and a yellow shield
upon his shoulder. And he went to the combat ; and as many
of the Earl's men as encountered him that day he overthrew ;
and he returned to his prison. And the maiden asked tidings
of Peredur, and he answered her not a word. And she went
and asked tidings of her father, and inquired who had ac
quitted himself best of the household. And he said that he
knew not, but that it was a man with a scarlet robe of honour
over his armour, and a yellow shield upon his shoulder. Then
she smiled, and returned to where Peredur was, and did him
great honour that night. And for three days did Peredur
slay the Earl's men ; and before any one could know who he
was, he returned to his prison. And tho fourth day Peredur
slew the Earl himself. And the maiden went unto her father,
and inquired of him the news. " I have good news for thee,"
said the King; "the Earl is slain, and I am the owner of his
two Earldoms." " Knowest thou, lord, who slew him ? " "I
do not know," said the King. " It was the knight with the
scarlet robe of honour and the yellow shield." " Lord," said
she, " I know who that is." " By Heaven ! " he exclaimed,
" who is he ? " " Lord," she replied, " he is the knight whom
PEREDUR THE SON OP EVRAWC. 121
thou hast imprisoned." Then he went unto Peredur, and

saluted him, and told him that he would reward the service
he had done him, in any way he might desire. And when
they went to meat, Peredur was placed beside the King, and
the maiden on the other side of Peredur. " I will give thee,"
said the King, " my daughter in marriage, and half my king
dom with her, and the two Earldoms as a gift." " Heaven
reward thee, lord," said Peredur, " but I came not here to
woo." " What seekest thou then, chieftain ? " "I am
seeking tidings of the Castle of Wonders." " Thy enter
prise is greater, chieftain, than thou wilt wish to pursue,"
said the maiden, " nevertheless, tidings shalt thou have of
the Castle, and thou shalt have a guide through my father's
dominions, and a sufficiency of provisions for thy journey, for
thou art, 0 chieftain, the man whom best I love." Then she
said to him, " Go over yonder mountain, and thou wilt find
a Lake, and in the middle of the Lake there is a Castle,
and that is the Castle that is called the Castle of Wonders ;
and we know not what wonders are therein, but thus is it
called."
And Peredur proceeded towards the Castle, and the gate
of the Castle was open. And when he came to the hall, the
door was open, and he entered. And he beheld a chess
board in the hall, and the chessmen were playing against
each other, by themselves. And the side that he favoured
lost the game, and thereupon the others set up a shout, as
though they had been living men. And Peredur was wroth,
and took the chessmen in his lap, and cast the chessboard
into the lake. And when he had done thus, behold the black
maiden came in, and she said to him, " The welcome of
Heaven be not unto thee. Thou hadst rather do evil than
good." " What complaint hast thou against me, maiden ? "
said Peredur. " That thou hast occasioned unto the Empress
the loss of her chessboard, which she would not have lost for
all her empire. And the way in which thou mayest recover
the chessboard is,, to repair to the Castle of Ysbidinongyl,
where is a black man, who lays waste the dominions of the
Empress ; and if thou canst slay him, thou wilt recover the
chessboard. But if thou goest there, thou wilt not return
alive." " Wilt thou direct me thither ? " said Peredur. " I
will show thee the way," she replied. So he went to the
Castle of Ysbidinongyl, and he fought with the black man.
And the black man besought mercy of Peredur. "Mercy
will I grant thee," said he, "on condition that thou cause
the chessboard to be restored to the place where it was when
I entered the hall." Then the maiden came to him, and
said, " The malediction of Heaven attend thee for thy work,
since thou hast left that monster alive, who, lays waste all
the possessions of the Empress." " I granted him his life,"
said Peredur, "that he might cause the chessboard to be
restored." " The chessboard is not in the place where thou
didst find it; go back, therefore, and slay him," answered
she. So Peredur went back, and slew the black man. And
when he returned to the palace, he found the black maiden
there. " Ah ! maiden," said Peredur, " where is the Em
press ? " "I declare to Heaven that thou wilt not see her
now, unless thou dost slay the monster that is in yonder
forest." " What monster is there ? " " It is a stag that is
as swift as the swiftest bird; and he has one horn in his
forehead, as long as the shaft of a spear, and as sharp as
whatever is sharpest. And he destroys the branches of the
best trees in the forest, and he kills every animal that he
meets with therein; and those that he doth not slay perish
of hunger. And what is worse than that, he comes every
night, and drinks up the fish-pond, and leaves the fishes
exposed, so that for the most part they die before the water
returns again." " Maiden," said Peredur, " wilt thou come
and show me this animal ? " " Not so," said the maiden,
"for he has not permitted any mortal to enter the forest
for above a twelvemonth. Behold, here is a little dog
belonging to the Empress, which will rouse the stag, and
will chase him towards thee, and the stag will attack thee."
Then the little dog went as a guide to Peredur, and roused
the stag, and brought him towards the place where Peredur
was. And the stag attacked Peredur, and he let him pass
by him, and as he did so, he smote off his head with his
sword. And while he was looking at the head of the stag,
he saw a lady on horseback coming towards him. And she
took the little dog in the lappet of her cap, and the head and
the body of the stag lay before her. And around the stag's
neck was a golden collar. " Ha ! chieftain," said she, " un-
courteously hast thou acted in slaying the fairest jewel that
was in my dominions." " I was entreated so to do ; and is
there any way by which I can obtain thy friendship ? "
" There is," she replied. " Go thou forward unto yonder
mountain, and there thou wilt find a grove; and in the
grove there is a cromlech; do thou there challenge a man
three times to fight, and thou shalt have my friendship."
So Peredur proceeded onward, and came to the side of the
grove, and challenged any man to fight. And a black man
arose from beneath the cromlech, mounted upon a bony horse,
and both he and his horse were clad in huge rusty armour.
And they fought. And as often as Peredur cast the black
man to the earth, he would jump again into his saddle.
And Peredur dismounted, and drew his sword ; and there
upon the black man disappeared with Peredur's horse and
his own, so that he could not gain sight of him a second
time. And Peredur went along the mountain, and on the
other side of the mountain he beheld a castle in the valley,
wherein was a river. And he went to the castle ; and as he
entered it, he saw a hall, and the door of the hall was open,
and he went in. And there he saw a lame grey-headed man
sitting on one side of the hall, with Gwalchmai beside him.
And Peredur beheld his horse, which the black man had
taken, in the same stall with that of Gwalchmai. And they
were glad concerning Peredur. And he went and seated
himself on the other side of the hoary-headed man. Then,
behold a yellow-haired youth came, and bent upon the knee
before Peredur, and besought his friendship. "Lord," said
the youth, " it was I that came in the form of the black
maiden to Arthur's Court, and when thou didst throw down
124 PEEEDUE THE SON OF EVRAWC.
the chessboard, and when thou didst slay the black man of
Ysbidinongyl, and when thou didst slay the stag, and when
thou didst go to fight the black man of the cromlech. And
I came with the bloody head in the salver, and with the
lance that streamed with blood from the point to the hand,
all along the shaft; and the head was thy cousin's, and he
was killed by the sorceresses of Gloucester, who also lamed
thine uncle ; and I am thy cousin. And there is a predic
tion that thou art to avenge these things." Then Peredur
and Gwalchmai took counsel, and sent to Arthur and his
household, to beseech them to come against the sorceresses.
And they began to fight with them ; and one of the sor
ceresses slew one of Arthur's men before Peredur's face,
and Peredur bade her forbear. And the sorceress slew a man
before Peredur's face a second time, and a second time he
forbad her. And the third time the sorceress slew a man
before the face of Peredur; and then Peredur drew his
sword, and smote the sorceress on the helmet ; and all her
head-armour was split in two parts. And she set up a cry,
and desired the other sorceresses to flee, and told them that
this was Peredur, the man who had learnt Chivalry with
them, and by whom they were destined to be slain. Then
Arthur and his household fell upon the sorceresses, and slew
the sorceresses of Gloucester every one. And thus is it
related concerning the Castle of Wonders.
125
NOTES TO PEREDUR THE SON OF EYRAWC.
Peredur.— Page 81.

Op the real history of Peredur, nothing is known. It is probable
that he fell in the battle of Cattraeth, in the beginning of the 6th
century, as Aneurin mentions a chieftain of this name among the
slain.
" Warriors marched forth,—unanimously they bounded forward ;—
Short-lived were they,—they had revelled over the flowing mead ;
The host of Mynyddawc renowned in battle ;
Their life was the price of their banquet.
Caradawc, and Madawc, Pyll, and Yeuan,
Gwgawn, and Gwiawn, Gwynn, and Kynvan,
Peredur of steel arms, Gwawrdur, and Aedan.
A defence in the tumult, a shield in the conflict ;
When they were slain they also slaughtered.
None to his home returned."
126 PEREDUE THE SON OF EVEAWC.
Peredur is frequently alluded to by the Bards of the Middle Ages,

in terms illustrative of the high esteem in which his deeds of prowess
then were held. Gruffydd ab Meredydd, who flourished about the
end of the 13th century, in his Elegy on Tudur ap Goronwy, one of
the ancestors of the House of Tudor, thus mentions him :—
" O Bountiful Creator of the radiant sun and waning moon,
Sad is the fall of the chief of valiant deeds,
Eagle of the battle-charge, equal to Peredur,
Tudor, assaulter of the Angles, he who never shunned the fight."
In the old Romances, as Morte d'Arthur, <fec, he is celebrated,
under the name of Perceval, as one of those engaged in the quest of
the Sangreal, in which character he is also spoken of in the Triads,
together with Bort, the son of the King of that name, and Galath,
the son of Lancelot du Lac.—TrL lxL Myv. Ar. II. 14.
Like Owain, his exploits were sung by Chrestiens de Troyes, and
they also form the subject of romantic compositions in German, and
in other languages of Northern Europe. Our own Chaucer alludes
to him in his Rime of Sire Thopas, Cant. Tales, 1384—5—
" Himself drank water of the well,
As did the Knight, Sire Percivell,
So worthy under wede."
Attending Tournaments.—Page 81.

We find various instances of knights, who made it a practice to
resort to Tournaments as a lucrative occupation ; for, on those oc
casions, not only the horse and arms of the vanquished frequently
became the property of the victor, but the prizes contested for were
often of so valuable a nature as greatly to enrich those who were for
tunate enough to win them. Sometimes they consisted of diamonds
and precious stones, and sometimes even of the revenues of different
domains.* In the Romance of Ipomydon, " a thousand pound " is
the guerdon bestowed on the successful combatant. Our Henry the
VII. proposed a ring of gold, set with a ruby, and another set with
a diamond, as the reward of the knights who should be victorious at
a Tournament at which he was to be present,t And there is a
characteristic story on record of the Chevalier Bayard, who being
the conqueror on one of these occasions, refused to take the prize,
which was a ruby worth a hundred ducats attached to a lady's
• mm. de Chev. I. 322. t Strutt's Sports and Pastimes, 134
NOTES. 127
sleeve, saying that the honour of the victory was entirely due to
the sleeve, for which he had contended. The ruby was accordingly
presented to the knight who had acquitted himself best after Bayard,
and the lady herself resumed possession of the sleeve, declaring that
after what Bayard had said, she should keep it all her life for his
sake.*
Wars and Combats.—Page 81.

From this passage we may probably infer that Evrawc was one
of those knights who, during the Middle Ages, ranked themselves
under the banners of such princes as were disposed to engage their
services. Many of these adventurers were held in high estimation,
and Froissart, in speaking of Sir John Hawkwood, who was one of
the most distinguished of them, calls him " a right valiant English
knight who had performed many most gallant deeds of arms." He
gives the following account of Hawkwood's progress, from which an
idea may be formed of the emoluments that accrued to those mer
cenary bands, and of the manner in which they were employed.
" He had left France at the conclusion of the peace of Bretigny,
and was at that time a poor knight, who thought it would not be of
any advantage to him to return home ; but when he saw, that by
the treaties, all men-at-arms would be forced to leave France, he put
himself at the head of those free companions called late-comers, and
marched into Burgundy. Several such companions, composed of
English, Gascons, Bretons, Germans, and of men from every nation,
were collected there. Hawkwood was one of the principal leaders,
with Bricquet and Carnelle, by whom the battle of Brignais was
fought, and who aided Bernard de la Salle to take the Pont du
St. Esprit.
" When they had harassed the country for some time, the marquis
de Montferrat made a treaty with them to assist him in his war with
the lords of Milan. This marquis led them over the Alps, after he
had paid them sixty thousand francs, of which Hawkwood received,
for himself and hia troops, ten thousand. When they had finished
the war for the marquis, the greater part of them returned to France ;
for sir Bertrand du Guesclin, the lords de la Marche, de Beaujeu,
and sir Arnold d'Andreghen, marshal of France, wished to lead them
into Spain, to don Henry de Trastamare, against don Pedro, king
of Spain.
" Sir John Hawkwood and his companions remained in Italy, and
• Hist, of the Chev. Bayard (Lond. 1825) I. 84.
were employed by pope Urban as long as he lived, in his wars in the
Milanese. Pope Gregory, successor to Urban, engaged him in the
same manner. Sir John had also a profitable employment, under
the lord de Coucy, against the count de Vertus and his barons ; in
which, some say, the lord de Coucy would have been slain, if sir
John Hawkwood had not come to his assistance with five hundred
combatants, which he was solely induced to do because the lord de
Coucy had married one of the king of England's daughters. This
sir John Hawkwood was a knight much inured to war, which he
had long followed, and had gained great renown in Italy from his
gallantry.
" The Romans, therefore, and Urban, who called himself pope,
resolved, on Clement leaving Italy, to send for Hawkwood, and
appoint him commander-in-chief of all their forces: they made him
large offers of retaining him and his whole troop at a handsome
subsidy, which he accepted, and acquitted himself loyally for it."
—Johnes's Froissart, 4to. II. c. 97.
They are angels, my son.—Page 82.

Incidents similar to that in the text are of frequent occurrence
in the old Romances. St. John of Damascus, a Greek writer of the
8th century, has a story of a youth brought up ia utter ignorance
of all worldly affairs, in order to evade a prophecy which existed
against him. Here, however, the compliment paid by Peredur's
mother to the knights, in calling them Angels, ia far from being
returned to her sex. For, in describing to him all the objects he
meets on his first going out, and mixing with the world, the Greek
writer makes the young man's father apply an appellation to the
ladies, which in the very reverse of angelic.
There is another story to the same effect, in a Latin Collection
of Materials for composing Sermons, by John Herolt, sirnamed
Discipulus, a Dominican friar of Basil, who flourished about 1450.*
From these the idea has been adopted and worked up by the
Italian novelist.
Possess thyself of it, and give it to another.—Page 83.
The ideas of liberality entertained in the days of Chivalry were

often wideiy at variance with every principle of justice. That the
advice giyen to Peredur by his mother was consistent with the
* Hist. Eng. Poe. I. ccxxiv. ccliv.
NOTES. 129
feelings of the day, may be gathered from various passages in the
'works of contemporary writers. An amusing anecdote, illustrative
of this, is thus quoted by Mr. Hallam, from Joinville's celebrated
History of St. Louis.
" He is speaking of Henry count of Champagne, who acquired,
says he, very deservedly, the sirname of Liberal, and adduces the
following proof of it :—
A poor knight implored of him on his knees one day as much
money as would serve to marry his two daughters. One Arthault
de Nogent, a rich burgess, willing to rid the count of this impor
tunity, but rather awkward, we must own, in the turn of his argu
ment, said to the petitioner : My lord has already given away so
much that he has nothing left. Sir Villain, replied Henry, turning
round to him, you do not speak truth, in saying that I have nothing
left to give, when I have got yourself. Here, Sir Knight, I give
you this man and warrant your possession of him. Then, says
Joinville, the poor knight was not at all confounded, but seized hold
of the burgess fast by the collar, and told him he should not go till
he had ransomed himself. And in the end he was forced to pay a
ransom of five hundred pounds. The simple-minded writer who
brings this evidence of the count of Champagne's liberality is not at
all struck with the facility of a virtue that is exercised at the cost of
others."*
Through Magic or Charms.—Page 85.

The dread of supernatural agency has in all ages exerted a
powerful influence over the human mind. Even in the present
day, instances are not wanting of men of the most approved natural
courage, quailing with fear at the idea of an invisible enemy. It
must, therefore, not be surprising, if, in less enlightened times, we
find this superstitious feeling interfering still more generally with
the common affairs of life. So decidedly was it acknowledged in the
Middle Ages, that a solemn oath was required to be taken by every
knight previous to his engaging in wager of battle, that he did not
bear about him any charm or spell, and that he was not protected
by magic or enchantment.
This Iron Coat.—Page 86.

In the English version, Perceval, after several vain attempts to
* Middle Ages, EEL 499, 500.

Mabino<jion. K
disencumber the dead knight of his armour, betakes himself to rather
a curious expedient for effecting his object :—
" He sayd my moder bad me,
When my dart solde broken be,
Owte of y* Iren bren y" tree :
Now es me fyre ynede.
Now he getis hy flynt,
His fyre Iren he hent,
And yen w' owtten any stynt,
He kyndilt a glede."
Between the neck and the shoulder. —Page 86.

It should seem that this was a favourite point of attack in the
energetic encounters of those days ; for in the Morte d'Arthur we
meet with a similar expression to the above. It is stated, that when
Arthur first assumed the government of Britain, several kings and
knights would not acknowledge his authority, and assembled in
order to oppose him. Believing their visit to have a friendly object,
he sent them many valuable presents, which they refused to accept,
rebuking " the messagers shamefully," and sending Arthur " word,
they wold none of his yeftes. But that they were come to gyue
hym yeftes with hard swerdys betwixt the neck and the sholders."
—B. I. c. 8.
Staple.—Page 89.
This was, probably, a staple for fastening horses to, as it is well
known that the horses were often brought into the hall among the
guests. In the account of the thirteen rarities of the Island of
Britain, as enumerated in an unpublished MS. in the possession of
Mr. Justice Bosanquet, it is said that one chieftain had the staple for
holding his horse at the foot of his bed.
" The halter of Clydno Eiddyn, which was in a staple below the
feet of his bed ; and whatever horse he wished for in it, he would
find there."
Spear of mighty size. —Page 90.

In the French version of this tale, the spear here alluded to is
said to have been the Holy Lance, and with it is brought in the
celebrated Sangreal. The latter was the great object of research
with the Knights of the Round Table, and its recovery was ulti
NOTES. 131
mately achieved by Perceval of Wales, the Peredur ab Evrawc of
Welsh Romance.
The third part.—Page 94.

This apportionment is strictly in accordance with ancient Welsh
customs ; for by the Laws of Howel Dda, it appears the Master of
the Royal Household and the Steward (Penteulu and Distein),
were each entitled to a third part of certain fines there mentioned ;
to express which portion the same word (trayan) is used as in the
present tale.
Gwalchmai.—Page 98.
Gwalchmai's reputation for courtesy and eloquence is here ad
mirably kept up, and we find him fully entitled to the appellation of
the Golden Tongued, so poetically bestowed upon him in the Triads.
No less faithfully is Kai's character for the very opposite quality of
detraction sustained.
Angharad Law Eurawc.—Page 100.

This name literally signifies Angharad with the Golden Hand, an
epithet which was most probably bestowed on her, to designate her
liberality.
Speak a word to ant Christian again.—Page 100.

During the days of Chivalry, vows for the performance of some
singular or romantic feat, of a similar nature with that mentioned
in the text, were greatly in vogue. In an ancient French Poem,
entitled Le Vceu du Heron, printed by Ste. Palaye, an amusing
instance of this occurs.
Robert of Artois presents himself at the Court of Edward the III.
and incites that Monarch to the conquest of France. One day he
enters the hall in which the King and his courtiers are assembled,
accompanied by musicians and two noble damsels, and bearing in great
pomp a Heron, which he had killed, and which he ironically offers
to Edward, as a compensation for the French crown. Edward, roused
by the taunt, immediately swears upon the Heron, that the year
shall not elapse without his entering France with fire and sword.
His nobles follow his example. Among them is the Earl of Salisbury,
who is seated by the daughter of the Earl of Derby, to whom he was
k 2
132 PEREBOK THE SON OF EVRAWC.
devotedly attached. He asks the lady to lend him one of her fingers
and to place it upon his eye.
"Si pri à la pucelle, de ceur devotement,
Qu'elle me preste un doit de sa main seulement,
Et methe sur mon œil destre parfaitement."
She is complaisant enough to grant him two fingers, which
she puts upon his eye, so as to close it. Whereupon the Earl
makes oath never more to open that eye until he shall have done
battle against the army of the French King. And this he faith
fully performs.
" Les deux dois, sur l'œil destre, li mist isnelement,*
Et si li a clos l'œil, et freméf fermement,
Et chix | a demandé moult gracieusement :
Bele, est-il bien clos ? Oyl certainement.
A dont dist, de la bouche, du ceur le pensement ;
Et je veu, et prometh à Dieu omnipotent,
Et a sa douche mere, que de beaute resplent,
Qu'i n'est jamais ouvers, pour ore,§ ne pour vent,
Pour mal, ne pour martire, ne pour encombrenient,||
Si seray dedans Franche, où il a bonne gent,
Et si aray le fu5T bouté entièrement,
Et serai combatus a grand enorchement,
Contre les gens Philype, qui tant a hardement ;
Je ne sui en bataille prins, par boin ensient,**
Bien li ederai tt a acomplir son talent :
Or aviegne qu'aviegne, car il n'est autrement.
Adonc osta son doit la puchelle au cors gent,
Et li iex clos demeure, si ques virent le gent,
Et quand Robert l'entent, moult de joie l'enprent.
Quant li quens Salebrin ot voué son avis,§§
Et demoura l'œil clos en la guerre toudis.
Li bers |||| Robers d'Artois ne s'est mie alentis." 1T1T
In the same reign, Froissart mentions a number of young bachelors,
who appeared with a bandage over one eye, which they had sworn to
their ladies not to remove until they had distinguished themselves by
some deed of prowess against the French.
* Prouiptement. t Fermé. J Celui-ci.
§ Temps, heure. || Empêchement. V Feu.
*• A bon escient, savoir ou certitude. Edouard aiderai.
Xt Œil. §§ Souhait, dessein. ||| Baron.
W Méni. de Chev. II. 102 103.
NOTES. 133
Sitting on a Bench.—Page 105.

Benches were formerly much more general than chairs. Wherever
the latter are spoken of by our old English writers, it appears to have
been as an article of luxury, and even of magnificence ; and ecere is
every reason to believe that they were far from being common, even
in the houses of the great. No mention whatever is made of chairs
in the catalogue of the furniture in the chamber of the Bishop of
Winchester, in 1266, where benches, or forms, are, however, par
ticularly enumerated.
" Et de i. mensa cum tressellis in camera dom. episcopi. Et v.
fomnia in eadem camera."*
This is also the case in the inventory preserved of the goods
belonging to Contarini, a rich Venetian trader, at his house in St.
Botolph's-lane, A.D. 14-81, and in that of the furniture of Skipton
Castle, the great honour of the Earls of Cumberland, and one of
the most splendid mansions of the North, A.D. 1572.t
And the more general use of benches may be gathered from many
passages in the elder poets. In the Geste of King Horne, we find,—
" Horne sett him abenche."
And in Piers Plowman's Crede, the author, describing the luxury
of the monks, tells us of
" An halle for an hygh kynge an houshold to holden,
With brode bordes abouten, ybenched wel clene."
Ellis remarks, that "from this usage our Court of King's Bench
had its name." J
Addanc.—Page 107.
In the Triads mention is made of the Addanc, or Avane of the
Lake, as an aquatic monster which exercised a mysterious influence
over some tremendous inundation, there alluded to and generally
considered to have been the universal deluge, of which event most
primitive nations have preserved a traditional recollection. The
drawing of the Avanc from the Lake was an exploit performed by
the horned Oxen of Hu Gadarn, or the Mighty, the hero who is
* Warton's Hist. Eng. Poe. 1824. I. 43.
t Hallam's Middle Ages. Chap, on the State of Society. 1834. III. 427
There were, however, a few chairs in Mr. Fermor' s lion sc at Easton, according
to the inventory printed by Strntt.
X Notes to Way's Fabliaux, I. 222.
184 PEREDUR THE SON OF EVRAWO.
recorded as having first conducted the nation of the Cymry into the
Island of Britain.—See Triad 4. Myv. Arch. IL 57.
" The three great exploits of the Island of Britain : The ship of
Nevydd Nav Neivion, which carried in it a male and female of all
things living, when the Lake of floods burst forth. And the horned
oxen of Hu the Mighty, which drew the Avanc of the Lake to land,
so that the Lake burst forth no more. And the stones oi Gwyddon
Ganhebon, on which were read all the arts and sciences of the world."
—T. 97. Myv. Arch. IL 71.
There are many popular traditions connected with this event still
existing in different parts of the Principality.
Etlym Gleddyv Coch.—Page 110.

Literally, Etlym with the red sword.
Howel the Son of Emyr Llydaw.—Page 114.

Howel, the Prince of Llydaw, or Armorica, distinguished himself
greatly in Arthur's wars against the Romans, and was one of the
most strenuous in urging his Sovereign to resist their unjust claims.
When Arthur was called suddenly home, by the news of Modred's
treachery, he left Howel with part of his army in Gaul, to secure
his possessions in that country.*
He was one of the three knights of princely bearing in Arthur's
Court, who were so kind and gentle, and so courteous of demeanour,
that it was difficult for any one in the world to refuse or deny them
anything they asked.—T. 118. Myv. Arch. II. 74.
The Cambrian Biography places Howel's tomb at Llan Illtyd
Vawr, or Lantwit, in Glamorganshire.
Emyr Llydaw, Howel's father, was nephew of the celebrated St.
Germanus, or Garmon. A great number of his descendants, headed
by Cadvan, emigrated to this country from Armorica, and are ranked
among the most eminent of the Welsh Saints.f
* See Gruffydd ab Arthur, Waoe's Brut, Rob. of Glou., Ao. The tragical
story of Howel's niece Helen, the victim of Dinabnc, the Spanish Giant of
St. Michael's Mount, forms a long episode in all these accounts of the expe
dition against Bome. The St. Michael's Mount here alluded to is that in
Normandy. Arthur went there with no other escort than his two knights, Kai
and Bedwer, and had the satisfaction of overcoming and slaying the Giant,
who, from all the descriptions, must have been a most fierce and savage
monster.
t See Professor Bees's Essay, p. 213.
NOTES. 135
Chessmen were playing. —Page 121.

A chessboard and men possessed of similar qualities with those in
the tale, belonged to Gwenddolen, the celebrated beauty of Arthur's
Court, and are thus described :—
" The Chessboard of Gwenddolen ; when the men were placed upon
it, they would play of themselves. The Chessboard was of gold, and
the men of silver."—Bosanquet MS.
Something of the same kind occurs in the Romance of Sir Gaheret.
That champion is entertained in the Enchanted Castle of a beau
tiful Fairy, who engages him in a party at Chess, in a large hall,
where flags of black and white marble form the chequer, and the
pieces, consisting of massive statues of gold and silver, move at the
touch of the magic rod held by the player.
A similar adventure occurs in the Romance of Lancelot du Lac.—
IL p. 101.*
• Sir W. Scott's Notes to Sir Tristram (1811), p. 275.
136 PEKKDUE THE SON OF EVEAWC.
NOTICE OF VARIOUS OTHER VERSIONS.
The story of Peredur exists in the French language in two different

forms : one of these is a Metrical Romance, by Chrestien de Troyes,
entitled " Perceval le Galois," of which several MSS. are deposited
in the Bibliotheque du Eoi ; the other is a Prose Composition, and
has appeared in print. This last is of small folio size, bearing
the date of Paris, March 20, 1529. Copies of it are extremely
rare.
Ofthe English Metrical Romance of Perceval, only one ancient copy
is known to be extant. It is contained in a very curious folio MS.
on paper, belonging to the library of Lincoln Cathedral, and which
from the name of its transcriber, Robert de Thornton, a monk who
lived in the 15th century, is commonly known by the name of the
Thornton MS. Sir Frederick Madden, in his Introduction to the
Romance of Sir Cawaine, gives a particular description of the MS.
and its contents.
I possess a transcript of it, which, by the kind permission of the
Chapter, I made in 1840.
Amongst the various Romances of the Round Table none appears
to have enjoyed a larger share of popularity in Germany than that of
Perceval. It is the subject of a poem written by Wolfram von
Eschenbach, about the year 1200, which he professedly derived
from a French original totally distinct from that of Chrestien. The
author's name is given as Kyot, or Guyot, of Provence ; apparently
a different person from Guyot of Provins, whose satirical poem)
written at the same period, is well known in old French literature.
Kyot seems to have been acquainted with the wild fictions of the
Arabic story-tellers in Spain, and to have blended them in his own
work with the Welsh legends which, either in Latin or French form,
had already made their way to Southern France, and were eagerly
listened to at the court of Anjou.
Numerous MS. copies of Wolfram's poem are in existence, and
a printed edition, now of extreme rarity, appeared as early as the
NOTES. 137
end of the 15th century. It is also comprised in Myller's Selec
tion of Ancient Poems, and in Karl Lachmann's edition of Wolfram
von Eschenbach's Works. Berlin, 1833. 8vo. Mr. Albert Schulz
(San Marte) has published a modern German translation of it.
Magdeburg, 1836. 8vo.
The Romance of Peredur is found in Icelandic under the title
of the Saga of Perceval, of which there are copies in the British
Museum and in the Royal Library at Stockholm.
GEEAINT THE SON OF ERBIN.
(Robert's Tower, Cardiff Castle, 1840.)
GERAINT THE SON OF ERBIN.
Arthur was accustomed to hold his Court at Caerlleon upon

Usk. And there he held it seven Easters and five Christmases.
And once upon a time he held his Court there at Whitsuntide.
For Caerlleon -was the place most easy of access in his do
minions, both by sea and by land. And there were assembled
nine crowned kings, who were his tributaries, and likewise
earls and barons. For they were his invited guests at all the
high festivals, unless they were prevented by any great hin
drance. And when he was at Caerlleon, holding his Court,
thirteen churches were set apart for mass. And thus were
they appointed : one church for Arthur, and his Kings, and
his guests ; and the second for Gwenhwyvar and her ladies ;
and the third for the Steward of the Household and the
suitors ; and the fourth for the Franks and the other officers ;
and the other nine churches were for the nine Masters of
the Household and chiefly for Gwalchmai ; for he, from the
142 GERAINT THE SON OP ERBIN.
eminence of his warlike fame, and from the nobleness of his

birth, was the most exalted of the nine. And there was no
other arrangement respecting the churches than that which
we have mentioned above.
Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr was the chief porter ; but he did not
himself perform the office, except at one of the three high
festivals, for he had seven men to serve him, and they divided
the year amongst them. They were Grynn, and Pen Pighon,
and Llaes Cymyn, and Gogyfwlch, and Gwrdnei with cat's
eyes, who could see as well by night as by day, and Drem the
son of Dremhitid, and Clust the son of Clustveinyd; and
these were Arthur's guards. And on Whit-Tuesday, as the
King sat at the banquet, lo ! there entered a tall, fair-headed
youth, clad in a coat and a surcoat of diapered satin, and a
golden-hilted sword about his neck, and low shoes of leather
upon his feet. And he came, and stood before Arthur.
" Hail to thee, lord ! " said he. " Heaven prosper thee," he
answered, " and be thou welcome. Dost thou bring any new
tidings ? " "I do, Lord," he said. " I know thee not," said
Arthur. " It is a marvel to me that thou dost not know me.
I am one of thy foresters, Lord, in the Forest of Dean, and
my name is Madawc, the son of Twrgadarn." " Tell me
thine errand," said Arthur. "I will do so, Lord," said he.
" In the Forest I saw a stag, the like of which beheld I never
yet." " What is there about him," asked Arthur, " that thou
never yet didst see his like ? " " He is of pure white, Lord,
and he does not herd with any other animal through stateliness
and pride, so royal is his bearing. And I come to seek thy
counsel, Lord, and to know thy will concerning him." " It
seems best to me," said Arthur, " to go and hunt him to
morrow at break of day ; and to cause general notice thereof
to be given to-night in all quarters of the Court." And
Arryfuerys was Arthur's chief huntsman, and Arelivri was
his chief page. And all received notice ; and thus it was
arranged. And they sent the youth before them. Then
Gwenhwyvar said to Arthur, "Wilt thou permit me, Lord,"
said she, " to go to-morrow to see and hear the hunt of the
GEEAINT THE SON OF EEBIN. 143
stag of which the young man spoke f " "I will, gladly,"
said Arthur. "Then will I go," said she. And Gwalchmai
said to Arthur, "Lord, if it seem well to thee, permit that
into whose hunt soever the stag shall come, that one, be he
a knight, or one on foot, may cut off his head, and give it to
whom he pleases, whether to his own lady-love, or to the
lady of his friend." " I grant it gladly," said Arthur, " and
let the Steward of the Household be chastised, if all are not
ready to-morrow for the chase."
And they passed the night with songs, and diversions, and
discourse, and ample entertainment. And when it was time
for them all to go to sleep, they went. And when the next
day came, they arose ; and Arthur called the attendants, who
guarded his couch. And these were four pages, whose names
were Cadyrnerth the son of Porthawr, Gandwy, and Ambreu,
the son of Bedwor, and Amhar the son of Arthur, and Goreu
the son of Custennin. And these men came to Arthur and
saluted him, and arrayed him in his garments. And Arthur
wondered that Gwenhwyvar did not awake, and did not move
in her bed ; and the attendants wished to awaken her. " Dis
turb her not," said Arthur, " for she had rather sleep thau go
to see the hunting."
Then Arthur went forth, and he heard two horns sounding,
one from near the lodging of the chief huntsman, and the
other from near that of the chief page. And the whole
assembly of the multitudes came to Arthur, and they took
the road to the Forest.
And after Arthur had gone forth from the palace, Gwen
hwyvar awoke, and called to her maidens, and apparelled
herself. " Maidens," said she, " I had leave last night to go
and see the hunt. Go one of you to the stable, and order
hither a horse such as a woman may ride." And one them
went, and she found but two horses in the stable, and Gwen
hwyvar and one of her maidens mounted them, and went
through the Usk, and followed the track of the men and the
horses. And as they rode thus, they heard a loud and rushing
sound ; and they looked behind them, and beheld a knight
144 GERAINT THE SON OF EEBIN.
upon a hunter foal of mighty size ; and the rider was a fair-
haired youth, bare-legged, and of princely mien, and a golden-
hilted sword was at his side, and a robe and a surcoat of satin
were upon him, and two low shoes of leather upon his feet ;
and around him was a scarf of blue purple, at each corner of
which was a golden apple. And his horse stepped stately,
and swift, and proud; and he overtook Gwenhwyvar, and
saluted her. " Heaven prosper thee, Geraint," said she, " I
knew thee when first I saw thee just now. And the welcome
of heaven be unto thee. And why didst thou not go with
thy lord to hunt ? " " Because I knew not when be went,"
said he. " I marvel, too," said she, " how he could go un
known to me." " Indeed, lady," said he. " I was asleep,
and knew not when he went ; but thou, O young man, art the
most agreeable companion I could have in the whole king
dom ; and it may be, that I shall be more amused with the
hunting than they; for we shall hear the horns when they
sound, and we shall hear the dogs when they are let loose,
and begin to cry." So they went to the edge of the Forest,
and there they stood. " From this place," said she, " we
shall hear when the dogs are let loose." And thereupon, they
heard a loud noise, and they looked towards the spot whence
it came, and they beheld a dwarf riding upon a horse, stately,
and foaming, and prancing, and strong, and spirited. And
in the hand of the dwarf was a whip. And near the dwarf
they saw a lady upon a beautiful white horse, of steady and
stately pace ; and she was clothed in a garment of gold
brocade. And near her was a knight upon a warhorse of
large size, with heavy and bright armour both upon himself
and upon his horse. And truly they never before saw a
knight, or a horse, or armour, of such remarkable size. And
they were all near to each other.
" Geraint," said Gwenhwyvar, " knowest thou the name of
that tall knight yonder ? " "I know him not," said he,
" and the strange armour that he wears prevents my either
seeing his face or his features." " Go, maiden," said Gwen-
hwyar, "and ask the dwarf who that knight is." Then the
GERAINT THE SON OF ERB1N. 145
maiden went up to the dwarf ; and the dwarf waited for the
maiden, when he saw her coming towards him. And the
maiden inquired of the dwarf who the knight was. " I will
not tell thee," he answered. " Since thou art so churlish as
not to tell me," said she, " I will ask him himself." " Thou
shalt not ask him, by my faith," said he. " Wherefore ? "
said she. " Because thou art not of honour sufficient to befit
thee to speak to my Lord." Then the maiden turned her
horse's head towards the knight, upon which the dwarf struck
her with the whip that was in his hand across the face and the
eyes, until the blood flowed forth. And the maiden, through
the hurt she received from the blow, returned to Gwenhwyvar,
complaining of the pain. " Very rmdely has the dwarf treated
thee," said Geraint. " I will go myself to know who the
knight is." " Go," said Gwenhwyvar. And Geraint went
up to the dwarf. "Who is yonder knight?" said Geraint.
" I will not tell thee," said the dwarf. " Then will I ask him
himself," said he. " That wilt thou not, by my faith," said
the dwarf, "thou art not honourable enough to speak with my
Lord." Said Geraint, " I have spoken with men of equal rank
with him." And he turned his horse's head towards the
knight ; but the dwarf overtook him, and struck him as he
had done the maiden, so that the blood coloured the scarf
that Geraint wore. Then Geraint put his hand upon the hilt
of his sword, but he took counsel with himself, and con
sidered that it would be no vengeance for him to slay the
dwarf, and to be attacked unarmed by the armed knight, so
he returned to where Gwenhwyvar was.
"Thou hast acted wisely and discreetly," said she.
"Lady," said he, "I will follow him yet, with thy per
mission ; and at last he will come to some inhabited place,
where I may have arms either as a loan or for a pledge, so
that I may encounter the knight." " Go," said she, " and
do not attack him until thou hast good arms, and I shall be
very anxious concerning thee, until I hear tidings of thee."
" If I am alive," said he, " thou shalt hear tidings of me by
to-morrow afternoon ;" and with that he departed.
ilabinogion. j,
146 GERAINT THE SON OF ERBIN.
And the road they took was below the palace of Caerlleon,
and across the ford of the Usk ; and they went along a fair,
and even, and lofty ridge of ground, until they came to a
town, and at the extremity of the town they saw a Fortress
and a Castle. And they came to the extremity of the town.
And as the knight passed through it, all the people arose,
and saluted him, and bade him welcome. And when G-eraint
came into the town, he looked at every house, to see if he
knew any of those whom he saw. But he knew none, and
none knew him to do him the kindness to let him have arms
either as a loan or for a pledge. And every house he saw was
full of men, and arms, and horses. And they were polishing
shields, and burnishing swords, and washing armour, and
shoeing horses. And the knight, and the lady, and the dwarf,
rode up to the Castle that was in the town, and every one was
glad in the Castle. And from the battlements and the gates
they risked their necks, through their eagerness to greet them,
and to show their joy.
Geraint stood there to see whether the knight would remain
in the Castle ; and when he was certain that he would do so,
he looked around him ; and at a little distance from the town
he saw an old palace in ruins, wherein was a hall that was
falling to decay. And as he knew not any one in the town,
he went towards the old palace ; and when he came near to
the palace, he saw but one chamber, and a bridge of marble-
stone leading to it. And upon the bridge he saw sitting a
hoary-headed man, upon whom were tattered garments. And
Geraint gazed steadfastly upon him for a long time. Then
the hoary-headed man spoke to him. "Young man," he said,
" wherefore art thou thoughtful 1 " "I am thoughtful," said
he, " because I know not where to go to-night." " Wilt
thou come forward this way, chieftain ? " said he, " and thou
shalt have of the best that can be procured for thee." So
Geraint went forward. And the hoary-headed man preceded
him into the hall. And in the hall he dismounted, and he
left there his horse. Then he went on to the upper chamber
with the hoary-headed man. And in the chamber he beheld
OERAINT THE SON OP ERBIN. 147
an old decrepit woman, sitting on a cushion, with old, tattered

garments of satin upon her ; and it seemed to him that he
had never seen a woman fairer than she must have been,
when in the fulness of youth. And beside her was a maiden,
upon whom were a vest and a veil, that were old, and begin
ning to be worn out. And truly, he never saw a maiden
more full of comeliness, and grace, and beauty, than she.
And the hoary-headed man said to the maiden, " There is no
attendant for the horse of this youth but thyself." " I will
render the best service I am able," said she, " both to him
and to his horse." And the maiden disarrayed the youth,
and then she furnished his horse with straw and with corn.
And she went to the hall as before, and then she returned to
the chamber. And the hoary-headed man said to the maiden,
" Go to the town," said he, " and bring hither the best that
thou canst find both of food and of liquor." " I will, gladly,
Lord," said she. And to the town went the maiden. And
they conversed together while the maiden was at the town.
And, behold ! the maiden came back, and a youth with her,
bearing on his back a costrel full of good purchased mead,
and a quarter of a young bullock. And in the hands of the
maiden was a quantity of white bread, and she had some
manchet bread in her veil, and she came into the chamber.
" I could not obtain better than this," said she, " nor with
better should I have been trusted." " It is good enough,"
said Geraint. And they caused the meat to be boiled ; and
when their food was ready, they sat down. And it was on
this wise ; Geraint sat between the hoary-headed man and
his wife, and the maiden served them. And they ate and
drank.
And when they had finished eating, Geraint talked with the
hoary-headed man, and he asked him in the first place, to
whom belonged the palace that he was in. " Truly," said
he, " it was I that built it, and to me also belonged the city
and the castle which thou sawest." " Alas ! " said Geraint,
" how is it that thou hast lost them now ? " "I lost a great
Earldom as well as these," said he ; " and this is how I lost
l 2
148 GEEAINT THE SON OF EEBIN.
them. I had a nephew, the son of my brother, and I took

his possessions to myself ; and when he came to his strength,
he demanded of me his property, but I withheld it from him.
So he made war upon me, and wrested from me all that I
possessed." " Good Sir," said Geraint, " wilt thou tell me
wherefore came the knight, and the lady, and the dwarf, just
now into the town, and what is the preparation which I saw,
and the putting of arms in order?" "I will do so," said
he. " The preparations are for the game that is to be held to
morrow by the young Earl, which will be on this wise. In
the midst of a meadow which is here, two forks will be set
up, and upon the two forks a silver rod, and upon the silver rod
a Sparrow-Hawk, and for the Sparrow-Hawk there will be a
tournament. And to the tournament will go all the array
thou didst see in the city, of men, and of horses, and of arms.
And with each man will go the lady he loves best ; and no
man can joust for the Sparrow-Hawk, except the lady he loves
best be with him. And the knight that thou sawest has gained
the Sparrow-Hawk these two years ; and if he gains it the
third year, they will, from that time, send it every year to
him, and he himself will come here no more. And he will be
called the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk from that time forth."
" Sir," said Geraint, " what is thy counsel to me concerning
this knight, on account of the insult which I received from
the dwarf, and that which was received by the maiden of
Gwenhwyvar, the wife of Arthur ? " And Geraint told the
hoary-headed man what the insult was that he had received.
" It is not easy to counsel thee, inasmuch as thou hast neither
dame nor maiden belonging to thee, for whom thou canst
joust. Yet, I have arms here, which thou couldest have ; and
there is my horse also, if he seem to thee better than thine
own." " Ah ! Sir," said he, " Heaven reward thee. But my
own horse, to which I am accustomed, together with thy
arms, will suffice me. And if, when the appointed time
shall come to-morrow, thou wilt permit me, Sir, to challenge
for yonder maiden that is thy daughter, I will engage, if I
escape from the tournament, to love the maiden as long as I
GEEAINT THE SON OF EEBIN. 149
live; and if I do not escape, she will remain unsullied as

before." " Gladly will I permit thee," said the hoary-headed
man ; " and since thou dost thus resolve, it is necessary that
thy horse and arms should be ready to-morrow at break of
day. For then, the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk will make
proclamation, and ask the lady he loves best, to take the
Sparrow-Hawk. ' For/ will he say to her, ' thou art the
fairest of women, and thou didst possess it last year, and
the year previous ; and if any deny it thee to-day, by force
will I defend it for thee.' And therefore," said the hoary-
headed man, "it is needful for thee to be there at day
break ; and we three will be with thee." And thus was it
settled.
And at night, lo ! they went to sleep ; and before the dawn
they arose, and arrayed themselves; and by the time that
it was day, they were all four in the meadow. And there
was the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk making the pro
clamation, and asking his lady-love to fetch the Sparrow-
Hawk. " Fetch it not," said Geraint, " for there is here a
maiden, who is fairer, and more noble, and more comely, and
who has a bettor claim to it than thou." " H thou main-
tainest the Sparrow-Hawk to be due to her, come forward,
and do battle with me." And Geraint went forward to the
top of the meadow, having upon himself and upon his horse
armour which was heavy, and rusty, and worthless, and of
uncouth shape. Then they encountered each other, and they
broke a set of lances, and they broke a second set, and a
third. And thus they did at every onset, and they broke as
many lances as were brought to them. And when the Earl
and his company saw the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk gaining
the mastery, there was shouting, and joy, and mirth amongst
them. And the hoary-headed man, and his wife, and his
daughter, were sorrowful. And the hoary-headed man served
Geraint lances as often as he broke them, and the dwarf
served the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk. Then the hoary-
headed man came to Geraint. " Oh ! chieftain," said he,
" since no other will hold with thee, behold, here is the lance
150 GERAINT THE SON OP ERBIX.
which was in my hand on the day when I received the honour

of knighthood ; and from that time to this I never broke it.
And it has an excellent point." Then Geraint took the lance,
thanking the hoary-headed man. And thereupon the dwarf
also brought a lance to his lord. " Behold, here is a lance
for thee, not less good than his," said the dwarf. "And
bethink thee, that no knight ever withstood thee before so
long as this one has done." " I declare to Heaven," said
Geraint, " that unless death takes me quickly hence, he shall
fare never the better for thy service." And Geraint pricked
his horse towards him from afar, and warning him, he rushed
upon him, and gave him a blow so severe, and furious, and
fierce, upon the face of his shield, that he cleft it in two,
and broke his armour, and burst his girths, so that both he
and his saddle were borne to the ground over the horse's
crupper. And Geraint dismounted quickly. And he was
wroth, and he drew his sword, and rushed fiercely upon him.
Then the knight also arose, and drew his sword against
Geraint. And they fought on foot with their swords until
their arms struck sparks of fire like stars from one another ;
and thus they continued fighting until the blood and sweat
obscured the light from their eyes. And when Geraint pre
vailed, the hoary-headed man, and his wife, and his daughter,
were glad ; and when the knight prevailed, it rejoiced the
Earl and his party. Then the hoary-headed man saw Geraint
receive a severe stroke, and he went up to him quickly, and
said to him, " Oh, chieftain, remember the treatment which
thou hadst from the dwarf ; and wilt thou not seek vengeance
for the insult to thyself, and for the insult to Gwenhwyvar the
wife of Arthur ! " And Geraint was roused by what he said
to him, and he called to him all his strength, and lifted up his
sword, and struck the knight upon the crown of his head, so
that he broke all his head-armour, and cut through all the
flesh and the skin, even to the skull, until he wounded the
bone.
Then the knight fell upon his knees, and cast his sword
from his hand, and besought mercy of Geraint. " Of a truth,"
GERAINT THE SOU OF ERBIN. 151
Baid he, " I relinquish my overdaring and my pride in craving

thy mercy; and unless I have time to commit myself to
Heaven for my sins, and to talk "with a priest, thy mercy will
avail me little." "I will grant thee grace upon this condi
tion," said Geraint, "that thou wilt go to Gwenhwyvar the
wife of Arthur, to do her satisfaction for the insult which
her maiden received from thy dwarf. As to myself, for the
insult which I received from thee and thy dwarf, I am con
tent with that which I have done unto thee. Dismount
not from the time thou goest hence until thou comest into
the presence of Gwenhwyvar, to make her what atone
ment shall be adjudged at the Court of Arthur." "This
will I do gladly. And who art thou ? " said he. " I am
Geraint the son of Erbin. And declare thou also who thou
art ? " "I am Edeyrn the son of Nudd." Then he threw
himself upon his horse, and went forward to Arthur's Court,
and the lady he loved best went before him and the dwarf,
with much lamentation. And thus far this story up to
that time.
Then came the little Earl and his hosts to Geraint, and
saluted him, and bad him to his castle. " I may not go,"
said Geraint, "but where I was last night, there will I be
to-night also." " Since thou wilt none of my inviting, thou
shalt have abundance of all that I can command for thee, in
the place thou wast last night. And I will order ointment
for thee, to recover thee from thy fatigues, and from the
weariness that is upon thee." " Heaven reward thee," said
Geraint, "and I will go to my lodging." And thus went
Geraint, and Earl Ynywl, and his wife, and his daughter.
And when they reached the chamber, the household servants
and attendants of the young Earl had arrived at the Court,
and they arranged all the houses, dressing them with straw
and with fire ; and in a short time the ointment was ready,
and Geraint came there, and they washed his head. Then
came the young Earl, with forty honourable knights from
among his attendants, and those who were bidden to the
tournament. And Geraint came from the anointing. And

the Earl asked him to go to the hall to eat. " Where is the
Earl Ynywl," said Geraint, " and his wife, and his daughter ?"
" They are in the chamber yonder," said the Earl's chamberlain,
" arraying themselves in garments which the Earl has caused
to be brought for them." " Let not the damsel array herself,"
said he, " except in her vest and her veil, until she come to
the Court of Arthur, to be clad by Gwenhwyvar, in such
garments as she may choose." So the maiden did not array
herself.
Then they all entered the hall, and they washed, and went,
and sat down to meat. And thus were they seated. On one
side of Geraint sat the young Earl, and Earl Ynywl beyond
him ; and on the other side of Geraint were the maiden and
her mother. And after these all sat according to their pre
cedence in honour. And they ate. And they were served
abundantly, and they received a profusion of divers kind of
gifts. Then they conversed together. And the young Earl
invited Geraint to visit him next day. "I will not, by
Heaven," said Geraint. " To the Court of Arthur will I go
with this maiden to-morrow. And it is enough for me, as
long as Earl Ynywl is in poverty and trouble ; and I go
chiefly to seek to add to his maintenance/' " Ah, chieftain,"
said the young Earl, " it is not by my fault that Earl Ynywl is
without his possessions." " By my faith," said Geraint, " he
shall not remain without them, unless death quickly takes me
hence." " Oh, chieftain," said he, " with regard to the dis
agreement between me and Ynywl, I will gladly abide by thy
counsel, and agree to what thou mayest judge right between
us." " I but ask thee," said Geraint, " to restore to him what
is his, and what he should have received from the time he
lost his possessions, even until this day." " That I will do
gladly, for thee," answered he. " Then," said Geraint, " who
soever is here who owes homage to Ynywl, let him come
forward, and perform it on the spot." And all the men did
so. And by that treaty they abided. And his castle, and his
town, and all his possessions, were restored to Ynywl. And
GERAINT THE SON OF EBBIN. 153
he received back all that he had lost, even to the smallest

jewel.
Then spoke Earl Ynywl to Geraint. " Chieftain," said he,
"behold the maiden for whom thou didst challenge at the
tournament, I bestow her upon thee." " She shall go with
me," said Geraint, " to the Court of Arthur ; and Arthur and
Gwenhwyvar they shall dispose of her as they will." And
the next day they proceeded to Arthur's Court. So far con
cerning Geraint.
Now, this is how Arthur hunted the stag. The men and
the dogs were divided into hunting parties, and the dogs were
let loose upon the stag. And the last dog that was let loose
was the favourite dog of Arthur. Cavall was his name. And
he left all the other dogs behind him, and turned the stag.
And at the second turn, the stag came towards the hunting
party of Arthur. And Arthur set upon him. And before
he could be slain by any other, Arthur cut off his head.
Then they sounded the death horn for slaying, and they all
gathered round.
Then came Kadyriaith to Arthur, and spoke to him.
" Lord," said he, " behold, yonder is Gwenhwyvar, and none
with her save only one maiden." " Command Gildas the
son of Caw, and all the scholars of the Court," said
Arthur, "to attend Gwenhwyvar to the palace." And they
did so. ■
Then they all set forth, holding converse together con
cerning the head of the stag, to whom it should be given.
One wished that it should be given to the lady best beloved
by him, and another to the lady whom he loved best.
And all they of the household, and the knights, disputed
sharply concerning the head. And with that they came to
the palace. And when Arthur and Gwenhwyvar heard them
disputing about the head of the stag, Gwenhwyvar said to
Arthur, "My lord, this is my counsel concerning the stag's
head ; let it not be given away until Geraint the son of
Erbin shall return from the errand he is upon." And Gwen
hwyvar told Arthur what that errand was. " Right gladly
shall it be so," said Arthur. And thus it was settled. And
the next day Gwenhwyvar caused a watch to be set upon
the ramparts for Geraint's coming. And after mid-day they
beheld an unshapely little man upon a horse, and after him,
as they supposed, a dame or a damsel, also on horseback,
and after her a knight of large stature, bowed down, and
hanging his head low and sorrowfully, and clad in broken
and worthless armour.
And before they came near to the gate, one of the watch
went to Gwenhwyvar, and told her what kind of people they
saw, and what aspect they bore. " I know not who they are,"
said he. " But I know," said Gwenhwyvar ; " this is the
knight whom Geraint pursued, and methinks that he comes
not here by his own free will. But Geraint has overtaken
him, and avenged the insult to the maiden to the uttermost."
And thereupon, behold a porter came to the spot where
Gwenhwyvar was. " Lady," said he, " at the gate there is
a knight, and I saw never a man of so pitiful an aspect to
look upon as he. Miserable and broken is the armour that he
wears, and the hue of blood is more conspicuous upon it than
its own colour." " Knowest thou his name ? " said she, " I
do," said he ; " he tells me that he is Edeyrn the son of
Nudd." Then she replied, " I know him not."
So Gwenhwyvar went to the gate to meet him, and he
entered. And Gwenhwyvar was sorry when she saw the con
dition he was in, even though he was accompanied by the
churlish dwarf. Then Edeyrn saluted Gwenhwyvar. " Heaven
protect thee," said she. " Lady," said he, " Geraint the son
of Erbin, thy best and most valiant servant, greets thee."
*' Did he meet thee ? " she asked. " Yes," said he, " and it
'was not to my advantage ; and that was not his fault, but
mine, Lady. And Geraint greets thee well; and in greeting
thee he compelled me to come hither to do thy pleasure for
the insult which thy maiden received from the dwarf. He
forgives the insult to himself, in consideration of his having
put me in peril of my life. And he imposed on me a con
GERAINT THE SON OF ERBIN. 155
dition, manly, and honourable, and warrior-like, which, was

to do thee justice, Lady." "Now, where did he overtake
thee ? " " At the place where we were jousting, and con
tending for the Sparrow-Hawk, in the town which is now
called Cardiff. And there were none with him save three
persons, of a mean and tattered condition. And these were
an aged, hoary-headed man, and a woman advanced in years,
and a fair young maiden, clad in worn-out garments. And
it was for the avouchment of the love of that maiden that
Geraint jousted for the Sparrow- Hawk at the tournament, for
he said that that maiden was better entitled to the Sparrow-
Hawk than this maiden who was with me. And thereupon
we encountered each other, and he left me, Lady, as thou
seest." " Sir," said she, " when thinkest thou that Geraint
will be here ? " " To-morrow, Lady, I think he will be here
with the maiden."
Then Arthur came to him, and he saluted Arthur ; and
Arthur gazed a long time upon him, and was amazed to see
him thus. And thinking that he knew him, he inquired of him,
"Art thou Edeyrn the son of Nudd?" "I am, Lord," said
he, " and I have met with much trouble, and received wounds
unsupportable." Then he told Arthur all his adventure.
" Well," said Arthur, " from what I hear, it behoves Gwen-
hwyvar to be merciful towards thee." "The mercy which
thou desirest, Lord," said she, " will I grant to him, since
it is as insulting to thee that an insult should be offered to
me as to thyself." " Thus will it be best to do," said Arthur ;
" let this man have medical care until it be known whether he
may Uve. And if he live, he shall do such satisfaction as
shall be judged best by the men of the Court ; and take thou
sureties to that effect. And if he die, too much will be the
death of such a youth as Edeyrn for an insult to a maiden."
" This pleases me," said Gwenhwyvar. And Arthur became
surety for Edeyrn, and Caradawc the son of Llyr, Gwallawg
the son of Llenawg, and Owain the son of Nudd, and Gwalch-
mai, and many others with them. And Arthur caused Morgan
Tud to be called to him. He was the chief physician. " Take
with thee Edeyrn the son of Nudd, and cause a chamber to

be prepared for him, and let him have the aid of medicine as
thou wouldest do unto myself, if I were wounded, and let none
into his chamber to molest him, but thyself and thy disciples,
to administer to him remedies." " I will do so, gladly, Lord,"
said Morgan Tud. Then said the steward of the household,
" Whither is it right, Lord, to order the maiden ? " " To
Gwenhwyvar and her handmaidens," said he. And the
steward of the household so ordered her. Thus far con
cerning them.
The next day came Geraint towards the Court ; and there
was a watch set on the ramparts by Gwenhwyvar, lest he
should arrive unawares. And one of the watch came to the
place where Gwenhwyvar was. " Lady," said he, " methinks
that I see Geraint, and the maiden with him. He is on horser
back, but he has his walking gear upon him, and the maiden
appears to be in white, seeming to be clad in a garment of
linen." " Assemble all the women," said Gwenhwyvar, " and
come to meet Geraint, to welcome him, and wish him joy."
And Gwenhwyvar went to meet Geraint and the maiden.
And when Geraint came to the place where Gwenhwyvar
was, he saluted her. " Heaven prosper thee," said she, " and
welcome to thee. And thy career has been successful, and
fortunate, and resistless, and glorious. And Heaven reward
thee, that thou hast so proudly caused me to have retribu
tion." " Lady," said he, " I earnestly desired to obtain thee
satisfaction according to thy will; and, behold, here is the
maiden through whom thou hadst thy revenge." " Verily,"
said Gwenhwyvar, " the welcome of Heaven be unto her ;
and it is fitting that we should receive her joyfully." Then
they went in, and dismounted. And Geraint came to where
Arthur was, and saluted him. " Heaven protect thee," said
Arthur, "and the welcome of Heaven be unto thee. And
since Edeyrn the son of Nudd has received his overthrow and
wounds from thy hands, thou hast had a prosperous career."
" Not upon me be the blame," said Geraint, " it was through
the arrogance of Edeyrn the son of Kudd himself that we

were not friends. I would not quit him until I knew who he
was, and until the one had vanquished the other." " Now,"
said Arthur, " where is the maiden for whom I heard thou
didst give challenge ? " " She is gone with Gwenhwyvar to
her chamber."
Then went Arthur to see the maiden. And Arthur, and all
his companions, and his whole Court, were glad concerning
the maiden. And certain were they all, that had her array
been suitable to her beauty, they had never seen a maid
fairer than she. And Arthur gave away the maiden to
Geraint. And the usual bond made between two persons
was made between Geraint and the maiden, and the choicest
of all Gwenhwyvar's apparel was given to the maiden ; and
thus arrayed, she appeared comely and graceful to all who
beheld her. And that day and that night were spent in abun
dance of minstrelsy, and ample gifts of liquor, and a multitude
of games. And when it was time for them to go to sleep,
they went. And in the chamber where the couch of Arthur
and Gwenhwyvar was, the couch of Geraint and Enid was pre
pared. And from that time she became his bride. And the
next day Arthur satisfied all the claimants upon Geraint with
bountiful gifts. And the maiden took up her abode in the
palace ; and she had many companions, both men and women,
and there was no maiden more esteemed than she in the Island
of Britain.
Then spake Gwenhwyvar. " Rightly did I judge," said
she, " concerning the head of the stag, that it should not be
given to any until Geraint's return ; and, behold here is a fit
occasion for bestowing it. Let it be given to Enid the
daughter of Ynywl, the most illustrious maiden. And I do
not believe that any will begrudge it her, for between her
and every one here there exists nothing but love and friend
ship." Much applauded was this by them all, and by Arthur
also. And the head of the stag was given to Enid. And
thereupon her fame increased, and her friends thenceforward
became more in number than before. And Geraint from that
time forth loved the stag, and the tournament, and hard en
counters ; and he came victorious from them all. And a year,
and a second, and a third, he proceeded thus, until his fame
had flown over the face of the kingdom.
And once upon a time Arthur was holding his Court at

Caerlleon upon Usk, at Whitsuntide. And, behold, there
came to him ambassadors, wise and prudent, full of know
ledge, and eloquent of speech, and they saluted Arthur.
"Heaven prosper you," said Arthur, "and the welcome of
Heaven be unto you. And whence do you come ? " " We
come, Lord," said they, " from Cornwall ; and we are am
bassadors from Erbin the son of Custennin, thy uncle, and
our mission is unto thee. And he greets thee well, as an
uncle should greet his nephew, and as a vassal should greet
his lord. And he represents unto thee that he waxes heavy
and feeble, and is advancing in years. And the neighbouring
chiefs knowing this, grow insolent towards him, and covet his
land and possessions. And he earnestly beseeches thee, Lord,
to permit Geraint his son to return to him, to protect his
possessions, and to become acquainted with his boundaries.
And unto him he represents that it were better for him to
spend the flower of his youth and the prime of his age, in
preserving his own boundaries, than in tournaments, which
are productive of no profit, although he obtains glory in
them."
" Well," said Arthur, " go, and divest yourselves of your
accoutrements, and take food, and refresh yourselves after
your fatigues; and before you go forth hence you shall
have an answer." And they went to eat. And Arthur con
sidered that it would go hard with him to let Geraint depart
from him and from his Court ; neither did he think it fair that
his cousin should be restrained from going to protect his
dominions and his boundaries, seeing that his father was
unable to do so. No less was the grief and regret of Gwen-
hwyvar, and all her women, and all her damsels, through fear
that the maiden would leave them. And that day and that
GKEAINT THE SON OF ERBIN. 159
night were spent in abundance of feasting. And Arthur

showed Geraint the cause of the mission, and of the coming
of the ambassadors to him out of Cornwall. " Truly/1 said
Geraint, " be it to my advantage or disadvantage, Lord, I
will do according to thy will concerning this embassy."
" Behold," said Arthur, " though it grieves me to part with
thee, it is my counsel that thou go to dwell in thine own
dominions, and to defend thy boundaries, and to take with
thee to accompany thee as many as thou wilt of those thou
lovest best among my faithful ones, and among thy friends,
and among thy companions in arms." " Heaven reward thee ;
and this will I do," said Geraint. "What discourse," said
Gwenhwyvar, " do I hear between you ? Is it of those who
are to conduct Geraint to his country ? " " It is," said
Arthur. "Then it is needful for me to consider," said she,
" concerning companions and a provision for the lady that is
with me ? " " Thou wilt do well," said Arthur.
And that night they went to sleep. And the next day the
ambassadors were permitted to depart, and they were told
that Geraint should follow them. And on the third day
Geraint set forth, and many went with him. Gwalchmai the
son of Gwyar, and Riogonedd the son of the king of Ireland,
and Ondyaw the son of the duke of Burgundy, Gwilim the
son of the ruler of the Franks, Howel the son of Emyr of
Brittany, Elivry, and Nawkyrd, Gwynn the son of Tringad,
Goreu the son of Custennin, Gweir Gwrhyd Vawr, Garannaw
the son of Golithmer, Peredur the son of Evrawc, Gwynnllo-
gell, Gwyr a judge in the Court of Arthur, Dyvyr the son of
Alun of Dyved, Gwrei Gwalstawd Ieithoedd, Bedwyr the son
of Bedrawd, Hadwry the son of Gwryon, Kai the son of
Kynyr, Odyar the Frank, the Steward of Arthur's Court,
and Edeyrn the son of Nudd. Said Geraint, " I think that I
shall have enough of knighthood with me." " Yes," said
Arthur, " but it will not be fitting for thee to take Edeyrn
with thee, although he is well, until peace shall be made be
tween him and Gwenhwyvar." " Gwenhwyvar can permit him
to go with me, if he give sureties." " If she please, she can
let him go without sureties, for enough of pain and affliction

has he suffered for the insult which the maiden received from
the dwarf." " Truly," said Gwenhwyvar, " since it seems
well to thee and to Geraint, I will do this gladly, Lord."
Then she permitted Edeyrn freely to depart. And many
there were who accompanied Geraint, and they set forth ; and
never was there seen a fairer host journeying towards the
Severn. And on the other side of the Severn were the nobles
of Erbin the son of Custennin, and his foster-father at their
head, to welcome Geraint with gladness; and many of the
women of the Court, with his mother, came to receive Enid
the daughter of Ynywl, his wife. And there was great
rejoicing and gladness throughout the whole Court, and
throughout all the country, concerning Geraint, because of
the greatness of their love towards him, and of the greatness
of the fame which he had gained since he went from amongst
them, and because he was come to take possession of his
dominions and to preserve his boundaries. And they came
to the Court. And in the Court they had ample entertain
ment, and a multitude of gifts and abundance of liquor, and a
sufficiency of service, and a variety of minstrelsy and of
games. And to do honour to Geraint, all the chief men of the
country were invited that night to visit him And they passed
that day and that night in the utmost enjoyment. And at
dawn next day Erbin arose, and summoned to him Geraint,
and the noble persons who had borne him company. And he
said to Geraint, " I am a feeble and aged man, and whilst I
was able to maintain the dominion for thee and for myself, I
did so. But thou art young, and in the flower of thy vigour
and of thy youth ; henceforth do thou preserve thy posses
sions." " Truly," said Geraint, " with my consent thou shalt
not give the power over thy dominions at this time into my
hands, and thou shalt not take me from Arthur's Court."
" Into thy hands will I give them," said Erbin, " and this
day also shalt thou receive the homage of thy subjects."
Then said Gwalchmai, " It were better for thee to satisfy
those who have boons to ask, to-day, and to-morrow thou
canst receive the homage of thy dominions." So all that had

boons to ask were summoned into one place. And Kadyrieith
came to them, to know what were their requests. And every
one asked that which he desired. And the followers of
Arthur began to make gifts, and immediately the men of
Cornwall came, and gave also. And they were not long in
giving, so eager was every one to bestow gifts. And of those
who came to ask gifts, none departed unsatisfied. And that
day and that night were spent in the utmost enjoyment.
And the next day, at dawn, Erbin desired Geraint to send
messengers to the men, to ask them whether it was dis
pleasing to them that he should come to receive their homage,
and whether they had anything to object to him. Then
Geraint sent ambassadors to the men of Cornwall, to ask
them this. And they all said that it would be the fulness of
joy and honour to them for Geraint to come and receive their
homage. So he received the homage of such as were there.
And they remained with him till the third night. And the
day after the followers of Arthur intended to go away. " It
is too soon for you to go away yet," said he, " stay with me
until I have finished receiving the homage of my chief men,
who have agreed to come to me." And they remained with
him until he had done so. Then they set forth towards the
Court of Arthur ; and Geraint went to- bear them company,
and Enid also, as far as Diganhwy : there they parted.
Then Ondyaw the son of the duke of Burgundy said to
Geraint, " Go first of all and visit the uttermost parts of thy
dominions, and see well to the boundaries of thy territories ;
and if thou hast any trouble respecting them, send unto thy
companions." "Heaven reward thee," said Geraint, "and
this will I do." And Geraint journeyed to the uttermost part
of his dominions. And experienced guides, and the chief
men of his country, went with him. And the furthermost
point that they showed him he kept possession of.
And, as he had been used to do when he was at Arthur's
Court, he frequented tournaments. And he became ac
quainted with valiant and mighty men, until he had gained as
Itabinogion. jf
much fame there as he had formerly done elsewhere. - And

he enriched his Court, and his companions, and his nobles,
with the best horses and the best arms, and with the best and
most valuable jewels, and he ceased not until his fame had flown
over the face of the whole kingdom. And when he knew that
it was thus, he began to love ease and pleasure, for there was no
one who was worth his opposing. And he loved his wife, and
liked to continue in the palace, with minstrelsy and diversions.
And for a long time he abode at home. And after that
he began to shut himself up in the chamber of his wife, and
he took no delight in anything besides, insomuch that he
gave up the friendship of his nobles, together with his hunting
and his amusements, and lost the hearts of all the host in his
Court; and there was murmuring and scoffing concerning
him among the inhabitants of the palace, on account of his
relinquishing so completely their companionship for the love
of his wife. And these tidings came to Erbin. And when
Erbin had heard these things, he spoke unto Enid, and in
quired of her whether it was she that had caused Geraint to
act thus, and to forsake his people and his hosts. " Not I, by
my confession unto Heaven," said she, " there is nothing more
hateful to me than this." And she knew not what she should
do, for, although it was hard for her to own this to Geraint,
yet was it not more easy for her to listen to what she heard,
without warning Geraint concerning it. And she was very
sorrowful.
And one morning in the summer time, they were upon
their couch, and Geraint lay upon the edge of it. And Enid
was without sleep in the apartment which had windows of
glass. And the sun shone upon the couch. And the clothes
had slipped from off his arms and his breast, and he was
asleep. Then she gazed upon the marvellous beauty of bis
appearance, and she said, "Alas, and am I the cause that
these arms and this breast have lost their glory and the war
like fame which they once so richly enjoyed ! " And as she
said this, the tears dropped from her eyes, and they fell upon
his breast. And the tears she shed, and the words she had
spoken, awoke him ; and another thing contributed to awaken

him, and that was the idea that it was not in thinking of him
that she spoke thus, but that it was because she loved some
other man more than him, and that she wished for other
society, and thereupon Geraint was troubled in his mind, and
he called his squire ; and when he came to him, " Go
quickly," said he, " and prepare my horse and my arms, and
make them ready. And do thou arise," said he to Enid,
" and apparel thyself ; and cause thy horse to be accoutred,
and clothe thee in the worst riding-dress that thou hast in thy
possession. And evil betide me," said he, "if thou returnest
here until thou knowest whether I have lost my strength so
completely as thou didst say. And if it be so, it will then be
easy for thee to seek the society thou didst wish for of him
of whom thou wast thinking." So she arose, and clothed
herself in her meanest garments. " I know nothing, Lord,"
said she, " of thy meaning." " Neither wilt thou know at
this time," said he.
Then Geraint went to see Erbin. " Sir," said he, " I am
going upon a quest, and I am not certain when I may come
back. Take heed, therefore, unto thy possessions, until my
return." " I will do so," said he, " but it is strange to me
that thou shouldest go so suddenly. And who will proceed
with thee, since thou art not strong enough to traverse the
land of Lloegyr alone ?" " But one person only will go with
me." " Heaven counsel thee, my son," said Erbin, " and
may many attach themselves to thee in Lloegyr." Then
went Geraint to the place where his horse was, and it was
equipped with foreign armour, heavy and shining. And he
desired Enid to mount her horse, and to ride forward, and to
keep a long way before him. " And whatever thou mayest
see, and whatever thou mayest hear concerning me," said he,
" do thou not turn back. And unless I speak unto thee, say
not thou one word either." And they set forward. And he
did not choose the pleasantest and most frequented road, but
that which was the wildest and most beset by thieves, and
robbers, and venomous animals. And they came to a high
k 2
164 GERAINT THE SON OF ERB1N.
road, which they followed till they saw a vast forest, and they
went towards it, and they saw four armed horsemen come forth
from the forest. "When the horsemen had beheld them, one
of them said to the others, " Behold, here is a good occasion
for us to capture two horses and armour, and a lady likewise ;
for this we shall have no difficulty in doing against yonder
single knight, who hangs his head so pensively and heavily."
And Enid heard this discourse, and she knew not what she
should do through fear of Geraint, who had told her to be
silent. " The vengeance of Heaven be upon me," she said,
" if I would not rather receive my death from his hand than
from the hand of any other ; and though he should slay me,
yet will I speak to him, lest I should have the misery to
witness his death." So she waited for Geraint until he came
near to her. " Lord," said she, " didst thou hear the words
of those men concerning thee ?" Then he lifted up his eyes,
and looked at her angrily. " Thou hadst only," said he, " to
hold thy peace as I bade thee. I wish but for silence, and
not for warning. And though thou shouldest desire to see
my defeat and my death by the hands of those men, yet do I
feel no dread." Then the foremost of them couched his lance,
and rushed npon Geraint. And he received him, and that
not feebly. But he let the thrust go by him, while he struck
the horseman upon the centre of his shield in such a manner
that his shield was split, and his armour broken, and so that a
cubit's length of the shaft of Geraint's lance passed through
his body, and sent him to the earth, the length of the
lance over his horse's crupper. Then the second horseman
attacked him furiously, being wroth at the death of his com
panion. But with one thrust Geraint overthrew him also, and
killed him as he had done the other. Then the third set upon
him, and he killed him in like manner. And thus also he
slew the fourth. Sad and sorrowful was the maiden as she
saw all this. Geraint dismounted from his horse, and took the
arms of the men he had slain, and placed them upon their
saddles, and tied together the reins of their horses, and he
mounted his horse again. " Behold, what thou must do,"
said he ; " take the four horses, and drive them before thee,
and proceed forward, as I bade thee just now. And say not
one word unto me, unless I speak first unto thee. And I
declare unto Heaven," said he, "if thou doest not thus, it will
be to thy cost." " I will do, as far as I can, Lord," said
she, "according to thy desire." Then they went forward
through the forest ; and when they left the forest, they came
to a vast plain, in the centre of which was a group of thickly
tangled copse-wood ; and from out thereof they beheld three
horsemen coming towards them, well equipped with armour,
both they and their horses. Then the maiden looked stead
fastly upon them ; and when they had come near, she heard
them say one to another, " Behold, here is a good arrival for
us; here are coming for us four horses and four suits of
armour. We shall easily obtain them spite of yonder dolorous
knight, and the maiden also will fall into our power." " This
is but too true," said she to herself, " for my husband is tired
with his former combat. The vengeance of Heaven will be
upon me, unless I warn him of this." So the maiden waited
until Geraint came up to her. " Lord," said she, " dost thou
not hear the discourse of yonder men concerning thee ? "
" What was it ? " asked he. " They say to one another, that
they will easily obtain all this spoil." " I declare to Heaven,"
he answered, " that their words are less grievous to me than
that thou wilt not be silent, and abide by my counsel." " My
Lord," said she, " I feared lest they should surprise thee un
awares." " Hold thy peace, then/' said he, " do not I desire
silence ? " And thereupon one of the horsemen couched his
lance, and attacked Geraint. And he made a thrust at him,
which he thought would be very effective; but Geraint re
ceived it carelessly, and struck it aside, and then he rushed
upon him, and aimed at the centre of his person, and from the
shock of man and horse, the quantity of his armour did not
avail him, and the head of the lance and part of the shaft
passed through him, so that he was carried to the ground an
arm and a spear's length over the crupper of his horse. And
both the other horsemen came forward in their turn, but their
166 OERAINT THE SON OF ERB1N.
onset was not more successful than that of their companion.

And the maiden stood by, looking at all this ; and on the one
hand she was in trouble lest Geraint should be wounded in
his encounter with the men, and on the other hand she was
joyful to see him victorious. Then Geraint dismounted, and
bound the three suits of armour upon the three saddles, and
he fastened the reins of all the horses together, so that he had
seven horses with him. And he mounted his own horse, and
commanded the maiden to drive forward the others. " It is
no more use for me to speak to thee than to refrain, for thou
wilt not attend to my advice." " I will do so, as far as I am
able, Lord," said she ; " but I cannot conceal from thee the
fierce and threatening words which I may hear against thee,
Lord, from such strange people as those that haunt this wil
derness." " I declare to Heaven," said he, " that I desiro
nought but silence ; therefore, hold thy peace." " I will,
Lord, while I can." And the maiden Went on with the
horses before her, and she pursued her way straight onwards.
And from the copse-wood already mentioned, they journeyed
over a vast and dreary open plain. And at a great distance
from them they beheld a wood, and they could see neither
end nor boundary to the wood, except on that side that was
nearest to them, and they went towards it. Then there
came from out the wood five horsemen, eager, and bold, and
mighty, and strong, mounted upon chargers that were power
ful, and large of bone, and high mettled, and proudly snorting,
and both the men and the horses were well equipped with
arms. And when they drew near to them, Enid heard them
say, " Behold, here is a fine booty coming to us, which we
shall obtain easily and without labour, for we shall have no
trouble in taking all those horses and arms, and the lady also,
from yonder single knight, so doleful and sad."
Sorely grieved was the maiden upon hearing this discourse,
so that she knew not in the world what she should do. At
last, however, she determined to warn Geraint ; so she turned
her horse's head towards him. " Lord," said she, " if thou
hadst heard as I did what yonder horsemen said concerning
GERAINT THE SON OF EBB1N. 167
thee, thy heaviness would be greater than it is." Angrily

and bitterly did Geraint smile upon her, and he said, " Thee
do I hear doing everything that I forbade thee ; but it may be
that thou wilt repent this yet." And immediately, behold,
the men met them, and victoriously and gallantly did Geraint
overcome them all five. And he placed the five suits of
armour upon the five saddles, and tied together the reins of
the twelve horses, and gave them in charge to Enid. "I
know not," said he, " what good it is for me to order thee ;
but this time I charge thee in an especial manner." So the
maiden went forward towards the wood, keeping in advance
of Geraint, as he had desired her ; and it grieved him as much
as his wrath would permit, to see a maiden so illustrious as
she having so much trouble with the care of the horses. Then
they reached the wood, and it was both deep and vast ; and
in the wood night overtook them. " Ah, maiden," said he,
" it is vain to attempt proceeding forward ! " " Well, Lord,"
said she, " whatsoever thou wishest, we will do." " It will be
best for us," he answered, " to turn out of the wood, and to
rest, and wait for the day, in order to pursue our journey."
" That will we, gladly," said she. And they did so. Having
dismounted himself, he took her down from her horse. " I
cannot, by any means, refrain from sleep, through weariness,"
said he. " Do thou, therefore, watch the horses, and sleep
not." " I will, Lord," said she. Then he went to sleep in
his armour, and thus passed the night, which was not long at
that season. And when she saw the dawn of day appear, she
looked around her, to see if he were waking, and thereupon
he woke. " My Lord," she said, " I have desired to awake
thee for some time." But he spake nothing to her about fatigue,
as he had desired her to be silent. Then he arose, and said
unto her, " Take the horses, and ride on ; and keep straight
on before thee as thou didst yesterday." And early in the
day they left the wood, and they came to an open country,
with meadows on one hand, and mowers mowing the meadows.
And there was a river before them, and the horses bent down,
and drank the water. And they went up out of the river by
168 GERAIXT THE SON OF EECIN.
a lofty steep ; and there they met a slender stripling, with a

satchel about his neck, and they saw that there was something
in the satchel, but they knew not what it was. And he had a
small blue pitcher in his hand, and a bowl on the mouth of
the pitcher. And the youth saluted Geraint. " Heaven prosper
thee," said Geraint, " and whence dost thou come ? " "I
eome," said he, " from the city that lies before thee. My
Lord," he added, " will it be displeasing to thee if I ask
whence thou eomest also ? " " By no means—through yonder
wood did I come." " Thou eamest not through the wood
to-day." " No," he replied, " we were in the wood last
night." "I warrant," said the youth, "that thy condition
there last night was not the most pleasant, and that thou hadst
neither meat nor drink." " No, by my faith," said he. " Wilt
thou follow my counsel," said the youth, " and take thy meal
from me ? " " What sort of meal ? " he inquired. " The
breakfast which is sent for yonder mowers, nothing less than
bread and meat and wine ; and if thou wilt, Sir, they shall
have none of it." "I will," said he, "and Heaven reward
thee for it."
So Geraint alighted, and the youth took the maiden from
off her horse. Then they washed, and took their repast. And
the youth cut the bread in slices, and gave them drink, and
served them withal. And when they had finished, the youth
arose, and said to Geraint, " My Lord, with thy permission, I
will now go and fetch some food for the mowers." "Go,
first, to the town," said Geraint, " and take a lodging for me
in the best place that thou knowest, and the most commo
dious one for the horses, and take thou whichever horse and
arms thou choosest in payment for thy service and thy gift."
" Heaven reward thee, Lord/' said the youth, " and this would
be ample to repay services much greater than those I have
rendered unto thee." And to the town went the youth, and
he took the best and the most pleasant lodgings that he knew ;
and after that he went to the palace, having the horse and
armour with him, and proceeded to the place where the Earl
was, and told him all his adventure. " I go now, Lord," said
GERAINT THE SON OP ERBIN. 169
he, "to meet the young man, and to conduct him to his
lodging." " Go, gladly," said the Earl, " and right joyfully
shall he be received here, if he so come." And the youth
went to meet Geraint, and told him that he would be received
gladly by the Earl in his own palace ; but he would go only
to his lodgings. And he had a goodly chamber, in which
was plenty of straw, and drapery, and a spacious and com
modious place he had for the horses ; and the youth prepared
for them plenty of provender. And after they had disarrayed
themselves, Geraint spoke thus to Enid : " Go," said he, " to
the other side of the chamber, and come not to this side of
the house ; and thou mayest call to thee the woman of the
house, if thou wilt." " I will do, Lord," said she, " as thou
sayest." And thereupon the man of the house came to
Geraint, and welcomed him. " Oh, chieftain," he said, " hast
thou taken thy meal ? " "I have," said he. Then the youth
spoke to him, and inquired if he would not drink something
before he met the Earl. " Truly I will," said he. So the
youth went into the town, and brought them drink. And
they drank. " I must needs sleep," said Geraint. " Well,"
said the youth ; " and whilst thou sleepest, I will go to see
the Earl." " Go, gladly," he said, " and come here again
when I require thee." And Geraint went to sleep ; and so did
Enid also.
And the youth came to the place where the Earl was, and
the Earl asked him where the lodgings of the knight were,
and he told him. " I must go," said the youth, " to wait on
him in the evening." " Go," answered the Earl, " and greet
him well from me, and tell him that in the evening I will go
to see him." " This will I do," said the youth. So he came
when it was time for them to awake. And they arose, and
went forth. And when it was time for them to take their
food, they took it. And the youth served them. And
Geraint inquired of the man of the house, whether there were
any of his companions that he wished to invite to him, and
he said that there were. " Bring them hither, and entertain
them at my cost with the best thou canst buy in the town."
And the man of the house brought there those whom he

chose, and feasted them at Geraint's expense. Thereupon,
behold, the Earl came to visit Geraint, and his twelve honour
able knights with him. And Geraint rose up, and welcomed
him. " Heaven preserve thee," said the Earl. Then they all
sat down according to their precedence in honour. And
the Earl conversed with Geraint, and inquired of him the
object of his journey. " I have none," he replied, " but to
seek adventures, and to follow my own inclination." Then
the Earl cast his eye upon Enid, and he looked at her stead
fastly. And he thought he had never seen a maiden fairer
or more comely than she. And he set all his thoughts and
his affections upon her. Then he asked of Geraint, " Have I
thy permission to go and converse with yonder maiden, for I
see that she is apart from thee ? " " Thou hast it gladly,"
said he. So the Earl went to the place where the maiden
was, and spake with her. " Ah, maiden," said he, " it cannot
be pleasant to thee to journey thus with yonder man ! " " It
is not unpleasant to me," said she, " to journey the same road
that he journeys." " Thou hast neither youths nor maidens
to serve thee," said he. " Truly," she replied, " it is more
pleasant for me to follow yonder man, than to be served by
youths and maidens." " I will give thee good counsel," said
he. " All my Earldom will I place in thy possession, if thou
wilt dwell with me." " That will I not, by Heaven," she
said, " yonder man was the first to whom my faith was ever
pledged ; and shall I prove inconstant to him ! " " Thou art
in the wrong," said the Earl ; " if I slay the man yonder, I
can keep thee with me as long as I choose ; and when thou
no longer pleasest me I can turn thee away. But if thou
goest with me by thine own good will, I protest that our
union shall continue eternal and undivided as long as I remain
alive." Then she pondered these words of his, and she con
sidered that it was advisable to encourage him in his request.
" Behold, then, chieftain, this is most expedient for thee to do
to save me any needless imputation ; come here to-morrow,
and take me away as though I knew nothing thereof." " I
will do so," said he. So he arose, and took his leave, and
went forth with his attendants. And she told not then to
Geraint any of the conversation which she had had with the
Earl, lest it should rouse his anger, and cause him uneasiness
and care.
And at the usual hour they went to sleep. And at the
beginning of the night Enid slept a little ; and at midnight
she arose, and placed all Geraint's armour together, so that
it might be ready to put on. And although fearful of her
errand, she came to the side of Geraint's bed ; and she spoke
to him softly and gently, saying, " My Lord, arise, and clothe
thyself, for these were the words of the Earl to me, and his
intention concerning me." So she told Geraint all that had
passed. And although he was wroth with her, he took
warning, and clothed himself. And she lighted a candle,
that he might have light to do so. " Leave there the candle,"
said he, "and desire the man of the house to come here."
Then she went, and the man of the house came to him.
" Dost thou know how much I owe thee ? " asked Geraint.
" I think thou owest but little." " Take the eleven horses
and the eleven suits of armour." " Heaven reward thee,
Lord," said he, " but I spent not the value of one suit of
armour upon thee." " For that reason," said he, " thou wilt
be the richer. And now, wilt thou come to guide me out of
the town ? " "I will, gladly," said he, " and in which di
rection dost thou intend to go ? " "I wish to leave the town
by a different way from that by which I entered it." So the
man of the lodgings accompanied him as far as he desired.
Then he bade the maiden to go on before him ; and she did
so, and went straight forward, and his host returned home.
And he had only just reached his house, when, behold, the
greatest tumult approached that was ever heard. And when
he looked out, he saw fourscore knights in complete armour
around the house, with the Earl Dwrm at their head. " Where
is the knight that was here ? " said the Earl. " By thy hand,"
said he, " he went hence some time ago." " Wherefore,
villain," said he, " didst thou let him go without informing
me ? " " My Lord, thou didst not command me to do so, else

would I not have allowed him to depart." " What way dost
thou think that he took ? " "I know not, except that he
went along the high road." And they turned their horses'
heads that way, and seeing the tracks of the horses upon the
high road, they followed. And when the maiden beheld the
dawning of the day, she looked behind her, and saw vast
clouds of dust coming nearer and nearer to her. And there
upon she became uneasy, and she thought that it was the Earl
and his host coming after them. And thereupon she beheld a
knight appearing through the mist. " By my faith," said she,
" though he should slay me, it were better for me to receive
my death at his hands, than to see him killed without warning
him. My Lord," she said to him, " seest thou yonder man
hastening after thee, and many others with him ? " "I do
see him," said he ; " and in despite of all my orders, I see that
thou wilt never keep silence." Then he turned upon the
knight, and with the first thrust he threw him down under his
horse's feet. And as long as there remained one of the four
score knights, he overthrew every one of them at the first
onset. And from the weakest to the strongest, they all at
tacked him one after the other, except the Earl : and last of
all the Earl came against him also. And he broke his lance,
and then he broke a second. But Geraint turned upon him,
and struck him with his lance upon the centre of his shield,
so that by that single thrust the shield was split, and all his
armour broken, and he himself was brought over his horse's
crupper to the ground, and was in peril of his life. And
Geraint drew near to him ; and at the noise of the trampling
of his horse the Earl revived. " Mercy, Lord," said he to
Geraint. And Geraint granted him mercy. But through the
hardness of the ground where they had fallen, and the violence
of the stroke which they had received, there was not a single
knight amongst them that escaped without receiving a fall,
mortally severe, and grievously painful, and desperately
wounding, from the hand of Geraint.
And Geraint journeyed along the high road that was be
fore him, and the maiden went on first ; and near them they
beheld a valley which was the fairest ever seen, and which
had a large river running through it ; and there was a bridge
over the river, and the high road led to the bridge. And
above the bridge upon the opposite side of the river, they
beheld a fortified town, the fairest ever seen. And as they
approached the bridge, Geraint saw coming towards him from
a thick copse a man mounted upon a large and lofty steed,
even of pace and spirited though tractable. " Ah, knight,"
said Geraint, " whence comest thou ? " "I come," said he,
" from the valley below us." " Canst thou tell me," said
Geraint, " who is the owner of this fair valley and yonder
walled town ? " "I will tell thee, willingly," said he.
" Gwiffert Petit he is called by the Franks, but the Cymry
call him the Little King." " Can I go by yonder bridge,"
said Geraint, " and by the lower highway that is beneath the
town ? " Said the knight, " Thou canst not go by his tower
on the other side of the bridge, unless thou dost intend to
combat him ; because it is his custom to encounter every
knight that comes upon his lands." " I declare to Heaven,"
said Geraint, "that I will, nevertheless, pursue my journey
that way." " If thou dost so," said the knight, " thou wilt
probably meet with shame and disgrace in reward for thy
daring." Then Geraint proceeded along the road that led to
the town, and the road brought him to a ground that was
hard, and rugged, and high, and ridgy. And as he journeyed
thus, he beheld a knight following him upon a warhorse,
strong, and large, and proudly-stepping, and wide-hoofed,
and broad-chested. And he never saw a man of smaller
stature than he who was upon the horse. And both he and
his horse were completely armed. When he had overtaken
Geraint, he said to him, "Tell me, chieftain, whether it is
through ignorance or through presumption that thou seekest
to insult my dignity, and to infringe my rules." " Nay,"
answered Geraint, " I knew not this road was forbid to any."
" Thou didst know it," said the other, " come with me to my
Court, to give me satisfaction." " That will I not, by my
faith," said Geraint ; " I would not go even to thy Lord's

Court, excepting Arthur were thy Lord." " By the hand of
Arthur himself," said the knight, " I will have satisfaction of
thee, or receive my overthrow at thy hands." And imme
diately they charged one another. And a squire of his came
to serve him with lances as he broke them. And they gave
each other such hard and severe strokes, that their shields
lost all their colour. But it was very difficult for Geraint to
fight with him on account of his small size, for he was hardly
able to get a full aim at him with all the efforts he could
make. And they fought thus until their horses were brought
down upon their knees ; and at length Geraint threw the
knight headlong to the ground; and then they fought on
foot, and they gave one another blows so boldly fierce, so
frequent, and so severely powerful, that their helmets were
pierced, and their skullcaps were broken, and their arms
were shattered, and the light of their eyes was darkened by
sweat and blood. At the last Geraint became enraged, and
he called to him all his strength ; and boldly angry, and
swiftly resolute, and furiously determined, he lifted up his
sword, and struck him on the crown of his head a blow so
mortally painful, so violent, so fierce, and so penetrating, that
it cut through all his head armour, and his skin, and his flesh,
until it wounded the very bone, and the sword flew out of the
hand of the Little King to the furthest end of the plain, and
he besought Geraint that he would have mercy and compassion
upon him. "Though thou hast been neither courteous nor
just," said Geraint, " thou shalt have mercy, upon condition
that thou wilt become my ally, and engage never to fight
against me again, but to come to my assistance whenever thou
hearest of my being in trouble." " This will I do, gladly,
Lord," said he. So he pledged him his faith thereof. " And
now, Lord, come with me," said he, " to my Court yonder, to
recover from thy weariness and fatigue." " That will I not,
by Heaven," said he.
Then Gwiffert Petit beheld Enid where she stood, and it
grieved him to see one of her noble mien appear so deeply
OERAJNT THE SON OF EEBIN. 175
afflicted. And he said to Geraint, " My Lord, thou doest

wrong not to take repose, and refresh thyself awhile ; for, if
thou meetest with any difficulty in thy present condition, it
will not be easy for thee to surmount it." But Geraint would
do no other than proceed on his journey, and he mounted
his horse in pain, and all covered with blood. And the
maiden went on first, and they proceeded towards the wood
which they saw before them.
And the heat of the sun was very great, and through the
blood and sweat, Geraint's armour cleaved to his flesh ; and
when they came into the wood, he stood under a tree, to
avoid the sun's heat ; and his wounds pained him more than
they had done at the time when he received them. And the
maiden stood under another tree. And, lo ! they heard the
sound of horns, and a tumultuous noise ; and the occasion of
it was, that Arthur and his company had come down to the
wood. And while Geraint was considering which way he
should go to avoid them, behold, he was espied by a foot-
page, who was an attendant on the Steward of the House
hold ; and he went to the Steward, and told him what kind
of man he had seen in the wood. Then the Steward caused
his horse to be saddled, and he took his lance and his shield,
and went to the place where Geraint was. " Ah, knight ! "
said he, " what dost thou here ? " "I am standing under a
shady tree, to avoid the heat and the rays of the sun."
"Wherefore is thy journey, and who art thou?" "I seek
adventures, and go where I list." " Indeed," said Kai ; " then
come with me to see Arthur, who is here hard by." " That
will I not, by Heaven," said Geraint. " Thou must needs
come," said Kai. Then Geraint knew who he was, but Kai did
not know Geraint. And Kai attacked Geraint as best he
could. And Geraint became wroth, and he struck him with
the shaft of his lance, so that he rolled headlong to the
ground. But chastisement worse than this would he not
inflict on him.
Scared and wildly Kai arose, and he mounted his horse,
and went back to his lodging. And thence he proceeded to
176 fiERAINT THE SON OF ERBIN.
Gwalchmai's tent. " Oh, Sir," said he to Gwalchmai, " I

was told by one of the attendants, that he saw in the wood
above a wounded knight, having on battered armour ; and if
thou dost right, thou wilt go and see if this be true." " I care
not if I do so," said Gwalchmai. " Take, then, thy horse,
and some of thy armour/' said Kai ; " for I hear that he is not
over courteous to those who approach him." So Gwalchmai
took his spear and his shield, and mounted his horse, and came
to the spot where Geraint was. " Sir Knight," said he,
" wherefore is thy journey ? " "I journey for my own plea
sure, and to seek the adventures of the world." " Wilt thou
tell me who thou art ; or wilt thou come and visit Arthur, who
is near at hand 1" "1 will make no alliance with thee, nor
will I go and visit Arthur," said he. And he knew that it
was Gwalchmai, but Gwalchmai knew him not. " I purpose
not to leave thee," said Gwalchmai, " till I know who thou
art." And he charged him with his lance, and struck him on
his shield, so that the shaft was shivered into splinters, and
their horses were front to front. Then Gwalchmai gazed
fixedly upon him, and he knew him. " Ah, Geraint," said he,
" is it thou that art here ? " "I am not Geraint," said he.
" Geraint thou art, by Heaven," he replied, " and a wretched
and insane expedition is this." Then he looked around, and
beheld Enid, and he welcomed her gladly. " Geraint," said
Gwalchmai, " come thou and see Arthur ; he is thy lord and
thy cousin." " I will not," said he, " for 1 am not in a fit
state to go and see any one." Thereupon, behold, one of the
pages came after Gwalchmai to speak to him. So he sent him
to apprise Arthur that Geraint was there wounded, and that
he would not go to visit him, and that it was pitiable to see
the plight that he was in. And this he did without Geraint's
knowledge, inasmuch as he spoke in a whisper to the page.
" Entreat Arthur," said he, " to have his tent brought near to
the road, for he will not meet him willingly, and it is not easy
to compel him in the mood he is in." So the page came to
Arthur, and told him this. And he caused his tent to be
removed unto the side of the road. And the maiden rejoiced
in her heart. And Gwalchmai led Geraint onwards along the

road, till they came to the place where Arthur was encamped,
and the pages were pitching his tent by the road-side. " Lord/'
said Geraint, " all hail unto thee." " Heaven prosper thee ;
and who art thou ? " said Arthur. " It is Geraint," said
Gwalchmai, " and of his own free will would he not come to
meet thee." " Verily," said Arthur, " he is bereft of his
reason." Then came Enid, and saluted Arthur. " Heaven
protect thee," said he. And thereupon he caused one of the
pages to take her from her horse. "Alas ! Enid," said Arthur,
" what expedition is this J" "I know not, Lord," said she,
" save that it behoves me to journey by the same road that he
journeys." " My Lord," said Geraint, " with thy permission
we will depart." " Whither wilt thou go ? " said Arthur.
" Thou canst not proceed now, unless it be unto thy death."
" He will not suffer himself to be invited by me," said
Gwalchmai. " But by me he will," said Arthur ; " and, more
over, he does not go from here until he is healed." " I had
rather, Lord," said Geraint, " that thou wouldest let me go
forth." "That will I not, I declare to Heaven," said he.
Then he caused a maiden to be sent for to conduct Enid to
the tent where Gwenhwyvar's chamber was. And Gwenhwyvar
and all her women were joyful at her coming ; and they took
off her riding-dress, and placed other garments upon her.
Arthur also called Kadyrieith, and ordered him to pitch a tent
for Geraint and the physicians ; and he enjoined him to pro
vide him with abundance of all that might be requisite for him
And Kadyrieith did as he had commanded him. And Morgan
Tud and his disciples were brought to Geraint.
And Arthur and his hosts remained there nearly a month,
whilst Geraint was being healed. And when he was fully
recovered, Geraint came to Arthur, and asked his permission
to depart. " I know not if thou art quite well." " In truth
I am, Lord," said Geraint. " I shall not believe thee con
cerning that, but the physicians that were with thee." So
Arthur caused the physicians to be summoned to him, and
asked them if it were true. " It is true, Lord," said Morgan
Jfabinogion. if
178 OERAINT THE SON OF EEBIN.
Tud. So the next day Arthur permitted him to go forth, and

he pursued his journey. And on the same day Arthur re
moved thence. And Geraint desired Enid to go on, and to
keep before him, as she had formerly done. And she went
forward along the high road. And as they journeyed thus,
they heard an exceeding loud wailing near to them. " Stay
thou here," said he, " and I will go and see what is the cause
of this wailing." " I will," said she. Then he went forward
unto an open glade that was near the road. And in the glade
he saw two horses, one having a man's saddle, and the other
a woman's saddle upon it. And, behold, there was a knight
lying dead in his armour, and a young damsel in a riding-
dress standing over him, lamenting. "Ah! Lady," said
Geraint, " what hath befallen thee ? " " Behold," she an
swered, " I journeyed here with my beloved husband, when,
lo ! three giants came upon us, and without any cause in the
world, they slew him." " Which way went they hence ? " said
Geraint. " Yonder by the high road," she replied. So he
returned to Enid. " Go," said he, " to the lady that is below
yonder, and await me there till I come." She was sad when
he ordered her to do thus, but nevertheless she went to the
damsel, whom it was ruth to hear, and she felt certain that
Geraint would never return. Meanwhile Geraint followed the
giants, and overtook them. And each of them was greater
of stature than three other men, and a huge club was on the
shoulder, of each. Then he rushed upon one of them, and
thrust his lance through his body. And having drawn it forth
again, he pierced another of them through likewise. But the
third turned upon him, and struck him with Ins club, so that
he split his shield, and crushed his shoulder, and opened his
wounds anew, and all his blood began to flow from him. But
Geraint drew his sword, and attacked the giant, and gave him
a blow on the crown of his head so severe, and fierce, and
violent, that his head and his neck were split down to his
shoulders, and he fell dead. So Geraint left him thus, and
returned to Enid. And when he saw her, he fell down lifeless
from his horse. Piercing, and loud, and thrilling was the cry
that Enid uttered. And she came and stood over him where
he had fallen. And at the sound of her cries came the Earl
of Limours, and the host that journeyed with him, whom her
lamentations brought out of their road. And the Earl said to
Enid, "Alas, Lady, what hath befallen thee? " " Ah ! good
Sir/' said she, " the only man I have loved, or ever shall love,
is slain." Then he said to the other, " And what is the cause
of thy grief ? " " They have slain my beloved husband also,"
said she. " And who was it that slew them ? " " Some
giants," she answered, " slew my best-beloved, and the other
knight went in pursuit of them, and came back in the state
thou seest, his blood flowing excessively ; but it appears to
me that he did not leave the giants without killing some of
them, if not all." The Earl caused the knight that was dead
to be buried, but he thought that there still remained some
life in Geraint ; and to see if he yet would live, he had him
carried with him in the hollow of his shield, and upon a bier.
And the two damsels went to the Court; and when they
arrived there, Geraint was placed upon a litter-couch in front
of the table that was in the hall. Then they all took off their
travelling gear, and the Earl besought Enid to do the same,
and to clothe herself in other garments. " I will not, by
Heaven," said she. " Ah ! Lady," said he, " be not so sor
rowful for this matter." " It were hard to persuade me to be
otherwise," said she. " I will act towards thee in such wise,
that thou needest not be sorrowful, whether yonder knight
live or die. Behold, a good Earldom, together with myself,
will I bestow on thee; be, therefore, happy and joyful." " I
declare to Heaven," said she, " that henceforth I shall never
be joyful while I live." " Come, then," said he, " and eat."
"No, by Heaven, I will not," she answered. "But, by
Heaven, thou shalt," said he. So he took her with him to
the table against her will, and many times desired her to eat.
" I call Heaven to witness," said she, " that I will not eat
until the man that is upon yonder bier shall eat likewise."
"Thou canst not fulfil that," said the Earl, "yonder man is
dead already." " I will prove that I can," said she. Then
n 2
he offered her a goblet of liquor. " Drink this goblet," he

said, " and it will cause thee to change thy mind." " Evil
betide me," she answered, " if I drink aught until he drink
also." " Truly," said the Earl, " it is of no more avail for
me to be gentle with thee than ungentle." And he gave her
a box in the ear. Thereupon she raised a loud and piercing
shriek, and her lamentations were much greater than they had
been before, for she considered in her mind that had Geraint
been alive, he durst not have struck her thus. But, behold,
at the sound of her cry, Geraint revived from his swoon, and
he sat up on the bier, and finding his sword in the hollow of
his shield, he rushed to the place where the Earl was, and
struck him a fiercely-wounding, severely-venomous, and
sternly-smiting blow upon the crown of his head, so that he
clove him in twain, until his sword was stayed by the table
Then all left the board, and fled away. And this was not so
much through fear of the living as through the dread they felt
at seeing the dead man rise up to slay them. And Geraint
looked upon Enid, and he was grieved for two causes ; one
was, to see that Enid had lost her colour and her wonted
aspect ; and the other, to know that she was in the right.
" Lady," said he, " knowest thou where our horses are ? "
" I know, Lord, where thy horse is," she replied, " but I
know not where is the other. Thy horse is in the house
yonder." So he went to the house, and brought forth his
horse, and mounted him, and took up Enid from the ground,
and placed her upon the horse with him. And he rode for
ward. And their road lay between two hedges. And the
night was gaining on the day. And lo ! they saw behind
them the shafts of spears betwixt them and the sky, and they
heard the trampling of horses, and the noise of a host ap
proaching. " I hear something following us," said he, " and
I will put thee on the other side of the hedge." And thus he
did. And thereupon, behold, a knight pricked towards him,
and couched his lance. When Enid saw this, she cried out,
saying, " Oh ! chieftain, whoever thou art, what renown wilt
thou gain by slaying a dead man ? " " Oh ! Heaven," said
GERAINT THE SON OP KRBIN. 181
he, " is it Geraint ? " " Yes, in truth," said she. " And who
art thou ? " "I am the Little King," he answered, " coming
to thy assistance, for I heard that thou wast in trouble. And
if thou hadst followed my advice, none of these hardships
would have befallen thee." " Nothing can happen," said
Geraint, "without the will of Heaven, though much good
results from counsel." " Yes," said the Little King, " and I
know good counsel for thee now. Come with me to the
court of a son-in-law of my sister, which is near here, and
thou shalt have the best medical assistance in the kingdom."
" I will do so gladly," said Geraint. And Enid was placed
upon the horse of one of the Little King's squires, and they
went forward to the Baron's palace. And they were received
there with gladness, and they met with hospitality and atten
tion. And the next morning they went to seek physicians
and it was not long before they came, and they attended
Geraint until he was perfectly well. And while Geraint was
under medical care, the Little King caused his armour to be
repaired, until it was as good as it had ever been. And they
remained there a fortnight and a month.
Then the Little King said to Geraint, " Now will we go
towards my own Court, to take rest, and amuse ourselves."
" Not so," said Geraint, " we will first journey for one day
more, and return again." "With all my heart," said the
Little King, " do thou go then." And early in the day they
set forth. And more gladly and more joyfully did Enid
journey with them that day than she had ever done. And
they came to the main road. And when they reached a place
where the road divided in two, they beheld a man on foot
coming towards them along one of these roads, and Gwiffert
asked the man whence he came. " I come," said he, " from
an errand in the country." "Tell me," said Geraint, "which
is the best for me to follow of these two roads ? " " That is
the best for thee to follow," answered he, " for if thou goest
by this one, thou wilt never return. Below us," said he,
" there is a hedge of mist, and within it are enchanted games,
and no one who has gone there has ever returned. And
182 GERAINT THE SON OF ER131N.
the Court of the Earl Owain is there, and he permits no

one to go to lodge in the town, except he will go to his Court."
" I declare to Heaven," said Geraint, " that we will take the
lower road." And they went along it until they came to
the town. And they took the fairest and pleasantest place in
the town for their lodging. And while they were thus, be
hold, a young man came to them, and greeted them. " Heaven
be propitious to thee," said they. "Good Sirs," said he,
" what preparations are you making here ? " " "We are taking
up our lodging," said they, " to pass the night." " It is not
the custom with him who owns the town," he answered,
" to permit any of gentle birth, unless they come to stay in
his Court, to abide here ; therefore, come ye to the Court."
" We will come, gladly," said Geraint. And they went with
the page, and they were joyfully received. And the Earl
came to the hall to meet them, and he commanded the tables
to be laid. And they washed, and sat down. And this is
the order in which they sat, Geraint on one side of the Earl,
and Enid on the other side, and next to Enid the Little King,
and then the Countess next to Geraint ; and all after that as
became their rank. Then Geraint recollected the games, and
thought that he should not go to them ; and on that account
he did not eat. Then the Earl looked npon Geraint, and con
sidered, and he bethought him that his not eating was because
of the games, and it grieved him that he had ever established
those games, were it only on account of losing such a youth
as Geraint. And if Geraint had asked him to abolish the
games, he would gladly have done so. Then the Earl said to
Geraint, "What thought occupies thy mind, that thou dost
not eat ? If thou hesitatest about going to the games, thou
shalt not go, and no other of thy rank shall ever go either."
" Heaven reward thee," said Geraint, " but I wish nothing
better than to go to the games, and to be shown the way
thither." " If that is what thou dost prefer, thou shalt obtain
it willingly." " I do prefer it, indeed," said he. Then they
ate, and they were amply served, and they had a variety of
gifts, and abundance of liquor. And when they had finished
eating they arose. And Geraint called for his horse and his
armour, and he accoutred both himself and his horse. And
all the hosts went forth until they came to the side of the
hedge, and the hedge was so lofty, that it reached as high as
they could see in the air, and upon every stake in the hedge,
except two, there was the head of a man, and the number of
stakes throughout the hedge was very great. Then said the
Little King, " May no one go in with the chieftain ? " " No
one may," said Earl Owain. " Which way can I enter ? "
inquired Geraint. " I know not," said Owain, " but enter by
the way that thou wilt, and that seemeth easiest to thee."
Then fearlessly and unhesitatingly Geraint dashed forward
into the mist. And on leaving the mist, he came to a large
orchard ; and in the orchard he saw an open space, wherein
was a tent of red satin ; and the door of the tent was open,
and an apple-tree stood in front of the door of the tent ; and
on a branch of the apple-tree hung a huge hunting-horn.
Then he dismounted, and went into the tent ; and there was
no one in the tent save one maiden sitting in a golden chair,
and another chair was opposite to her, empty. And Geraint
went to the empty chair, and sat down therein. " Ah ! chief
tain," said the maiden, " I would not counsel thee to sit in that
chair." " Wherefore ? " said Geraint. " The man to whom
that chair belongs has never suffered another to sit in it."
" I care not," said Geraint, " though it displease him that I
sit in the chair." And thereupon they heard a mighty tumult
around the tent. And Geraint looked to see what was the
cause of the tumult. And he beheld without a knight mounted
upon a warhorse, proudly snorting, high-mettled, and large of
bone ; and a robe of honour in two parts was upon him and
upon his horse, and beneath it was plenty of armour. " Tell
me, chieftain," said he to Geraint, " who it was that bade thee
sit there ? " " Myself," answered he. " It was wrong of
thee to do me this shame and disgrace. Arise, and do me
satisfaction for thine insolence." Then Geraint arose; and
they encountered immediately ; and they broke a set of
lanoes, and a second set, and a third; and they gave each
other fierce and frequent strokes ; and at last Geraint became

enraged, and he urged on his horse, and rushed upon him, and
gave him a thrust on the centre of his shield, so that it was
split, and so that the head of his lance went through his
armour, and his girths were broken, and he himself was borne
headlong to the ground the length of Geraint' s lance and arm,
over his horse's crupper. "Oh, my Lord!" said he, "thy
mercy, and thou shalt have what thou wilt." " I only desire,"
said Geraint, "that this game shall no longer exist here, nor
the hedge of mist, nor magic, nor enchantment." " Thou
shalt have this gladly, Lord," he replied. " Cause, then, the
mist to disappear from this place," said Geraint. " Sound
yonder horn," said he, " and when thou soundest it, the mist
will vanish ; but it will not go hence unless the horn be blown
by the knight by whom I am vanquished." And sad and
sorrowful was Enid where she remained, through anxiety con
cerning Geraint. Then Geraint went and sounded the horn.
And at the first blast he gave, the mist vanished. And all the
hosts came together, and they all became reconciled to each
other. And the Earl invited Geraint and the Little King to
stay with him that night. And the next morning they sepa
rated. And Geraint went towards his own dominions; and
thenceforth he reigned prosperously, and his warlike fame
and splendour lasted with renown and honour both to him
and to Enid from that time forth.
(Cardiff Castle : the Keep, as it appealed in 1840.)

NOTES TO GERAINT THE SON OF ERBIN.
Easter—Christmas—Whitsuntide. —Page 141.

Ritson, in a note to his " Metrical Romancees," mentions, that
our early historians, as Roger Hoveden, Matthew Paris, &c, often
advert to the custom of the ancient monarchs of France and England,
of holding a cour plehiere, or plenary court, at the three principal
easts of Easter, Whitsuntide, and Christmas. On those occasions
" they were attended by the earls and barons of the kingdom, their
ladys and children ; who dine'd at the royal table with great pomp
and eclat ; minstrels flocking thither from all parts ; justs and tour
naments being perform'd, and various other kinds of divertisements,
which lasted several days."—III. 235.
These three principal festivals, or prif wyl, " Pasc, Nadolic, a Sul-
gwyn," are commemorated as such in one of the Triads, lvii.
Churches were set apart for Mass.—Page 141.

In another part of this work, the word Ofleren is rendered offering ;
but here it has been thought advisable to use the more general term
GERAINT THE SON OF ERB1N.
Mass, although the former seems to correspond best with the language
of the day.
Thus Chaucer, in his description of the Wif of Bathe, tells us, that
" In all the parish wif ne was ther non,
That to the offring before hire shulde gon,
And if ther did, certain so wroth was she,
That she was out of alle charitee."
Pro. v. 451-4.
Steward of the Household.—Page 141.

He was the chief of all the officers of the Court, who had each to
pay him a fee of twenty-four pence upon their installation. On him
devolved the important care of providing food for the kitchen, and
liquor for the mead-cellar ; and he had the charge of the king's share
of booty, until the king desired to dispose of it, when he was allowed
to choose from it a steer, as his own share. It was his particular duty
" to swear for the king." Besides his clothes, and four horse-shoes,
and various perquisites of the skins of beasts, he was entitled to a
" male hawk, from the master of the hawks, every feast of St.
Michael."—Welsh Laws.
Master of the Household.— Page 141.

The post of Master of the Household was one of much honour and
distinction ; and in the Laws of Howel Dda it is ordained that it
should be filled by the king's son or nephew, or one of dignity suf
ficient for so high a situation. Gwalchmai was therefore peculiarly
eligible to it from the relation in which he stood to King Arthur.
The privileges attached to this office were important, while its duties
do not appear to have been of a very arduous nature ; one of them
consisted in giving the harp into the hands of the domestic bard at
the three great festivals.
The Master of the Household had the largest and most central
house in the town for his lodging. He was entitled to the second
most honourable dish in the Court, and to be served first after the
king ; and his allowance was three dishes and three hornfuls of the
best liquor in the Court. Besides other perquisites, some of which
were in money, he claimed his clothes at the three great festivals,
and also his horses, his dogs, his hawks, and his arms, from the king ;
and from the smith of the Court he had four horse-shoes once a year,
with their complement of nails.
NOTES. 187
Grynn, and Pen Pighon, &c.— rage 142.
These personages appear to have received their names altogether
from the office which they held ; and we cannot expect to find any
very authentic records concerning " Sight the son of Seer," and " Ear
the son of Hearer," which is the iuterpretation of Drem vab Drem-
hitid, and Clust vab Clustveinyd.
To these two worthies, however, the following allusion is made in
a composition attributed to Iolo Goch, 1400.
"When will that be?
" When Bleuddyn Rabi Rhol is as quick-sighted as Tremydd ap
Tremhidydd, the man who could discern a mote in the sunbeam, in
the four corners of the world.
" When the ears of deaf Deicin Fongam of Machynlleth are as
good as those of Clustfain ap Clustfeiuydd, the man who could hear
the sound of the dewdrop in June falling from the grass stalk, in the
four corners of the world."
It may be well to remark in this place, that several of the charac
ters which are incidentally introduced in Geraint ab Erbin, appear
again in others of the Mabinogion, where they will be more par
ticularly noticed.
Diapered Satin.—Page 142.

I have ventured thus to translate the words " Pali caerawg,"
though the strict meaning of " caerawg " is " mural " ; and Dr. Owen
Pughe, in his Dictionary, gives it the signification of " kersey-woven,"
as applied to a particular kind of cloth, and says that the epithet is
derived " from the similitude of its texture to the work in stone
walls." In speaking of satin, it seemed, however, more appropriate
to use the term diapered, which Wharton, who has a long note upon
the subject (Eng. Poe. II. 9, 1824), believes, properly, to signify
"embroidering on a rich ground, as tissue, cloth of gold, <fec." Thus,
in the Squire of Low Degree, the King of Hungary promises his
daughter " clothes of fyne golde " for her head.
" With damaske whyte and asure blewe,
Well dyaperd with lyllyes newe."
And Chaucer talks of
* * "a stede bay, trapped in stele,
Covered with cloth of gold diapred wele."
Cant. T. v. 2159.
Forest of Dean.— Page 142.

The history of the Forest of Dean is much too interesting and im
portant to be compressed within the limits of a note ; the very
derivation of its name having alone afforded materials for very
lengthened discussion. Many suppose that it was so called in con
sequence of the Danes having taken up their residence there ; and
Giraldus Cambrensis appears to have inclined to this opinion, at least
if we may judge from the name by which he designates it, Danubiae
Sylva, which is similar to that used by Asser Menevensis, in
speaking of Denmark.* It argues, however, greatly against this
etymology, that Dean was a common name in forests among the
Celts, both of Britain and Gaul. Besides Ardennes in France, and
Arden in Warwickshire, many forest towns still bear the appellation,
as Dean in Rockingham Forest, Dean in the New Forest, <tc. From
this circumstance, it has occurred to me that the name was very pro
bably derived from the Welsh or Celtic word din, which signifies " a
fortified mount, or fort." For Sharon Turner informs us, on the
authority of Cresar, Strabo, and Diodorus Siculus, that the Britons
" cleared a space in the wood, on which they built their huts and
folded their cattle ; and they fenced the avenues by ditches and
barriers of trees. Such a collection of houses formed one oftheir towns."
—Ang.-Sax. B. I. c. v. Din is the root of Dinas, the Welsh word
in actual use for a city.
The Rev. T. Price, in his History of Wales, gives it as his opinion,
that the Forest of Dean was the original Feryllwg, or land betwixt
the Wye and the Severn, which at one time formed a part of one of
the five divisions of Wales. The name of Feryllwg, corrupted into
Ferleg and Ferreg, he supposes to have been given to this district
from the iron-works with which it abounded, the word Feryll signi
fying "a worker in metal." It appears also to have been considered
as one of the three Gwents, and to have borne the appellation of
" Gwent Coch yn y Dena," or the Red Gwent in the Deans, for which
epithet it is most likely indebted to the colour of its ferruginous soil.
In the time of Giraldus Cambrensis, this district " amply supplied
Gloucester with iron and venison." The renowned Spanish Armada
was strictly charged to destroy its noble oaks, which were then con
sidered of the highest importance to our naval pre-eminence.
I will not here enter into detail upon the mining history of the
Forest of Dean, as I shall probably have occasion again to allude to
• Asser Menevensis speaks of a great fleet of Pagans coming to Britain, " de
Danubio."—Annates de rebus gestis -<Elfredi.
NOTES. 189
it It is said that the peculiar and extensive mining privileges of

its inhabitants were confirmed to them by the grant of one of our
sovereigns, in acknowledgment for the good service done him by
its archers against the Scots ; for, like most foresters, they were
skilful bowmen. The yew-tree, sacred to archers, which is still
seen to mark the site of almost every ancient mine in the forest,
might seem to have a fanciful allusion to the nature of the grant,
and a lingering desire to perpetuate the recollection of its origin.
Chief Huntsman. —Page 142.

In the Laws of Howel Dda, this important personage ranks as the
tenth officer of the Court, and his duties and immunities are very
clearly defined. From Christmas to February he was to be with
the king when required, and took the seat appointed for him in the
palace, which was " about the recess with the domestic chaplain."
After the 8th of February he was to go with his dogs, his horns,
and his greyhounds to hunt the young stags until the feast of
St. John, which is in the middle of summer ; and during that time
he was not bound to make compensation (that is, in a Court of Law)
to any one who had a claim upon him, except it were one of his
fellow-officers. He was to hunt deer from the feast of St John till
the ninth day of winter ; and unless he could be taken before he had
risen from his bed, and put on his boots, he was not obliged to
render compensation to any who had a claim upon him during all
that period. From the ninth day of winter to the 1st of December
he went to hunt badgers, and was not accountable for his conduct
to any except his fellow-officers ; and after that he was employed in
sharing the skins of the beasts that had been slain, to a portion of
which he had himself a right. His lodging was in the kilnhouse,
and his allowance was three hornfuls of liquor and a dish of meat.
The value of bis horn was one pound, and it was to be of buffalo-horn
(buelin).
Chief Page.—Page 142.

The Chief Page, or Penn Mackwy, appears to have been the officer
designated in the Welsh Laws as the Gwas Ystavel), and, as that
name implies, he was required to attend to the arrangements of the
king's chamber. It was his business to seek the burden of straw for
the king to lie on, to make his bed, and to spread the clothes upon
it ; and in his keeping were the king's treasures, " his cups, his
horns, and his rings," for the losing of which he was punished. He
lodged in the royal chamber, and, except during the three great
festivals, acted as cupbearer to the king.
GWENHWYVAR SAID TO ARTHUR, " WlLT THOU PERMIT ME, LORD,

TO GO TO-MORROW TO SEE AND HEAR THE HUNT OF THE STAG t "
—Page 142.
It was formerly very customary for ladies to join in the pleasures
of the chase ; and Strutt informs us that when they did so it was
usual to draw the game into a small compass by means of inclosures ;
and temporary stands were erected for them, from which, when not
contented with being merely spectators of the sport, they shot at the
game with arrows as it passed by. This appears to be the manner
in which the hunting party was to be conducted, which was promised
by the king of Hungary to his daughter in the old romance of the
Squire of Low Degree, where he tells her,
" A lese of grehound with you to stryke,
And hert and hynde and other lyke,
Ye shal be set at such a tryst,
That herte and hynde shall come to your fyst."—765-8.
Strutt is of opinion that the ladies had even separate hunting
parties of their own.—Sports and Pastimes, p. 1 2.
Give it to whom he pleases.—Page 143.

Gawain (Gwalchmai) gives a different counsel in the French Ro
mance of Eric and Enide, and endeavours to dissuade the King from
the hunting of the White Stag.
" Monsignor Gauvain ne plot mie
Quant il ot la parole oie.
Sire, fet-il, de ceste cace
N'aurois vous ja ne gré, ne grace.
Nous savons bien trestot piega
Quel costume le blanc cerf a ;
Qui le blanc cerf ocire puet,
Par raison baisier li estuet,
Le plus bele a quanqu'il cort,
Des puceles de vostre cort ;
Mais en porroit venir molt grant
Error, A il caians cinq cens
KOTES. 191
Damoiselles de halt paraiges
Filles a Roi gentis et saiges
Ne n'i a nul qui n'ait ami
Chevalier vail lant et hardi
Qui tost desrainer la voldroit
Ou fust a tort, ou fust a droit
Que cele qui li atalente
Ert la plus bele et la plus gente.
Li Rois respont ce sai ge bien
Mais porce nel lairrai jo rien ;
Mais ne puest estre contredite
Parole, puisque Rois l'a dite."
This recalls the words which Chaucer puts into the mouth of
" Pluto, that is the King of Faerie," when urged by his Queen to
deviate from a resolution once declared :
" I am a king, it sit me not to lie."
Cant Tales, L 10189.
Cadyrkerth the Son of Porthawr Gandwy. —Page 143.

Cadyrnerth the son of Porthawr Gandwy appears to have been a
very courtly personage, and a man of most polished manners ; as in
one Triad we find him ranked with the courteous Gwalchmai for his
urbanity towards guests and strangers ;* and in another he is said to
have preferred residing with King Arthur to exercising the sovereignty
over his own dominions, which was, doubtless, in some measure because
the refined habits of the Court were more congenial to a person of
his cultivation and taste.
" The three sovereigns of the Court of Arthur, Goronwy the son of
Echel Vorddwytwll, and Cadreith the son of Porthfawr Gadw, and
Ffleidwr Fflam the son of Godo ; f because they were princes possess
ing territory and dominion, and in preference to which they remained
as knights in the Court of Arthur, as that was considered the chief
of honour and gentility in the opinion of the Three Just Knights." }
Nor is this characteristic lost sight of in the present Tale, for, a
little further on, while every one else is engrossed by the pleasures
of the chase, we find all Cadyrnerth's ideas of propriety violated by
Gwenhwyvar's riding up with no other retinue than a single hand-
* T. xc. The other was Gadwy the son of Geraint.

t T. xv. X T. 114.
maiden ; and he hastens to Arthur, to make him acquainted with so

flagrant a breach of etiquette, who instantly rectifies it by command
ing Gildas and the scholars of the Court to attend her.
Goreu the Son of Custennin. —Page 143.

He is recorded as the deliverer of Arthur from the three imprison
ments assigned to him in the Triads.
" The three supreme prisoners of the Island of Britain, Llyr Lle-
diaith, in the prison of Euroswydd "Wledig,* and Madoc, or Mabon,t
son of Modron, and Geyr the son of Geyrybed, or Geiryoed ; t and
one more exalted than the three, and that was Arthur, who was for
three nights in the Castle of Oeth and Anoeth, and three nights in
the prison of Wen Pendragon, and three nights in the dark prison
under the stone And one youth released him from these
three prisons ; that youth was Goreu the son of Custennin, his
cousin."— Tr. L.
The Castle of Oeth and Anoeth is spoken of in the Mabinogion
and in another series of the Triads it is named as the prison of the
above-mentioned Geyr. In this version, Arthur is not alluded to,
but all the members of the families of the other prisoners are said to
have shared their captivity, which is designated as the most complete
ever known to have taken place.—Tr. 61.
Heaven prosper thee, Geraint.— Page 144.

The name of Geraint ab Erbin is familiar to all lovers of ancient
Welsh literature, through the beautiful Elegy composed on him by
his fellow warrior, the venerable bard Llywarch Hen. He was a
Prince of Dyvnaint (Devon), and fell fighting valiantly against the
Saxons, under Arthur's banner, in the battle of Llongborth.
" Before Geraint, the terror of the foe,
I saw steeds fatigued with the toil of battle,
And after the shout was given, how dreadful was the onset.
At Llongborth I saw the tumult,

And the slain drenched in gore,
And red-stained warriors from the assault of the foe.
* Probably Ostorins, the Roman commander.
f In the Triads contained in the Llyfr Coch, these names are written
Mabon, and Geiryoed (Myv. Arch. II. 6) ; and in the Mabinogion it is Mabon
vab Modron.
NOTES. 193
Before Geraint, the scourge of the enemy,

I saw steeds white with foam,
And after the shout of battle, a fearful torrent.
At Llongborth I saw the raging of slaughter,
And an excessive carnage,
And warriors blood-stained from the assault of Geraint.
At Llongborth was Geraint slain,

A valiant warrior from the woodlands of Devon,
Slaughtering his foes as he felL"*
Llongborth, where this fatal conflict took plsce, is by some

believed to have been Portsmouth, and the name literally signifies
the Haven of Ships. But the Rev. T. Price supposes it to be Lang-
port, in Somersetshire. This opinion he founds on the similarity of
the names, and the locality ; Langport being situated on the river
Parret, the Peryddon of the Welsh bards, and the Pedridan of the
Saxon Chronicle.
From the Triads we learn that Geraint was also a naval com
mander. Gwenwjnwyn the son of Nav, and March the son of
Meirchion, are ranked with him as such ; and we are told that
with each of them were six score ships, having six score men in
each.—Tr. 68.
In the Gododin of Aneurin he is spoken of in terms of high
eulogium.—Myv. Arch. I. 13.
Geraint ab Erbin has had the honour of being canonized. It ia
said that a church was dedicated to him atCaerffawydd, or Hereford.
Four of his sons, Selyf, Cyngan, Iestin, and Cado, or Cataw, are
also included in the list of Saints, and were members of the college of
St. Garmon. Garwy, another ot his sons, appears in a very different
character from his brothers, in the Triads, where he is celebrated
as one of the three amorous and courteous knights of the Court of
Arthur.—Tr. 119.
We can hardly identify Geraint ab Erbin with the Geraint
Caruwys or Garwys of Gruffydd ab Arthur, who, in the Brut, is
called Gerin de Cbartres ; and in Robert of Gloucester, " Geryn erl of
Carcoys." This hero figures in Arthur's very latest battles, whereas
Geraint ab Erbin, as we have already seen, fell at Llongborth, in
• See the remainder of the Elegy in Llywarch Hen's Poems, edited by

Dr. Owen Pughe.
ifabinogion. 0
194 GEKA1NT THE SON OF ERBIN.
an encounter with the Saxons, which must have taken place at an

earlier period of that monarch's reign ;—according to Dr. O. Pughe,
about the year 530.*
In the Life of Saint Teiliaw, the second bishop of Llandaff, men
tion occurs of a person named Gerennius, and an account is given of
his death, which is described as having taken place very differently
from that of the subject of Llywarch Hell's Elegy. It is probable,
however, that the same person is alluded to ; but the whole narra
tive is of too legendary a character to be received as history, espe
cially in opposition to the testimony of an eye-witness. In this
composition, it is stated that Saint Teiliaw, when retiring to Armorica
with a number of his countrymen, in order to escape from a pesti
lence, called Pestis Flava,f which was then desolating Britain, was,
on his way, hospitably entertained by Gerennius, or Geraint, King
of Cornwall, to whom, on his departure, the Saint confidently pro
mised that he should not die until he had received the Holy Com
munion at his hands. Accordingly when the King approached his
death, Teiliaw was miraculously informed of his situation, and
immediately made preparations to fulfil his promise, and at the same
time to return to his own country, the pestilence having then subsided.
As they were going to embark, Teiliaw desired his followers to take
with them a huge sarcophagus, which he had destined for the recep
tion of Gerennius's body ; and on their declaring their inability to
comply, on account of its great magnitude, inasmuch as ten yoke of
oxen could scarcely move it from its place, the Saint instructed them
that it should, by Divine assistance, be conveyed across the sea before
the prow of the ship ; which was accordingly done, and the sar
cophagus reached the shore without the intervention of human aid.
Having landed at the port called Dingerein,J Teiliaw proceeded
forthwith to visit the King, whom he found still alive, but who,
afrer the ministration of the Holy Ordinance, immediately expired ;
and his remains were placed by the Saint in the above-mentioned
sarcophagus. §
* Poems of Llywarch Hen. p. 3.

t Called in Welsh " Y Fad Felen."
J Perhaps Gerrans, near Falmonth, which, as Hals suggests, was probably
named after Geraint.—(Davies Gilbert's Hist, of Cornwall, II. 50.) The Welsh
Chronicle mentions the Castle of Dingeraint (Cilgerran), on the river Teivy,
in Pembrokeshire, as fortified in the 12th century ; bat it is more likely that
the former is the place referred to here.
§ The Life nf Saint Teiliaw forms part of the Liber Landavensis, pnblished
by the Welsh Manuscript Society.
NOTES. 195
Sparrow-hawk. — Page 148.

A similar prize was contended for at the nuptials of Maximilian
and Mary of Burgundy, when there were great jousts and rejoicing.
In the very interesting Chronicle of the events of the reign of these
two illustrious persons, translated from the Flemish by M. Octave
Delepierre, and published at Brussels, it is recorded that upon that
joyful occasion, " Le Margrave de Brandebourg remporta un des prix,
qui consistait en un faucon d'or."
That thou wilt go to Gwenhwyvar.—Page 151.

This custom of sending a conquered foe as a present to the victorious
knight's lady-love forms a frequent incident in chivalric Romances.
It is admirably ridiculed by Don Quixote, when he desires the
released criminals to go and offer themselves to his Dulcinea.
In the old French poem, entitled the Combat des Trente, which
celebrates the encounter which took place in Brittany between thirty
English and thirty French knights, during the reign of Edward III,
Pembroke calls to Beaumanoir to surrender, telling him that he will
not kill him, but will send him as a present to the lady of his
affections.
"Rent toi tost Biaumanoir je ne tochiray mie,
Mais je feray de toy un present a ma mie."
Edeyrn the Son of Ncdd.—Page 151.

Of Edeyrn ap Nudd but little is known, except that he was one of
the most valiant knights of Arthur's Court, and that in the celebrated
expedition against the Emperor of Bome he was sent by his royal
master, with five thousand men under his command, to the aid of
Gawain and the other ambassadors to the Roman camp, who were
treacherously assailed in returning from their mission. Gruffydd ab
Arthur. Myv. Arch. II. 339. In Wace's Brut, L 12,336 (as in
the romance of Eric and Enide), he is called Yder le fils Nut,
or Nu.
In the account of the antiquities of Glastonbury, attributed to
William of Malmesbury, the author says, " It is written in the Acts
of the illustrious King Arthur, that at a certain festival of the Nativity,
at Caerleon, that monarch having conferred military distinction upon
a valiant youth of the name of Ider the son of King Nuth, in order
to prove him, conducted him to the hill of Brentenol, for the purpose
O 2
of fighting three most atrocious giants. And Ider going before the
rest of the company, attacked the giants valorously, and slew them.
And when Arthur came up he found him apparently dead, having
fainted with the immense toil he had undergone, whereupon he
reproached himself with having been the cause of his death, through
his tardiness in coming to his aid ; and arriving at Glastonbury, he
appointed there four-and-twenty monks to say mass for his soul, and
endowed them most amply with lands, and with gold and silver,
chalices, and other ecclesiastical ornaments."
The name of Edeyrn ab Nudd occurs in the Catalogue of Welsh
Saints, where he is noticed as a bard, who embraced a life of sanc
tity, and to whom the Chapel of Bodedeyrn, under Holyhead, is
dedicated.*
Sat according to their precedence in honour.—Page 152.

Precedence at table was formerly considered a point of great im
portance, and was even a subject of legislation with the Welsh. In
the Laws of Howel Dda, all the officers of the palace have their
places in the hall very particularly allotted to them ; some having
their seats above, and some below the partition.t This partition may
be supposed to answer to the raised platform called the dais, still
seen at the upper end of all ancient baronial halls, and where the
table was placed, at which the lord and his guests, and the most
distinguished of his retainers, sat at meat. The honour of being
admitted to it was greatly esteemed, of which innumerable instances
might be adduced from passages in the older writers. Chaucer, to
give a favourable idea of the consideration in which some of the
characters in his Prologue were held, says,
" Wei seined eche of hem a fayre burgeis,
To sitten in a gild halle, on the deis."—v. 372.
This is how Arthur hunted the Stag.—Page 153.

Strutt gives a description of the various preparations formerly made
or a royal hunting party, from a treatise, entitled, " The Maister of
the Game," written for the use of Prince Henry, by the Master of
the Game to Henry IV. It exists in the Harleian MSS., and is an
enlargement of one previously composed in French, by William Twici,
or Twety, grand huntsman to Edward II. The name of John Gyflbrd
* Reea's Welsh Saints, p. 298. t Myv. Arch. III. 363.

NOTES. 197
is coupled with that of Twety in an English version, of nearly the

same date. It was from these two that the treatise upon hunting,
contained in the Book of St. Alban's, was compiled.
As the passage is very curious, I shall make no apology for giving
it at length.
" When the king shall think proper to hunt the hart in the parks
or forests, either with bows or greyhounds, the master of the game,
and the park-keeper, or the forester, being made acquainted with his
pleasure, shall see that everything be provided necessary for the
purpose. It is the duty of the sheriff of the county, wherein the
hunting was to be performed, to furnish fit stabling for the king's
horses, and carts to take away the dead game. The hunters and
officers under the forester, with their assistants, were commanded to
erect a sufficient number of temporary buildings for the reception of
the royal family and their train ; and, if I understand my author
clearly, these buildings are directed to be covered with green boughs,
to answer the double purpose of shading the company and the hounds
from the heat of the sun, and to protect them from any inconveniency
in case of foul weather. Early in the morning, upon the day appointed
for the sport, the master of the game, with the officers deputed by
him, ought to see that the greyhounds were properly placed, and the
persons nominated to blow the horn, whose office was to watch what
kind of game was turned out, and, by the manner of winding his
horn, signify the same to the company, that they might be prepared
for its reception upon its quitting the cover. Proper persons were then
to be appointed, at different parts of the inclosure, to keep the popu
lace at due distance. The yeomen of the king's bow, and the grooms
of his tutored greyhounds, had in charge to secure the king's standing,
and prevent any noise being made to disturb the game before the
arrival of his majesty. When the royal family and the nobility were
conducted to the places appointed for their reception, the master of
the game, or his lieutenant, sounded three long mootes, for the un
coupling of the hart hounds. The game was then driven from the
cover, and turned by the huntsmen and the hounds so as to pass by
the stands belonging to the king and queen, and such of the nobility
as were permitted to have a share in the pastime ; who might either
shoot at them with their bows, or pursue them with the greyhounds,
at their pleasure. We are then informed that the game which the
king, the queen, or the princes or princesses, slew with their own
bows, or particularly commanded to be let run, was not liable to any
claim by the huntsmen or their attendants ; but of all the rest that
was killed they had certain parts assigued to them by the master of
the game, according to the ancient custom."—Sports and Pastimes,
18, 19.
Cavaix was his name.—Page 153.

The dog Cavall is mentioned in another of the Mabinogion—that
of Kilhwch and Olwen.
Horn for slaying.— Page 153.

The several incidents of the chase were wont to be announced by
the different ways in which the horn was sounded. A list of these
various modes of winding the horn is given in the Book of Sir
Tristram, where we find,—
" 14. The death of the bucke eyther with bowe hounds or gre-
houndes,—One longe note.
" 15. Knowledge of the same,—Two short and one longe.
" 16. The death of the bucke with houndes,—Two longe notes and
the rechace." *
Gildas the son of Caw. —Page 153.

Gildas was one of the numerous sons of Caw, who sought refuge
with Arthur, and were hospitably received by him, when their father,
who was a prince of Strath Clyde, was expelled from his possessions
by the inroads of the Saxons. It is said that Gildas was a member
of the congregation of Cattwg, and also that he established a school,
or college, at Caer Badon, or Bath. He is well known as the author
of an " Epistle " on the vices and miseries of his country, and of the
Lamentations over the Destruction of Britain, which procured for
him the title of the British Jeremiah. Some identify him with
the poet Aneurin, but his history has been a subject of much
controversy.
Cardiff.—Page 155.
Whether regarded as the scene of Roman t and Norman enter
prise, or of British patriotism and valour,! Cardiff is a spot to which
* Reprint of the Book of St. Alban's, p. 83, the original edition of which by
Wynkn de Worde, bl. blet. 1486, was the first treatise upon hunting that ever
issued from the press.
t It is asserted by some that Cardiff was known to the Bomans by the
name of Tibia Amnis.
% Besides the contests upon record, the situation of Cardiff makes it pro
NOTES. 199
much historical interest must ever attach. Its annals, however, do
not always refer to deeds of open and honourable warfare ; and some
of the events which have taken place within its precincts are of a
nature to excite feelings of pity and regret.
Among the early recollections that its name revives, is that of the
unfortunate Robert, Duke of Normandy, who suffered there his six-
and-twenty years of hopeless captivity. The tower which tradition
has assigned as the dungeon he occupied, is pointed out at the Castle
to this day, and is a most venerable ruin ;* and there is still extant
a spirited poem in the Welsh language, which he is said to have
composed to beguile the tedious hours of his imprisonment. It is
addressed to a solitary oak on the summit of Pennarth Point, which
was visible from the scene of his sufferings, and is as follows, together
with the explanatory heading.
" When Robert, Prince of Normandy, was imprisoned in Cardiff
Castle, by Robert, son of Amon, he acquired the Welsh language,
and seeing the Welsh bards there at the festivals, he admired them,
and became a bard ; and these are verses which he composed,—
' Oak that grew on battle mound,
Where crimson torrents drench'd the ground ;—
Woe waits the maddening broils where sparkling wine goes round !
Oak that grew on verdant plain,
Where gush'd the blood of warriors shun j—
The wretch in hatred's grasp may well of woes complain !
Oak that grew in verdure strong,
After bloodshed's direful wrong ;—
Woe waits the wretch who sits the sons of strife among !
Oak that grew on greensward bourn,
Its once fair branches terapest-torn ;—
Whom envy's hate pursues shall long in anguish mourn
bable that it was the scene of many others of which no notice remains. From
the expression,
" And on armed band
Around Cogawn Penardd,"
it is possible that it is the neighbourhood of Cardiff that is allnded to in the
Poem called Armes Brydain (Myv. Arch. I. 49), and attributed to Taliesin, as
there is a place called Cogan Penarth in the vicinity of this town.
* A representation of this tower is introduced in the first vignette to the
tale of Geraint ab Erbin, while the last vignette presents a view of the Keep
as it appeared in 1840 and 1811. Unhappily the hand of restoration has since
defaced the beauty of those interesting ruins.
Oak that grew on woodcliff high,

Where Severn's waves to winds reply ;—
Woe waits the wretch whose years tell not that death is nigh !
Oak that grew through year of woes,
Mid battle broil's unequall'd throes ; —
Forlorn is he who prays that death his life may close ! *
About the year 1091, the Normans were called into Glamorgan
shire by the native princes, who were in a state of enmity and war
fare, and unwisely sought for foreign aid against each other. The
Normans took advantage of their weakness and dissensions, and
remained to conquer the province for themselves. Their leader,
Robert Fitz-Hammon, while he divided the principal lordships among
the twelve knights who had accompanied him in the expedition,
retained that of Cardiff, as the most important, for his own portion
of the spoil. His family did not, however, enjoy his newly-acquired
possessions in uninterrupted tranquillity ; for his descendant, William,
Earl of Gloucester, having endeavoured to wrest a large tract of
mountainous and woody country from a native chieftain, named
Ivor Bach, or Ivor the little ; " a man," as Giraldus describes him,
" of small stature, but of immense courage," t provoked the resolute
Welshman to hostilities. One of Ivor's strongholds is said to have
been the fortress of Castell Coch, whose beautiful ruin is one of the
most picturesque ornaments of the lovely valley of the Taff; another
was the rugged mountain-keep of Morlais, whose mound still forms
a striking feature in the outline of the rising ground behind
Merthyr and Dowlais, and in the vicinity of which is a spot J which
local tradition yet points out as the scene of one of his battles.
The Castle of Cardiff was at that time surrounded with high walls,
guarded by one hundred and twenty soldiers, a numerous body of
archers, and a strong watch ; the city also contained many stipen
diary troops. Notwithstanding all these precautions, however, the
daring chief, descending from his fastnesses, scaled the castle
walls in the dead of night, and carried off the Earl and Countess,
together with their only son, into the woods ; nor did he set them
free until he not only recovered all of which he had been unjustly
* The original poem is printed in the " Gentleman's Magazine" for 1794.
The translation given in the text is dne to Mr. Taliesin Williams (ablolo), and
first appeared in the notes to his poem of " Cardiff Castle."
t Giraldns Cambrensis, from whom this account is taken.
X Pant Cad Ivor, which is, according to the tradition of the place, the Valley
of the Battle of Ivor.
NOTES. 201
deprived, but also had ceded to him a large additional extent of

territory.
In a curious old composition, printed in 1825, by Sir Thomas
Phillipps, and entitled, " A Book of Glamorganshire Antiquities, by
Rice Merrick, Esq., 1578," it is mentioned that " the Earle gave him
of his owne Landes a Meadow near Romney, of whose name it is at
this day called Morva Yvor. And unto Griffith, Sonne to Yvor Petit,
another Medowe of his name, called Morva Ryffidd, which at this
day retayne those names."—29, 30. The same authority goes on to
state that Sir Gilbert de Clare, successor to the Earl of Gloucester,
gave his daughter in marriage to Griffith the son of Ivor, "by whome
hee had diverse Sonnes, whose Grandchildren were starved in Cardiff
Castle, having their eyes put out (Griffith ab Rys ab Grg ab Ifor
Petit being the heire) by Sir Richard de Clare their ffather's Cousen-
German, saving Ho : Velg. then being with his Nurse ; of whom
God multiplied a great people."—59.
There is a curious story in Giraldus Cambrensis, of a mysterious
warning which King Henry II. received at Cardiff, where he passed
the night on his return from Ireland, the first Sunday after Easter.
It was accompanied by a prophecy, the due fulfilment of which the
worthy historian has not neglected to note.
The great name of Owain Glendower is also connected with the
history of Cardiff. Leland tells us, that " In the year 1404, and in
the fourth year of the reign of King Henry, Owen Glendwr burnt
the southern parts of Wales, and besieged the town and castle of
Caerdyf. The besieged sent to the king for succour; but he neither
came in person or sent them any assistance. Owen, therefore, took
the town, and burnt it all except one street, in which the friars minors
dwelled ; which, together with their convent, he left standing for the
love he bore them. He afterwards made himself master of the castle,
and destroyed it, carrying away a rich booty which he found deposited
there. But when the friars petitioned to him for their books and
chalices, which they had lodged in the castle, he replied, why did you
put your goods in the castle? If you had kept them in your convent,
they would have been secure."—Collect. I. 313.
Surety for Edeyrn. —Page 155.

The knights of old were very good-natured in coming forward as
surety for one another ; and of this we have an instance in the in
teresting Lai de Lanval, (" Poemes de Marie de France," I. 232).
Ellis, in a note upon Mr. Way's English version of this tale, gives a
curious anecdote ou the subject of pledges or securities, out of thi
Life of St. Louis.
"On his] return from Egypt to France, being in danger of ship
wreck, his queen vowed to St. Nicholas a vessel of silver, and, as a
further security to the saint, insisted that Joinville should become
her pledge for the execution of the promise."—Fab. II. 225.
The Welsh legislator of the 10th century seems to have given the
subject of bail or surety his particular attention, and his celebrated
cude contains a long series of enactments relating to it. The following
is a specimen of their character :
" If a surety and debtor meet upon a bridge formed of a single
tree, the debtor must not refuse to do one of these three things :
either to pay, to give a pledge, or to go to law ; and he must not
move the toe of one foot towards the heel of the other," (that is to
say, he must not stir from the spot,) " until he does one of these
three things."
Gwallawg the Son of Llenawg. —Page 155.

In the Triads, we find him celebrated with Dunawd Fur and Cyn-
velyn Drwsgl, as one of the pillars of battle of the Island of Britain,
which is explained to mean that these chieftains were skilled in the
disposition of the order of battle, and were battle leaders, superior
to all others that ever existed.*—Tr. 71. Myv. Arch. II. 69.
And in a subsequent Triad, he is called one of the " Grave-
slaughtering ones," from his having avenged his wrongs from his
grave.—Tr. 76. Myv. Arch. II. 69.
Amongst the compositions of the early bards in the Myvyrian
Archasology, there are several pieces expressly in honour of Gwallawg.
In some of these the scenes of his battles are named, and one of them
signifies that his fame extended from Caer Clud to Caer Caradawc,
that is, from Dumbarton to Salisbury.
His name occurs in Llywarch Hen's Elegy upon Urien Rheged ;
and he has been already spoken of (p. 34) as one of the three northern
kings, who united themselves with that prince for the purpose of
opposing the progress of Ida's successors. —See also Turner's " Anglo-
Saxons," B. III. c. iv.
# In another series of the Triads, Urien ap Cynvarch's name is substituted

for that of Gwallawg, as 0D6 of the pillars of b&ttlo. —- (Tr xxxi. Myv
Arch. II. 14.)
NOTES. 203
In Gruffydd ab Arthur,* he is mentioned as one of the knights

who were present at Arthur's coronation ; and his death is recorded
to have taken place in the last conflict between that Sovereign and
the Romans. The "Englynion y Beddau" place his tomb in Carrawc.
Morgan Tud. —Page 156.

This sapient personage is very probably the same as that Morgan
the Wise who prepared the ointment which restored Owain to a
state of health and sanity, in the romance of Ywaine and Gawin,
and whom R.itson,t on what grounds, I know not, considered to be
the same as the celebrated schismatic Pelagius. His reputation ap
pears to have extended to Brittany, where the inhabitants still call
by the name of Morgan Tut an herb, to which they ascribe the most
universal healing properties. Morgaut was the name of the Bishop
of Caer Vudei, (Silchester,) in Arthur's reign.J But the appellation
is a very common one in Wales.
Chief Physician.—Page 156.

The chief physician, from the nature of his office, was necessarily
in very constant attendance upon the royal person ; and this was
carried so far, that not only was he unable to leave the palace
without the king's permission, but it was ordained hy the law of
the land, that his seat in the hall should be near to that occupied by
the monarch. His lodging was appointed him with the Pennteulu,
or the master of the household, and he received his linen clothes
from the queen, and his woollen clothes from the king. He was
obliged to supply medicine gratis to all the four-and-twenty officers
of the Court, except in the case of one of the three dangerous wounds,
which are explained to be a blow on the head penetrating the brain,
a thrust in the body penetrating the intestines, and the breaking
of one of the limbs. And for every one of these three dangerous
wounds he was entitled to one hundred and eighty pence and his
meat. He was to take security of the family of the wounded man
* Myv. Arch. II. 320, 347. He is there mentioned in the different versions
of the Brut, nnder the designation of Gwallawo of Amwythio (Shrewsbury),
and also under that of the Earl of Salisbury. Robert of Gloucester also calls
him " Gallnc, erl of Salesbury," from the Gallucus Salesberiensis of Geoffrey
of Monmouth. In the Cambrian Biography, Dr. Fughe says that he was a
chieftain of the Yale of Shrewsbury ; and Camden confounds him with the
celebrated Galgacus, though he lived some centuries later.
f Met. Bom. III. 239.
X Graff, ab Ar. Myv. Arch. II. 325.
204 GERA1NT THE SON OF ERBTN.
(that he should not be prosecuted), in case he should die of the medi

cines administered to him ; and if he neglected this precaution, he
had to answer for the consequence. The price of some of his medi
caments was established by law. For a plaster of red ointment, he
was allowed to charge twelve pence, and eight pence for one of
medicinal herbs.
Enid the Daughter of Ynywl.—Page 157.

Throughout the broad and varied region of romance, it would be
difficult to find a character of greater simplicity and truth than that
of Enid the daughter of Earl Ynywl. Conspicuous for her beauty
and noble bearing, we are at a loss whether most to admire the un
tiring patience with which she bore all the hardships she was destined
to undergo, or the unshaken constancy and devoted affection which
finally achieved the triumph she so richly deserved.
The character of Enid is admirably sustained throughout the whole
tale; and as it is more natural, because less overstrained, so, perhaps,
it is even more touching than that of Griselda, over which, however,
Chaucer has thrown a charm that leads us to forget the improbability
of her story.
There is a Triad, in which Enid's name is preserved as one of the
fairest and most illustrious ladies of the Court of Arthur.—Tr. 108.
The bards of the Middle Ages have frequent allusions to her in
their poems ; and Davydd ap Gwilym could pay no higher compli
ment to his lady-love than to call her a second Enid.
Mr. Tennyson has turned the tale of Geraint and Enid into noble
blank verse, heightening the picture with some additional touches of
his own.
Gweir Gwrhyd Vawr.—Page 159.

We find him noticed in the Triads as one of the three stubborn
ones of the island of Britain, whom no one could turn from their pur
pose. Tr. 78.
Gwrei Gwalstawd Ieithoedd. —Page 159.

This singular personage acts a somewhat conspicuous part in another
of the Mabinogion, Kilhwch and Olwen, in which he is described as
knowing all languages, and being able to interpret even those of the
birds and the beasts. In an old Welsh composition, attributed to
Iolo Goch, and printed in the " Cydymaith Diddan," before quoted,
he is alluded to under the corrupted appellation of Uriel Wastadiaith,
NOTES. 205
and is spoken of as having had so wonderful an aptitude for acquiring

languages, that he never heard one with his ears, that he would not
utter it with his tongue as fast as he heard it.
Bedwyr the Son of Bedrawd.—Page 159.

Bedwtr was one of the most valiant of Arthur's knights, and ren
dered him valuable service in the different wars in which he was
engaged. In the king's household too he filled a very important
office, that of chief butler, and there is no doubt, from the estima
tion in which he was ever held by his sovereign, that he acquitted
himself equally well of the duties which devolved upon him in that
capacity.
His name is often coupled with that of the seneschal, Sir Kai, and
their fortunes in many respects appear to have been very similar.
They were the two knights whom Arthur selected as his sole com
panions in his expedition to St. Michael's Mount, to avenge the death
of Helen, the niece of Howel ab Emyr Llydaw (already adverted to,
p. 134). And he took the same means of recompensing the valour
and fidelity of both, by bestowing upon each of them the sovereignty
of a valuable French province, which Robert of Gloucester quaintly
records in these words,—
" He jef pat lond of Normandye Bedwer ys boteler,
And pat lond of Aungeo Kaxe ys panter."—I. 187.
Finally, they both shared the same fate, being slain side by side,
while fighting against the Romans in the last engagement of that
war, in which they had so greatly distinguished themselves. Arthur,
whose supremacy was established by the event of that glorious
encounter, was careful to pay every tribute to the memory of the
faithful knights who had fallen in his service. He caused Bedwyr
to be interred at Bayeux, which he had founded himself, as the
capital of his Norman dominions, and Kai to be buried at Chinon,
which town, as Wace* informs us, derived its name from that cir
cumstance, t The etymology, it must be confessed, is not very
apparent.
The names of these two heroes occur together in the Triads, where
Kai is Btyled one of the Three Diademed Chiefs of battle, superior
* Brut. L 13,404.
t The Welsh Brat names Diarnum as the place of Kai's sepulture (Myv.
Arch. II. 352), and in the Latin of Geoffrey of Monmouth it is said he was
buried at Caen.
to both of whom was the subject of this note, Bedwyr the son of
Pedrawc. T. 69.
The place of Bedwyr's sepulture is thuH recorded in the " Graves
of the Warriors," together with that of another chieftain, whose
name is not given.
The grave of the son of Ossvran is in Camlan,
After many a conflict.
The grave of Bedwyr is in the woody steep of Tryvan.
There is a lofty mountain bearing the name of Trivaen, at the
head of the valley of Nant-ffrancon, in Snowdon. Dunraven Castle,
in Glamorganshire, is also, in ancient writings, called Dindryvan, but
whether either of these is the place mentioned in the above stanza,
it is not easy to determine.
The Severn.— Page 100.

The derivation of the name of this majestic river involves a very
pretty though tragical story.
King Locryn, the son of the Trojan Brutus, and sovereign of
these realms, fell in love with Astrild, the King of Germany's
beautiful daughter, who came over to this island in the retinue of
Homber,* King of Hungary, when that monarch undertook his dis
astrous expedition to endeavour to dispossess Albanak, Locryn's
brother, of his dominions in the North. Locryn, as soon as he
beheld the damsel, determined to wed her, but unfortunately he had
before become betrothed to Gwendolen, the daughter of Corineus,
Duke of Cornwall, the conqueror of Gog and Magog ; and this stern
slayer of giants, on hearing of the change in his intention, declared
that he would not brook so great an insult to his family. This
declaration of Corineus was not to be disregarded, particularly as
he made it more impressive by taking his great axe in his hand,
which, in the king's presence,
" So grisliche he schok & faste,
fat pe kyng quakede <fe ys men, so sore heo were a gaste."
So Locryn deemed it expedient to marry Gwendolen, but he could
not wean his affections from the beautiful Astrild, and he had a
secret subterraneous habitation contrived, where he concealed her
* He ended his days in the Hnmber, which took its name from that cir-
cnrr"ance.
NOTES. 207
during Corineus's lifetime, giving out, when he visited her, that he
went to sacrifice to his gods. On the death of Corineus he did
not consider it necessary to keep up this deception any longer,
but dismissed Gwendolen, and elevated Astrild to the rank of
Queen. Gwendolen, however, was far from submitting tamely to
this indignity ; and summoning her father's Cornish vassals to her
aid she brought them into the field against her faithless husband,
who was slain in the first encounter. Astrild and her daughter
Averne then fell into the power of Gwendolen, who, according to
old Robert of Glouoester, was a "sturne wommon," and caused
them both to be drowned in the Severn.
" And for yt was hire lorde's dojter fat mayde Auerne,
And for honour of hire lord, and for heo was of hys kynde,
Heo wolde fat hire name euer more in mynde,
And lette clepe* fat watur after Auerne,
And seppe porg diuerse tonge me clepede hit Seuerne,
And dep a letre per to, and no more y wys,t
In pis manner pike water Seuerne y cleped is."—I. 27.
Havren, the Welsh name for this river, bears a very near affinity
to that of Gwendolen's innocent and unfortunate victim, Averne.
Boundaries.—Page 160.
In Wales, the penalties for disturbing boundaries were severe.
Howel Dda enacted, that whoever should destroy a boundary between
two villages, by ploughing it up, should forfeit to the king the oxen
with which he ploughed, together with the wood and iron of the
(•lough, and the value of the ploughman's right foot,f and the
driver's left hand ; and that he should pay fourpence to the owner
of the land, and also restore the boundary to its original state.
Parochial perambulations were formerly performed with much
solemnity in the principality, the procession being headed by the
clergyman and the eremony begun and ended with a form of
prayer, the surplice and Prayer Book being carried by an atten
dant, to be used when required. Remains of this custom are still
observable in some districts. Upon an appointed day, the inhabit
ants of the adjoining parishes meet at a certain spot, and proceed
along the boundary line, which in the cultivated land is generally
• Clepe, to call.
t The value of a foot was fixed by law, to be six cowb and one hundred and
twenty pence.
208 OERAINT THE SON OF ERBIN.
a brook or a hedge-row, until they come to some particular object,
which, where no natural line of demarcation exists, serves as a
mark of division. This is frequently a stone or mound of earth,
or perhaps an ancient earn or tumulus, especially in the moun
tainous parts of the country. Here the procession halts, and the
clergyman asks if they are all agreed upon the boundary, and
being answered in the affirmative, the parties then range them
selves around, each on his proper side of the earn, at the same
time baring their heads, while the clergyman ascends to the top
with the book in his hand, and with a loud voice pronounces
the words " Cursed is he that removeth his neighbour's landmark,"
upon which all the people answer "Amen." He then descends,
and they proceed to some similar object, where the same proceed
ings are repeated.
A person who has witnessed this ceremony assures me that its
effect is exceedingly striking, especially when occurring upon some
lonely part of the mountain. The sudden halt round the carn,—
the clergyman ascending with the book in his hand,—the baring
of the head,—the imprecation,—and the simultaneous response,
altogether form a rite so extremely impressive, that it cannot fail
to contribute greatly towards preserving a recollection of the spot,
and affording to landmarks in lonely situations a protection against
removal, to which by design or accident, they might otherwise be
liable.
Variety of Minstrelsy and of Games.—Page 160.

Chaucer has a pretty passage illustrative of what were the diver
sions admitted in a baronial hall on similar occasions of state, and
one which is highly descriptive of the manners of the age in which
it was written.
" This Theseus, this duk, this worthy knight,
When he had brought hem into his citee,
And inned hem, everich at his degree,
He festeth hem, and doth so gret labour
To esen hem, and don hem all honour,
That yet men wenen that no mannes wit
Of non estat ne coud amenden it.
The minstralcie, the service at the feste,
The grete yeftes to the most and leste,
The riche array of Theseus paleis,
Ne who sate first ne last upon the deis,
NOTES. 209
What ladies fayrest ben or best dancing,
Or which of hem can carole best or sing,
Ne who most felingly speketh of love ;
"What haukes sitten on the perche above,
What boundes liggen on the floor adoun,
Of all this now make I no mentioun."
Knightes Tale, v. 2192-2208.
Diganhwy.—Page 161.
Confused as the geography of Romance is known to be, yet we
an hardly suppose that this is Diganwy on the Conway, in North
Wales. May it not have been an error of the scribe's for Trefynwy,
the Welsh name for Monmouth 1
Windows of Glass.—Page 1U2.

The terms of admiration in which the older writers invariably
speak of glass windows would be sufficient proof, if other evidence
were wanting, how rare an article of luxury they were in the houBes
of our ancestors. They were first introduced in ecclesiastical archi
tecture,* to which they were for a long time confined. Mr. Hallam
remarks that French artificers were brought to England to furnish
the windows in some new churches in the seventh century, t "It is
said," he continues, " that in the reign of Henry III. a few eccle
siastical buildings had glazed windows.} Suger, however, a century
before, had adorned his great work, the Abbey of St. Denis, with
windows not only glazed, but painted ; § and I presume that other
churches of the same class, both in France and England, especially
after the lancet-shaped window had yielded to one of ampler dimen
sions, were generally decorated in a similar manner. Yet glass is
said not to have been employed in the domestic architecture of
France before the fourteenth century ; || and its introduction into
* Paulas Silentiarius, a poet and historian of the 6th century, (about

A.D. 534), speaks of the brightness of the sun's raya passing through the
eastern windows of the Church of St. Sophia, at Constantinople, which
windows were covered with glass. St. Jerome, about the beginning of the
fifth century, also mentions glass windows. I suppose the question as to
whether the ancients were acquainted with this mode of applying glass, is set
at rest by the discoveries made of late years at Pompeii.
t " Du Cange, v. Vitreae. Bentham's History of Ely, p. 22."
t " Matt. Paris, Vitas Abbatum St. Alb. 122."
§ " Becueil des Hist t. rii. p. 101."
|| " Paulmy, t. iii. p. 132. Villaret, t. ri. p. 141. Macpherson, p. 679."
Mabinoqion. P
210 GERAINT THE SON OP ER3UN.
England was, very likely, by no means earlier. Nor, indeed, did it
come into general use during the period of the Middle Ages. Glazed
'windows were considered as movable furniture, and probably bore
a high price. When the earls of Northumberland, as late as the
reign of Elizabeth, left Alnwick Castle, the windows were taken out
of their frames, and carefully laid by." *—Middle Ages. 1834. III.
425-6.t
A monastery having a hall
" With wyndowes of glass, wrought as a chirche,"
is spoken of in Pierce Plowman's Crede as an instance of the extreme
luxury of the monks ; % and they occur in some of the descriptions of
very great regal splendour given by the old romancers. In Candace's
Chamber, described in the Geste of Alexander,
" Theo wyndowes weoren of riche glas :
Theo pinnes weore of ivorye." §
And they were sometimes even painted. TheKing of Hungary's
daughter, in the " Squyer of Lowe Degre," is represented
" In her oryall there she was,
Closyd well with royall glas,
Fulfylled yt was with ymagery.
Every windowe by and by,
On eche syde had ther a gynne,
Sperde with manie a dyvers pynne.
Anone that ladie fayre and fre,
Undyd a pynne of yvere." ||
From both these quotations, their very fastenings appear to have
been of the most costly materials.
Lloegtr.—Page 163.
Lloegtr is the term used by the Welsh to designate England. The
writers of the Middle Ages derive the name from the son of the
t
* " Northumberland Household Book, preface, p. 16. Bishop Peroy says,
on the authority of Harrison, that glass was not commonly used in the reign
of Henry VIII." ,
t -.Eneas Silvias, afterwards Pope Pins II., in his Treatise, De Moribus
Germanorum, written in the 15th century, records that there were then glass
windows in all the houses of Vienna.
X Warton's Hist. Eng. Poetry, II. 140. § Ibid. III. 409.
|| Ibid. II. 8.
NOTES. 211
Trojan Brutus, Lociyn (already alluded to, p. 206), and whose
brother, Camber, bequeathed his name to the Principality.
But from another authority, that of the Triads, we collect that
the name was given to the country by an ancient British tribe,
called the Lloegrwys.
Their shields lost all their colour.—Page 174.

The custom of painting and decorating shields is one which might
be illustrated by innumerable instances. Sharon Turner says that
they were ornamented with gold and brilliant colours, and that some
knights placed on them the portrait of their favourite lady. Among
these he particularizes the Count of Poitou ; and he quotes a German
poet, who describes a knight " with a shield fulgens auro, and a
helmet vermiculated with amber."—Middle Ages, c. xiv.
Notices of arms ornamented with gold are frequently met with in
the works of the Welsh Bards. Gwalchmai the son of Meilir, who
flourished in the twelfth century, speaking of himself, says,—
" Bright is my sword, gleaming in battle,
Glittering and bright is the gold on my buckler."
And that he does not allude to the temporary decorations of the
tournament is evident, from his immediately mentioning several of
the battles of Owain Gwynedd, in which he was himself engaged.
Woman's Saddle.—Page 178.

The saddles used by the ladies of former days were often very
richly decorated, and frequent descriptions of their costliness occur
in the old Romances. The Lady Triamour, in that of Sir Launfal,
is represented to have ridden on a saddle of the most magnificent
kind when she visited Arthur's Court.
" Here sadelle was semyly sett,
The sambus * were grene fel vet,
Ipaynted with ymagerye,
The bordure was of belles,t
Of ryche gold and nothyng elles,
That any man myte aspye.
* The sambos or sambuca was a kind of saddle-cloth, and its ornaments

were usually very splendid. To snch an excess were they at one time carried,
that Frederick, King of Sicily, in a snmptnary law, Const, c. 92 (quoted by
Warton, Hist. Poet. I. ccxiii.), forbad women, even of the highest rank, to nse
a sambuca, or saddle-cloth, on which were gold, silver, or pearls.
t Of the well-known enstom of decking the harness and trappings of horses
p 2
In the arsouns, before and behynde,

Were twey stones of Ynde,
Gay for the maystrye ;
The paytrelle * of her palfraye
Was worth an erldome, stoute and gay,
The best yn Lumbardye."—v. 949-60.
Strutt accuses the ladies of former times of not having adopted a
very feminine mode of riding on horseback, particularly when they
joined in hunting expeditions ; and he quotes the authority of certain
illuminations in ancient MSS.,t which is, I fear, rather conclusive
evidence. But the mention of the Lady's saddle and riding-dress J
in Geraint ab Erbin, will, I trust, rescue the ladies of the present
Tale from the imputation of so unbecoming a practice, and show
that they wore a peculiar and appropriate costume whenever they
rode out. Catherine de Medicis is said to have been the first who
rode like the ladies of the present age, with a high crutch to her
saddle.—Mem. de Chev. II. 336.
Enchanted Games. —Page 181.

The extent to which the belief in magic was carried, even by the
most enlightened, during the Middle Ages, is really wonderful, and
we cannot be surprised at its being frequently employed in the
machinery of Romance, when an historian like Froissart gravely tells
us of castles that were lost and won by means of optical deceptions.
In the case he cites they were produced by an enchanter, " a con
ning man in nigromancy," who was with the army of the Duke of
Anjou and the Earl of Savoy, then lying before the city of Naples.
This magician proposed, by his art, to put into the power of these
■
with bells, many instances might be mentioned. Chancer says of the
monk,—
" And when he rode, men znighte his bridel here
Gingeling in a whistling wind as clere,
And eke as loude, as doth the chapell belle."—Pro. v. 169-71.
Which our " hoste of the Tabnrd " humorously alludes to at a subsequent
stage of the Pilgrimage, v. 14,800.
A traditional recollection of this custom is still preserved amongst the Welsh,
who say that the Fairies may sometimes be seen riding over the mountains,
on horses decorated with small silver bells, of a very shrill and musical sound.
* Breastplate.
t MS. in Royal Lib. marked 2 B. vii. Sports and Pastimes, p. 12.
J See p. 178. /
NOTES. 213
two princes the castle which they were besieging, and which he
boasted having already delivered to Sir Charles de la Paye, who was
then in possession of it. Shocked, however, at his treachery towards
his former employer, they assured him that he should "never do more
enchanntments to deceyve hym, nor yet any other," and repaid his
offers of service by causing him to be beheaded on the spot.
The Welsh have preserved some curious Triads on the subject of
magic, stating the names of their principal enchanters (who are styled
"Men of Illusion and Phantasy") to have been "Math ab Mathonwy,
who declared his illusion to Gwdion the son of Don; Menyw the son
of Teirgwaedd, who taught his illusion to Uthyr Pendragon ; and
Ehuddlwm the Giant, who learnt his illusion from Eiddilig the
Dwarf, and Coll the son of Collfrewi."—T. 90.
The same names occur in other Triads relating to this subject, with
the addition of that of Drych ail Cibddar.
May it not be fairly presumed, that it is to the Coll mab Collfrewi
above mentioned, whose fame had descended to his times, that Chaucer
alludes in the following lines 1—
" There saw I Coll Tragetour,*
Upon a table of sicamour,
Play an uncouth thing to tell,
I saw him carry a wind-mell,
Under a walnote shale."
House of Fame, B. III.
The Welsh Chronicle, entitled Brut y Tywysogion, states, that in
the year 1135, Gruffudd ab Rhys, Prince of South Wales, after
recovering his dominions, made a great feast in Ystrad Towi, to
which he invited all that chose to come from the neighbouring pro
vinces, and entertained them with minstrelsy and manly games, and
with exhibitions of magic and illusions (hud a Uedrith).—Myv. Arch.
II. 558.
* Tregetour, a juggler.
NOTICE OF YARIOUS OTHER VERSIONS.
It is to Chrestien de Troves, the author of the "Chevalier au Lyon "

and " Perceval le Galois," that we are also indebted for the French
metrical version of Geraiat ab Erbin, entitled " Erec et Enide.'
Several copies of his Romance are preserved in the Bibliotheque
Nationale.
In like manner, we find that the German version of the Tale,
under the title of Erec and Enite, is the production of Hartmann
von der Ane, to whom the poem of " Iwein" is to be attributed.
Hartmann's "Erec" was edited in 1839 by Herr Moriz Haupt,
from a MS. in the Imperial Ambraser Collection at Vienna.
The Royal Library at Stockholm possesses an Icelandic composi
tion, called " Erik Saga," on the subject of this Tale.
In our own language I know of no other version of the Mabinogi
of Gr-raint except that so beautifully rendered by Mr. Tennyson in
his Idyll of Enid.
\
KILHWCH AND OLWM
KILHWCH AND OLWEN,
OR THE
TWRCH TRWYTH.
KILYDD the son of Prince Kelyddon desired a wife as a

helpmate, and the wife that he chose was Goleuddydd,
the daughter of Prince Anlawdd. And after their union, the
people put up prayers that they might have an heir. And they
had a son through the prayers of the people. From the time of
her pregnancy Goleuddydd became wild, and wandered about,
without habitation ; but when her delivery was at hand, her
reason came back to her. Then she went to a mountain
where there was a swineherd, keeping a herd of swine. And
through fear of the swine the queen was delivered. And the
swineherd took the boy, and brought him to the palace ; and
he was christened, and they called him Kilhwch, because he
had been found in a swine's burrow. Nevertheless the boy
was of gentle lineage, and cousin unto Arthur ; and they put
him out to nurse.
218 KILHWCH AND OLWEN,
After this the boy's mother, Goleuddydd, the daughter of

Prince Anlawdd, fell sick. Then she called her husband unto
her, and said to him, " Of this sickness I shall die, and thou
wilt take another wife. Now wives are the gift of the Lord,
but it would be wrong for thee to harm thy son. Therefore
I charge thee that thou take not a wife until thou see a briar
with two blossoms upon my grave." And this he promised
her. Then she besought him to dress her grave every year,
that nothing might grow thereon. So the queen died. Now
the king sent an attendant every morning to see if anything
were growing upon the grave. And at the end of the seventh
year the master neglected that which he had promised to the
queen.
One day the king went to hunt, and he rode to the place
of burial to see the grave, and to know if it were time that he
should take a wife ; and the king saw the briar. And when
he saw it, the king took counsel where he should find a wife.
Said one of his counsellors, " I know a wife that will suit thee
well, and she is the wife of King Doged." And they resolved
to go to seek her ; and they slew the king, and brought away
his wife and one daughter that she had along with her. And
they conquered the king's lands.
On a certain day, as the lady walked abroad, she came to the
house of an old crone that dwelt in the town, and that had no
tooth in her head. And the queen said to her, " Old woman,
tell me that which I shall ask thee, for the love of Heaven.
Where are the children of the man who has carried me away
by violence ? " Said the crone, " He has not children." Said
the queen, " Woe is me, that I should have come to one who
is childless ! " Then said the hag, " Thou needest not lament
on account of that, for there is a prediction that he shall have
an heir by thee, and by none other. Moreover, be not sor
rowful, for he has one son."
The lady returned home with joy ; aud she asked her con
sort, "Wherefore hast thou concealed thy children from me V
The king said, " I will do so no longer." And he sent mes
sengers for his son, and he was brought to the Court. His
OR THE TWRCH TBWYTH. 219
stepmother said unto him, " It were well for thee to have a
wife, and I have a daughter who is sought of every man of
renown in the world." " I am not yet of an age to wed,"
answered the youth. Then said she unto him, " I declare to
thee, that it is thy destiny not to be suited with a wife until
thou obtain Olwen, the daughter of Yspaddaden Penkawr."
And the youth blushed, and the love of the maiden diffused
itself through all his frame, although he had never seen her.
And his father inquired of him, " What has come over thee
my son, and what aileth thee ? " " My stepmother has
declared to me that I shall never have a wife until I obtain
Olwen, the daughter of Yspaddaden Penkawr." " That will
be easy for thee," answered his father. * " Arthur is thy
cousin. Go, therefore, unto Arthur, to cut thy hair, and ask
this of hrm as a boon."
And the youth pricked forth upon a steed with head dappled
grey, of four winters old, firm of limb, with shell-formed hoofs,
having a bridle of linked gold on his head, and upon him a
saddle of costly gold. And in the youth's hand were two
spears of silver, sharp, well-tempered, headed with steel, three
ells in length, of an edge to wound the wind, and causae blood
to flow, and swifter than the fall of the dewdrop from the
blade of reed-grass upon the earth when the dew of June is at
the heaviest. A gold-hilted sword was upon his thigh, the
blade of which was of gold, bearing a cross of inlaid gold of
the hue of the lightning of heaven : his war-horn was of ivory.
Before him were two brindled white-breasted greyhounds,
having strong collars of rubies about their necks, reaching^
from the shoulder to the ear. And the one that was on the
left side bounded across to the right side, and the one on*the
right to the left, and like two sea-swallows sported around
him. And his courser cast up four sods with his four hoofs,
like four swallows in the air, about his head, now above, now
below. About him was a four-cornered cloth of purple, and
an apple of gold was at each corner, and every one of the
apples was of the value of an hundred kine. And there was
precious gold of the value of three hundred kine upon his
f
220 KILHWCH AND OLWEtf,
shoes, and upon his stirrups, from his knee to the tip of his
toe. And the blade of grass bent not beneath him, so light
was his courser's tread as he journeyed towards the gate of
Arthur's Palace.
Spoke the youth, "Is there a porter?" "There is; and if
thou holdest not thy peace, small will be thy welcome. I am
Arthur's porter every first day of January. And during
every other part of the year but this, the office is filled by
Huandaw, and Gogigwc, and Llaeskenym, and Pennpingyon,
who goes upon his head to save his feet, neither towards the
sky nor towards the earth, but like a rolling stone upon the •
floor of the court." " Open the portal." " I will not open
it." "Wherefore not?" "The knife is in the meat, and
the drink is in the horn, and there is revelry in Arthur's
hall, and none may enter therein but the son of a king of a
privileged country, or a craftsman bringing his craft. But
there will be refreshment for thy dogs, and for thy horses ;
and for thee there will be collops cooked and peppered, and
luscious wine and mirthful songs, and food for fifty men shall
be brought unto thee in the guest chamber, where the
stranger and the sons of other countries eat, who come not
unto the precincts of the Palace of Arthur. Thou wilt fare
no worse there than thou wouldest with Arthur in the Court.
A lady shall smooth thy couch, and shall lull thee with
songs ; and early to-morrow morning, when the gate is open
for the multitude that came hither to-day, for thee shall it
be opened first, and thou mayest sit in the place that thou
shalt choose in Arthur's Hall, from the upper end to the
pwer." Said the youth, "That will I not do. If thou
openest the gate, it is well. If thou dost not open it, I will
bring disgrace upon thy Lord, and evil report upon thee.
And I will set up three shouts at this very gate, than which
none were ever more deadly, from the top of Pengwaed in
Cornwall to the bottom of Dinsol, in the North, and to
Esgair Oervel, in Ireland. And all the women in this
Palace that are pregnant shall lose their offspring; and
such as are not pregnant, their hearts shall be turned by
OE THE TWRCH TRWYTH. 221
illness, so that they shall never bear children from this day
forward." " What clamour soever thou mayest make," said
Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr, " against the laws of Arthur's Palace
shalt thou not enter therein, until I first go and speak with
Arthur."
Then Glewlwyd went into the Hall. And Arthur said to
him, "Hast thou news from the gate?"—"Half of my life
is past, and half of thine. I was heretofore in Kaer Se
and Asse, in Sach and Salach, in Lotor and Fotor ; and I
have been heretofore in India the Great and India the
Lesser; and I was in the battle of Dau Ynyr, when the
twelve hostages were brought from Llychlyn. And I have
also been in Europe, and in Africa, and in the islands of
Corsica, and in Caer Brythwch, and Brythach, and Verthach;
and I was present when formerly thou didst slay the family
of Clis the son of Merin, and when thou didst slay Mil Du
the son of Ducum, and when thou didst conquer Greece in
the East. And I have been in Caer Oeth and Annoeth, and
in Caer Nevenhyr ; nine supreme sovereigns, handsome men,
saw we there, but never did I behold a man of equal dignity
with him who is now at the door of the portal." Then said
Arthur, "If walking thou didst enter in here, return thou
running. And every one that beholds the light, and every
one that opens and shuts the eye, let them shew him respect,
and serve him, some with gold-mounted drinking-horns,
others with collops cooked and peppered, until food and
drink can be prepared for him. It is unbecoming to keep
such a man as thou sayest he is, in the wind and the rain."
Said Kai, " By the hand of my friend, if thou wouldest follow
my counsel, thou wouldest not break through the laws of the
Court because of him." "Not so, blessed Kai. It is an
honour to us to be resorted to, and the greater our courtesy
the greater will be our renown, and our fame, and our
glory."
And Glewlwyd came to the gate, and opened the gate
before him; and although all dismounted upon the horse
block at the gate, yet did he not dismount, but rode in
upon his charger. Then said Kilhwch, " Greeting be unto

thee, Sovereign Ruler of this Island; and be this greeting
no less unto the lowest than unto the highest, and be it
equally unto thy guests, and thy warriors, and thy chieftains
—let all partake of it as completely as thyself. And com
plete be thy favour, and thy fame, and thy glory, throughout
all this Island." " Greeting unto thee also," said Arthur ;
" sit thou between two of my warriors, and thou shalt have
minstrels before thee, and thou shalt enjoy the privileges of
a king born to a throne, as long as thou remainest here.
And when I dispense my presents to the visitors and
strangers in this Court, they shall be in thy hand at my
commencing." Said the youth, "I came not here to con
sume meat and drink ; but if I obtain the boon that I seek,
I will requite it thee, and extol thee ; and if I have it not,
I will bear forth thy dispraise to the four quarters of the
world, as far as thy renown has extended. " Then said
Arthur, " Since thou wilt not remain here, chieftain, thou
shalt receive the boon whatsoever thy tongue may name,
as far as the wind dries, and the rain moistens, and the sun
revolves, and the sea encircles, and the earth extends; save
only my ship ; and my mantle ; and Caledvwlch, my sword ;
and Rhongomyant, my lance; and Wynebgwrthucher, my
shield ; and Carnwenhau, my dagger ; and Gwenhwyvar, my
wife. By the truth of Heaven, thou shalt have it cheerfully,
name what thou wilt." " I would that thou bless my hair."
"That shall be granted thee."
And Arthur took a golden comb, and scissors, whereof
the loops were of silver, and he combed his hair. And
Arthur inquired of him who he was. " For my heart warms
unto thee, and I know that thou art come of my blood.
Tell me, therefore, who thou art." "I will tell thee," said
the youth, "\ am Kilhwch, the son of Kilydd, the son of
Prince Kelyddon, by Golenddydd, my mother, the daughter
of Prince Anlawdd." " That is true," said Arthur ; " thon
art my cousin. Whatsoever boon thou mayest ask, thou
shalt receive, be it what it may that thy tongue shall name."
OR THE TWRCH TRWYTH. 223
" Pledge the truth of Heaven and the faith of thy kingdom
thereof." " I pledge it thee, gladly." " I crave of thee
then, that thou obtain for me Olwen, the daughter of Yspa-
ddaden Penkawr; and this boon I likewise seek at the hands
of thy warriors. I seek it from Kai, and Bedwyr, and
Greidawl Galldonyd, and Gwythyr the son of Greidawl, and
Greid the son of Eri, and Kynddelig Kyvarwydd, and Tathal
Twyll Goleu, and Maelwys the son of Baeddan, and Crychwr
the son of Nes, and Cubert the son of Daere, and Percos
the son of Poch, and Lluber Beuthach,"and ,Corvil Bervach,
and Gwynn the son of Nudd, and Edeyrn the son of Nudd,
and Gadwy the son of Geraint, and Prince Fflewddur Fflam,
and Ruawn Pebyr the son of Dorath, and Bradwen the son
of Moren Mynawc, and Moren Mynawc himself, and Dalldav
the son of Kimin C6v, and the son of Aran Dyved, and the
son of Saidi, and the son of Gwryon, and Uchtryd Ardywad
Kad, and Kynwas Curvagyl, and Gwrhyr Gwarthegvras, and
Isperyr Ewingath, and Gallcoyt Govynynat, and Duach, and
Grathach, and Nerthach, the sons of Gwawrddur Kyrvach
(these men came forth from the confines of hell), and Kilydd
Canhastyr, and Canastyr Kanllaw, and Core Cant-Ewin, and
Esgeir Gulhwch Govynkawn, and Drustwrn Hayarn, and
Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr, and Lloch Llawwynnyawc, and Aun-
was Adeiniawc, and Sinnoch the son of Seithved, and Gwenn-
wynwyn the son of Naw, and Bedyw the son of Seithved, and
Gobrwy the son of Echel Vorddwyttwll, and Echel Vordd-
wyttwll himself, and Mael the son of Roycol, and Dadweir
Dallpenn, and Garwyli the son of Gwythawc Gwyr, and
Gwythawc Gwyr himself, and Gormant the son of Ricca, and
Menw the son of Teirgwaedd, and Digon the son of Alar,
and Selyf the son of Smoit, and Gusg the son of Atheu,
and Nerth the son of Kedam, and Drudwas the son of
Tryffin, and Twrch the son of Perif, and Twrch the son of
Annwas, and Iona king of France, and Sol the son of Selgi,
and Teregud the son of Iaen, and Sulyen the son of Iaen,
and Bradwen the son of Iaen, and Moren the son of Iaen,
and Siawn the son of Iaen, and Cradawc the son of Iaen.
They were men of Caerdathal, of Arthur's kindred on his

father's side.) Dirmyg the son of Kaw, and Justic the son
of Kaw, and Etmic the son of Kaw, and Anghawd the son of
Kaw, and Ovan the son of Kaw, and Kelin the son of Kaw,
and Connyn the son of Kaw, and Mabsant the son of Kaw,
and Gwyngad the son of Kaw, and Llwybyr the son of Kaw,
and Coth the son of Kaw, and Meilic the son of Kaw, and
Kynwas the son of Kaw, and Ardwyad the son of Kaw, and
Ergyryad the son of Kaw, and Neb the son of Kaw, and Gilda
the son of Kaw, and Calcas the son of Kaw, and Hueil the
son of Kaw (he never yet made a request at the hand of
any Lord) . And Samson Vinsych, and Taliesin the chief of the
bards, and Manawyddan the son of Llyr, and Llary the son
of Prince Kasnar, and Ysperni the son of Fflergant king of
Armorica, and Saranhon, the son of Glythwyr, and Llawr
Eilerw, and Annyanniawc the son of Menw the son of
Teirgwaedd, and Gwynn the son of Nwyvre, and Fflam the
son of Nwyvre, and Geraint the son of Erbin, and Ermid the
son of Erbin, and Dyvel the son of Erbin, and Gwynn the
son of Ermid, and Kyndrwyn the son of Ermid, and Hyveidd
Unllenn, and Eiddon Vawr Vrydic, and Reidwn Arwy, and
Gormant the son of Ricca (Arthur's brother by his mother's
side ; the Penhynev of Cornwall was his father), and Llawn-
rodded Varvawc, and Nodawl Varyf Twrch, and Berth the
son of Kado, and Rheidwn the son of Beli, and Iscovan Hael,
and Iscawin the son of Panon, and Morvran the son of Tegid
(no one struck him in the battle of Camlan by reason of his
ugliness ; all thought he was an auxiliary devil. Hair had he
upon him like the hair of a stag). And Sandde Bryd Angel
(no one touched him with a spear in the battle of Camlan
because of his beauty ; all thought he was a ministering angel).
And Kynwyl Sant (the third man that escaped from the battle of
Camlan, and he was the last who parted from Arthur on Hen-
groen his horse) . And Uchtryd the son of Erim, and Eus the son
of Erim, and Henwas Adeinawg the son of Erim, and Hen-
bedestyr the son of Erim, and Sgilti Yscawndroed the son of
Erim. (Unto these three men belonged these three qualities,—
OK THE TORCH THWYTH. 225
With Henbedestyr there was not any one who could keep pace,
either on horseback or on foot ; with Henwas Adeinawg, no
four-footed beast could run the distance of an acre, much less
could it go beyond it ; and as to Sgilti Yscawndroed, when
he intended to go upon a message for his Lord, he never
sought to find a path, but knowing whither he was to go, if
his way lay through a wood he went along the tops of the
trees. During his whole life, a blade of reed grass bent not
beneath his feet, much less did one ever break, so lightly did
he tread.) Teithi Hen the son of Gwynhan (his dominions,
were swallowed up by the sea, and he himself hardly escaped,
and he came to Arthur ; and his knife had this peculiarity,
that from the time that he came there no haft would ever re
main upon it, and owing to this a sickness came over him,
and he pined away during the remainder of his life, and of
this he died). And Carneddyr the son of Govynyon HSn, and
Gwenwynwyn the son of Nav Gyssevin, Arthur's champion,
and Llysgadrudd Emys, and Gwrbothu Hen, (uncles unto
Arthur were they, his mother's brothers). Kulvanawyd the
son of Goryon, and Llenlleawg Wyddel from the headland of
Ganion, and Dyvynwal Moel, and Dunard king of the North,
Teirnon Twryf Bliant, and Tegvan Gloff, and Tegyr Talgell-
awg, Gwrdinal the son of Ebrei, and Morgant Hael, Gwystyl
the son of Rhun the son of Nwython, and Llwyddeu the son
of Nwython, and Gwydre the son of Llwyddeu (Gwenabwy
the daughter of [Kaw] was his mother, Hueil his uncle
stabbed him, and hatred was between Hueil and Arthur be
cause of the wound). Drem the son of Dremidyd (when the
gnat arose in the morning with the sun, he could see it from
Gelli Wic in Cornwall, as far off as Pen Blathaon in North
Britain). And Eidyol the son of Ner, and Glwyddyn Saer
(who constructed Ehangwen, Arthur's Hall). Kynyr Kein-
varvawc (when he was told he had a son born he said to
his wife, ' Damsel, if thy son be mine, his heart will be
always cold, and there will be no warmth in his hands ; and
he will have another peculiarity, if he is my son he will
always be stubborn ; and he will have another peculiarity,
Mabinojion. n
226 KUHWCH AND OLWKN,
when he carries a burden, whether it be large or small, no

one will be able to see it, either before him or at his back ;
and he will have another peculiarity, no one will be able to
resist fire and water so well as he will ; and he will have
another peculiarity, there will never be a servant or an officer
equal to him'). Henwas, and Henwyneb (an old companion
to Arthur) . Gwallgoyc (another ; when he came to a town,
though there were three hundred houses in it, if he wanted
anything, he would not let sleep come to the eyes of any
one whilst he remained there). Berwyn, the son of Gerenhir,
and Paris king of France, and Osla Gyllellvawr (who bore
a short broad dagger. When Arthur and his hosts came
before a torrent, they would seek for a narrow place where
they might pass the water, and would lay the sheathed
dagger across the torrent, and it would form a bridge suffi
cient for the armies of the three Islands of Britain, and of
the three islands adjacent, with their spoil). Gwyddawg the
son of Menestyr (who slew Kai, and whom Arthur slew, to
gether with his brothers, to revenge Kai). Garanwynthe son
of Kai, and Amren the son of Bedwyr, and Ely Amyr, and
Rheu Rhwyd Dyrys, and Rhun Rhudwern, and Eli, and
Trachmyr (Arthur's chief huntsmen). And Llwyddeu the
son of Kelcoed, and Hunabwy the son of Gwryon, and Gwynn
Godyvron, and Gweir Datharwenniddawg, and Gweir the son
of Cadell the son of Talaryant, and Gweir Gwrhyd Ennwir,
and Gweir Paladyr Hir (the uncles of Arthur, the brothers
of his mother). The sons of Llwch Llawwynnyawg (from
beyond the raging sea). Llenlleawg Wyddel, and Ard-
derchawg Prydain. Cas the son of Saidi, Gwrvan Gwallt
Avwyn, and Gwyllennhin the king of France, and Gwittart
the son of Oedd king of Ireland, Garsebt Wyddel, Panawr
Pen Bagad, and Ffleudor the son of Nav, Gwynnhyvar
mayor of Cornwall and Devon (the ninth man that rallied the
battle of Camlan). Keli and Kueli, and Gilla Coes Hydd (he
would clear three hundred acres at one bound : the chief
leaper of Ireland was he). Sol, and Gwadyn Ossol, and
Gwadyn Odyeith. (Sol could stand all day upon one foot.
\
0R THE TWRCH TRWYTH. 227
Gwadyn Ossol, if he stood upon the top of the highest

mountain in the world, it would become a level plain
under his feet. Gwadyn Odyeith, the soles of his feet
emitted sparks of fire when they struck upon things hard,
like the heated mass when drawn out of the forge. He
cleared the way for Arthur when he came to any stoppage.)
Hirerwm and Hiratrwm. (The day they went on a visit three
Cantrevs provided for their entertainment, and they feasted
until noon and drank until night, when they went to sleep.
And then they devoured the heads of the vermin through
hunger, as if they had never eaten anything. When they
made a visit they left neither the fat nor the lean, neither the
hot nor the cold, the sour nor the sweet, the fresh nor the
salt, the boiled nor the raw.) Huarwar the son of Aflawn
(who asked Arthur such a boon as would satisfy him. It was
the third great plague of Cornwall when he received it.
None could get a smile from him but when he was satisfied).
Gware Gwallt Euryn. The two cubs of Gast Rhymi, Gwyddrud
and Gwyddneu Astrus. Sugyn the son of Sugnedydd (who
would suck up the sea on which were three hundred ships, so
as to leave nothing but a dry strand. He was broad-
chested). Rhacymwri, the attendant of Arthur (whatever
barn he was shown, were there the produce of thirty ploughs
within it, he would strike it with an iron flail until the
rafters, the beams, and the boards were no better than the
small oats in the mow upon the floor of the barn). Dygy-
flwng, and Anoeth Veidawg. And Hir Eiddyl, and Hir
Amreu (they were two attendants of Arthur). And Gwevyl
the son of Gwestad (on the day that he was sad, he would
let one of his lips drop below his waist, while he turned
up the other like a cap upon his head). Uchtryd Varyf
Draws (who spread his red untrimmed beard over the eight-
and-forty rafters which were in Arthur's Hall). Elidyr
Gyvarwydd. Yskyrdav, and Yscudydd (two attendants of
Gwenhwyvar were they. Their feet were swift as their
thoughts when bearing a message). Brys the son of Brys-
sethach (from the Hill of the Black Fernbrake in North
Q 2
228 KILHWCH AND OLWEN
Britain). And Grudlwyn Gorr. Bwlch, and Kyfwlch, and

Sefwlch, the sons of Cleddyf Kyfwlch, the grandsons of
Cleddyf Difwlch. (Their three shields were three gleaming
glitterers ; their three spears were three pointed piercers ;
their three swords were three griding gashers ; Glas, Glessic,
and Gleisad. Their three dogs, Call, Cuall, and Cavall.
Their three horses, Hwyrdyddwd, and Drwgdyddwd, and
Llwyrdyddwg. Their three wives, Och, and Garym, and
Diaspad. Their three grandchildren, Lluched, and Neved,
and Eissiwed. Their three daughters, Drwg, and Gwaeth,
and Gwaethav Oil. Their three handmaids, Eheubryd the
daughter of Kyfwlch, Gorascwrn the daughter of Nerth,
Ewaedan the daughter of Kynvelyn Keudawd Pwyll the half-
man). Dwnn Diessic Unbenn, Eiladyr the son of Pen Llarcau,
Kynedyr Wyllt the son of Hettwn Talaryant, Sawyl Ben
Uchel, Gwalchmai the son of Gwyar, Gwalhaved the son of
Gwyar, Gwrhyr Gwastawd Ieithoedd (to whom all tongues
were known), and Kethcrwm the Priest. Clust the son of
Clustveinad (though he were buried seven cubits beneath the
earth, he would hear the ant fifty miles oft rise from her nest
in the morning) . Medyr the son of Methredydd (from Gelli
Wic he could, in a twinkling, shoot the wren through the two
legs upon Esgeir Oervel in Ireland). Gwiawn Llygad Cath
(who could cut a haw from the eye of the gnat without hurting
him). 01 the son of Olwydd (seven years before he was born
his father's swine were carried off, and when he grew up a
man he tracked the swine, and brought them back in seven
herds). Bedwini the Bishop (who blessed Arthur's meat and
drink). For the sake of the golden-chained daughters of
this island. For the sake of Gwenhwyvar its chief lady, and
Gwennhwyach her sister, and Rathtyeu the only daughter
of Clemenhill, and Rhelemon the daughter of Kai, and
Tannwen the daughter of Gweir Datharweniddawg. Gwenn
Alarch the daughter of Kynwyl Canbwch. Eurneid the
daughter of Clydno Eiddin. Eneuawc the daughter of
Bedwyr. Enrydreg the daughter of Tudvathar. Gwennwledyr
the daughter of Gwaledyr Kyrvach. Erddudnid the daughter
OB THE TWRCH TRWYTH. 229
of Tryffin. Eurolwen the daughter of Gwdolwyn Gorr.

Teleri the daughter of Peul. Indeg the daughter of Garwy
Hir. Morvudd the daughter of Urien Rheged. Gwenllian
Deg the majestic maiden. Creiddylad the daughter of Lludd
Llaw Ereint. (She was the most splendid maiden in the
three Islands of the mighty, and in the three Islands adjacent,
and for her Gwythyr the son of Greidawl and Gwynn the
son of Nudd fight every first of May until the day of doom.)
Ellylw the daughter of Neol Kynn-Crog (she lived three
ages). Essyllt Vinwen, and Essyllt Vingul." And all these
did Kilhwch son of Kilydd adjure to obtain his boon.
Then said Arthur, " Oh ! Chieftain, I have never heard of
the maiden of whom thou speakest, nor of her kindred, but
I will gladly send messengers in search of her. Give me
time to seek her." And the youth said, " I will willingly
grant from this night to that at the end of the year to do so."
Then Arthur sent messengers to every land within his domi
nions to seek for the maiden ; and at the end of the year
Arthur's messengers returned without having gained any
knowledge or intelligence concerning Olwen more than on
the first day. Then said Kilhwch, " Every one has received
his boon, and I yet lack mine. I will depart and bear away
thy honour with me." Then said Kai, " Rash chieftain ! dost
thou reproach Arthur ? Go with us, and we will not part
until thou dost either confess that the maiden exists not in
the world, or until we obtain her." Thereupon Kai rose up.
Kai had this peculiarity, that his breath lasted nine nights
and nine days under water, and he could exist nine nights and
nine days without sleep. A wound from Kai's sword no phy
sician could heal. Very subtle was Kai. When it pleased
him he could render himself as tall as the highest tree in the
forest. And he had another peculiarity,—so great was the
heat of his nature, that, when it rained hardest, whatever
he carried remained dry for a handbreadth above and a
handbreadth below his hand ; and when his companions
were coldest, it was to them as fuel with which to light
their fire.
230 K1LHWCH AND OLWEN,
And Arthur called Bedwyr, who never shrank from any

enterprise upon which Kai was bound. None was equal to
him in swiftness throughout this Island except Arthur and
Drych Ail Kibddar. And although he was one-handed, three
warriors could not shed blood faster than he on the field of
battle. Another property he had ; his lance would produce
a wound equal to those of nine opposing lances.
And Arthur called to Kynddelig the Guide, " Go thou
upon this expedition with the chieftain." For as good a
guide was he in a land which he had never seen as he was in
his own.
He called Gwrhyr Gwalstawt Ieithoedd, because he knew
all tongues.
He called Gwalchmai the son of Gwyar, because he never
returned home without achieving the adventure of which he
went in quest. He was the best of footmen and the best of
knights. He was nephew to Arthur, the son of his sister,
and his cousin.
And Arthur called Menw the son of Teirgwaedd, in order
that if they went into a savage country, he might cast a
charm and an illusion over them, so that none might see
them whilst they could see every one.
They journeyed until they came to a vast open plain,
wherein they saw a great castle, which was the fairest of the
castles of the world. And they journeyed that day until
the evening, and when they thought they were nigh to the
castle, they were no nearer to it than they had been in the
morning. And the second and the third day they journeyed,
and even then scarcely could they reach so far. And when
they came before the castle, they beheld a vast flock of
sheep, which was boundless and without an end. And upon
the top of a mound there was a herdsman, keeping the
sheep. And a rug made of skins was upon him ; and by
his side was a shaggy mastiff, larger than a steed nine
winters old. Never had he lost even a lamb from his flock,
much less a large sheep. He let no occasion ever pass
without doing some hurt and harm. All the dead trees and
OK THE TWRCH TRWYTH. 231
bushes in the plain he burnt with his breath down to the

very ground.
Then said Kai, " Gwrhyr Gwalstawt Ieithoedd, go thou
and salute yonder man." " Kai," said he, " I engaged not
to go further than thou thyself." "Let us go then to
gether/' answered Kai. Said Menw the son of Teirgwaedd,
" Fear not to go thither, for I will cast a spell upon the
dog, so that he shall injure no one." And they went up to
the mound whereon the herdsman was, and they said to him,
" How dost thou fare ? 0 herdsman ! " " No less fair be
it to you than to me." "Truly, art thou the chief?"
" There is no hurt to injure me but my own."* " Whose
are the sheep that thou dost keep, and to whom does yonder
castle belong?" " Stupid are ye, truly! Through the whole
world is it known that this is the castle of Yspaddaden
Penkawr." " And who art thou ?" " I am called Custennin
the son of Dyfnedig, and my brother Yspaddaden Penkawr
oppressed me because of my possessions. And ye also, who are
ye?" "We are an embassy from Arthur, come to seek 01wen
the daughter of Yspaddaden Penkawr." " Oh men ! the mercy
of Heaven be upon you, do not that for all the world. None
who ever came hither on this quest has returned alive."
And the herdsman rose up. And as he arose, Kilhwch gave
unto him a ring of gold. And he sought to put on the ring,
but it was too small for him, so he placed it in the finger
of his glove. And he went home, and gave the glove to
his spouse to keep. And she took the ring from the glove
when it was given her, and she said, "Whence came this
ring, for thou art not wont to have good fortune ?" "I
went," said he, "to the sea to seek for fish, and lo, I saw
a corpse borne by the waves. And a fairer corpse than it
did I never behold. And from its finger did I take this
ring." " 0 man ! does the sea permit its dead to wear
jewels ? Show me then this body." " Oh wife, him to
whom this ring belonged thou shalt see here in the evening."
* This dialogue consists of a series of repartees with a play upon words,
which it is impossible to follow in the translation.
" And who is he ? " asked the woman. " Kilhwch the son
of Kilydd, the son of Prince Kelyddon, by Goleuddydd the
daughter of Prince Anlawdd, his mother, who is come to
seek Olwen as his wife." And when she heard that, her
feelings were divided between the joy that she had that her
nephew, the son of her sister, was coming to her, and sorrow
because she had never known any one depart alive who had
come on that quest.
And they went forward to the gate of Custennin the herds-
man'B dwelling. And when she heard their footsteps ap
proaching, she ran out with joy to meet them. And Kai
snatched a billet out of the pile. And when she met them
she sought to throw her arms about their necks. And Kai
placed the log between her two hands, and she squeezed it
so that it became a twisted coil. " Oh woman," said Kai,
" if thou hadst squeezed me thus, none could ever again
have set their affections on me. Evil love were this." They
entered into the house, and were served; and soon after
they all went forth to amuse themselves. Then the woman
opened a stone chest that was before the chimney-corner,
and out of it arose a youth with yellow curling hair. Said
Gwrhyr, "It is a pity to hide this youth. I know that it
is not his own crime that is thus visited upon him." " This
is but a remnant," said the woman. " Three-and-twenty of
my sons has Yspaddaden Penkawr slain, and I have no more
hope of this one than of the others." Then said Kai, " Let
him come and be a companion with me, and he shall not be
slain unless I also am slain with him." And they ate. And
the woman asked them, "Upon what errand come you here ?"
" We come to seek Olwen for this youth." Then said the
woman, "In the name of Heaven, since no one from the
castle hath yet seen you, return again whence you came."
" Heaven is our witness, that we will not return until we
have seen the maiden." Said Kai, " Does she ever come
hither, so that she may be seen?" "She comes here every
Saturday to wash her head, and in the vessel where she
washes, she leaves all her rings, and she never either comes
herself or sends any messengers to fetch them." " Will she

come here if she is sent to?" "Heaven knows that I will
not destroy my soul, nor will I betray those that trust me ;
unless you will pledge me your faith that you will not harm
her, I will not send to her." "We pledge it," said they.
So a message was sent, and she came.
The maiden was clothed in a robe of flame-coloured silk,
and about her neck was a collar of ruddy gold, on which
were precious emeralds and rubies. More yellow was her
head than the flower of the broom, and her skin was whiter
than the foam of the wave, and fairer were her hands and
her fingers than the blossoms of the wood anemone amidst
the spray of the meadow fountain. The eye of the trained
hawk, the glance of the three-mewed falcon was not brighter
than hers. Her bosom was more snowy than the breast of
the white swan, her cheek was redder than the reddest roses.
Whoso beheld her was filled with her love. Four white tre
foils sprung up wherever she trod. And therefore was she
called Olwen.
She entered the house, and sat beside Kilhwch upon the
foremost bench; and as soon as he saw her he knew her.
And Kilhwch said unto her, "Ah! maiden, thou art she
whom I have loved; come away with me, lest they speak
evil of thee and of me. Many a day have I loved thee."
" I cannot do this, for I have pledged my faith to my father
not to go without his counsel, for his life will last only until
the time of my espousals. Whatever is, must be. But I
will give thee advice if thou wilt take it. Go, ask me of my
father, and that which he shall require of thee, grant it, and
thou wilt obtain me; but if thou deny him anything, thou
wilt not obtain me, and it will be well for thee if thou escape
with thy life." " I promise all this, if occasion offer," said he.
She returned to her chamber, and they all rose up and fol
lowed her to the castle. And they slew the nine porters
that were at the nine gates in silence. And they slew the
nine watch-dogs without one of them barking. And they
went forward to the hall.
234 KILHWCH AND OLWBN,
" The greeting of heaven and of man be unto thee,

Yspaddaden Penkawr," said they. " And you, wherefore
come you ? " " We come to ask thy daughter Olwen, for
Kilhwch the son of Kilydd, the son of Prince Kelyddon."
" Where are my pages and my servants ? Raise up the
forks beneath my two eyebrows which have fallen over my
eyes, that I may see the fashion of my son-in-law." And
they did so. " Come hither to-morrow, and you shall have
an answer."
They rose to go forth, and Yspaddaden Penkawr seized one
of the three poisoned darts that lay beside him, and threw
it after them. And Bedwyr caught it, and flung it, and
pierced Yspaddaden Penkawr grievously with it through the
knee. Then he said, " A cursed ungentle son-in-law, truly.
I shall ever walk the worse for his rudeness, and shall ever
be without a cure. This poisoned iron pains me like the
bite of a gadfly. Cursed be the smith who forged it, and
the anvil whereon it was wrought ! So sharp is it ! "
That night also they took up their abode in the house of
Custennin the herdsman. The next day with the dawn, they
arrayed themselves in haste and proceeded to the castle, and
entered the hall, and they said, " Yspaddaden Penkawr, give
us thy daughter in consideration of her dower and her
maiden fee, which we will pay to thee and to her two kins
women likewise. And unless thou wilt do so, thou shalt
meet with thy death on her account." Then he said, " Her
four great- grandmothers, and her four great-grandsires are
yet alive, it is needful that I take counsel of them." " Be
it so," answered they, "we will go to meat." As they rose
up, he took the second dart that was beside him, and cast it
after them. And Menw the son of Gwaedd caught it, and
flung it back at him, and wounded him in the centre of the
breast, so that it came out at the small of his back. " A
cursed ungentle son-in-law, truly," said he, " the hard iron
pains me like the bite of a horse-leech. Cursed be the hearth
whereon it was heated, and the smith who formed it ! So
sharp is it ! Henceforth, whenever I go up a hill, I shall have
a scant in my breath, and a pain in my chest, and I shall often

loathe my food." And they went to meat.
And the third day they returned to the palace. And
Yspaddaden Penkawr said to them, " Shoot not at me again
unless you desire death. Where are my attendants ? Lift up
the forks of my eyebrows which have fallen over my eye
balls, that I may see the fashion of my son-in-law.'' Then
they arose, and, as they did so, Yspaddaden Penkawr took
the third poisoned dart and cast it at them. And Kilhwch
caught it and threw it vigorously, and wounded him through
the eyeball, so that the dart came out at the back of his
head. " A cursed ungentle son-in-law, truly ! As long as I
• remain alive, my eyesight will be the worse. Whenever I go
against the wind, my eyes will water ; and peradventure my
head will burn, and I shall have a giddiness every new moon.
Cursed be the fire in which it was forged. Like the bite of a
mad dog is the stroke of this poisoned iron." And they went
to meat.
And the next day they came again to the palace, and they
said, " Shoot not at us any more, unless thou desirest such
hurt, and harm, and torture as thou now hast, and even more."
" Give me thy daughter, and if thou wilt not give her, thou
shalt receive thy death because of her." " Where is he that
seeks my daughter ? Come hither where I may see thee."
And they placed him a chair face to face with him.
Said Yspaddaden Penkawr, "Is it thou that seekest my
daughter ? " " It is I," answered Kilhwch. " I must have
thy pledge that thou wilt not do towards me otherwise than is
just, and when I have gotten that which I shall name, my
daughter thou shalt have." " I promise thee that willingly,"
said Kilhwch, "name what thou wilt." "I will do so,"
said he.
" Seest thou yonder vast hill ? " "I see it." " I require
that it be rooted up, and that the grubbings be burned for
manure on the face of the land, and that it be ploughed and
sown in one day, and in one day that the grain ripen. And of
that wheat I intend to make food and liquor fit for the
wedding of thee and my daughter. And all this I require

done in one day."
" It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
mayest think that it will not be easy."
" Though this be easy for thee, there is yet that which will
not be so. No husbandman can till or prepare this land, so
wild is it, except Amaethon the son of Don, and he will not
come with thee by his own free will, and thou wilt not be able
to compel him."
" Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt
not get. Govannon the son of Don to come to the headland
to rid the iron, he will do no work of his own good will
except for a lawful king, and thou wilt not be able to
compel him."
" It will be easy for me to compass this."
" Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou
wilt not get; the two dun oxen of Gwlwlyd, both yoked
together, to plough the wild land yonder stoutly. He will
not give them of his own free will, and thou wilt not be able
to compel him."
not get ; the yellow and the brindled bull yoked together do
I require."
not get ; the two horned oxen, one of which is beyond, and
the other this side of the peaked mountain, yoked together in
the same plough. And these are Nynniaw and Peibaw, whom
God turned into oxen on account of their sins.'''
not get. Seest thou yonder red tilled ground ? "
" I see it."
" When first I met the mother of this maiden, nine bushels
OR THE TWRCH TRWTYH. 237
of flax were sown therein, and none has yet sprung up,
neither white nor black ; and I have the measure by me still.
I require to have the flax to sow in the new land yonder,
that when it grows up it may make a white wimple, for
my daughter's head, on the day of thy wedding."
" Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not
get. Honey that is nine times sweeter than the honey of the
virgin swarm, without scum and bees, do I require to make
bragget for the feast."
" The vessel of Llwyr the son of Llwyryon, which is of the
utmost value. There is no other vessel in the world that can
hold this drink. Of his free will thou wilt not get it, and
thou canst not compel him."
" Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not
get. The basket of Gwyddneu Garanhir, if the whole world
should come together, thrice nine men at a time, the meat
that each of them desired would be found within it. I
require to eat therefrom on the night that my daughter
becomes thy bride. He will give it to no one of his own
free will, and thou canst not compel him."
not get. The horn of Gwlgawd Gododin to serve us with
liquor that night. He will not give it of his own free will,
and thou wilt not be able to compel him."
not get. The harp of Teirtu to play to us that night. When
a man desires that it should play, it does so of itself, and
when he desires that it should cease, it ceases. And this he

will not give of his own free will, and thou wilt not be able
to compel him."
"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
not get. The cauldron of Diwrnach Wyddel, the steward of
Odgar the son of Aedd, king of Ireland, to boil the meat for
thy marriage feast."
not get. It is needful for me to wash my head, and shave
my beard, and I require the tusk of Yskithyrwyn Benbaedd
to shave myself withal, neither shall I profit by its use if it
be not plucked alive out of his head."
" It will be easy for me to' compass this, although thou
not get. There is no one in the world that can pluck it out
of his head except Odgar the son of Aedd, king of Ireland."
not get. I will not trust any one to keep the tusk except
Gado of North Britain. Now the threescore Cantrevs of
North Britain are under his sway, and of his own free will he
will not come out of his kingdom, and thou wilt not be able
to compel him."
not get. I must spread out my hair in order to shave it, and
it will never be spread out unless I have the blood of the jet
black sorceress, the daughter of the pure white sorceress,
from Pen Nant Govid, on the confines of Hell."
i
not get. I will not have the blood unless I have it warm,
and no vessels will keep warm the liquid that is put therein
except the bottles of Gwyddolwyn Gorr, which preserve the
heat of the liquor that is put into them in the east, until
they arrive at the west. And he will not give them of
his own free will, and thou wilt not be able to compel
him."
not get. Some will desire fresh milk, and it will not be
possible to have fresh milk for all, unless we have the bottles
of Rhinnon Rhin Barnawd, wherein no liquor ever turns
sour. And he will not give them of his own free will, and
thou wilt not be able to compel him."
not get. Throughout the world there is not a comb or
scissors with which I can arrange my hair, on account of
its rankness, except the comb and scissors that are between
the two ears of Twrch Trwyth^ the son of Prince Tared.
He will not give them of his own free will, and thou wilt
not be able to compel him.''
not get. It will not be possible to hunt Twrch Trwyth
without Drudwyn the whelp of Greid, the son of Eri."
not get. Throughout the world there is not a leash that can
hold him, except the leash of Cwrs Cant Ewin."
not get. Throughout the world there is no collar that will
hold the leash except the collar of Canhastyr Canllaw."
not get. The chain of Kilydd Canhastyr to fasten the collar
to the leash."
not get. Throughout the world there is not a huntsman who
can hunt with this dog, except Mabon the son of Modron.
He was taken from his mother when three nights old, and it
is not known where he now is, nor whether he is living or
dead."
not get. Gwynn Mygdwn, the horse of Gweddw, that is as
swift as the wave, to carry Mabon the son of Modron to hunt
the boar Trwyth. He will not give him of his own free will,
and thou wilt not be able to compel him."
not get. Thou wilt not get Mabon, for it is not known
where he is, unless thou find Eidoel, his kinsman in blood,
the son of Aer. For it would be useless to seek for him.
He is his cousin."
" Though thou get this,, there is yet that which thou wilt
not get. Garselit the Gwyddelian is the chief huntsman of
Ireland ; the Twrch Trwyth can never be hunted without him."
OR THE TWRCH TRWYTIf. 241
not get. A leash made from the beard of Dissull Varvawc,
for that is the only one that can hold those two cubs. And
the leash will be of no avail unless it be plucked from his
beard while he is alive, and twitched out with wooden
tweezers. While he lives he will not suffer this to be done
to him, and the leash will be of no use should he be dead,
because it will be brittle."
not get. Throughout the world there is no huntsman that
can hold those two whelps except Kynedyr Wyllt, the son of
Hettwn Glafyrawc ; he is nine times more wild than the
wildest beast upon the mountains. Him wilt thou never get,
neither wilt thou ever get my daughter."
not get. It is not possible to hunt the boar Trwyth without
Gwynn the son of Nudd, whom God has placed over the
brood of devils in Annwn, lest they should destroy the
present race. He will never be spared thence."
not get. There is not a horse in the world that can carry
Gwynn to hunt the Twrch Trwyth, except Du, the horse of
Mor of Oerveddawg."
not get. Until Gilennhin the king of France shall come, the
Twrch Trwyth cannot be hunted. It will be unseemly for
him to leave his kingdom for thy sake, and he will never
come hither."
ISabinogion. B

not get. The Twrch Trwyth can never be hunted without
the son of Alun Dyved ; he is well skilled in letting loose the
dogs."
not get. The Twrch Trwyth cannot be hunted unless thou
get Aned and Aethlem. They are as swift as the gale of
wind, and they were never let loose upon a beast that they
did not kill him."
not get; Arthur and his companions to hunt the Twrch
Trwyth. He is a mighty man, and he will not come for
thee, neither wilt thou be able to compel him."
" Though thou get this there is yet that which thou wilt
not get. The Twrch Trwyth cannot be hunted unless thou
get Bwlch, and Kyfwlch [and Sefwlch], the grandsons of
Cleddyf Difwlch. Their three shields are three gleaming
glitterers. Their three spears are three pointed piercers.
Their three swords are three griding gashers, Glas, Glessic,
and Clersag. Their three dogs, Call, Cuall, and Cavall.
Their three horses, Hwyrdydwg, and Drwgdydwg, and
Llwyrdydwg. Their three wives, Och, and Garam, and
Diaspad. Their three grandchildren, Lluched, and Vyned,
and Eissiwed. Their three daughters, Drwg, and Gwaeth,
and Gwaethav Oil. Their three handmaids [Eheubryd, the
daughter of Kyfwlch ; Gorasgwrn, the daughter of Nerth ;
and Gwaedan, the daughter of Kynvelyn] . These three men
shall sound the horn, and all the others shall shout, so that
all will think that the sky is falling to the earth."

not get. The sword of Gwrnach the Giant ; he will never be
slain except therewith. Of his own free will he will not give
it, either for a price or as a gift, and thou wilt never be able
to compel him."
mayest think that it will not be easy,"
not get. Difficulties shalt thou meet with, and nights with
out sleep, in seeking this, and if thou obtain it not, neither
shalt thou obtain my daughter."
" Horses shall I have, and chivalry ; and my lord and
kinsman Arthur will obtain for me all these things. And I
shall gain thy daughter, and thou shalt lose thy life."
" Go forward. And thou shalt not be chargeable for food
or raiment for my daughter while thou art seeking these
things ; and when thou hast compassed all these marvels, thou
shalt have my daughter for thy wife."
All that day they journeyed until the evening, and then
they beheld a vast castle, which was the largest in the world.
And lo, a black man, huger than three of the men of this
world, came out from the castle. And they spoke unto him^
" Whence comest thou, 0 man ? " " From the castle which
you see yonder." "Whose castle is that?" asked they.
" Stupid are ye truly, O men. There is no one in the world
that does not know to whom this castle belongs. It is the
castle of Gwrnach the Giant." " What treatment is there
for guests and strangers that alight in that castle f " " Oh !
Chieftain, Heaven protect thee. No guest ever returned thence
alive, and no one may enter therein unless he brings with him
his craft."
Then they proceeded towards the gate. Said Gwrhyr
Gwalstawd Ieithoedd, " Is there a porter ? " " There is.
And thou, if thy tongue be not mute in thy head, wherefore
r 2
244 KILHWCII AND OLWEN,
dost thou call ? " " Open the gate." " I will not open it."
" Wherefore wilt thou not ? " " The knife is in the meat,
and the drink is in the horn, and there is revelry in the
hall of Gwrnach the Giant, and except for a craftsman who
brings his craft, the gate will not be opened to-night."
"Verily, porter," then said Kai, "my craft bring I with
me." "What is thy craft?" "The best burnisher of
swords am I in the world." " I will go and tell this unto
Gwrnach the Giant, and I will bring thee an answer."
So the porter went in, and Gwrnach said to him, " Hast
thou any news from the gate ? " "I have. There is a
party at the door of the gate who desire to come in."
" Didst thou inquire of them if they possessed any art ? "
"I did inquire," said he, " and one told me that he was well
skilled in the burnishing of swords." " We have need of him
then. For some time have I sought for some one to polish
my sword, and could find no one. Let this man enter, since
he brings with him his craft." The porter thereupon returned
and opened the gate. And Kai went in by himself, and he
saluted Gwrnach the Giant. And a chair was placed for him
opposite to Gwrnach. And Gwrnach said to him, " Oh man !
is it true that is reported of thee that thou knowest how to
burnish swords ? " "I know full well how to do so,"
answered Kai. Then was the sword of Gwrnach brought to
him. And Kai took a blue whetstone from under his arm,
and asked him whether he would have it burnished white or
blue. " Do with it as it seems good to thee, and as thou
wouldest if it were thine own." Then Kai polished one half
of the blade and put it in his hand. " Will this please thee,? "
asked he. " I would rather than all that is in my dominions
that the whole of it were like unto this. It is a marvel to
me that such a man as thou should be without a companion."
" Oh ! noble sir, I have a companion, albeit he is not skilled
in this art." " Who may he be ? " " Let the porter go
forth, and I will tell him whereby he may know him. The
head of his lance will leave its shaft, and draw blood from
the wind, and will descend upon its shaft again." Then the
OK THE TWRCH THWYTH. 245
gate was opened, and Bedwyr entered. And Kai said,

" Bedwyr is very skilful, although he knows not this art."
And there was much discourse among those who were
without, because that Kai and Bedwyr had gone in. And
a young man who was with them, the only son of Custennin
the herdsman, got in also. And he caused all his companions
to keep close to him as he passed the three wards, and until
he came into the midst of the castle. And his companions
said unto the son of Custennin, " Thou hast done this !
Thou art the best of all men." And thenceforth he was
called Goreu, the son of Custennin. Then they dispersed to
their lodgings, that they might slay those who lodged therein,
unknown to the Giant.
The sword was now polished, and Kai gave it unto the hand
of Gwrnach the Giant, to see if he were pleased with his
work. And the Giant said, " The work is good, I am content
therewith." Said Kai, "It is thy scabbard that hath rusted
thy sword, give it to me that I may take out the wooden
sides of it and put in new ones." And he took the
scabbard from him, and the sword in the other hand. And
he came and stood over against the Giant, as if he would
have put the sword into the scabbard ; and with it he struck
at the head of the Giant, and cut off his head at one blow.
Then they despoiled the castle, and took from it what goods
and jewels they would. And again on the same day, at the
beginning of the year, they came to Arthur's Court, bearing
with them the sword of Gwrnach the Giant.
Now, when they told Arthur how they had sped, Arthur
said, " Which of these marvels will it be best for us to
seek first ? " " It will be best," said they, " to seek Mabon
the son of Modron ; and he will not be found unless we first
find Eidoel, the son of Aer, his kinsman." Then Arthur
rose up, and the warriors of the Islands of Britain with him,
to seek for Eidoel; and they proceeded until they came
before the Castle of Glivi, where Eidoel was imprisoned.
Glivi stood on the summit of his castle, and he said, " Arthur,
what requirest thou of me, since nothing remains to mo in
this fortress, and I have neither joy nor pleasure in it ;

neither wheat nor oats ? Seek not therefore to do me harm."
Said Arthur, " Not to injure thee came I hither, but to seek
for the prisoner that is with thee." " I will give thee my
prisoner, though I had not thought to give him up to any
one; and therewith shalt thou have my support and my aid."
His followers said unto Arthur, "Lord, go thou home,
thou canst not proceed with thy host in quest of such small
adventures as these." Then said Arthur, " It were well
for thee, Gwrhyr Gwalstawd Ieithoedd, to go upon this
quest, for thou knowest all languages, and art familiar with
those of the birds and the beasts. Thou, Eidoel, oughtest
likewise to go with my men in search of thy cousin. And as
for you, Kai and Bedwyr, I have hope of whatever adventure
ye are in quest of, that ye will achieve it. Achieve ye this
adventure for me."
They went forward until they came to the Ousel of Cilgwri.
And Gwrhyr adjured her for the sake of Heaven, saying, " Tell
me if thou knowest aught of Mabon the son of Modron, who
was taken when three nights old from between his mother and
the wall." And the Ousel answered, "When I first came here,
there was a smith's anvil in this place, and I was then a young
bird ; and from that time no work has been done upon it, save
the pecking of my beak every evening, and now there is not so
much as the size of a nut remaining thereof ; yet the vengeance
of Heaven be upon me, if during all that time I have ever
heard of the man for whom you inquire. Nevertheless I will
do that which is right, and that which it is fitting that I should
do for an embassy from Arthur. There is a race of animals
who were formed before me, and I will be your guide to
them."
So they proceeded to the place where was the Stag of
Redynvre. " Stag of Redynvre, behold we are come to thee,
an embassy from Arthur, for we have not heard of any animal
older than thou. Say, knowest thou aught of Mabon the son
of Modron, who was taken from his mother when three nights
old ? " The Stag said, " When first I came hither, there was
OR THE TWKCH TRWYTH. 247
a plain all around me, without any trees save one oak sapling,
which grew up to be an oak with an hundred branches. And
that oak has since perished, so that now nothing remains of
it but the withered stump ; and from that day to this I have
been here, yet have I never heard of the man for whom you
inquire. Nevertheless, being an embassy from Arthur, I will
be your guide to the place where there is an animal which was
formed before I was."
So they proceeded to the place where was the Owl of Cwm
Cawlwyd. " Owl of Cwm Cawlwyd, here is an embassy from
Arthur ; knowest thou aught of Mabon the son of Modron, who
was taken after three nights from his mother ? " "If I knew
I would tell you. When first I came hither, the wide valley you
see was a wooded glen. And a race of men came and rooted
it up. And there grew there a second wood ; and this wood is
the third. My wings, are they not withered stumps ? Yet all
this time, even until to-day, I have never heard of the man for
whom you inquire. Nevertheless, I will be the guide of
Arthur's embassy until you come to the place where is the
oldest animal in this world, and the one that has travelled
most, the Eagle of Gwern Abwy."
Gwrhyr said, " Eagle of Gwern Abwy, we have come to
thee an embassy from Arthur, to ask thee if thou knowest
aught of Mabon the son of Modron, who was taken from his
mother when he was three nights old." The Eagle said, " I
have been here for a great space of time, and when I first
came hither there was a rock here, from the top of which I
pecked at the stars every evening ; and now it is not so much
as a span high. Prom that day to this I have been here, and
I have never heard of the man for whom you inquire, except
once when I went in search of food as far as Llyn Llyw.
And when I came there, I struck my talons into a salmon,
thinking he would serve me as food for a long time. But he
drew me into the deep, and I was scarcely able to escape from
him. After that I went with my whole kindred to attack
him, and to try to destroy him, but he sent messengers, and
made peace with me ; and came and besought me to take fiftv
fish spears out of his back. Unless he know something of

him whom you seek, I cannot tell who may. However, I will
guide you to the place where he is."
So they went thither; and the Eagle said, "Salmon of
Llyn Llyw, I have come to thee with an embassy from Arthur,
to ask thee if thou knowest aught concerning Mabon the son
of Modron, who was taken away at three nights old from his
mother." " As much as I know I will tell thee. With every
tide I go along the river upwards, until I come near to the
walls of Gloucester, and there have I found such wrong as I
never found elsewhere; and to the end that ye may give
credence thereto, let one of you go thither upon each of my
two shoulders." So Kai and Gwrhyr Gwalstawd Ieithoedd
went upon the two shoulders of the salmon, and they pro
ceeded until they came unto the wall of the prison, and they
heard a great wailing and lamenting from the dungeon. Said
Gwrhyr, "Who is it that laments in this house of stone?"
" Alas, there is reason enough for whoever is here to lament.
It is Mabon the son of Modron who is here imprisoned ; and
no imprisonment was ever so grievous as mine, neither that of
Lludd Llaw Ereint, nor that of Greid the son of Eri." "Hast
thou hope of being released for gold or for silver, or for any
gifts of wealth, or through battle and fighting ? " " By fight
ing will whatever I may gain be obtained."
Then they went thence, and returned to Arthur, and
they told him where Mabon the son of Modron was im
prisoned. And Arthur summoned the warriors of the Island,
and they journeyed as far as Gloucester, to the place where
Mabon was in prison. Kai and Bedwyr went upon the
shoulders of the fish, whilst the warriors of Arthur attacked
the castle. And Kai broke through the wall into the dun
geon, and brought away the prisoner upon his back, whilst
the fight was going on between the warriors. And Arthur
returned home, and Mabon with him at liberty.
Said Arthur, " Which of the marvels will it be best for us

now to seek first?" "It will be best to seek for the two
cubs of Gast Rhymhi." " Is it known," asked Arthur,

" where she is !" " She is in Aber Deu Gleddyf," said one.
Then Arthur went to the house of Tringad, in Aber Cleddyf,
and he inquired of him whether he had heard of her there."
" In what form may she be i " " She is in the form of a she-
wolf," said he; "and with her there are two cubs." "She
has often slain my herds, and she is there below in a cave in
Aber Cleddyf."
So Arthur went in his ship Prydwen by sea, and the others
went by land, to hunt her. And they surrounded her and her
two cubs, and God did change them again for Arthur into
their own form. And the host of Arthur dispersed them
selves into parties of one and two.
On a certain day, as Gwythyr the son of Greidawl was

walking over a mountain, he heard a wailing and a grievous
cry. And when he heard it, he sprang forward, and went
towards it. And when he came there, he drew his sword,
and smote off an ant-hill close to the earth, whereby it
escaped being burned in the fire. And the ants said to him,
" Receive from us the blessing of Heaven, and that which no
man can give we will give thee." Then they fetched the
nine bushels of flax-seed which Tspaddaden Penkawr had
required of Kilhwch, and they brought the full measure with
out lacking any, except one flax-seed, and that the lame pis
mire brought in before night.
As Kai and Bedwyr sat on a beacon earn on the summit of

Plinlimmon, in the highest wind that ever was in the world,
they looked around them, and saw a great smoke towards the
south, afar off, which did not bend with the wind. Then said
Kai, " By the hand of my friend, behold, yonder is the fire of
a robber ! " Then they hastened towards the smoke, and
they came so near to it, that they could see Dillus Varvawc
scorching a wild boar. " Behold, yonder is the greatest
robber that ever fled from Arthur," said Bedwyr unto Kai.
" Dost thou know him ?" " I do know him," answered Kai,
" he is Dillus Varvawc, and no leash in the world will be able

to hold Drudwyn, the cub of Greid the son of Eri, save a
leash made from the beard of him thou seest yonder. And
even that will be useless, unless his beard be plucked alive
with wooden tweezers; for if dead, it will be brittle." "What
thinkest thou that we should do concerning this ?" said
Bedwyr. " Let us suffer him," said Kai, " to eat as much as
he will of the meat, and after that he will fall asleep." And
during that time they employed themselves in making the
wooden tweezers. And when Kai knew certainly that he was
asleep, he made a pit under his feet, the largest in the world,
and he struck him a violent blow, and squeezed him into the
pit. And there they twitched out his beard completely with
the wooden tweezers ; and after that they slew him altogether.
And from thence they both went to Gelli Wic, in Cornwall,
and took the leash made of Dillus Varvawc's beard with
them, and they gave it into Arthur's hand. Then Arthur
composed this Englyn—
Kai made a leash

Of Dillus son of Eurei's beard.
Were he alive, thy death he'd be.
And thereupon Kai was wroth, so that the warriors of the

Island could scarcely make peace between Kai and Arthur.
And thenceforth, neither in Arthur's troubles, nor for the
slaying of his men, would Kai come forward to his aid for
ever after.
Said Arthur, " Which of the marvels is it best for us now

to seek ? " " It is best for us to seek Drudwyn, the cub of
Greid the son of Eri."
A little while before this, Creiddylad the daughter of
Lludd Llaw Ereint, and Gwythyr the son of Greidawl, were
betrothed. And before she had become his bride, Gwyn ap
Nudd came and carried her away by force ; and Gwythyr the
son of Greidawl gathered his host together, and went to fight
with Gwyn ap Nudd. But Gwyn overcame him, and captured
Greid the son of Eri, and Glinneu the son of Taran, and
Gwrgwst Ledlwm, and Dynvarth his son. And he captured
Perm the son of Nethawg, and Nwython, and Kyledyr Wyllt
his son. And they slew Nwython, and took out his heart, and
constrained Kyledyr to eat the heart of his father. And
therefrom Kyledyr became mad. When Arthur heard of this,
he went to the North, and summoned Gwyn ap Nudd before
him, and set free the nobles whom he had put in prison, and
made peace between Gwyn ap Nudd and Gwythyr the son of
Greidawl. And this was the peace that was made :—that the
maiden should remain in her father's house, without advantage
to either of them, and that Gwyn ap Nudd and Gwythyr the
son of Greidawl should fight for her every first of May, from
thenceforth until the day of doom, and that whichever of them
should then be conqueror should have the maiden.
And when Arthur had thus reconciled these chieftains, he
obtained Mygdwn, GweddVs horse, and the leash of Cwrs
Cant Ewin.
And after that Arthur went into Armorica, and with him
Mabon the son of Mellt, and Gware Gwallt Euryn, to seek the
two dogs of Glythmyr Ledewic. And when he had got them,
he went to the West of Ireland, in search of Gwrgi Severi ;
and Odgar the son of Aedd king of Ireland, went with him.
And thence went Arthur into the North, and captured Kyledyr
Wyllt ; and he went after Yskithyrwyn Benbaedd. And
Mabon the son of Mellt came with the two dogs of Glythmyr
Ledewic in his hand, and Drudwyn, the cub of Greid the son
of Eri. And Arthur went himself to the chase, leading his
own dog Cavall. And Kaw, of North Britain, mounted
Arthur's mare Llamrei, and was first in the attack. Then
Kaw, of North Britain, wielded a mighty axe, and absolutely
daring he came valiantly up to the boar, and clave his
head in twain. And Kaw took away the tusk. Now the
boar was not slain by the dogs that Yspaddaden had men
tioned, but by Cavall, Arthur's own dog.
And after Yskithyrwyn Penbaedd was killed, Arthur and
his host departed to Gelli Wic in Cornwall. And thence he
sent Menw the son of Teirgwaedd to see if the precious

things were between the two ears of Twrch Trwyth, since it
were useless to encounter him if they were not there. Albeit
it was certain where he was, for he had laid waste the third
part of Ireland. And Menw went to seek for him, and he
met with him in Ireland, in Esgeir Oervel. And Menw took
the form of a bird; and he descended upon the top of his
lair, and strove to snatch away one of the precious things
from him, but he carried away nothing but one of his
bristles. And the boar rose up angrily and shook himself
so that some of his venom fell upon Menw, and he was
never well from that day forward.
After this Arthur sent an embassy to Odgar, the son of
Aedd king of Ireland, to ask for the Cauldron of Diwrnach
Wyddel, his purveyor. And Odgar commanded him to give
it. But Diwrnach said, " Heaven is my witness, if it would
avail him anything even to look at it, he should not do so."
And the embassy of Arthur returned from Ireland with this
denial. And Arthur set forward with a small retinue, and
entered into Prydwen, his ship, and went over to Ireland.
And they proceeded into the house of Diwrnach Wyddel. And
the hosts of Odgar saw their strength. When they had
eaten and drunk as much as they desired, Arthur demanded
to have the cauldron. And he answered, " If I would have
given it to any one, I would have given it at the word of
Odgar king of Ireland."
When he had given them this denial, Bedwyr arose and
seized hold of the cauldron, and placed it upon the back of
Hygwyd, Arthur's servant, who was brother, by the mother's
side, to Arthur's servant, Cachamwri. His office was always
to carry Arthur's cauldron, and to place fire under it. And
Llenlleawg Wyddel seized Caledvwlch, and brandished it.
And they slew Diwrnach Wyddel and his company. Then
came the Irish and fought with them. And when he had
put them to flight, Arthur with his men went forward to the
ship, carrying away the cauldron full of Irish money. And
he disembarked at the house of Llwydden the son of Kelcoed,
at Porth Kerddin in Dyved. And there is the measure of the

cauldron.
Then Arthur summoned unto him all the warriors that were
in the three Islands of Britain, and in the three Islands ad
jacent, and all that were in France and in Armorica, in
Normandy and in the Summer Country, and all that were
chosen footmen and valiant horsemen. And with all
these he went into Ireland. And in Ireland there was great
fear and terror concerning him. And when Arthur had
landed in the country, there came unto him the saints of
Ireland and besought his protection. And he granted his
protection unto them, and they gave him their blessing. Then
the men of Ireland came unto Arthur, and brought him pro
visions. And Arthur went as far as Esgeir Oervel in Ireland,
to the place where the Boar Trwyth was with his seven young
pigs. And the dogs were let loose upon him from all sides.
That day until evening the Irish fought with him, nevertheless
he laid waste the fifth part of Ireland. And on the day fol
lowing the household of Arthur fought with him, and they
were worsted by him, and got no advantage. And the third
day Arthur himself encountered him, and he fought with him
nine nights and nine days without so much as killing even one
little pig. The warriors inquired of Arthur what was the
origin of that swine ; and he told them that he was once a king,
and that God had transformed him into a swine for his sins.
Then Arthur sent Gwrhyr Gwalstawt Ieithoedd, to en
deavour to speak with him. And Gwrhyr assumed the form
of a bird, and alighted upon the top of the lair, where he
was with the seven young pigs. And Gwrhyr Gwalstawt
Ieithoedd asked him, " By him who turned you into this
form, if you can speak, let some one of you, I beseech you,
come and talk with Arthur." Grugyn Gwrych Ereint made
answer to him. (Now his bristles were like silver wire, and
whether he went through the wood or through the plain, he
was to be traced by the glittering of his bristles.) And
this was the answer that Grugyn made, " By him who turned
us into this form, we will not do so, and we will not speak
254 K1LHWCH AND OLWEN,
with Arthur. That we have been transformed thus is enough

for us to suffer, without your coming here to fight with us."
" I will tell you. Arthur comes but to fight for the comb,
and the razor, and the scissors, which are between the two
ears of Twrch Trwyth." Said Grugyn, " Except he first
take his life, he will never have those precious things. And
to-morrow morning we will rise up hence, and we will go
into Arthur's country, and there will we do all the mischief
that we can."
So they set forth through the sea towards Wales. And
Arthur and his hosts, and his horses and his dogs, entered
Prydwen, that they might encounter them without delay.
Twrch Trwyth landed in Porth Cleis in Dyved, and Arthur
came to Mynyw. The next day it was told to Arthur that
they had gone by, and he overtook them as they were killing
the cattle of Kynnwas Kwrr y Vagyl, having slain all that were
at Aber Gleddyf, of man and beast, before the coming of Arthur.
Now when Arthur approached, Twrch Trwyth went on as
far as Preseleu, and Arthur and his hosts followed him
thither, and Arthur sent men to hunt him ; Eli and Trachmyr,
leading Drutwyn the whelp of Greid the son of Eri, and
Gwarthegyd the son of Kaw, in another quarter, with the
two dogs of Glythmyr Ledewig, and Bedwyr leading Cavall,
Arthur's own dog. And all the warriors ranged themselves
around the Nyver. And there came there the three sons of
Cleddyf Divwlch, men who had gained much fame at the
slaying of Yskithyrwyn Penbaedd; and they went on from
Glyn Nyver, and came to Cwm Kerwyn.
And there Twrch Trwyth made a stand, and slew four of
Arthur's champions, Gwarthegyd the son of Kaw, and Tarawc
of Allt Clwyd, and Rheidwn the son of Eli Atver, and Iscovan
Hael. And after he had slain these men, he made a second
stand in the same place. And there he slew Gwydre the son
of Arthur, and Garselit Wyddel, and Glew the son of Ysgawd,
and Iscawyn the son of Panon ; and there he himself was
wounded.
And the next morning before it was day, some of the men
came np with him. And he slew Huandaw, and Gogigwr,

and Penpingon, three attendants upon Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr,
so that Heaven knows, he had not an attendant remaining, ex
cepting only Llaesgevyn, a man from whom no one ever derived
any good. And together with these, he slew many of the men
of that country, and Gwlydyn Saer, Arthur's chief Architect.
Then Arthur overtook him at Pelumyawc, and there he
slew Madawc the son of Teithyon, and Gwyn the son of
Tringad, the son of Neved, and Eiryawn Penllorau. Thence
he went to Aberteivi, where he made another stand, and
where he slew Kyflas the son of Kynan, and Gwilenhin king
of France. Then he went as far as Glyn Tstu, and there the
men and the dogs lost him.
Then Arthur summoned unto him Gwyn ab Nudd, and he
asked him if he knew aught of Twrch Trwyth. And he said
that he did not.
And all the huntsmen went to hunt the swine as far as
Dyffryn Llychwr. And Grugyn Gwallt Ereint, and Llwydawg
Govynnyad closed with them and killed all the huntsmen, so
that there escaped but one man only. And Arthur and his
hosts came to the place where Grugyn and Llwydawg were.
And there he let loose the whole of the dogs upon them, and
with the shout and barking that was set up, Twrch Trwyth
came to their assistance.
And from the time that they came across the Irish sea,
Arthur had never got sight of him until then. So he set
men and dogs upon him, and thereupon ho started off and
went to Mynydd Amanw. And there one of his young pigs
was killed. Then they set upon him life for life, and Twrch
Llawin was slain, and then there was slain another of the
swine, Gwys was his name. After that he went on to Dyffryn
Amanw, and there Banw and Bennwig were killed. Of all
his pigs there went with him alive from that place none save
Grugyn Gwallt Ereint, and Llwydawg Govynnyad.
Thence he went on to Llwch Ewin, and Arthur overtook
him there, and he made a stand. And there he slew Echel
Forddwytwll, and Garwyli the son of Gwyddawg Gwyr, and
25G KILHWCH AND OLWEN,
many men and dogs likewise. And thence they went to

Llwch Tawy. Grugyn Gwrych Ereint parted from them
there, and went to Din Tywi. And thence he proceeded to
Ceredigiawn, and Eli and Trachmyr with him, and a multi
tude likewise. Then he came to Garth Gregyn, and there
Llwydawg Govynnyad fought in the midst of them, and slew
Rhudvyw Rhys and many others with him. Then Llwydawg
went thence to Ystrad Yw, and there the men of Armorica
met him, and there he slew Hirpeissawg the king of Armorica,
and Llygatrndd Emys, and Gwrbothu, Arthur's uncles, his
mother's brothers, and there was he himself slain.
Twrch Trwyth went from there to between Tawy and
Euyas, and Arthur summoned all Cornwall' and Devon unto
him, to the estuary of the Severn, and he said to the warriors
of this Island, " Twrch Trwyth has slain many of my men,
but, by the valour of warriors, while I live he shall not go
into Cornwall. And I will not follow him any longer, but I
will oppose him life to life. Do ye as ye will." And he
resolved that he would send a body of knights, with the dogs
of the Island, as far as Euyas, who should return thence
to the Severn, and that tried warriors should traverse
the Island, and force him into the Severn. And Mabon
the son of Modron, came up with him at the Severn, upon
Gwynn Mygddon, the horse of Gweddw, and Goreu the son
of Custennin, and Menw the son of Teirgwaedd; this was
betwixt Llyn Lliwan and Aber Gwy. And Arthur fell upon
him together with the champions of Britain. And Osla
Kyllellvawr drew near, and Manawyddan the son of Llyr,
and Kacmwri the servant of Arthur, and Gwyngelli, and they
seized hold of him, catching him first by his feet, and plunged
him in the Severn, so that it overwhelmed him. On the one
side, Mabon the son of Modron spurred his steed and snatched
his razor from him, and Kyledyr Wyllt came up with him on
the other side, upon another steed, in the Severn, and took
from him the scissors. But before they could obtain the
comb, he had regained the ground with his feet, and from the
moment that he reached the shore, neither dog, nor man, nor
OK THE TVVRCH TRWYTH. 257
horse could overtake him until he came to Cornwall. If they

had had trouble in getting the jewels from him, much more
had they in seeking to save the two men from being drowned.
Kacmwri, as they drew him forth, was dragged by two mill
stones into the deep. And as Osla Kyllellvawr was running
after the boar, his knife had dropped out of the sheath, and
he had lost it, and after that, the sheath became full of water,
and its weight drew him down into the deep, as they were
drawing him forth.
Then Arthur and his hosts proceeded until they overtook
the boar in Cornwall, and the trouble which they had met
with before was mere play to what they encountered in seek
ing the comb. But from one difficulty to another, the comb
was at length obtained. And then he was hunted from Corn
wall, and driven straight forward into the deep sea. And
thenceforth it was never known whither he went ; and Aned
and Aethlem with him. Then went Arthur to Gelliwic, in
Cornwall, to anoint himself, and to rest from his fatigues.
Said Arthur, " Ie there any one of the marvels yet unob-
tained ? " Said one of his men, " There is—the blood of the
witch Orddu, the daughter of the witch Orwen, of Penn Nant
Govid, on the confines of Hell." Arthur set forth towards
the North, and came to the place where was the witch's cave.
And Gwyn ab Nudd, and Gwythyr the son of Greidawl, coun
selled him to send Kacmvvri, and Hygwyd his brother to fight
with the witch. And as they entered the cave, the witch
seized upon them, and she caught Hygwyd by the hair of his
head, and threw him on the floor beneath her. And Kacmwri
caught her by the hair of her head, and dragged her to the
earth from off Hygwyd, but she turned again upon them both,
and drove them both out with kicks and with cuffs.
And Arthur was wroth at seeing his two attendants almost
slain, and he sought to enter the cave; but Gwyn and
Gwythyr said unto him, " It would not be fitting or seemly
for us to see thee squabbling with a hag. Let Hiramreu and
Hireidil go to the cave." So they went. But if great was
the trouble of the first two that went, much greater was that
Ifabinogwn. 3
258 KILHWCH AND OLWEN.
of these two. And heaven knows that not one of the four
could move from the spot, until they placed them all upon
Llamrei, Arthur's mare. And then Arthur rushed to the door
of the cave, and at the door he struck at the witch, with Carn-
wennan his dagger, and clove her in twain, so that she fell in
two parts. And Kaw, of North Britain, took the blood of the
witch and kept it.
Then Kilhwch set forward, and Goreu, the son of Custennin,
with him, and as many as wished ill to Yspaddaden Penkawr.
And they took the marvels with them to his court. And Kaw
of North Britain came and shaved his beard, skin, and flesh
clean off to the very bone from ear to ear. " Art thou shaved,
man ? " said Kilhwch. " I am shaved," answered he. " Is
thy daughter mine now ? " " She is thine," said he, " but
therefor needest thou not thank me, but Arthur who hath
accomplished this for thee. By my free will thou shouldest
never have had her, for with her I lose my life." Then Goreu,
the son of Custennin, seized him by the hair of his head, and
dragged him after him to the keep, and cut off his head and
placed it on a stake on the citadel. Then they took possession
of his castle, and of his treasures.
And that night Olwen became Kilhwch's bride, and she
continued to bo his wife as long as she lived. And the hosts
of Arthur dispersed themselves, each man to his own country.
And thus did Kilhwch obtain Olwen, the daughter of Yspad
daden Penkawr.
NOTES TO KILHWCH AND OLWEN.
Kilhwch and Olwes.—Page 217.

The curious tale of Kilhwch and Olwen appears to be purely
British. The characters and events which it celebrates are altogether
of native origin, nor has any parallel or counterpart been discovered
in any other language.
It abounds in allusions to traditions of personages and incidents
belonging to a remote period, and, though it is true that some few of
these have now become obscure or unintelligible, yet many are, even
to the present day, current in the principality. Of a much greater
number, though all distinct recollection has ceased to exist, yet the
frequent references made to them in Bardic and other remains,
prove that, to our ancestors at least, they were well known ; and so
numerous are the instances we meet with of this class, that we
may safely infer that all the allusions this Mabinogi contains were
generally familiar to those for whom it was designed.
Beyond the adventures here ascribed to him, no particulars of the
hero Kilhwch mab Kilydd mab Kelyddon have come down to us.
s 2
Anlawdd Wledio.—Page 217.

The name of this prince occurs in the Pedigrees as being father of
Tywynwedd the mother of Tyvrydog mab Arwystli Gloff. Tyvrydog
was a saint who flourished in the sixth century. (Rees's Welsh Saints,
p. 276.) In the Pedigrees, Tywynwedd is mentioned as the mother
of Caradawc Vreichvras, of Gwyn ab Nudd, and Gwallawc ab
Lleenawg.
Eigr, the fair Ygraine of romance and mother of King Arthur, is
likewise said to have been the daughter of Aulawdd, by Gwen, the
daughter of Cunedda Wledig. This explains the relationship between
Kilhwch and Arthur.
King Dogged.—Page 218.

The name of this most unfortunate king is enrolled among the
number of the Saints of Wales, and he is recorded as the founder oi
the church of Llanddogged in Denbighshire. King Dogged was the
son of Cedig ab Ceredig* ab Cunedda Wledig, and brother of Avan
Buallt, a bishop, whose tomb still remains at the church of Lianavan
Fawr, in Breconshire, which he founded. The date assigned to these
brothers is from 500 to 542.—Rees's Welsh Saints, p. 209.
Olwen.—Page 219.
Op Olwen, the daughter of Yspaddaden Penkawr, but little is now
known beyond what is related concerning her in the present tale;
but with the bards of old her beauty had passed into a proverb.
Amongst those who made frequent allusion to her charms, we may
instance Davydd ap Gwilym, the Petrarch of Wales ; and Sion
Brwynog, a poet who flourished in the sixteenth century, commences
some complimentary verses addressed to a young damsel, by com
paring her to
" Olwen of slender eyebrow, pure of heart."
Cut thy Hair.—Page 219.

In the eighth century, it was the custom of people of consideration
to have their children's hair cut the first time by persons for whom
they had a particular honour and esteem, who in virtue of this cere
mony were reputed a sort of spiritual parents, or godfathers to them.
This practice appears, however, to have been still more ancient, iuas-
* From him the county of Cardigan (Ceredigion) received its name.
NOTES. 261
much as we read that Constantine sent the Pope the hair of his son
Heraclius, as a token that he desired him to be his adoptive father.—
See Rees's Cyclopaedia.
A hundred Kine. —Page 219.

It appears that in early times cows formed the standard of cur
rency among the Welsh ; for in the laws of Howel Dda, after a
certain enactment concerning the payment of fines, the following
remark is added, " For with cows all payments were made formerly."
And the price of a cow is stated to be forty pence.
The Liber Landavensis furnishes numerous examples of the custom
of resorting to this methcd of valuation. Amongst others may be
instanced the case of Brychan, the son of Gwyngon, who bought
three uncias of land, on which three villages were situated, " for
seven horses of the value of twenty-eight cows, and the whole ap
parel of one man of the value of fourteen cows, and a sword of the
value of twelve cows, and a hawk of the value of six cows, with four
dogs of the value of fourteen cows," p. 456. This property, consist
ing of about 324 acres, was purchased by him to present to the
Church of Llandaff, in the time of Bishop Trychan, who is supposed
to have lived about the early part of the seventh century.
Pengwaed in Cornwall.—Page 220.

Pengwaed is the Land's End. In the Triad on the three divisions
of Britain, it is named as the extreme point to the south of the
island, which was distant nine hundred miles from Penrhyn Blathaon,
supposed to be Caithness in North Britain.—Triad ii.
Save only my Ship and my Mantle. —Page 222.
Arthur's ship is mentioned several times in the course of the
present tale. Its name was Prydwen, and under that appellation
it is alluded to by Taliesin in his Preidden Annwn,* the Spoils of
Hell. In that mystical poem, which appears to be full of allusions
to traditions now no longer intelligible, various expeditions, con"
si sting of as many warriors as would have thrice filled Prydwen,
are represented as setting forth on different enterprises, from each of
which only seven returned.
The ancient chroniclers speak of these treasures of Arthur's with
due reverence. Sometimes, however, they bestow the name of Pryd
wen on his shield instead of his ship. Thus old Robert of Glou
cester, in the following quaint description,
• Myvvrinn Archaioloiy, I. p. 45.
-2&1 KILUWCH AND OUVJiN.
pe kynng was aboue yarmed wyj> haubert noble ifc ryche,

wyjj helm of gold on ys heued, (nas now bym ylyche)
pe fourrne of a dragon )>eron was yeast.
Hys ssekl, pat bet Prydwen, was panne yhonge wast
Aboute ys ssoldren, and peron ypeynt was and ywort
pe yuiage of our Lady, inwan was al ys }>ogt.
Myd ys suerd be was ygurd, fat so strong was <fe kene,
Calybourne yt was ycluped, nas nour no such ye wene.
In ys rygt bond ys lance he noin, fat ycluped was Ron,
Long &. gret it strong yuow, bym ne rnyjt atsytte non.
I. 174.
Gruflydd ab Arthur's account of King Arthur's arms agrees with
this ; but respecting his sword Caledvwlch, or Caleburn, he adds
the information that it was formed in the Isle of Avallon.* It has
already been detailed in a previous portion of this work (p. 32),
how Arthur finding himself mortally wounded at the battle of Cam-
Ian, confided his sword to one of his knights, charging him to cast it
into the lake, and how when the knight proceeded to fulfil his be
hest, a hand and arm arose from the water, and seizing the precious
weapon, brandished it three times, and disappeared with it in the
lake. This circumstance must have been unknown to Richard the
First, or he would hardly have sent to Tancred, King of Sicily, as a
valuable present, a sword which was supposed to have been the
sword of Arthur. t
The Llenn, here rendered the Mantle, but which appeal"s to have
served sometimes as a covering, and sometimes as a carpet, was cele
brated as one of the thirteen precious things of the Island of Britain.
Its property was to render invisible any one who was either under or
upon it, while everything around was visible to him. In another
Mabinogi it is said to have been called Gwenn.
Greidawl Galldonyd, or Galldovydd.—Page 223.

One of the three architects of the island of Britain, whose pri
vilege it was to go wheresoever they would, so that they did not go
unlawfully.—Triad 32.
Gwythyr the Son of Greidawl. —Page 223.

Tins warrior, whose grave is noticed in the Englynion Beddau,
* Myvvrian Archaiology, II. p. 306.
t Lord Lytteltou's History of Henry II.
NOTES. 265
(see p. 33), was father to one of the three wives of Arthur, who all
bore the name of Gwenhwyvar.*
It is he that fights with Gwyn ab Nudd, for the fair Cordelia, every
first of May.t
Gwyn the Son of Nudd.— Page 223.

In Gwyn ab Nudd, we become acquainted with one of the most
poetical characters of Welsh romance. He is no less a personage
than the King of Faerie, a realm, the extent and importance of
which is nowhere better appreciated, or held in greater reverence,
than in Wales. Very numerous indeed are the subjects of Gwyn
ab Nudd, and very various are they in their natures. He is the
sovereign of those beneficent and joyous beings, the Tylwyth Teg, or
Family of Beauty (sometimes also called Bendith i Mammau, or
Blessing of Mothers), who dance in the moonlight on the velvet
sward, in their airy and flowing robes of blue or green, or white or
scarlet, and who delight in showering benefits on the more favoured
of the human race ; and equally does his authority extend over the
fantastic, though no less picturesque class of Elves, who in Welsh
bear the name of Ellyllon, and who, on the other hand, enjoy
nothing so much as to mislead and torment the inhabitants of earth.
Indeed, if Davydd ap Gwylim may be believed, Gwyn ab Nudd
himself is not averse to indulging in a little mischievous amuse
ment of this kind ; for one dark night the bard, having ridden into
a turf bog on the mountain, calls it the " Fishpond of Gwyn ab
Nudd, a palace for goblins and their tribe," to whom he evidently
gives credit for having decoyed him into its mire. Perhaps he may
have been tempted to exclaim like Shakespeare,
" Heavens defend me from that Welsh fairy."
According to the same testimony, the Owl was more particularly
considered as the bird of Gwyn ab Nudd.
There is, in the Myvyrian Archaiology, a dialogue between
Gwyn ab Nudd, and Gwyddno Garanhir,J in which he is repre
sented as a victorious warrior. Gwyddno apostrophizes him thus,
" Gwyn, son of Nudd, the hope of armies, legions fall before thy
conquering arm, swifter than broken rushes to the ground. "
In the same composition, Gwyn ab Nudd styles himself the
lover of Cordelia the daughter of Ludd, or Lear, for whom his
contest with Gwythyr mab Greidawl, on every first of May till the
• Myvyrian Archaiology, II. p. 14. t See page 251.
J Myv. Arch. I. p. 165.
day of doom, is recorded in the text ; he also mentions that
Karngrwn was the name of his horse.
The Triads commemorate Gwyn ab Nudd, as one of the three
distinguished astronomers of the Island of Britain, who by their
knowledge of the nature and qualities of the stars, could predict
whatever was wished to be known to the end of the world.*
A very curious legend, in which Gwynn ab Nudd bears a con
spicuous part, is contained in the Life of St. Collen (Buchedd
Collen), which is printed in a collection of Welsh remains, entitled
the Greal.t This Saint was the son of Gwynawc, ab Caledawc, ab
Cawrdav, ab Caradawc Vreichvras, and having distinguished himself
greatly in foreign countrie^ by his zeal and piety, he returned to
Britain and became Abbot of Glastonbury ; after a time Collen
desired to lead a life of greater austerity than his high office at
Glastonbury permitted ; so he departed thence, and went forth to
preach to the people. The impiety, however, which he met with
distressed him so much, that at length he withdrew to a mountain,
" where he made himself a cell under the shelter of a rock, in a
remote and secluded spot.
" And as he was one day in his cell, he heard two men conversing
about Gwyn ab Nudd, and saying that he was king of Annwn and
of the Fairies. And Collen put his head out of his cell, and said
to them, ' Hold your tongues quickly, those are but Devils.'—
' Hold thou thy tongue,' said they, ' thou shalt receive a reproof
from him.' And Collen shut his cell as before.
" And, soon after, he heard a knocking at the door of his cell, and
some one inquired if he were within. Then said Collen, ' I am ;
who is it that asks V ' It is I, a messenger from Gwyn ab Nudd,
the king of Annwn, to command thee to come and speak with
him on the top of the hill at noon.' §
" But Collen did not go. And the next day behold the same
messenger came, ordering Collen to go and speak with the king on
the top of the hill at noon.
" But Collen did not go. And the third day behold the same
messenger came, ordering Collen to go and speak with the king on
* My v. Arch. II. p. 71. + Greal, p. 337, 8vo. London, 180r>.

J St. CoHen, having rendered essential services against the Pagans in Greece,
the Pope bestowed upon him, on his return into Britain, a precious relic, which
was the lily that had suddenly blossomed before the glory on some one's say.
lug, " It is no more trne that the Virgin has a son, than that the withered lily
in yonder vessel bears blossoms." " And that lily did St. Collen bring to this
Island, and it is said that it is in Worcester to this day."
§ We are told that Gwyn ab Nudd greatly affects the tops of mountain*.
NOTES. 265
the top of the hill at noon. ' And if thou dost not go, Collen,
thou wilt be the worse for it.'
" Then Collen, being afraid, arose, and prepared some holy water,
and put it in a flask at his side, and went to the top of the hill.
And when he came there, he saw the fairest castle he had ever
beheld, and around it the best appointed troops, and numbers of
minstrels, and every kind of music of voice and string, and steeds
with youths upon them the comeliest in the world, and maidens of
elegant aspect, sprightly, light of foot, of graceful apparel, and in
the bloom of youth ; and every magnificence becoming the court of
a puissant sovereign. And he beheld a courteous man on the top of
the castle, who bade him enter, saying that the king was waiting for
him to come to meat. And Collen went into the castle, and when
he came there, the king was sitting in a golden chair. And he wel
comed Collen honourably and desired him to eat, assuring him that,
besides what he saw, he should have the most luxurious of every
dainty and delicacy that the mind could desire, and should be supplied
with every drink and liquor that his heart could wish ; and that
there should be in readiness for him every luxury of courtesy and
service, of banquet and of honourable entertainment, of rank and
of presents : and every respect and welcome due to a man of his
wisdom.
" ' I will not eat the leaves of the trees,' said Collen. ' Didst thou
ever see men of better equipment than those in red and blue 1 '
asked the king.
" ' Their equipment is good enough,' said Collen, ' for such equip
ment as it is.'
" ' What kind of equipment is that?' said the king.
" Then said Collen, ' The red on the one part signifies burning,
and the blue on the other signifies coldness.' And with that Collen
drew out his flask, and threw the holy water on their heads, where
upon they vanished from his sight, so that there was neither castle,
nor troops, nor men, nor maidens, nor music, nor song, nor steeds,
nor youths, nor banquet, nor the appearance of any thing whatever,
but the green hillocks."
Edkyrn the son of Nudd.—Page 223.

See Page 195.
Gadwy the son of Geraint. —Page 223.

Gadwy mab Geraint was noticed for his courtesy to guests and
strangers, as we learn from Triad xc.
2(3 (i KILHWCH AND OLWEN.
Fflewddur Fflam. —Page 223.

A notice concerning Flewddur Flam, occurs iu Triad 114, where
under the appellation of Fleidur Flam mab Godo he is ranked as
one of the three sovereigns of Arthur's Court who preferred remain
ing with him as knights, although they had territories and dominions
of their own. —For this Triad, see the note on Cadyrnerth mab
Porthawr Gandwy, p. 191.
Rhuawn Pebyr.—Page 223.

Rhuawn or Rhuvawn Pebyr stands conspicuous amongst those who
distinguished themselves in the battle of Cattraeth. Aneurin says,—
" The warriors went to Caltraeth with marshalled array and shout
of war,
With powerful steeds and dark blue harness, and with shields.
The spears were mustered—the piercing lances,
The glittering breastplates, and the swords.
The chieftain would penetrate through the host ;
Five battalions fell before his blade.
Rhuvawn Hir—he gave gold to the altar,
And gifts and precious jewels to the minstrel."
Gododin, Myv. Arch. I. p. 6.
His name occurs again in the same poem, as having approved him
self an intrepid warrior, standing firm in the hour of battle.—Myv.
Arch. I. p. 12.
It is said that he fell in battle, and that it is owing to the
circumstance of his body having been redeemed for its weight in
gold that he became recorded as one of the three golden corpses
of the Island of Britain.*
He is also spoken of with Rhun ab Maelgwn, and Owain ab
Urien, as one of the Three blessed Kings and another Triad ranks
him with the three imperious ones.J Other versions, however, of the
same triad, read Rhun mab Einiawn, in the place of Rhuvawn Pebyr.
There is extant a poem composed by Hywel, the son of Owain
Gwynedd, about 1160, and printed in the Myvyrian Archaiology,
I. p. 277, which commences with these lines,—
" The white wave mantled with foam, bedews the grave,
The resting place of Rhuvawn Pebyr, chief of kings."
* Triad 77. In this triad, he is styled the son of Gwyddno Garanhir, and
not of Dewrath (or Dorath) VVledig, as in Triad 25, and in the text,
t Triad 25. t Triad xxxiv. Myv. Arch. II. p. 15.
NOTES. 267
Upwards of a century after this, we find the grave of Rhuvawn
mentioned by the bard, Gwilym Ddu, in a manner that makes it
evident that its locality was then well known.—Myv. Arch. I. p. 41 1.
Dalldav the Son of Kimin Cov. —Page 223.

He was one of the three compeers of the Court of Arthur with
Tristan mab March, and Rhvbawd mab Morgant ab Adras. The
name of his horse was Fferlas.—Triad 113, and Trioedd y Meirch, v.
Isperyr Ewingath.—Page 223.

There is an Esperir mentioned in the Englynion y Clyweid.
" Hast thou heard what Esperir said,
When he discoursed with Meni Hir ?—
In adversity is the true friend known.
Myv. Arch. I. p. 173.
It is uncertain whether he is identical with the Isperyr Ewingath
of the Twrch Trwyth.
Lloch Llawwynnyawc.—Page 223.

Lloch Llawwynnawc is named, with several of the other
warriors adjured by Kilhwch, in the curious dialogue between
Arthur, and Kai, and Glewlwyd, of which mention has been made. —
Page 42.
Aunwas Adeiniawc. —Page 223.

The preceding note applies as well to Aunwas as to Lloch
Llawwynnawc.
It is doubtful whether he may be considered as the Aedenawc of
the Triads, celebrated with his brothers, Gruduei, and Henbrien, as
the three brave ones of the Island of Britain, who returned from
battle on their biers. The parents of these three brothers were
Gleissiar Gogled and Haernwed Vradawc.—Triad xxxiii. Myv. Arch.
II. p. 15.
Gwennwynwyn the Son of Naw.— Page 223.

He has been already noticed with Geraint ab Erbin, and March
mab Meirchion, as one of the three who had the command of the
fleets of the Island of Britain. Each of them had six score vessels
with six score men in each.—See page 193.
268 KILHWCH AND OIAVEN.
Echel Vorddwyttwll. — Page 223.

His son Goronwy has already been cited as one of the Sovereigns
who preferred residing at Arthur's Court, to remaining in their own
dominions.—See p. 191, where the triad is given.
Dadweir Dallpexn. —Page 223.

A very curious story concerning the sow of Dadweir (or, as he is
there called, Dallweir) Dallpenn, is contained in the Triads. It is
there related that Coll ab Collfrewi was one of the three powerful
swineherds of the Island of Britain, and that he kept the swine of
Dallweir Dallben, in the valley of Dallwyr in Cornwall. And one
of these swine, named Henwen, was with young, and it was prophe
sied that this circumstance would bring evil to the Island of
Britain. So Arthur assembled his host and sought to destroy the
swine ; but she went burrowing along till she came to Penhyn
Austin, where she plunged into the sea, and she landed again at
Aberdarogi, in Gwent Iscoed. And all the way she went Coll ab
Collfrewi held by her bristles, both by sea and by land, and at Maes
Gwenith (Wheatfield) in Gwent, she left three grains of wheat and
three bees, since which time the best wheat and the best honey have
been in Gwent. And thence she went into Dyved, and there, at
Llonnio Llonnwen, she left a grain of barley and a little pig ; and
Dyved has produced the best pigs and barley from that time to this.
And from Dyved she went into Arvon, and she left a grain of
rye at Lleyn in Arvon, and thenceforth the best rye has been found
at Lleyn, and at Eivionydd. And by the side of Rhiwgyverthwch,
she left a wolf cub and a young eaglet, and the wolf was given to
Brynach Wyddel, of Dinas Affataou, and the eagle to Benwaedd,
the lord of Arllechwedd, and there was much talk concerning the
wolf of Brynach, and the eagle of Benwaedd. And when she came
to Maen Du in Arvon she left there a kitten, and Coll ab Collfrewi
took it, and threw it into the Menai. But the sons of Palug in
Mona (Anglesey), reared this kitten, to their cost ; for it became the
Palug Cat, which, we are told, was one of the three plagues of the
Isle of Mona which were reared therein, the second being Daronwy,
and the third, Edwin king of England.
These particulars are collected from the three series of Triads,
printed in the Myvyrian Archaiology. The version given in the
second series is the fullest of them. —Triad lvi.
This story is supposed to have a figurative meaning, and, under the
appellation of Henwen, the sow of Dallweir Dallpen, to allude to
NOTKS. 209
some vessel that brought to this island various sorts of grain and
animals not previously known here. Indeed, there is another triad,
which attributes to Coll ab Collfrewi the introduction of wheat and
barley into Britain, where only oats and ryo were cultivated before
his time.—Triad 56.
Coll ab Collfrewi, the keeper of this marvellous sow, was one of
the chief enchanters of this island, and his magical arts were taught
him by Rhuddlwm Gawr. It has already been suggested as probable
that it is to him that Chaucer refers in his House of Fame, under
the title of Coll Tragetour, or Coll the Juggler. —See p. 213.
Menw the Son of Teirgwaedd.—Page 223.

The part assigned to Menw ab Teirgwaedd in the present tale, is
in precise accordance with the character in which he appears in the
Triads, and other legendary remains of the Welsh. He is there
commemorated as one of the three men of Phantasy and Illusion
in the Island of Britain, and it is said that he taught his enchant
ments to Uthyr Pendragon, the father of King Arthur.—See p. 213.
In the Abergavenny Prize Essay,* on the Genuineness of the
Coelbren y Beirdd, or Bardic Alphabet, by Mr. Taliesin Williams
(Ab Iolo), there is a curious allegorical tale, which connects Menw
with the discovery of that alphabet. The substance of the tale is
as follows.—Einigan Gawr saw three rays of light, on which were
inscribed all knowledge and science. And he took three rods of
mountain ash, and inscribed all the sciences upon them, as it should
seem in imitation of the three rays of light. And those who saw
them, deified the rods, which so grieved Einigan, that he broke the
rods and died. And after the space of a year and a day, Menw ab
Teirgwaedd saw three rods growing out of the mouth of Einigan, and
upon them was every kind of knowledge and science written. Then
Menw took the three rods, and learned all the sciences, and taught
them all, except the name of God, which has originated the Bardic
secret, and blessed is he who possesses it.—P. 6.
It may be remarked that the Bardic symbol is formed of three
radiating lines / 1 \ which, it is said, are intended to represent the
three diverging rays of light, which Einigan Gawr saw descending
towards the earth ; and it is somewhat cuiious that these three lines
contain all the elements of the Bardic alphabet, as there is not a
single letter in it that is not formed from them. No less singular
is it, that this alphabet, which is alleged to have been only used
• Published at Llandovery 1840.
2 70 KTLHWCII AND OLWEN.
upon wood (perhaps also implied by the three rods), is so con
structed as altogether to avoid horizontal or circular lines, which
could not be cut on wooden rods without splintering or running, on
account of the grain of the wood.
For the proofs of the genuineness of this alphabet the reader is
referred to the Essay itself.
Drudwas the Son of Tryffin.—Page 223.

Concerning Drudwas mab Tryffin, a curious tradition is presented
in an interesting letter from the celebrated antiquary, Robert Vaughan,
to Mr. Meredydd Lloyd, dated July 24th, 1655. It is printed in the
Cambrian Register (III. p. 311). In the following extract we have
that portion of it which relates to Drudwas.
" The story (or rather fable) of Adar Llwch guin, I have, but can
not finde it. The birds were two griffins, which were Drudwas ab
TryffLrCs birds, whoe had taught them to seise upon the first man
that should enter into a certain fielde, and to kill him. It chanced,
that having appointed a day to meete with King Arthur to fight a
duell in the same fielde, he himselfe protracting the tyme of his com
ing soe long that he thought surely Arthur had come there long
before, came first to the place, whereixpon the birds presently fell
upon him, and killed him ; and they perceiving that he, whom they
had killed was theire master, much lamented his death with fearfull
screechings and mournfull cryings a long tyme ; in memory whereof
there is a lesson to be played upon the crowde, the which I have often
heard played, which was made then, called Caniad Adar Uwchgwin;
and, to confirm this history in some parte, there's a British epigram
extant, which I cannot remember, but, if you have the story and it,
I pray you send it me."
According to the Triads, Drudwas mab Tryffin was one of the three
Golden-tongued Knights, whom no one could refuse whatsoever they
might ask ; Gwalchmai, and Eliwlod ab Madawc ab Uthur were the
other two.—Triad 115.
Caerdathal.—Page 224.
Caerdathal, which the Mabinogion assign as a residence to Math
ab Mathonwy, is in Caernarvonshire, and crowns the summit of an
eminence near Llanrwst. It is peculiar for having large stones set
upright to guard its entrance.
The name of this place occurs in Cynddelw Brydydd Mawr's
Elegy on the death of his patron Owain Gwynedd, circa 1 1 60. The
\OTES. 271
passage in the Myvyrian Archaiology, I. p. 206, is imperfect, but the
Cambro-Briton,lII. p. 3, gives it in the following manner :—
" Around the region of Caer Dathai
Lay those whom the vultures had mangled,
Reddening the hill and the headland and the dale."
Kaw.—Page 224.
Considerable variations exist in the different catalogues which are
extant of the numerous sons of Kaw. In that, however, given by
Jones, in his Welsh Bards, II. p. 22, the names exactly correspond
with those in the text. Some of these personages are enumerated
amongst the Saints of Wales, but of the individual history of the
greater number little is known. Some account has already been
given of one of the most eminent of them, Gildas mab Kaw, p. 198.
Huail, another of the brothers, obtained a less honourable notoriety
for his vices which eventually cost him his life. Jones details the
circumstances of his ignominious death, from the authority of Edward
Llwyd, who derived them from a Welsh MS. in the handwriting of
John Jones, of Gelli Lyfdy, dated June the 27th, 1611.
From this account, it appears that Huail was imprudent enough
to court a lady of whom Arthur was enamoured. The monarch's
suspicions being aroused, and his jealousy excited, he armed himself
secretly, and determined to observe the movements of his rival.
Having watched him going to the lady's house, some angry words
passed between them, and they fought. After a sharp combat, Huail
got the better of Arthur, and wounded him severely in the thigh,
whereupon the contest ceased, and reconciliation was made upon
condition that Huail, under the penalty of losing his head, should
never reproach Arthur with the advantage he had obtained over
him. Arthur retired to bis palace, which was then at Caerwys, in
Flintshire, to be cured of his wound. He recovered, but it caused
him to limp a little ever after.
A short time after his recovery, Arthur fell in love with a lady at
Rhuthyn, in Denbighshire, and, in order the more frequently to
enjoy the pleasure of her society, he disguised himself in female
attire. One day he was dancing with this lady, and her companions,
when Huail happened to see him. He recognized him on account of
his lameness, and said, "This dancing might do very well, but for the
thigh." It chanced that Arthur overheard his remark; he withdrew '
from the dance, and summoning Huail before him, upbraided him
angrily for the breach of his promise and oath, and commanded bim
to be beheaded upon a stone, which lay in the street of the town, and
which, from this event, acquired the appellation of Maen Huail.*
This stone is still to be seen in the town of Rhuthyn.
In the Triads, Huail the son of Kaw of North Britain, Lord of
Cwm Cawlwyd, is represented as one of the three Diademed Chiefs
of Battle (Triad 69) and the Englynion y Clyweid appropriate a stauza
to one of his sayings.—
" Hast thou heard what was sung by Huail
The son of Kaw, whose saying was just?
Often will a curse fall from the bosom."—
Taliesin, the Chief of the Bards.— Page 224.

The history of Taliesin, which is exceedingly wild and interesting,
forms the subject of a separate Mabinogi, and as such will be given
in its proper place.
Mamawyddan the Son of Llyr.—Page 224.

This chieftain, who figures in the Triads, will be alluded to hereafter
in the notes to one of the Mabinogion more particularly relating to
him.
Geraint the Son of Erbin. —Page 224.

Of this chieftain a full account has been given in the notes to the
Mabinogi bearing his name.— It may be added that a saying of his is
preserved in the Englynion y Clyweid : it is as follows :—
" Hast thou heard what Geraint sang,
The son of Erbin just and skilful ]
Short -lived is the hater of the saints."—
Myv. Arch. I. p 172.
GeraintV own designation of " the friend of the saints" (Car i
Saint) appears to be alluded to in this Englyn.—See Llyw. Hen's
Elegies.
Dyvel the son of Erbin. —Page 224.
The death of Dyvel mab Erbin is mentioned in the dialogue between
Myrddin Wyllt and Taliesin, where the former says :—
* Welsh Bards, II. p. 22.

NOTES. 273
" Through and through with rush and bound they came,
Yonder and still beyond, were Bran and Melgan seen approaching)
And by them, at the battle's ciose,
Dyvel ab Erbin and his hosts were slain."—
His grave was in the plains of Gwesledin.—lb. I. p. 80.
Llawnrodded Vaevawc.—Page 224.
In days when, as we have already seen (p. 219), the value of

articles, even of luxury and ornament, was estimated by the number
of cows they were worth, we cannot be surprised that the herdsmen
were sometimes men of rank aud distinction, and considered worthy
to occupy a place in the Triads. Accordingly we find that the sub
ject of the present note figured in those curious records, as one of
the three Tribe Herdsmen of the Island of Britain. He tended the
kine of Nudd Hael, the son of Senyllt, in whose herd were twenty-
one thousand milch cows. The other two ht-rdsmen (and they had
each a like number of cows under their care) were Bennven, who
kept the herd of Canada wc the son of Bran and his tribe, in Gor-
wenydd in Glamorgmshire ; aud Gwdion the sod of Don, the cele
brated enchanter, who kept the herd of the tribe of Gwynedd, above
the Conwy.—Triad 85.
His own cow went by the name of Cornillo, and was one of the
three chief cows of the Island. —Trioedd y Meirch, xi
Of the no less remarkable personages, who tended the swine of the
Island of Britain, an account has already been given, p. 268.
Llawnrodded's knife was one of the thirteen precious things pos
sessing marvellous properties. It would serve four-and-twenty men
at once with meat.
Morvean the Son of Tegid.—Page 224.
This circumstance of the three warriors escaping from the battle of

Camlan is related in the Triads, in words very nearly corresponding
with those in the text. The two accounts differ only as regards the
name of the third man, whom the Triad*, instead of Kynwyl Sant;
represent to have been Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr, to whom, as King
Arthur's Porter, we have already been introduced.—Triad 83.
From the Hanes Taliesin, we learn that Morvran was the son of
Tegid Voel and Ceridwen.
Mabincgion. T
Llenlleawg Wyddel.—Page 225.

This name occurs in the Englynion y Clyweid.—
" Hast thou heard what Llenlleawg Gwyddel sang,
The noble chief wearing the golden torques 1
The grave is better than a life of want."—
Dyvynwal Moel. —Page 225.

Dyvynwal Moelmud, King of Britain, and the first lawgiver whom
the nation boasts, is supposed to have lived about 400 years before
the Christian era. There are four Triads relating to him, in all of
which he is represented as a great benefactor to his people.* In one
of these he is styled one of the three National Pillars of the Island :
in another, one of the three Primary Inventors : and in a third, one
of the beneficent Sovereigns of the Cymry, because he had first re
duced to a system, and improved, and extended their laws, institu
tions, customs, and privileges, " so that right and justice might be
obtained by every one in Britain, under the protection of God and
His peace, and under the protection of the country, and the nation."
Again we find him designated as one of three chief System-formers of
Boyalty, by reason of the excellency of his mode of government.
Howel Dda, the Welsh Legislator, in compiling his celebrated
Welsh Code, in the tenth century, made great use of the laws of
Dyvynwal Moelmud, some of the Triads and institutes ascribed to
whom are to be found in the third volume of the Myvyrian Archai-
ology, and are very curious and interesting remains.
Gwystyl the Son of Rhun the Son of Nwython.—Page 225.

Rhun the father of Gwystyl, was one of the chieftains mentioned by
Gruflydd ab Arthur,t as being present at King Arthur's Coronation,
at Caerlleon upon Usk.—Both he and Nwython are named in
Taliesin's poem addressed to Gwallawg.if
Drem the Son of Dremidyd.—Page 225.

In addition to the notice already given (p. 187), of this fantastic per
sonage, who was so sharp-sighted, that he could descry a mote in the
sunbeam in the four corners of the world, we may remark that in the
• Triads, 4, 57, 59, 86. t Myv. Arch. LI. p. 821.
J Myv. Arch. I. p. 58.
NOTES. 275
Englynion y Clyweid, he is represented to have pronounced the verj

sensible opinion recorded in the following lines :—
" Hast thou beard what Dremhidydd sang,
An ancient watchman on the castle walls 1
A refusal is better than a promise unperformed."—
Gelu Wic—Page 225.

Op Gelli Wic (or, as it is generally written, Gelliwig), in Cornwall,
frequent mention is made in the Triads, where it is named as one of
the three national thrones of the Island of Britain,* and one of King
Arthur's chief seats of empire, in which he was used to celebrate the
high festivals of Christmas, Easter, and Whitsuntide. At the time
of Arthur's sovereignty, when he was Supreme Ruler (Penrhaith as
it is called in Welsh), Bedwin was the chief Bishop, and Caradawc
Vreichvras was the chief Elder, of Gelliwig. It was one of the three
Archbishoprics of Britain,f When Medrawd, Arthur'swicked nephew,
usurped the government of the island during his uncle's absence, he
went to Gelliwig, and dragged Gwenhwyvar from her throne with
contumely, and left neither meat nor drink in the court, " not even
so much as would feed a fly," but consumed and wasted all. J The
fatal battle of Camlan was fought to avenge this insult.
The site of Gelliwig is now a matter of some doubt. Hals places
it at Callington (Kellington or Killiwick), as we learn from the fol
lowing extract from his MS. quoted by Polwhele :—
" I take this to be the same place mentioned by the Welsh poets
or bards, and called by them Kellywick, and Kinge Arthur's palace or
court, viz., his court-leet or baylywick. Such in his time vndoubtedly
it was, as Duke of Cornwall or Kinge of Britaine ; for this manor of
land with its appurtenances was, by act of Parliament, given to
Edward the Black Prince as parcell of the lands of the ancient
kinges or earles of Cornwall, then translated into a dutchy or
dukedom."§ '
It may be taken as some confirmation of this opinion with regard
to the locality of Gelliwig, that there is a place in the vicinity of
• The other two oitiea which ranked with Gelliwig, were Caerlleon upon
Usk, and Penrhyn Bhionydd, in the North,
t Triads 62, 64; 111. t Triad 62.
§ Polwhele's Hist, of Cornwall, 4to. II. p. 50.
T 2
Callington still bearing the appellation of Arthur's Hall. It is

on a rocky tor in the parish of North-hill, which is in the same
hundred as Callington, and within a short distance of it. Norden
gives thn following description of the spot :—" It is a square Plott,
about 60 foote long and about 36 foote broade situate in a playne
Mountayne, wrowghte some 3 foote in the grounde and by reason of
the depression of the place there standeth a otarige or poole of water,
the place (being) sett round about with flat stones." Near to the
Hall are many rocky basins, called by the common people Arthur's
Troughs, and in which, nccording to tradition, that monarch used to
feed his dogs ; for (says Gilbert, from whom this account is taken)
it is " the custom in Cornwall to ascribe everything that is great and
whose use is unknown to that immortal hero."*
Pen Blathaon in North Britain.—Page 225.

Pen or Penrhyn Blathaon (supposed to be Caithness in Scotland)
has already been noticedt as the extreme point from Penwaeth or
Pengwaed, in Cornwall, from which it was distant nine hundred
miles.J The distance between these two places was determined by
the British Legislator, Dyvynwal Moelmud. In the Welsh Laws
is given the following passage, relating to the admeasurement of the
island made by him :—
" Before the Saxons seized the crown of London and the sceptre,
Dyvynwal Moelmud was King of this Island ; and he was the Earl
of Cornwall, by the daughter of the King of Lloegr. And after the
male line of inheritance became extinct, he came into the possession
of the kingdom, by the distaff (that is by the female line), as being
the grandson of the King. Now he was a man of great wisdom, and
he first made laws for this Island, and those laws continued to the
time of Howel Dda, the son of Cadell. And afterwards Howel
Dda made new laws, and changed some of the laws of Dyvynwal.
But Howel did not alter the measurements of the lands of this
Island, but left them as Dyvynwal framed them ; for he was an ex
cellent measurer. He measured this Island from the Promontory
of Blathaon, in North Britain, to the Promontory of Pengwaed, in
Cornwall, which is nine hundred miles, and that is the length of the
Island, and from Crngyll, in Anglesey, to Sorram (Shoreham) on
the shore of the sea of Udd (the Channel), that is the breadth of the
* 0. S. Gilbert's Historical Snrvey of Cornwall, I. p. 170.

t See p. 261. J Triad ii.
NOTES. 277
Island. And the reason of his measuring it was to know the
number of miles in his journeys.
"And this measurement Dyvynwal made by a grain of barley.
Three lengths of a barley corn in an inch, three inches in a hand-
breadth, three handbreadths in a foot, three feet in a step, three steps
in a jump, three jumps in a land, which is in later Welsh a ridge,
and a thousand lands or ridges make a mile, and this measure is used
here till now."
The three Islands adjacent.—Page 226.

Orkney, the Isle of Wight, and the Isle of Man, are the three
primary islands lying adjacent to Britain, according to the authority
of the Triads, which proceed to mention, that subsequently Anglesey
was separated from the main land, and became an island, and that
in like manner the Island of Orkney was divided, and became a
multitude of islands, and that other parts of Wales and Scotland
became islands likewise. —Triad 67.
This coincides with Nennius's account of the three islands adjacent
to Britain, which is given in these words :—
"Tres magnas insulas habet [Britannia], quarum una vergit contra
Armoricas, et vocatur Inisgueith ; secunda sita est in nmbilico maris
inter Hibermam et Brittanniam, et vocatur nomen ejus Eubonia,
id est, Manau ; alia sita est in extremo limite orbis Brittannisa ultra
Pictos, et vocatur Ore. Sic in proverbio antiquo dicitur, quando de
judicibus vel regibus sermo fuit, ' Judicavit Brittanniam cum tribus
insulis.' "—P. 7, ed. 1838.
Gwynn Godyvron.—Page 226.

Mentioned in the dialogue between Arthur, Kai, and Glewlwyd ;
see p. 42, where the passage is given.
Garselit Wyddel.—Page 226.

" Hast thou heard what Garselit sang,
The Irishman whom it is safe to follow ?
Sin is bad when long pursued."—
Englynion y Clyweid.*
* Myv. Arch. I. p. 174.

The Ninth Man that rallied the Battle of Camlan.— Page 226.
This is very probably an allusion to the disposition made by Arthur
of his forces, previous to the battle of Camlan. Geoffrey of Mon
mouth states that he arranged his army in nine divisions, with a
commander over each, of whom Gwynnhyvar was possibly one.
Gwaee Gwallt Euryn.—Page 227.

Gware Gwallt Euryn was the son of Pwyll and Rhianon. The
mysterious circumstances connected with his birth are detailed in
another MabinogL
Kynvelyn Keudawd Pwyll, the half man.—Page 228.

The Welsh have a fable on the subject of the Hanner Dyn or
Half Man, taken to be illustrative of the force of habit. In this
allegory Arthur is supposed to be met by a sprite, who appears at
first in a small and indistinct form, but who on approaching nearer
increases in size, and, assuming the semblance of half a man, en
deavours to provoke the king to wrestle. Despising his weakness,
and considering that he should gain no credit by the encounter,
Arthur refuses *o do so, and delays the contest, until at length the
Half Man (Habit) becomes so strong that it requires his utmost
efforts to overcome him.
Sawyl Ben Uchel.—Page 228.

Sawyl Ben Uchel is accused of being one of those whose arrogance
produced anarchy in the Island of Britain ; and the lawless party
united with the Saxons, and themselves became Saxons at last.—
Triad 74.
Gwrhyr Gwastawd Ieithoedd.—Page 228.

Iolo Gogh's allusion to Gwrhyr's extraordinary aptitude for acquiring
languages has already been noticed, in the notes to Geraint ab Erbin.
The Englynion y Clyweid refer in like manner to the singular talent
by which he was characterised :—
" Hast thou heard what Gwrhyr Gwalstawt sang,
He who was perfect in all languages i
Who practises deceit will be deceived."—
Myv. Arch. L p. 172.
'
NOTES. 279
Bedwini the Bishop.—Page 228.
Bedwini was Bishop of Gelliwig in Cornwall, and as such is spoken
of in the Triads,* and in the British Chronicles. One of his sayings
is preserved in the Englynion y Clyweid :—
" Hast thou heard what Bedwini sung,
A gifted Bishop of exalted rank ?
Consider thy word before it is given." t
Indeg.— Page 229.

Some of the ladies here adjured are celebrated in the Triads, and
others figure in the writings of the Romancers of the Middle Ages.
Indeg, the daughter of Garwy or Afarwy hir, of Maelienydd, was
one of the three ladies best beloved by Arthur. J Her beauty is often
the theme of the bards.
Morvudd was the daughter of Urien Rheged, the twin sister of
Owain, and the beloved of Cynon the son of Clydno Eiddyn. Her
mother's name was Modron, the daughter of Avallach.§
Creiddylad is no other than Shakespeare's Cordelia, whose father,
King Lear, is, by the Welsh authorities, called indiscriminately Llyr
and Lludd Law Ereint. All the old chroniclers, from the Brut to
Milton, give the story of her devotion to her aged parent, but none
of them seem to have been aware that she is destined to remain with
him until the day of doom, whilst Gwyii ab Nudd, the King of the
Fairies, and Gwythyr mab Greidiawl, fight for her every first of
May ; and whichever of them may be fortunate enough to be the
conqueror at that time, will obtain her as his bride. She is quoted
in the Englynion y Clyweid :—
" Hast thou heard what Creiddylad sang,
The daughter of Lludd, the constant maiden ?
Much will the faithful messenger effect."—
Myv. Arch. L p. 174.
Essyllt Vinwen or Fyngwen, the daughter of Culvanawyd Prydain,
and sister of Owain's faithless wife Penarwen, is mentioned very dis
paragingly in the Triads.|| She was married to March ab Meirchion,
and acquired a very undesirable celebrity for her attachment to her
husband's nephew Tristan ab Tallwch, the renowned Sir Tristan of
* Triad 64. t Myv. Arch. I. p. 173. J Triad 110.

§ Tr. lil. liii. || Triad 105.
280 KILHWCH AND OLWBN.
the Romancers, who bestow upon Essyllt the appellation of Yseult
La Belle.
Essyllt Vingul, we may presume to be the Yseullt aux Blanches
Mains of romantic fiction, whom Sir Tristan, although at the same
time deeply enamoured of her fairer namesake, married out of grati
tude for her having effected his cure, when wounded by a poisoned
arrow.
Drych ail Kibddar,—rage 230.

Only the first series of the Triads, printed in the Myvyrian Archai-
ology, takes notice of Drych ail Kibddar, and there he is classed
among the dealers in phantasy or enchantment.—Triad xxxiii.
Amaethon the Son of Don.—Page 236.

Amaethon, the signification of whose name is " husbandman," would
seem to have been a very proper person to send for to perform the
oifice required by Yspaddaden Penkawr. He was brother to the
celebrated illusionist or enchanter, Gwydion ab Don, and he appears
to have had himself some dealings with the powers of darkness ; for
it is fabled that he brought from Annwn (the Lower Regions), a
white roebuck, and a whelp, which were the occasion of the Cad
Qoddeu, or Battle of the Trees. Taliesin has a long mystical poem
on the subject of this "battle; and some curious lines relative to it
are given in the Myvyrian Archaiology.* These, with the prose
heading that accompanies them, are as follows : —
" These are the Englyns that were sung at the Cad Goddeu (the
Battle of the Trees), or, as others call it, the Battle of Acbren, which
was on account of a white roebuck, and a whelp ; and they came
from Hell, and Amathaon ab Don brought them. And therefore
Amathaon ab Don, and Arawn, King of Annwn (Hell), fought. And
there was a man in that battle, unless his name were known he
could not be overcome ; and there was on the other side a woman
called Achren, and unless her name were known her party could
not be overcome. And Gwydion ab Don guessed the name of the
man, and sang the two Englyns following : —
' Sure-hoofed is my steed impelled by the spur ;
The high sprigs of alder are on thy shield :
Bran art thou called, of the glittering branches.'
• Myv. Arch. I. p. 167.

NOTES. 281
And thus,
' Sure-hoofed is my steed in the day of battle :
The high sprigs of alder are on thy hand :
Bran by the brunch thou bearest
Has Amathaon the good prevailed.' "
These lines have the appearance of being transcribed from a very
ancient and probably mutilated manuscript Some of the words are
scarcely intelligible ; but perhaps the foregoing will be found not
very remote from the meaning of the original.
This battle, in the Triads, is styled one of the three frivolous
battles (ofergad) of the Island of Britain, and is said to have been
on account of a bitch, a hind, and a lapwing ; and it is added that
it cost the lives of seventy-one thousand men. —Triad 50.
The brothers, Gwydion and Amnethon, are mentioned as being
efficient of counsel, in Taliesin's Elegy on Aeddon of Mon.*
Oxen of Gwlwlyd.—Page 236.

These animals, to which some fabulous story probably attached, are
spoken of in the Triads, together with those required by Yspaddaden
in the subsequent paragraph. —Tr. y Meirch x.
One of these is alluded to in Taliesin's mystical poem, entitled
Preiddeu Annwn, the spoils of Hell.t
" They know not the brindled ox with the broad headband ;
Seven score handbreadths are in his yoke."
Nynniaw and Pebiaw.—Page 236.

On turning to the ancient records, we meet with kings bearing the
names of those who were turned into oxen for their crimes.
Nynniaw was a prince of Glamorgan, and his descendants appear
to have profited by the lesson which his disastrous fate afforded ; for
we find that Marchell, his great grand-daughter, was the mother of
the celebrated and canonized Brychan Brycheiniog,{ who had himself
the happiness of being father to no less than forty-eight saints,
twenty-three of whom were sons, and five-and twenty daughters.
According to the Liber Landavensis, King Pebiaw, who was the
son of Erb, was equally fortunate in the character of his descen
dants, one of whom was Saint Dubricius himself, the particulars of
whose miraculous birth are there given in the following words.
• Myv. Arch. I. p. 70. t Myv. Arch. I. p. 45.
X Jones's Hist, of Breconshire, I. p. 12.
282 K1LHWCH AND OLWEN.
" There was a certain king of the region of Ergyng* ( Archenfield)

of the name of Pebiau, called, in the British language, Claforawg,
and in Latin, Spuniosus, who undertook an expedition against his
enemies, and returning from thence he ordered his daughter Eurddil
to wash his head." The legend then goes on to state that circum
stances led him to suspect that Eurddil was pregnant, and that " the
King, therefore, being angry, ordered her to be put into a sack, and
cast headlong iuto the river, that she might suffer whatever might
befall ; which, however, happened contrary to what was expected,
for as often as she was placed in the river, so often was she, through
the guidance of God, impelled to the bank. Her father, then, being
indignant because he could not drown her in the river, resolved to
destroy her with tire. A funeral pile was therefore prepared, into
which his daughter was thrown alive. In the following morning,
the messengers who had been sent by her father to ascertain whether
any of the bones of his daughter remained, found her holding her
son in her lap, at a spot where a stone is placed in testimony of the
wonderful nativity of the boy ; and the place is called Madle,f
because therein was born the holy man. The father, hearing this,
ordered his daughter with her son to be brought to him ; and when
they came he embraced the infant with paternal affection, as is
usual, and kissing him, from the restlessness of infancy, he touched
with his hands the face and mouth of his grandfather, and that not
without divine appointment ; for by the contact of the hands of the
infant, he was healed of the incurable disease wherewith he was
afflicted, for he incessantly emitted foam from his mouth which two
persons who constantly attended him could scarcely wipe off with
handkerchiefs.
" Who, when he knew that he had been healed by the touch of the
infant, rejoiced greatly, like one who had come to a harbour after
having suffered shipwreck. And he, who at first was as a roaring
lion, was now turned to a lamb, and he began to love the infant
above all his sons and grandsons ; and of that place, Madle (that is,
Mad, good, U-e, place, and whence Madle, a good place), he made him
heir, and also of the whole island, which took its name from his
mother Eurddil, that is, Ynys Eurddyl, which by others is called
Maes Mail Lecheu."%
* Erpyng, or Archenfield, comprehended the portion of Herefordshire, S.W.
of the river Wye, of which the present Ecclesiastical Deanery of Archfield, or
Irchenfield, constitutes a part.
t " Madley is a parish in Herefordshire, on the S. of the river Wye."
X Liber Landavensis, p. 323, 4.
NOTES. 283
Whether these events took place before or after King Pebiaw's

distressing transformation does not appear. All the further informa
tion concerning him, in the Liber Landavensis, consists of the due
recital of sundry grants of land which he made to the Church, " being
penitent, with an humble heart, and mindful of his evil deeds."
Lewis, in his " History of Great Britain," printed in 1 729, men
tions Pebiaw as King of Erchenfield, and states that in a parish
church in Herefordshire is a picture of a king, with a man on each
side of him, wiping his face with napkins, " which king the country
people call King Dravellor."
The insane arrogance of these wicked kings is recorded in a
curious Welsh legend, a translation of which is printed by Mr.
Taliesin Williams, in the notes to his poem of Colyn Dolphyn. It
is as follows :—
" There were two Kings, formerly in Britain, named Nynniaw
and Peibiaw. As these two ranged the fields one starlight night,
' See,' said Nynniaw, ' what a beautiful and extensive field I
possess ! ' ' Where is it 3 ' said Peibiaw ; ' the whole Firmament/
said Nynniaw, ' far as vision can extend.' ' And do thou see,' said
Peibiaw, 'what countless herds and flocks of cattle and sheep I have
depasturing thy field.' ' Where are they 1 ' said Nynniaw ; ' why the
whole host of stars which thou seest,' said Peibiaw, ' and each of
golden effulgence, with the Moon for their shepherdess, to superintend
their wanderings.' ' They shall not graze in my pasture,' said
Nynniaw ; ' They shall,' said Peibiaw ; ' They shall not,' said one :
'They shall.' said the other, repeatedly, in bandied contradiction,
until at last it arose to wild contention between them, and from
contention it came to furious war ; until the armies and subjects of
both were nearly annihilated in the desolation. Bhitta, the Giant,
King of Wales, hearing of the carnage committed by these two
maniac kings, determined on hostility against them ; and, having
previously consulted the laws and his people, he arose and marched
against them because they had, as stated, followed the courses of
depopulation and devastation, under the suggestions of phrenzy. He
vanquished them, and then cut off their beards. But, when the
other Sovereigns included in the twenty-eight kings of the island
of Britain, heard these things, they combined all their legions to
revenge the degradation committed on the two disbearded kings, and
made a fierce onset on Bhitta the Giant, and his forces ; and furiously
bold was the engagement. But Bhitta the Giant won the day.
' This is my extensive field,' said he, then, and immediately disbearded
the other kings. When the kings of the surrounding countries
heard of the disgrace inflicted on 'all these disbearded kings, they
armed themselves against Rhitta the Giant and his men ; and tre
mendous was the conflict ; but Rhitta the Giant achieved a most
decisive victory, and then exclaimed : ' This is my immense field ! '
and at once the kings were disbearded by him and his men. Then
pointing to the irrational monarchs, ' These,' said he, ' are the animals
that grazed my field, but I have driven them out : they shall no
longer depasture there.' After that he took up all the beards, and
made out of them a mantle for himself that extended from head to
heel ; and Rhitta was twice as large as any other person ever seen."
This Rhitta Gawr is none other than King Ryons of North Wales,
who appears to have been almost as presumptuous as the unfortunate
monarchs whom he so deservedly chastised. The Morte d'Arthur
represents him as sending to demand the beard of Arthur himself,
which it need hardly be added that he failed to obtain.*
We are told that Nynniaw and Pebiaw were the names of the
horned oxen (Ychain Banawg) employed by Hu Gadarnf to draw
the Avanc out of the Lake of Floods, so that the lake burst no
more. This bursting of the lake is considered to bear reference to
the universal Deluge, as it is said in the same Triad, that when that
occurrence took place, the male and the female of every living thing
were preserved in the ship of Nevydd Nav Neivion. It would be
useless to follow all the theories which have been founded on the
name of Hu Gadarn, and his connexion with that important event.
For these, reference may be made to Davies's Mythology of the
* " This meane whyle came a messager from kynge Ryons of Northwalys.
And kynge he was of all Ireland and of many lies. And this was his message
gretynge wel kynge Arthur in this manere wyse sayenge, that kynge Ryons
had discomfyte and onercome li kynges, and overyche of hem did hym hom
age, and that was this, they gaf hym their berdys clene flayne of, as moche as
ther was, wherfor the messager came for kyng Arthnrs berd. For kvng
Ryons had purfyled a mantel with kynges berdes, and there lacked one place
of the mantel, wherfor he sent for his berd or els he wold entre in to his
landes, and brenne and slee, & neuer leno tyl he haue the hede and the berd.
Wel sayd Arthur thow hast said thy message, the whiche is the most vylaynous
and lewdest message that euer man herde sente vnto a kynge. Also thow
mayst see, my berd is ful yong yet to make a pnrfyl of hit. Bat telle thow
thy kynge this, I owe hym none homage, ne none of myn elders, but or it
be longe to, he shall do me hommage on bothe his kneys, or els he shall lese
his hede by the feith of my body, for this is the most shamefullest message
that euer I herd speke of. I have aspyed, thy kyng met neuer yet with
worshipful man, but telle hym, I wyll haue his hede withoute he doo me
homage, thenne the messager departed."—Morte Arthur, I, o. xxvii.
t Cambro-Briton, I. p. 129.—II. p. 61. Cambrian Register, III. p. 165.
NOTES. 285
Druids, and Celtic Researches, Dr. Owen Pughe, in his Dictionary, and
Cambrian Biography, &c. <fcc. Suffice it to say, that Hu Gadarn or
the Mighty is looked upon as a patriarch, and that there are seven*
Triads commemorative of the benefits which he is said to have con
ferred upon "the Cymry," whom he is recorded to have instructed in
the useful arts of agriculture, before their arrival in Britain, and
while they remained in the Summer country, which an ancient com
mentator has described to be that part of the East now called Con
stantinople. The next benefit that he conferred on the people, of
whom he thus appears to have been the head, was the dividing of
them into various tribes, and directing them at the same time to
unity of action, for which he is represented as one of the three
primary System-formers of the nation of the Cymry. In addition
to this, he is further commemorated as having been the first who
devised the application of song to the preservation of record and
invention, and as having contributed thereby to the institution of
Bardism. The occurrence, last in succession, appears to have been
his arrival in the Isle of Britain, with the nation of the Cymry,
whom he is stated, in two Triads, to have conducted from the
Summer country already noticed, here called Deffrobani, and a
colony of whom he is also said to have fixed at the same time in
Armorica, on the coast of Gaul. And his landing in this country,
as we find from another of these ancient documents, was not marked
by any characteristics of violence ; for he is described as not desirous
of obtaining dominion by war and bloodshed, but by justice and
peace, for which reason his followers are ranked among the three
gentle tribes of the Isle of Britain.f
The Basket of Gwyddneu Garanhir.—Page 237.

This marvellous basket is reckoned amongst the thirteen precious
things of the Island of Britain. In the following catalogue of these
treasures, which is copied from an old MS. in the collection of Mr.
Justice Bosanquet, its properties are, however, made to differ slightly
from those assigned to it by Yspaddaden :—
1. Dyrnwyn the sword of Tthydderch Hael ; if any man drew it
except himself, it burst into a flame from the cross to the point, and
all who asked it received it; but because of this property all shunned
it : and therefore was he called Rhydderch Hael.
• Triads 4, 5, 64, 56, 57, 92, 97.
t Cambro Briton II. p. 61, where will be found a summary of the opinions
concerning Ha Gadarn.
2. The basket of Gwyddno Garanhir ; if food for one man were

put into it, when opened it would be found to contain food for one
hundred.
3. The horn of Bran Galed ; what liquor soever was desired was
found therein.
4. The chariot of Morgan Mwynvawr ; whoever sat in it would be
immediately wheresoever he wished.
5. The halter of Clydno Eiddyn, which was in a staple below the
feet of his bed ; and whatever horse he wished for in it, he would
find it there.
6. The knife of Llawfrodded Farchawg ; which would serve four-
and-twenty men at meat all at once.
7. The cauldron of Tyrnog ; if meat were put in it to boil for a
coward it would never be boiled, but if meat were put in it for a
brave man it would be boiled forthwith.
8. The whetstone of Tudwal Tudclud ; if the sword of a brave
man were sharpened thereon, and any one were wounded therewith,
he would be sure to die, but if it were that of a coward that was
sharpened on it, he would be none the worse.
9. The garment of Padarn Beisrudd ; if a man of gentle birth put
it on, it suited him well, but if a churl it would not fit him.
10. 11. The pan and the platter of Rhegynydd Ysgolhaig ; what
ever food was required was found therein.
12. The chessboard of Gwenddolen ; when the men were placed
upon it, they would play of themselves. The chessboard was of gold,
and the men of silver.
13. The mantle of Arthur; whosoever was beneath it could see
everything, while no one could see him.
This version is rather different from that given by Jones, in his
Welsh Bards,* which omits the halter of Clydno Eiddyn, but adds
the mantle of Tegau Eurvron, which would only fit such ladies as
were perfectly correct in their conduct, and the ring of Luned, by
which she effected the release of Owain the son of Wrien, as has
already been seen in the story of the Lady of the Fountain ; whoever
concealed the stone of this ring became invisible.
Gwyddno Garanhir, the possessor of the basket, was the Prince of
Cantref y Gwaelod, which was overflowed by the sea. This event
will be detailed hereafter in the notes to another Mabinogi, where it
is more particularly referred to.
* Jones's Welsh Bards, EL p. 47.

NOTES. 287
The Harp op Teirtu.—Page 237.

The harp of Teirtu appears to be alluded to by Davydd ab Edmwnt,
a bard who flourished about the middle of the fifteenth century. In
an elegy which he composed on a celebrated harper, named Sion E6s,
or John the Nightingale (who suffered death for manslaughter,
although his weight in gold was offered to redeem his life), the bard,
addressing Reinallt, a once rival harper, says :—
' ' His companion has become silent,
The turtle-dove of the Harp of Teirtud." *
This passage has generally been considered to refer to the Triple
Harp ; and it is likely that Teirtu, who was probably the inventor
as well as the possessor of this harp, may have derived his name or
cognomen from the instrument's triple row of strings.
St. Dunstan's harp is said to have been endued with the same
miraculous powers as that of Teirtu ; when suspended against the
walls of his cell, it was wont to pour forth the most harmonious
sounds, without the intervention of any visible hand.
I have heard that a Welsh nursery tale is still current, of a harp
possessing equally wonderful properties. This harp belonged to a
giant ; and a dwarf, named Dewryn Fychan, endeavoured to purloin
it ; but as he carried it off the harp commenced playing, and aroused
the giant, who immediately set off in pursuit of the offender. A
similar tale exists in English.
There is a place called Castell Teirtud, mentioned in the Liber
Landavensis, as being in Breconshire, in the hundred of Builth.—
P. 374.
Twbch Trwyth.—Page 239.

It may be a matter of controversy, which in the present imperfect
state of Welsh MSS. might be difficult to determine, whether certain
lines of Aneurin's Gorchan Cynvelyn (Incantation of Cynvelyn) were
intended to refer to the very ancient tradition of the Twrch Trwyth.
—Myv. Arch. I. p. 60.
Davies, in his "Mythology of the Druids,"t and (Jones, in his
" Relics of the Welsh Bards,"J appear to have no doubt npon the
subject, and in that spirit quote the passage, which the learned
Dr. Owen Pughe has also thus translated. §
* Jones's Welsh Bards, I. p. 44. t Myth, of the Druids, p. 42.

X Jones's Welsh Bards, II. p. 13. § Gentleman's Magazine, Nov. 1790.
" Were I to compose the strain—were I to sing—magic spells
would spring, like those produced by the circle and wand of Twrch
Trwyth."
Such authority is of great weight, when we consider the mass of
information possessed by Dr. O. Pughe, on matters of this kind, aud
his facilities for consulting the various readings of different MSS.
between which important variations sometimes exist.
Davies states that he considers that a passage in a very old and
curious MS. of Aneurin, now in the possession of the Rev. Thomas
Price, of Crickhowel, alludes to objects represented on the ancient
British coins ; and when the description contained in his translation
is compared with the figures referred to, it must be acknowledged
that the coincidence appears very striking. The Gorchegin, high
shoots, appear on several coins, but more particularly do we remark
the Trychetin Trychinffwrch, or monstrous horse cut off from the
haunches ; the Carn Caftan, or hoof with the capped stick ; the
Esgyrnvyr, short bones, of the legs separated from the body ; yr
vach varchogion, tlie diminutive riders (beads or circles on the mane
and the back) ; the ysfach, bird's beak, instead of the horse's head :
and when we add to this the Incantation of Cynvelyn, corresponding
with the name of Cunobeline on the coin, we can hnrdly suppose
that the whole is the effect of accident ; if the connexion is so far
established, we may perhaps be allowed to suggest that the figure of
the boar on some of the coins is referred to in the words Trychdrwyt
in the third line of the poem.
Some have supposed that the distorted figure of the horse is
merely the result of want of skill in the artist, but it is evidently
a mistake, as the other parts of the coins are finished in such a
manner as totally to preclude any such idea. Even the bird's beak,
and the small object which it holds, are executed with considerable
attention, and no small care seems to have been taken to preserve
the separation between the bones of the legs and the body of the
animal. All this occurring on coins of different dies, clearly shows
an uniformity of design, and tends greatly to corroborate Davies's
hypothesis.
Besides the specimens in the British Museum, there is a beautiful
gold coin of this class in the possession of the Rev. John Jones
(Tegid), found near Oxford, which shows the above characteristics
very distinctly.
During the middle ages, the story of the Twrch Trwyth was
current amongst the Welsh, and Lewis Glyn Cothi alludes to him in
these words,
NOTES. 289
" He would destroy the towns with wrath, wounds, and violence ;
he would tear down all the towers like the Twrch Trwyth." *
We find a direct reference to the hunt of the Twrch Trwyth in
the catalogue of the marvels of the Island of Britain, which in some
copies is appended to the " Historia Britonum " of Nennius. The
MS. from which the passage is copied into this place is preserved in
the British Museum (Harleian MSS. 3859), and is pronounced by
the learned editor of " Nennius " to be of the tenth century.f
" Est aliud mirabile in regione quae dicitur Buelt. Est ibi cumulus
lapidum, et unus lapis superpositus super congestum, cum vestigio
canis in eo. Quando venatus est porcum Troynt, impressit Cabal,
qui erat canis Arthuri militis, vestigium in lapide, et Arthur postea
congregavit congestum lapidum sub lapide in quo erat vestigium
canis sui, et vocatur Carn Cabal. Et veniunt homines et tollunt
lapidem in manibus suis per spacinm diei et noctis, et in crastino die
invenitur super congestum suum."—P. 60.
—There is another wonder in the region called Buelt. There is a
heap of stones, and one stone laid on the heap having upon it the
footmark of a dog. When he hunted the swine Troynt,J Cabal,
which was a dog of the warrior Arthur, impressed the stone with
the print of his foot, and Arthur afterwards collected a heap of
stones beneath the stone in which was the print of his dog's foot,
and it is called Carn Cabal. And people come and take away the
stone in their hands for the space of a day and a night, and on the
next day it is found on its heap.—
The fact of this story of the Twrch Trwyth being found in a MS.
of so early a date, appeared at once so interesting and important
that a facsimile of the whole passage relating to the event was taken
from the venerable document, and inserted in my edition of the
Mabinogion, II. 1840. But if we are surprised to find this singular
hunt thus recorded, and even the name of Arthur's dog Cavall pre
served in connection with it, much more may we be astonished to learn
that Carn Cavall is no fabulous mound, the creation of the poet or
romancer's fancy, but is actually a mountain in the district of Builth,
to the south of Rhayader Gwy, and within sight of that town.
Such was the interest excited in my mind by the discovery of the
existence of such a remarkable piece of evidence, corroborative of
the great antiquity of the traditions contained in the Mabinogi of
Kilhwch, that I prevailed upon a gentleman to undertake a pil-
* See Dr. Owen Pughe's Dictionary, II. p. 206. 8vo. 1832.
t See Mr. Stevenson's Preface to the Edition of Nennius, published by the
English Historical Society. London, 1838, p. xa.
J Another MS. has Troit, which is still nearer to the Welsh Trwyth.
Mabinogion.
grimage for me to the summit of Cefn Cam Cavall. The following
is the account he wrote me of his expedition ; whether he has suc
ceeded in finding the stone itself, bearing the imprint of Cavall's
footstep, I must leave to others to determine.
" Carn Cavall, or, as it is generally pronounced, Corn Cavall, is a
lofty and rugged mountain, in the upper part of the district anciently
called Buellt, now written Builth, in Breconshire. Scattered over this
mountain are several carns of various dimensions, some of which are
of very considerable magnitude, being at least a hundred and fifty feet
in circumference. On one of these carns may still be seen a stone, so
nearly corresponding with the description in Nennius, as to furnish
strong "presumption that it is the identical object referred to. It is
near two feet in length, and not quite a foot wide, and such as a man
might without any great exertion, carry away in his hands. On
the one side is an oval indentation, rounded at the bottom, nearly
four inches long by three wide, about two inches deep, and altogether
presenting such an appearance as might, without any great strain of
imagination, be thought to resemble the print of a dog's foot ; on a
more minute inspection it will be found that although there is
towards the middle part a slight mark corresponding with the ball
of the foot, yet the divisions of the toes and marks of the nails are
wanting ; but when we make allowance for the effect of a thousand
winters in this high and stormy region, it is not too much to suppose
that at one time the resemblance was still more striking.
" As the stone is a species of conglomerate, it is possible that some
unimaginative geologist may persist in maintaining that this foot
print is nothing more than the cavity, left by the removal of a
rounded pebble, which was once imbedded in the stone ; such an
opinion scarcely requires a remark. The following sketch will give
an idea of the stone."
Mabon the Son of Modron. —Page. 240.

Both the Triads relating to Mabon's mysterious captivity having
already been cited in this volume, p. 192, it is considered un
NOTES. 291
necessary to repeat them in this place. One of them (Triad 61),
places his prison among the Gwyddyl Ffichti in Alban, and repre
sents his whole kindred as having shared it with him. In the Graves
of the Warriors we find,
" The grave in the upland of Nanllau ;
His story no one knows,
Mabon the son of Modron the sincere."—Myv. Arch. I. p. 78.
He would seem to be alluded to, as Mab a Mydron, the servant of
Uthir Pendragon, in the dialogue between Arthur, Kai, and Glew-
lwyd, where Mabon ab Mellt is also mentioned. —See p. 267.
Oosel of Gilowbi.—Page 246.

Davydd ap Gwilym was acquainted with the tradition of these
ancient animals, as is proved by his poem entitled " Yr Oed." He
has, however, altered their localities. His mistress having disap
pointed him in keeping an engagement, he complains that the delay
was so tedious to him that he might be compared to the inhabitant
of Gwernabwy ; for though it was true he was no Eagle, still, having
waited for three generations, he had, through long tarrying, come
to resemble that venerable bird ; and he adds that for love he
had grown as infirm as the stag of Cilgwri, and as grey as the owl
of Cwm Cawlwyd.
The Cwm Cawlwyd is probably the territory which belonged
to Caw and his descendants, who are always styled Lords of Cwm
Cawlywd, in North Britain. There is a place of this name in Caernar
vonshire, and another in Carmarthenshire. Cilgwri is in Flintshire.
Lludd Llaw Ereint. —Page 248.

Lludd Llaw Ereint, an ancient king of Britain, will be better
known to the English reader by the name of King Lear, or Llyr,
as it is written by the Welsh, who celebrate him under the appella
tion of Lludd and Llyr, indiscriminately.
Llamrei. —Page 251.

This Mare of Arthur's was very celebrated. Her name implies
bounding or curvetting. Taliesin speaks of her in his Can y Meirch,
as " Llamrei full of vigour."— Myv. Arch. I. p. 44.
Porth Kerddin. —Page 253.

The precise position of this harbour is not easily ascertained. The
proximity of places called Pen Arthyr and Trelethin (probably Tre
v 2
292 KILHWCH AND OT.WEN.
Lwydden ap Kelcoed), would induce a conjecture of Porthmawr,
near St. David's Head, Pembrokeshire, being the site of Porth
Kerddin. The words in the text, however, " And there is the
measure of the cauldron," would favour the supposition of Porth
Kerddin being another place in the same county, now called Pwll
Crochan (the pool of the cauldron), about five miles westward from
the town of Fishguard. It may not be irrelevant to remark that
the whole surrounding district abounds with Druidical and other
ancient remains. Not far from it is a small village alleged to have
been the birthplace of the celebrated Asser Menevensis, whose name
it bears ; and about two miles from Tre Asser is a place where an
ancient British town is said to have been founded by the hero of the
present tale, and after him called Tref Kilhwch, the only remains
of which are some foundations of houses occasionally met with in
ploughing.
The Summer Country (Gwlad yr Haf).—Page 253.

This name stands translated in the text as the Summer Country,
which is its literal meaning. This is the way in which it is usually
rendered with reference to Triad 4, where it is said that Hu Gadarn
came over with the race of the Cymry from the Qwlad yr Hav, con
sidered to be somewhere near Constantinople. In the present instance,
however, it may have been intended to allude to Somersetshire, of
which Gwlad yr Hav is the Welsh appellation, and with which the
etymology of the Havren (Severn) is probably connected.
Porth Cleis. —Page 254.

This place, at which the Twrch Trwyth landed, and commenced his
devastating expedition through the Principality, is a small but well-
known harbour in Pembrokeshire, at the estuary of the river Alun.
Although it is only capable of affording accommodation to what are
now termed small craft, it was, in times past, a much frequented
port, and was the landing-place in several marauding excursions of
the Gwyddyl Fficbti, one of whom, named Boia, is recorded in the
Liber Landavensis as having been the source of great annoyance to
St. David and St Telliaw. The former of these saints is tradition
ally reputed to have been a native of Porth Cleis, and to have been
baptized at a holy well in its immediate vicinity.
Mynyw, or St. David's, is the next place mentioned in the progress
of the Twrch Trwyth, and we thence trace him to Aber deu Gleddyf,
NOTES. 293
or Milford Haven. On leaving Aber deu Gleddyf, we find him
overtaken by Arthur while destroying the herds of Kynwas Kwrr y
Vagyl, and this we may conjecture to have occurred at a place still
called Kynwaston or Canaston, not far from Narberth. Blaengwaith
Noe ab Arthur, near Lampeter Velfrey, and Buarth Arthur, and the
Cromlech of Gwal y Filast, or Bwrdd Arthur (Arthur's Table), in the
parish of Llanboipy, probably mark the course of this singular hunt
to the Preselly Mountains, the highest range in Pembrokeshire. At
the eastern extremity of these mountains rises the river Nyver, or
Nevern, on the banks of which the British warriors drew themselves
up in array, and close to the highest peak of the range, named Preselly
Top, is the dingle of Cwm Kerwyn, where the Twrch Trwyth is said
to have committed such dreadful havoc among Arthur's champions.
Within a distance of two miles, Arthur's name is again perpetuated
in the rugged summit of Carn Arthur, whence the imagination
may easily trace some remembrance of the Twrch Trwyth and his
progeny, in the names of the opposite eminence, Moel Dyrch ; and
of Tre Dyrch, the adjacent farm.
Leaving the Preselly Mountains, and passing through Aberteivi or
Cardigan town, the Twrch Trwyth again appears in Dyffryn Llychwr,
or Loughor, on the confines of Carmarthenshire and Glamorgan.
The Dyffryn Amanw of the tale is identical with the valley of the
river Amman, which falls into the Llychwr some few miles from
the sea. In the Mynydd Amanw we recognize the lofty heights,
which form a natural boundary between the counties of Brecon and
Carmarthen, called Mynydd Du, and Bannau Sir Gaer, or the Black
Mountain and Carmarthenshire Vans. On this range tradition has
assigned to Arthur a resting-place of the most ample dimensions,
called Gwely Arthur, or Arthur's Bed, and near to the spot where
the river Amman rises is an elevated knoll, called Twyn y Moch, at
the foot of which is Llwyn y Moch, both of which names may bear
some allusion to the adventures detailed in the text. The same re
mark may be said to apply to the adjacent river Twrch, which rises
on the Van, and runs into the Tawy, below Ystradgynlais. Another
singular coincidence may be traced between the name of a brook in
this neighbourhood, called Echel, and the Echel Porddwyttwl, who
is recorded in the tale as having been slain at this period of the
chase. On the Llangadock side of the Black Mountain we meet
with fresh reminiscences of the British monarch in Pen Arthur, and
Ooiten Arthur. The latter is one of two large rocks in the bed of
the Sawdde river, said to have been the hero's quoit, which he flung
from the summit of Pen Arthur to its present position ; a distance of
about a mile. The rock beside the Coiten was thrown into the
stream from the same eminence by a lady of those days, beiDg a
pebble in her shoe which gave her some annoyance. As there are
several localities on the Tywi bearing the appellation of Dinas,
it would be difficult to determine to which of them Din Tywi is
intended to refer.
At Ystrad Yw, we find ourselves once more on well-known ground,
• and hence we may conjecture that the course of the Twrch Trwyth
lay across Carn Cavall and the Brecon Mountains * to Abergwy,
where the Wye falls into the Severn below Chepstow, and where
the princely monster also dashes into the flood, to appear again but
for a moment in Cornwall, before he vanishes entirely from our view.
Llyn Lliwan. —Page 256.

Whether the immersion of the boar Trwyth into the Severn near
Llyn Lliwan, or LlinJivan, as it is generally called, has any reference
to the wonders that characterise that remarkable spot, does not ap
pear, but it would seem reasonable to suppose that something more
than a natural cause must have led to the marvellous results thus
related in the tract De Mirabilibus Britanniae, attached to some of
the copies of Nennius.
" There is another wonder, which is Oper Linn Liuan,f the mouth
of which river opens into the Severn ; and when the tide flows into
the Severn, the sea in the like manner flows into the mouth of the
above-named river, and is received into a pool at its mouth, as into a
gulf, and does not proceed higher up. And there is a beach near
the river, and when the tide is in the Severn, that beach is not
covered ; and when the sea and the Severn recede, then the pool
Liuan disgorges all that it had swallowed from the sea, and that
beach is covered therewith, and it discharges and pours it out in one
wave, in size like to a mountain. And if there should be the whole
army of all that country there, and they should turn their faces to
wards the wave, it would draw the army to it by force, their clothes
being full of moisture, and their horses would be drawn in like
manner. But should the army turn their backs towards the wave,
it will not injure them. And when the sea has receded, then the
whole beach which the wave had covered is left bare again, and the
sea retires from it." J
* The summit of which still retains the name of Cadair Arthur. There is
also in Breconshire a valley bearing the name of one of the pigs ; Cwm Banw.
t Probably a corrupted form of the Welsh '' Aber Llyn Llivan."
* Nennius. Published by the English Historical Society. London, 1838, p. 57.
NOTES. 295
In an expedition of Arthur's to the North, the Scots fled before

him, and betook themselves to the Lake Llumonyw (probably Loch
Lomond), in which were sixty islands and sixty rocks, and on each
an eagle's nest. Every first of May these came together, and from
the sound of their voices the men of that country knew what should
befall during the coming year. And sixty rivers fell into this re
markable lake, but only one river ran from the lake to the sea.
Arthur soon dislodged his opponents from their stronghold, the
singular nature of which excited great surprise in the mind of Howel
the son of Emyr Llydaw, who accompanied him. But when Howel
expressed his wonder at it, Arthur told him that there was a still
more marvellous lake not far thence, which was twenty feet long and
twenty feet broad, and consequently square ; and it contained four
different races of fishes, and a fish was never found in a part of
the lake occupied by a race to which it did not belong.* And
he told him also that there was another lake in Wales near the
Severn, which the men of that country called Llyn Llivan ; and that
lake, when the sea flowed, received water into it, and swallowed it
as though it had been a mountain, until it overflowed its banks ;
and if it chanced that any stood with their faces towards the lake,
and any of the spray of the water touched their clothes, it was hard
for them to avoid being drawn into the lake ; but if their backs were
towards it, how near soever they might stand to its edge, it would
have no effect upon them. Brut Gruffudd ab Arthur. —Myv. Arch
II. p. 310.
* This appears to be the same as the marvel described in the Catalogne

appended to Nennins, where it is styled Finnaun Guar Helic, and is placed in
f.he region of Cinliplac.
THE DREAM OF RHONABWY.
THE DREAM OF RHONABWY.
~iy J~ADAWC the son of Maredudd possessed Powys within

** * its boundaries, from Porfoed to Gwauan in the up
lands of Arwystli. And at that time he had a brother,
Iorwerth the son of Maredudd, in rank not equal to himself.
And Iorwerth had great sorrow and heaviness because of the
honour and power that his brother enjoyed, which he shared
not. And he sought his fellows and his foster-brothers, and
took counsel with them what he should do in this matter.
And they resolved to despatch some of their number to go
and seek a maintenance for him. Then Madawc offered him
to become Master of the Household and to have horses, and
arms, and honour, and to fare like as himself. But Iorwerth
refused this.
And Iorwerth made an inroad into Loegria, slaying the
inhabitants, and burning houses, and carrying away prisoners.
And Madawc took counsel with the men of Powys, and they
determined to place an hundred men in each of the three
Commots of Powys to seek for him. And thus did they in
300 THE DREAM OF RHONABWY.
the plains of Powys from Aber Ceirawc, and in Allictwn Ver,

and in Rhyd Wilure, on the Vyrnwy, the three best Commots
of Powys. So he was none the better, he nor his household,
in Powys, nor in the plains thereof. And they spread these
men over the plains as far as Nillystwn Trevan.
Now one of the men who was upon this quest was called
Rhonabwy. And Rhonabwy and Kynwrig Vrychgoch, a
man of Mawddwy, and Cadwgan Vras, a man of Moelvre in
Kynlleith, came together to the house of Heilyn Goch the
son of Cadwgan the son of Iddon. And when they came
near to the house, they saw an old hall, very black and
having an upright gable, whence issued a great smoke ; and
on entering, they found the floor full of puddles and mounds ;
and it was difficult to stand thereon, so slippery was it with
the mire of cattle. And where the puddles were, a man
might go up to his ankles in water and dirt. And there
were boughs of holly spread over the floor, whereof the
cattle had browsed the sprigs. When they came to the hall
of the house, they beheld cells full of dust, and very gloomy,
and on one side an old hag making a fire. And whenever she
felt cold, she cast a lapful of chaff upon the fire, and raised
such a smoke, that it was scarcely to bo borne, as it rose up
the nostrils. And on the other side was a yellow calf-skin on
the floor ; a main privilege was it to any one who should get
upon that hide.
And when they had sat down, they asked the hag where
were the people of the house. And the hag spoke not, but
muttered. Thereupon behold the people of the house
entered ; a ruddy, clownish, curly-headed man, with a burthen
of faggots on his back, and a pale slender woman, also car-
ying a bundle under her arm. And they barely welcomed
the men, and kindled a fire with the boughs. And the
woman cooked something, and gave them to eat, barley
bread, and cheese, and milk and water.
And there arose a storm of wind and rain, so that it was
hardly possible to go forth with safety. And being weary
with their journey, they laid themselves down and sought to
THE DREAM OF RHONABWY. 301
sleep. And when they looked at the couch, it seemed to be

made but of a little coarse straw full of dust and vermin, with
the stems of boughs sticking up there through, for the cattle
had eaten all the straw that was placed at the head and the
foot. And upon it was stretched an old russet-coloured rug,
threadbare and ragged ; and a coarse sheet, full of slits, was
upon the rug, and an ill-stuffed pillow, and a worn-out cover
upon the sheet. And after much suffering from the vermin,
and from the discomfort of their couch, a heavy sleep fell on
Rhonabwy's companions. But Rhonabwy, not being able
either to sleep or to rest, thought he should suffer less if he
went to lie upon the yellow calf-skin that was stretched out on
the floor. And there he slept.
As soon as sleep had come upon his eyes, it seemed to him
that he was journeying with his companions across the plain
of Argyngroeg, and he thought that he went towards Rhyd y
Groes on the Severn. As he journeyed, he heard a mighty
noise, the like whereof heard he never before; and looking
behind him, he beheld a youth with yellow curling hair, and
with his beard newly trimmed, mounted on a chestnut horse,
whereof the legs were grey from the top of the forelegs, and
from the bend of the hindlegs downwards. And the rider
wore a coat of yellow satin sewn with green silk, and on his
thigh was a gold-hilted sword, with a scabbard of new
leather of Cordova, belted with the skin of the deer, and
clasped with gold. And over this was a scarf of yellow satin
wrought with green silk, the borders whereof were likewise
green. And the green of the caparison of the horse, and of
his rider, was as green as the leaves of the fir-tree, and the
yellow was as yellow as the blossom of the broom. So fierce
was the aspect of the knight,, that fear seized upon them, and
they began to flee. And the knight pursued them. And
when the horse breathed forth, the men became distant from
him, and when he drew in his breath, they were drawn near
to him, even to the horse's chest. And when he had over
taken them, they besought his mercy. " You have it gladly,"
said he, " fear nought." " Ha, chieftain, since thou hast
THK DREAM OF RHONAKWY.
mercy upon me, tell me also who thou art," said Rhonabwy.
" I will not conceal my lineage from thee, I am Iddawc the
son of Mynyo, yet not by my name, but by my niekname am
I best known." " And wilt thou tell us what thy nickname
is V "I will tell you ; it is Iddawc Cordd Prydain." " Ha,
chieftain," said Rhonabwy, " why art thou called thus V "I
will tell thee. I was one of the messengers between Arthur
and Medrawd his nephew, at the battle of Camlan ; and I was
then a reckless youth, and through my desire for battle, I
kindled strife between them, and stirred up wrath, when I
was sent by Arthur the Emperor to reason with Medrawd,
and to show him, that he was his foster-father and his uncle,
and to seek for peace, lest the sons of the Kings of the Island
of Britain, and of the nobles, should be slain. And whereas
Arthur charged me with the fairest sayings he could think of,
I uttered unto Medrawd the harshest I could devise. And
therefore am I called Iddawc Cordd Prydain, for from this
did the battle of Camlan ensue. And three nights before the
end of the battle of Camlan I left them, and went to the
Llech Las in North Britain to do penance. And there I
remained doing penance seven years, and after that I gained
pardon."
Then lo! they heard a mighty sound which was much louder
than that which they had heard before , and when they looked
round towards the sound, they beheld a ruddy youth, without
beard or whiskers, noble of mien, and mounted on a stately
courser. And from the shoulders and the front of the knees
downwards the horse was bay. And upon the man was a dress
of red satin wrought with yellow silk, and yellow were the
borders of his scarf. And such parts of his apparel and of the
trappings of his horse as were yellow, as yellow were they as
the blossom of the broom, and such as were red, were as ruddy
as the ruddiest blood in the world.
Then, behold the horseman overtook them, and he asked of
Iddawc a share of the little men that were with him. " That
which is fitting for me to grant I will grant, and thou shalt
be a companion to them as I have been." And the horseman
THK DREAM OF RIIONAIiWY. 303
went away. "Iddawc," inquired Rhonawby, "who was
that horseman ? " " Rhuvawn Pebyr the son of Prince
Deorthach."
And they journeyed over the plain of Argyngroeg as far as
the ford of Rhyd y Groes on the Severn. And for a mile
around the ford on both sides of the road, they saw tents and
encampments, and there was the clamour of a mighty host.
And they came to the edge of the ford, and there they be
held Arthur sitting on a flat island below the ford, having
Bedwini the Bishop on one side of him, and Gwarthegyd the
son of Kaw on the other. And a tall, auburn-haired youth
stood before him, with his sheathed sword in his hand, and
clad in a coat and cap of jet black satin. And his face was
white as ivory, and his eyebrows black as jet, and such part
of his wrist as could be seen between his glove and his sleeve,
was whiter than the lily, and thicker than a warrior's ankle.
Then came Iddawc and they that were with him, and stood
before Arthur and saluted him. " Heaven grant thee good,"
said Arthur. "And where, Iddawc, didst thou find these
little men ? " I found them, lord, up yonder on the road."
Then the Emperor smiled. " Lord," said Iddawc, " where
fore dost thou laugh ? " " Iddawc," replied Arthur, " I
laugh not ; but it pitieth me that men of such stature as
these should have this island in their keeping, after the men
that guarded it of yore." Then said Iddawc, "Rhonabwy,
dost thou see the ring with a stone set in it, that is upon the
Emperor's hand ? '* "I see it," he answered. " It is one
of the properties of that stone to enable thee to remember
that thou seest here to-night, and hadst thou not seen the
stone, thou wouldest never have been able to remember aught
thereof."
After this they saw a troop coming towards the ford.
" Iddawc," inquired Rhonabwy, " to whom does yonder
troop belong ? " " They are the fellows of Rhuvawn Pebyr
the son of Prince Deorthach. And these men are honourably
served with mead and bragget, and are freely beloved by the
daughters of the kings of the Island of Britain. And this
;304 THE DREAM OF RHONABWY.
they merit, for they were ever in the front and the rear in
every peril." And he saw but one hue upon the men and the
horses of this troop, for they were all as red as blood. And
when one of the knights rode forth from the troop, he looked
like a pillar of fire glancing athwart the sky. And this
troop encamped above the ford.
Then they beheld another troop coming towards the ford,
and these from their horses5 chests upwards were whiter than
the lily, and below blacker than jet. And they saw one of
these knights go before the rest, and spur his horse into the
ford in such a manner that the water dashed over Arthur and
the Bishop, and those holding counsel with them, so that they
were as wet as if they had been drenched in the river. And
as he turned the head of his horse, the youth who stood before
Arthur struck the horse over the nostrils with his sheathed
sword, so that, had it been with the bare blade, it would have
been a marvel if the bone had not been wounded as well as the
flesh. And the knight drew his sword half out of the
scabbard, and asked of him, "Wherefore didst thou strike
my horse ? Whether was it in insult or in counsel unto
me ? " " Thou dost indeed lack counsel. What madness
caused thee to ride so furiously as to dash the water of the
ford over Arthur, and the consecrated Bishop, and their
counsellors, so that they were as wet as if they had been
dragged out of the river ? " " As counsel then will I take
it." So he turned his horse's head round towards his army.
" Iddawc," said Rhonabwy, " who was yonder knight ? "
" The most eloquent and the wisest youth that is in this
island ; Adaon, the son of Taliesin." " Who was the man
that struck his horse J " "A youth of froward nature ;
Elphin, the son of Gwyddno."
Then spake a tall and stately man, of noble and flowing
speech, saying that it was a marvel that so vast a host should
be assembled in so narrow a space, and that it was a still
greater marvel that those should be there at that time who
had promised to be by mid-day in the battle of Badon, fight
ing with Osla Gyllellvawr. " Whether thou mayest choose to
THE DREAM OF KHONABWY. 305
proceed or not, I will proceed." " Thou sayest well," said

Arthur, " and we will go altogether." " Iddawc," said
Rhonabwy, " who was the man who spoke so marvellously
unto Arthur erewhile ? " "A man who may speak as boldly
as he listeth, Caradawc Vreichvras, the son of Llyr Marini,
his chief counsellor and his cousin."
Then Iddawc took Rhonabwy behind him on his horse, and
that mighty host moved forward, each troop in its order,
towards Cevndigolly And when they came to the middle of
the ford of the Severn, Iddawc turned his horse's head, and
Rhonabwy looked along the valley of the Severn. And he
beheld two fair troops coming towards the ford. One troop
there came of brilliant white, whereof every one of the men
had a scarf of white satin with jet-black borders. And the
knees and the tops of the shoulders of their horses were jet-
black, though they were of a pure white in every other
part. And their banners were pure white, with black points
to them all.
" Iddawc," said Rhonabwy, " who are yonder pure white
troop ? " " They are the men of Norway, and March the son
of Meirchion is their prince. And he is cousin unto Arthur."
And further on he saw a troop, whereof each man wore gar
ments of jet-black, with borders of pure white to every scarf;
and the tops of the shoulders and the knees of their horses
were pure white. And their banners were jet-black with pure
white at the point of each.
" Iddawc," said Rhonabwy, " who are the jet-black troop
yonder ? " " They are the men of Denmark, and Edeyrn the
son of Nudd is their prince."
And when they had overtaken the host, Arthur and his army
of mighty ones dismounted below Caer Badou, and he per
ceived that he and Iddawc journeyed the same road as Arthur.
And after they had dismounted he heard a great tumult and
confusion amongst the host, and such as were then at the
flanks turned to the centre, and such as had been in the centre
moved to the flanks. And then, behold, he saw a knight
coming, clad, both he and his horse, in mail, of which the
Mabinoyion . X
306 THE DREAM OF RHONAIiWY.
rings were whiter than the whitest lily, and the rivets
redder than the ruddiest blood. And he rode amongst the
host.
" Iddawc," said Ehonabwy, " will yonder host flee ? "
" King Arthur never fled, and if this discourse of thine were
heard, thou wert a lost man. But as to the knight whom
thou seest yonder, it is Kai. The fairest horseman is Kai in
all Arthur's Court ; and the men who are at the front of
the army hasten to the rear to see Kai ride, and the men
who are in the centre flee to the side, from the shock of
his horse. And this is the cause of the confusion of the
host."
Thereupon they heard a call made for Kadwr, Earl of Corn
wall, and behold he arose with the sword of Arthur in his
hand. And the similitude of two serpents was upon the
sword in gold. And when the sword was drawn from its
scabbard, it seemed as if two flames of fire burst forth from
the jaws of the serpents, and then, so wonderful was the
sword, that it was hard for any one to look upon it. And the
host became still, and the tumult ceased, and the Earl returned
to the tent.
"Iddawc," said Rhonabwy, "who is the man who bore
the sword of Arthur ? " " Kadwr, the Earl of Cornwall,
whose duty it is to arm the King on the days of battle and
warfare."
And they heard a call made for Eirynwych Amheibyn,
Arthur's servant, a red, rough, ill-favoured man, having red
whiskers with bristly hairs. And behold he came upon a tall
red horse with the mane parted on each side, and he brought
with him a large and beautiful sumpter pack. And the
huge red youth dismounted before Arthur, and he drew a
golden chair out of the pack, and a carpet of diapered satin.
And he spread the carpet before Arthur, and there was an
apple of ruddy gold at each corner thereof, and he placed
the chair upon the carpet. And so large was the chair that
three armed warriors might have sat therein. Gwenn was
the name of the carpet, and it was one of its properties that
THE DREAM OF EHONABWY. .307
whoever was upon it no one could see him, and he

could see every one. And it would retain no colour but its
own.
And Arthur sat within the carpet, and Owain the son of
Urien was standing before him. " Owain," said Arthur,
" wilt thou play chess ? " "I will, Lord," said Owain. And
the red youth brought the chess for Arthur and Owain ;
golden pieces and a board of silver. And they began to play.
And while they were thus, and when they were best amused
with their game, behold they saw a white tent with a red
canopy, and the figure of a jet-black serpent on the top of
the tent, and red glaring venomous eyes in the head of the
serpent, and a red flaming tongue. And there came a young
page with yellow curling hair, and blue eyes, and a newly-
springing beard, wearing a coat and a surcoat of yellow satin,
and hose of thin greenish-yellow cloth upon his feet, and over
his hose shoes of parti-coloured leather, fastened at the insteps
with golden clasps. And he bore a heavy three-edged sword
with a golden hilt, in a scabbard of black leather tipped with
fine gold. And he came to the place where the Emperor and
Owain were playing at chess.
And the youth saluted Owain. And Owain marvelled that
the youth should salute him and should not have saluted the
Emperor Arthur. And Arthur knew what was in Owain's
thought. And he said to Owain, " Marvel not that the youth
salutes thee now, for he saluted me erewhile ; and it is unto
thee that his errand is." Then said the youth unto Owain,
" Lord, is it with thy leave that the young pages and attend
ants of the Emperor harass and torment and worry thy
Ravens ? And if it be not with thy leave, cause the Emperor
to forbid them." " Lord," said Owain, " thou hearest what
the youth says ; if it seem good to thee, forbid them from my
Ravens." " Play thy game," said he. Then the youth
returned to the tent.
That game did they finish, and another they began, and
when they were in the midst of the game, behold, a ruddy
young man with auburn curling hair and large eyes, well
x 2
grown, and having his beard new-shorn, came forth from a

bright yellow tent, upon the summit of which was the figure
of a bright red lion. And he was clad in a coat of yellow
satin, falling as low as the small of his leg, and embroidered
with threads of red silk. And on his feet were hose of fine
white buckram, and buskins of black leather were over his
hose, whereon were golden clasps. And in his hand a huge,
heavy, three-edged sword, with a scabbard of red deer-hide,
tipped with gold. And he came to the place where Arthur
and Owain were playing at chess. And he saluted him. And
Owain was troubled at his salutation, but Arthur minded it
no more than before. And the youth said unto Owain, " Is it
not against thy will that the attendants of the Emperor harass
thy Ravens, killing some and worrying others ? If against
thy will it be, beseech him to forbid them." " Lord," said
Owain, "forbid thy men, if it seem good to thee." "Play
thy game," said the Emperor. And the youth returned to
the tent.
And that game was ended and another begun. And as
they were beginning the first move of the game, they beheld
at a small distance from them a tent speckled yellow, the
largest ever seen, and the figure of an eagle of gold upon it,
and a precious stone on the eagle's head. And coming out of
the tent, they saw a youth with thick yellow hair upon his
head, fair and comely, and a scarf of blue satin upon him, and
a brooch of gold in the scarf upon his right shoulder as large
as a warrior's middle finger. And upon his feet were hose of
fine Totness, and shoes of parti-coloured leather, clasped with
gold, and the youth was of noble bearing, fair of face,
with ruddy cheeks and large hawk's eyes. In the hand
of the youth was a mighty lance, speckled yellow, with
a newly sharpened head ; and upon the lance a banner
displayed.
Fiercely angry, and with rapid pace, came the youth to the
place where Arthur was playing at chess with Owain. And
they perceived that he was wroth. And thereupon he saluted
Owain, and told him that his Ravens had been killed, the
chief part of them, and that such of them as were not slain
were so wounded and bruised that not one of them could raise
its wings a single fathom above the earth. "Lord," said
Owain, "forbid thy men." "Play," said he, "if it please
thee." Then said Owain to the youth, "Go back, and
wherever thou findest the strife at the thickest, there Hit up
the banner, and let come what pleases Heaven."
So the youth returned back to the place where the strife
bore hardest upon the Ravens, and he lifted up the banner ;
and as he did so they all rose up in the air, wrathful and
fierce and high of spirit, clapping their wings in the wind,
and shaking off the weariness that was upon them. And
recovering their energy and courage, furiously and with
exultation did they, with one sweep, descend upon the heads
of the men, who had erewhile caused them anger and pain
and damage, and they seized some by the heads and others by
the eyes, and some by the ears, and others by the arms, and
carried them up into the air ; and in the air there was a
mighty tumult with the napping of the wings of the triumph
ant Ravens, and with their croaking ; and there was another
mighty tumult with the groaning of the men, that were being
torn and wounded, and some of whom were slain.
And Arthur and Owain marvelled at the tumult as they
played at chess ; and, looking, they perceived a knight upon
a dun-coloured horse coming towards them. And marvellous
was the hue of the dun horse. Bright red was his right
shoulder, and from the top of his legs to the centre of his hoof
was bright yellow. Both the knight and his horse were fully
equipped with heavy foreign armour. The clothing of the horse
from the front opening upwards was of bright red sendal, and
from thence opening downwards was of bright yellow sendal.
A largo gold-hilted one-edged sword had the youth upon his
thigh, in a scabbard of light blue, and tipped with Spanish
laton. The belt of the sword was of dark green leather with
golden slides and a clasp of ivory upon it, and a buckle of jet-
black upon the clasp. A helmet of gold was on the head of
the knight, set with precious stones of great virtue, and at
the top of the helmet was the image of a flame-coloured

leopard with two ruby-red stones in its head, so that it was
astounding for a warrior, however stout his heart, to look at
the face of the leopard, much more at the face of the knight.
He had in his hand a blue-shafted lance, but from the haft to
the point it was stained crimson-red with the blood of the
Ravens and their plumage.
The knight came to the place where Arthur and Owain wore
seated at chess. And they perceived that he was harassed
and vexed and weary as he came towards them. And the
youth saluted Arthur, and told him that the Ravens of Owain
were slaying his young men and attendants. And Arthur
looked at Owain and said, "Forbid thy Ravens." "Lord,"
answered Owain, " play thy game." And they played. And
the knight returned back towards the strife, and the Ravens
were not forbidden any more than before.
And when they had played awhile, they heard a mighty
tumult, and a wailing of men, and a croaking of Ravens, as
they carried the men in their strength into the air, and, tear
ing them betwixt them, let them fall piecemeal to the earth.
And during the tumult they saw a knight coming towards
them, on a light grey horse, and the left foreleg of the horse
was jet-black to the centre of his hoof. And the knight and
the horse were fully accoutred with huge heavy blue armour.
And a robe of honour of yellow diapered satin was upon the
knight, and the borders of the robe were blue. And the
housings of the horse were jet-black, with borders of bright
yellow. And on the thigh of the youth was a sword, long,
and three-edged, and heavy. And the scabbard was of red
cut leather, and the belt of new red deer-skin, having upon it
many golden slides and a buckle of the bone of the sea-horse,
the tongue of which was jet-black. A golden helmet was
upon the head of the knight, wherein were set sapphire-stones
of great virtue. And at the top of the helmet was the figure
of a flame-coloured lion, with a fiery-red tongue, issuing above
a foot from his mouth, and with venomous eyes, crimson-red,
in his head. And the knight came, bearing in his hand a
thick ashen lance, the head whereof, which had been newly
steeped in blood, was overlaid with silver.
And the youth saluted the Emperor : " Lord," said he,
" carest thou not for the slaying of thy pages, and thy young
men, and the sons of the nobles of the Island of Britain,
whereby it will be difficult to defend this island from hence
forward for ever ? " " Owain," said Arthur, " forbid thy
Ravens." " Play this game, Lord," said Owain.
So they finished the game and began another ; and as they
were finishing that game, lo, they heard a great tumult and a
clamour of armed men, and a croaking of Eavens, and a flap
ping of wings in the air, as they flung down the armour entire
to the ground, and the men and the horses piecemeal. Then
they saw coming a knight on a lofty-headed piebald horse. And
the left shoulder of the horse was of bright red, and its right
leg from the chest to the hollow of the hoof was pure white.
And the knight and horse were equipped with arms of
speckled yellow, variegated with Spanish laton. And there
was a robe of honour upon him, and upon his horse, divided
in two parts, white and black, and the borders of the robe of
honour were of golden purple. And above the robe he wore
a sword three-edged and bright, with a golden hilt. And the
belt of the sword was of yellow goldwork, having a clasp
upon it of the eyelid of a black sea-horse, and a tongue of
yellow gold to the clasp. Upon the head of the knight was
a bright helmet of yellow laton, with sparkling stones of
crystal in it, and at the crest of the helmet was the figure of a
griffin, with a stone of many virtues in its head. And he had
an ashen spear in his hand, with a round shaft, coloured with
azure-blue. And the head of the spear was newly stained
with blood, and was overlaid with fine silver.
Wrathfully came the knight to the place where Arthur was,
and he told him that the Ravens had slain his household and
the sons of the chief men of this island, and he besought him
to cause Owain to forbid his Ravens. And Arthur besought
Owain to forbid them. Then Arthur took the golden chess
men that were upon the board, and crushed them until they
312 THE DREAM OF EHONABWY.
became as dust. Then Owain ordered Gwres the son of Khoged

to lower his banner. So it was lowered, and all was peace.
Then Rhonabwy inquired of Iddawc who were the first
three men that came to Owain, to tell hira his Ravens were
being slain. Said Iddawc, " They were men who grieved
that Owain should suffer loss, his fellow- chieftains and com
panions, Selyv the son of Kynan Garwyn of Powys, and
Gwgawn Gleddyvrudd, and Gwrcs the son of Rheged, ho who
bears the banner in the day of battle and strife." " Who,"
said Rhonabwy, "were the last three men who came to
Arthur, and told him that the Ravens were slaughtering his
men ?" "The best of men," said Iddawc, "and the bravest,
and who would grieve exceedingly that Arthur should have
damage in aught ; Blathaon the son of Mawrheth, and Rhu-
vawn Pebyr the son of Prince Deorthach, and Hyveidd
Unllenn."
And with that behold four-and-twenty knights camo from
Osla Gyllellvawr, to crave a truce of Arthur for a fortnight
and a month. And Arthur arose and went to take counsel.
And he came to where a tall, auburn, curly-headed man was
a little way off, and there he assembled his counsellors.
Bedwini, the Bishop, and Gwarthegyd the son of Kaw, and
March the son of Meirchawn, and Caradawc Vreichvras, and
Gwalchmai the son of Gwyar, and Edeyrn the son of Nudd,
and Rhuvawn Pebyr the son of Prince Deorthach, and
Rhiogan the son of the King of Ireland, and Gwenwynwyn
the son of Nav, Howel the son of Emyr Llydaw, Gwilym
the son of Rhwyf Freinc, and Daned the son of Ath, and
Goreu Custennin, and Mabon the son of Modron, and Pere-
dur Paladyr Hir, and Hyveidd Unllenn, and Twrch the son
of Perif, and Nerth the son of Kadarn, and Gobrwy the son
of Echel Vorddwyttwll, Gwair the son of Gwestyl, and
Gadwy the son of Geraint, Trystan the son of Tallweb,
Moryen Manawc, Granwen the son of Llyr, and Llacheu the
son of Arthur, and Llawvrodedd Varvawc, and Kadwr Earl
of Cornwall, Morvran the son of Tegid, and Rhyawd the
son of Morgant, and Dyvyr the son of Alun Dyved, Gwrhyr
THE DREAM OP RHONABWY. 313
Gwalstawd Ieithoedd, Adaon the sou of Taliesin, Llary the

son of Kasnar Wledig, and Filewddur Fflam, and Grcidawl
Galldovydd, Gilbert the son of Kadgyffro, Menw the son
of Teirgwaedd, Gwrthmwl Wledig, Cawrdav tho son of
Caradawc Vreichvras, Gildas tho son of Kaw, Kadyriaith
the son of Saidi, and many of the men of Norway, and
Denmark, and many of the men of Greece, and a crowd of
the men of the host camo to that council.
"Iddawc," said Rhonabwy, "who was tho auburn-haired
man to whom they came just now ? " " Rhun the son of
Maelgwn Gwynedd, a man whoso prerogative it is, that ho
may join in counsel with all." "And wherefore did they
admit into counsel with men of such dignity as aro yonder
a stripling so young as Kadyriaith the son of Saidi ? "
" Because there is not throughout Britain a man better
skilled in counsel than he."
Thereupon, behold, bards came and recited verses beforo
Arthur, and no man understood those verses but Kadyriaith
only, save that they were in Arthur's praise.
And lo, there camo four-and-twenty asses with their bur
dens of gold and of silver, and a tired wayworn man with
each of them, bringing tribute to Arthur from the Islands cf
Greece. Then Kadyriaith the son of Saidi besought that a
truce might be granted to Osla Gyllellvawr for the space of
a fortnight and a month, and that tho asses and the burdens
they carried might be given to the bards, to be to them as the
reward for their stay and that their verse might bo recom
pensed during the time of the truce. And thus it was settled.
"Rhonabwy," said Iddawc, "would it not bo wrong to
forbid a youth who can give counsel so liberal as this from
coming to the councils of his Lord ? "
Then Kai arose, and ho said, " Whosoever will follow Arthur,
let him bo with him to-night in Cornwall, and whosoever will
not, let him be opposed to Arthur even during the truce."
And through the greatness of the tumult that ensued, Rhon
abwy awoke. And when he awoke he was upon the yellow
calf-skin, having slept threo nights and three days.
And this tale is called the Dream of Rhonabwy. And this

is the reason that no one knows the dream without a book,
neither bard nor gifted seer ; because of the various colours
that were upon the horses, and the many wondrous colours of
the arms and of the panoply, and of the precious scarfs, and
of the virtue-bearing stones.
NOTES TO THE DREAM OF RHONABWY.
Madawc the Son of Maredudd. —Page 299.

Maredudd ap Bleddyn, the father of ^Madawc, after much contest
acquired possession of the sovereignty of the whole principality of
Powys. He married Hunydd the daughter of Eunydd, chief of
one of the fifteen tribes of North Wales, and Lord of Dyffryn
Clwyd and Allington, and died in 1129 ; his son Madawc succeeded
him in one-half of his possessions, which thence acquired the name
of Powys Fadawc. Maredudd had been one of the most strenuous
and successful opponents of the Normans, oelebrated by the national
records. It was he who checked the progress of Henry I., who, in
one of his invasions of Wales, narrowly escaped being slain by a
body of archers that Maredudd had dispatched to meet him ; an
arrow shot by one of their number actually glanced from the breast
plate of the royal invader. But the son of Maredudd was not
distinguished for equal ardour in his country's cause ; on the con
trary, Madawc combined with Henry II. in the attacks he made
316 THE DliEAM OF RHONABWY.
upon Wales in 1158, and during that monarch's first and unsuccess
ful campaign, took the command of the English ships, and ravaged
the shores of Anglesey. In this expedition, however, Madawc was
defeated with much loss. Powell says of him, that he was " euer
the king of Englands frceud, and was one that feared God, and re-
leeued the poore."*
He was a prince of more than common talent, and was highly
extolled by contemporary bards and historians. Amongst others,
Gwalchmai composed several poems in his praise, t
Madawc's wonted prudence appears to have forsaken him in the
decline of life. There is an anecdote relating to him which, as it
exists only in MS., is probably not generally known.J It is to the
effect that in his later years he took for his second wife an English
lady, Matilda Verdun by name, upon whom, and upon any children
he might have by her, he settled the Lordship of Oswestry. This
lady inveigled the prince to Winchester, where her party was power
ful. There, upon some excuse, he was put in durance, and while in
that state was prevailed upon to execute another deed, whereby he
settled the said Lordship of Oswestry upon Matilda, and any children
she might have after his decease. The prince died soon after the
execution of this deed, and his body was conveyed from Winchester
to Meivod, in Montgomeryshire, the burying-place of his family,
where it was deposited in the church of St. Mary, which he himself
had built some years before. His widow, Matilda, scarce took time
to dry her tears before she married John Fitzalan, who thereby
became Lord of " Oswaldstree."§
By his first wife, Susanna, daughter of Gruffydd ab Conan, Prince
of North Wales, Madawc left several children.
He built the Castle of Oswestry, and a castle at Caer Einion,
near Welshpool. Several places in their neighbourhood, and in that
of Meivod still bear his name.
* Page 210. t Myvyrian Archaiology, I. p. 200.

J For this anecdote, as well as for much of the topographical information
contained in the notes to the Talo of lihonabwy, I am indebted to the kindness
of the ltev. Walter Davies (Gwalltor Jlechain).
§ John's grandson, ltiohard Fitzalan, was the iirst Earl of Arundel of that
nanio. In the titno of Edward III. another Kiohard Fitzalan, fourth in descent
from the above-mentioned Matilda Verdun, was at the samo time Earl of
Arundel, and in right of his mother, Earl Warren and Snrrey. He was also
Lord of Clun and Oawaldstree, in Shropshire, and Lord of Bromliold, Yale
Chirkland, and Dinas Bran, in North Wales.
NOTES. 317
Powys within its boundaries, &c.—Page 299.

That part of the ancient principality of Powys, which belonged to
Madawc ab Maredudd, extended from the vicinity of Chester to the
uplands of Arwystli, now known as the Plinlimmon range of
mountains. This is expressly stated by Gwalchmai, in his Elegy
upon that Prince, in which he boasts that the sovereignty of his
patron reached from the summit of Plinlimmon to the gates of
Caerlleon, or Chester.—Myv. Arch. I. 202.
In more remote times Powys was of much greater extent. Powell
tells us, in his History of Wales, that " Powys before king Offas
time reached Eastward to the riuers of Dee and Seauerne, with a
right line from the end of Broxen hilles to Salop, with all the
countrie betweene Wye and Seauerne, whereof Brochwel yscithroc
was possessed : but after the making of Offas ditch the plaine
countrie toward Salop, being inhabited by Saxons and Normans,
Powys was in length from Pulford bridge Northeast, to the confines
of Caerdigan shire, in the parish of Lhanguric in the Southwest ; and
in bredth from the furthest part of Cyuelioc Westward, to Elsmere
on the Eastside. This countrie or principalitie of Powys was ap
pointed by Roderike the Great for the portion of his third sonne
Anarawd, and so continued intierlie vntill the death of Blethyn ap
Convyn. After whom, although the dominion was diminished by
limiting parts in seueraltie amongst his sonnes Meredyth and
Cadogan, yet at length it came wholie to the possession of Meredyth
ap Blethyn, who had issue two sonnes Madoc and Gruffyth, betweene
whom the said dominion was druided."* Madawc's share was
further divided amongst his three children, from whose immediate
descendants it was gained, by fraud or violence, by their Norman
neighbours. Gruffydd's descendants, the first of whom was the
celebrated Owain Cyveiliog, succeeded for three generations, to an
unbroken inheritance, but in the fourth it was distributed among.
Bix sons, and finally passed away to several remote heirs. One, and
apparently the most considerable of them, was represented by the
Cheretons, afterwards Gray, Barons of Powys, from whom are the
Vernons of Hodnet and other illustrious Norman families.
This passage would lead us to consider the Porfoed mentioned in
the Tale, as identical with Pulford, and the locality of this place,
added to the similarity of names, favours the supposition. The situa-
ation, however, of Merford, a lordship in the parish of Gresford,
midway between Wrexham and Chester, and of which the name
Page 211.
bears at least an equal resemblance to that of Porfoed, renders it

doubtful which of the two is alluded to in the text. Merford con
tains some interesting remains of a British camp, called the Roft,
commanding a most extensive view of the counties of Chester and
Salop.
The Gwauan, in Arwystli, spoken of as being at the other ex
tremity of Powys, may possibly be one of the several spots now
bearing the name of Waun in the Plinlimmon range.
The Cambrian Quarterly gives some ancient lines on the confines of
Powys.
" From Cevn yr Ais, and from Chester to Eisteddva Gurig, and
from Garn Gynnull on the river Conwy to Rhyd Helyg on the river
Wye." •
IoRWERTn the Son of Mabedudd. —Page 299.

Iorwerth was the son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn, by his second wife
Eva, daughter of Bledrws ab Ednowain Bendew, chief of one of the
fifteen noble tribes. His father bestowed upon him the Lordship of
Mochnant, near Oswestry, and he went by the name of Iorwerth
Goch of Mochnant. Like most princes of his age, Iorwerth was a
warrior, and in 1156 he sided with Henry II. against his neighbour
Owain Gwynedd, Prince of North Wales, and during the contest
that ensued between the English and the Welsh, he took and razed
to the ground- the castle of Ial or Yale, which Owain had built only
ten years previously. The site of this fortress is still to be seen on a
tumulus called Tomen Rhodwydd, by the roadside about halfway
between Llangollen and Rhuthin. The partiality evinced by Iorwerth
to the English interest, caused his nephews, Owain Cyveiliog and
Owain Vychan, to unite their forces against him, and they succeeded
in expelling him from his patrimony of Mochnant, which they divided
.between them, the former taking possession of Uwch Rhaiadr, and
the latter of Is Rhaiadr. Iorwerth married Maude, the daughter
of Roger de Manley of Cheshire.
It is supposed by some, that the tribe (Gwelygordd) of Iorwerth
is celebrated by Cynddelw, in his poem called Gwelygorddeu Powys,
under the title of Yorwerthyawn.—Myv. Arch. I. 256.
It is also thought that Iorwerth, after his expulsion from Moch
nant, settled on the English side of Offa's dyke, for we find his
grandson (some say his son), Sir Gruffydd Vychan,t called by the
* Cambr. Quarterly, III. 403.
t Sir Gruffydd "Vychan was one of the earliest knights of the military order
of St. John of Jerusalem.
NOTES. 319
Welsh "Y Marchog Gwyllt o Gaer Howel," the Wild Knight of

Caerhowel, living at a mansion still known by that name at Edgerly,
in the county of Salop, near the ford on the Vyrnwy, which in this
Mabinogi is designated Rhyd y Wilure. His descendants continued
in the same county ; and among their number we find another " Wild
Knight," Humphrey Kynaston the Wild, who during his outlawry,
in the reign of Henry VII. was the inhabitant of the cave, in the
bold sandstone rock at Ness Cliff, called after him Kynaston's Cave,
and concerning whose feats many an old wife's tale is still current in
Shropshire.
From Aber Ceirawc in Allictwn Ver, to RhYD y

Wilure.—Page 300.
A berceirawc, as the name implies, is the point of the confluence of
the river Ceiriog with the Dee, which is not far below the town of
Chirk, and opposite to Wynnstay Park. Allictwn is doubtless to be
fixed at Allington in the immediate vicinity of Pulford, which, as we
have already seen, was the extreme boundary of Madawc's possessions
to the north-east ; and Rhyd y Wilure is Rhyd y Vorle, in English
Melverley, a ford upon the Vyrnwy, not far from the spot where that
river falls into the Severn. We find accordingly that, taking Aber-
ceirawc as the centre of operations, Madawc caused the search for his
brother to be made a considerable way to the south, and as far to the
north as his dominion extended. It is said also that some of the men
that were on this quest, went as far as Nillystan Trevan, which may
possibly be Halistan Trevan, now called Halston, near Whittington,
the " Tre wen (or white town) ym mron y coed " of Llywarch Hen.
Haliston was a sanctuary from time immemorial ; if Iorwerth was a
fugitive, he might have sought it as a place of refuge.
The river Vyrnwy, " the forkt Vurnway " of Drayton, is too well
known to need description ; but as its name occurs in the text, it
may be permitted to remark, that whenever the bards have occasion
to mention it, they do so in a spirit of affection which its beauty
could not fail to inspire.
Kynwrig Vrychgoch, a Man of Mawddwy. —Page 300.

Mawddwy was one of the western districts of ancient Powys ; it
now forms, in conjunction with Talybont, one of the hundreds of
Merionethshire. This district includes the wild range of mountains
of which Aran Fawddwy is the chief, and was in former times
notorious for the wild and lawless character of its inhabitants, too
well known by the appellation of the Gwylliaid Cochion Mawddwy,

the red -headed robbers of Mawddwy. The desperate deeds of these
men were the terror of all the surrounding country, on which they
levied a species of black-mail ; and to such an extent did they carry
their violence at last, that it was found necessary in 1554 to issue a
commission against them, under which about a hundred of their
number were hanged. Some of their kinsmen soon after revenged
them by the murder of Baron Owen, of Hengwrt, the chief of the
commission, whom they waylaid at Llidiart y Barwn, on his journey
to the assizes at Welshpool. After this, vigorous means were taken
for their extirpation, and they gradually disappeared. —See Cambro-
Briton, I. 184.
Iorwerth Goch, the lorwerth of the present Mabinogi, had a son
named Madawc Goch of Mawddwy, of whom the following notice
occurs in a MS. Book of Pedigrees, collected by J. G., Esq., in 1697.
" One Llywarch ab Cadfan, an opponent of Prince Llywelyn ab Ior
werth, was slain by this Madog Goch of Mawddwy ; and in reward
the Prince gave him the lands of Llywarch and his Arms, which were,
Argent, a Chevron party per pale Gules and Or, inter 3 Eagles sable,
their heads and one leg grey, trippant, standing on the sable leg : 3
trefoils argent over each head." A singular piece of heraldry.
It is not impossible that Kynwrig's designation of Vrychgoch may
have been given in allusion to the characteristic complexion of the
men of Mawddwy.
Moelvre in Kynlleith.—rage 300.

Kynlleith is a division of the hundred of Chirk in Denbighshire,
and takes its name from the river Kynlleith. One of the most
remarkable natural features of this district is the isolated mountain
Moelvre, the summit of which, called Cyrn y Moelvre, is more than
seventeen hundred feet above the level of the sea, and rises precipi
tously from Llyn Moelvre, a lake about a mile in circumference,
situate on the western side of the mountain. One of the descendants
of Madawc ab Maredudd erected a residence at a place called
Moeliwrch, at a considerable elevation on the southern side of
Moelvre ; it continued for many centuries in the possession of his
family.
Kynlleith is noticed in Cynddel w's Marwnad Fadawg fab Maredudd.
—Myv. Arc. I. 213.
NOTES, 321
Argyngroeg.—Page 301.
In following Rhonabwy on his visionary journey, it may be allowable
to suppose him crossing the Vyrnwy at Rhyd y Vorle (Melverley),
and then pursuing his course through the Deuddwr between that
river and the Severn, till we come to the plains of Argyngroeg. The
district traversed is remarkably fertile. The Cambrian pedestrian,
David Thomas, in his metrical description of the Thirteen Counties
of Wales, sang its praise about the year 1720. After naming
two places excelling in luxuriance, he exclaims " Dau le hyfryd,"
but above all, the " Dolydd Hafren." Upon the Dolydd Havren it
was that Gwalchmai composed his " Gorhoffet," in the twelfth
century, while he and his troop of North-Wallians were guarding
the opposite fords of the Severn against the progress of the English
invaders.—Myv. Arch. I. 193.
That portion of the vale that bears the name of Argyngroeg,
modernized into Cyngrog, and to which this narrative more particu
larly relates, consists of two townships, distinguished as Cyngrog
vawr, and Cyngrog vach, the former in the parish of Pool, the latter
in that of Guilsfield, and both side by side stretching to the Severn.
When the Irish and other freebooters were expelled in the fourth
century by the family of Cunedda Wledig, his son Rhuvon had a
great part of Denbighshire awarded him as his portion, which from
him was called Rhuvoniog, a name it retains to the present day. In
like manner, it is not improbable that Cyngar one of Cunedda's
descendants had a portion allotted to him at this place, which by
adding the usual termination og to his name would be called
Cyngarog, and abbreviated into Cyngrog. The names of Morganwg
and Brycheiniog, from Morgan and Brychan, are of similar origin.
In Cyngrog vawr, lies the site of the Cistercian Abbey of Ystrad
Marchell (Strata Marcella), Alba Domus de Marcella, or Street
Marshall Abbey, as it is vulgarly called. Having probably been built
of wood, no traces of it now remain. The house and farm bearing
the name of " The Abbey " belong to the Earl of Powis. The Abbey
wan founded and well endowed by Owain Cyveiliog, Prince of Powys
upper, who, besides much of the upland and sheep pastures of
Cyveiliog, and even of Arwystli, granted to its inmates half
the fish caught in the river Dyvi. The monks of Marcella were
reduced by decimation under Edward 1. and finally expelled by
Henry VIII.
From Cyngrog, following the Vale of the Severn, we arrive at
the tributary stream of the Rhiw, whose Aber, or confluence with
Maiinogion. Y
the main stream, gives name by an ordinary abbreviation to the
church and village of Berriew ; and a little lower down occurs
"Rhyd-yGroes ar Havren," "The Cross, or Ford upon the
Severn."
The Ford still remains, but has been from time immemorial con
verted into a ferry. At this point was carried on the chief commu
nication between western Montgomeryshire, and the adjacent dis
trict of Merioneth towards Shrewsbury. Here also are traces of a
second way leading westward towards the Gaer, an evident Roman
encampment. The intersection of these two roads appears to have
occurred at no great distance from the ford, which doubtless derived
its distinctive appellation of Y Groes, either from this circumstance,
or from the Rood or Cross often set up both in crossways and upon
the margins of fords.
The name Rhyd y Groes, no longer borne by the ford or ferry,
is now preserved in that of a farm about two miles and a half
distant, in the parish of Fordun near Montgomery, the property of
Mr. Price, of Gunley.
Upon the farm itself no remains have been discovered, but several
tumuli are found in its neighbourhood, the principal of which, " Hen
Domen " (formerly Tre' Baldwyn), is of considerable size. There
are also British encampments in the adjacent parishes of Churchstoke
and Cherbury.*
Rhyd y Groes is mentioned in the Welsh Chronicles, as the scene
of several conflicts between the Welsh and the Saxons ; in allusion
to which are those lines of Drayton.
" Here could I else recount the slaughter'd Saxon's gore,
Our swords at Crossford spilt on Severn's wand'ring shore."
Song ix.
Lines in which Drayton may probably have had in mind the vic
tory won over the Saxons, in the early part of the eleventh century,
by Gruffydd ab Llewelyn, called by way of eminence, " Y tywysog
dewr."
The Ford near Montgomery, was named as the place of meeting
between Prince Llewelyn ab Gruffydd, and the commissioners of
Edward I.
• Acknowledgment should again be made in this place to the Rev. Walter

Davies, for the carious local information contained in this note.
NOTES. 323
Iddawc Cordd Prydain.—Page 302.

The treachery of Iddawc or Eiddilig Cordd Prydain,* is the subject
of more than one of the Triads,t where he is said to have betrayed
Arthur by divulging his plans. The meeting between him and
Medrawd, with their men at Nanhwynain before the battle of Camlan,
is spoken of as one of the three traitorous meetings of the Island,
for there they plotted the betrayal of Arthur, which occasioned the
strength of the Saxons. In another place their ascendancy is attri
buted to Iddawc's magical arts, which there were not warriors in the
Island capable of withstanding, so that the Saxons prevailed. This
magic, for which he is also greatly celebrated, was taught him by
Bhuddlwm Gawr.
The Triad which ranks Iddawc Cordd Prydain amongst the en
chanters is prettily versified by Davydd ap Gwilym,J who speaks of
him as an Irishman.
Iddawc was also, with Trystan and Gweirwerydd Vawr, one of the
three stubborn ones, whom none could divert from their purpose ; he
is supposed to have afterwards embraced a religious life, probably
when he did penance at Llechlas (possibly Glasgow), in North
Britain, as mentioned in the Tale. His name is found in the Cata
logue of the Welsh Saints. Professor Rees, however, considers this
an error for Iddew ab Cawrda ab Caradawc Vreichvras, arising from
the similarity of their names.§
Camlan.—Page 302.
The battle of Camlan was the last of Arthur's battles, and that in
which he lost his life. His opponents were headed by Medrawd, his
nephew, the son of his sister Anna and Llew ap Cynvarch.
The Triads assign two different causes for this battle. The one,
the blow given by Gwenhwyvar, Arthur's wife, to Gwenhwyvach ;
the other, the blow given to Medrawd by Arthur himself. The
events immediately preceding it, together with the account of the
battle itself as related in the Triads, and by Gruffydd ab Arthur, are
briefly as follows.
Lies, emperor of Bome, demanded from Arthur the tribute that
* Possibly Gordd Prydain, the hammer of Britain,

t Triads 22, 20, 50, 90, 78.
X Davydd ab Gwilyni's Poems, 207. Cyffelybiad rhwng Morfndd a'r Delyn.
§ Welsh Saints, p. 280.
Y 2
his ancestors had paid, from the time of Caswallawn the son of Beli
to that of Cystennin, Arthur's grandsire. The Roman Ambassadors
proceeded to Caerlleon upon Usk, when Arthur not only denied their
claim, but on the ground of the British origin of Bran and Con-
stantine, both Roman emperors, determined by a counterclaim to
retaliate. Medrawd was appointed Regent of the kingdom, whilst
Arthur and his Britons crossed the sea, and fought a battle in the
Cisalpine territory, in which the Roman emperor was slain, and both
parties sustained severe loss. The result of this encounter encouraged
Medrawd to attempt his uncle's throne. He seized upon the royal
residence of Gelliwig, dragged the queen Gwenhwyvar from her
throne (or, according to some versions, appropriated her as his wife),
and strengthening himself by making treaties with the Saxons, Scots,
and Picts, collected a force of eighty thousand men to oppose his uncle's
landing. Arthur, however, disembarked at Porth Hamwnt, and put
his rebellious nephew to flight after a hard fought engagement.
Medrawd retreated to Winchester, whither Arthur, after remaining
three days on the field of battle to bury the dead, followed him, and
gained a second victory ; upon this Medrawd fled into Cornwall,
but was overtaken on the banks of the Camlan, supposed to be the
river Camel, in that county. The celebrated battle of Camlan
ensued. Arthur there gained the victory, but received a mortal
wound at the hand of Medrawd, whom, however, he slew upon the
field ; he did not himself die on the spot, but was conveyed to
Avallach or Avalon, and the crown descended to Cystennin the son
of Kadwr, his kinsman. A mystery hangs over the final fate of
Arthur.
One of the Triads* admits that Arthur died, and was buried at
Avalon, now Glastonbury, in Somersetshire, where we learn from
other authorities that Henry the II. many years afterwards dis
covered what were said to be his remains, with the inscription,t
" Hicjacet Arthurw, rex quondam rexque fuiurus."%
* Myv. Arch II. p. 4.

t Giraldns Cambrensis, who says he saw the inscription, gives it thus:
" Hie jacet sepnltus inclytus Rex Arthurus in insula Avallonia."
X It may be here permitted to quote old Lydgate's verses upon Arthur's
disappearance and expected return :—
" He is a King orouned in Fairie,
With scepter and sword and with his regally
Shall resort as Lord and Soveraigne
Out of Fairie and reigne in Britaine ;
And repaire again the Round Table.
NOTES. 325
They were also visited, and a second time disinterred, by Edward I.

and his queen.
Medrawd, notwithstanding the treachery with which his career
ended, had always been considered a valiant warrior, and in the
Triads* he is styled one of the three kingly knights of Arthur's
Court, to whom no one could deny any thing by reasonW their court
liness. The peculiar qualities to which his persuasive powers were
due, were calmness, mildness, and purity.
Adaon the Son of Taliesin.—Page 304.

Adaon or Avaon, son of the chief of the bards, and a bard him
self, was also celebrated for his valour. He was one of those three
dauntless chieftains who feared nothing in the day of the battle and
strife, but rushed onwards regardless of death. —Tr. 73.
This courage and daring supported him through all the dangers
of war. He fell at length by the hand of an assassin, Llawgad Trwm
Bargawd or Llawgad Trwm Bargawd Eiddyn, whose name is pre
served only as the perpetrator of this crime.—Tr. 47.
The bold and determined character of Avaon appears to have con
tinued even after death, for there is a Triad (quoted, p. 202) in
which Avaon is spoken of as one of the grave-slaughtering ones, so
called from their having avenged their wrongs from their graves.
None of his poetry is known to be preserved, except the following
which is given in the Englynion y Clyweid.—Myv. Arch. I. 173.
" Hast thou heard what Avaon sang,
The son of Taliesin, of the recording verse ?
The cheek will not conceal the anguish of the heart."
Elphin.—Page 304.
Elphin was the son of Gwyddno Garanhir, the unfortunate king
whose possessions were submerged through the intemperance of Seith-
enin, the person employed to attend to the sea-banks. Some further
particulars concerning him will be mentioned in a subsequent
Mabinogi.
By prophesy Merlin set the date,

Among Princes King incomparable,
His seate againe to Caerlion to translate,
The Parchas sustren sponne so his fate,
His Epitaph recordeth so oertaine
Herelieth K. Arthur that shall raigne againe."
* Triad 118.
Battle of Badon.—Page 304.

The battle of Badon or Badon Mount, was one of the later,—
Nennius says the twelfth,—and most successful of the battles fought
by Arthur and the British elders, against the Saxons under Cerdic.
The Britons not only gained the victory, but were by it enabled for
some time to hold the Saxons in check.
The date of the battle has been the subject of dispute. From the
persons engaged in it, it must be placed in the sixth century. A
passage in the Bed Book of Hergest, fixes its chronology 128 years
after the age of Vortigern. The later Gildas, named Badonicus,
from his birth having taken place in the year of the battle, has left
a passage on the subject, which Bede appears to have misinterpreted,
and from which Mr. Stevenson, the last editor of Gildas, places
the birth of his author, and therefore the date of the battle, in the
year 520.
The site of this conflict is also doubtful . Usher, following Camden,
fixes it at Bath, and Camden, led probably by the similarity of
names, gives his opinion in favour of Banner Down, near that city,
upon which, in common, however, with most of the neighbouring
heights, are remains of entrenchments more or less perfect. Carte
prefers what he calls Mount Badon, in Berkshire. It is remarkable
that the latter Gildas speaks of the battle as " obsessio," a siege. He
also places " Mona Badonicus " near to the mouth of the Severn
" prope Sabrinae ostium " ; but this latter passage has been considered
an interpolation. Mr. Freeman, whose historical and antiquarian
learning entitles his opinion to respect, suggests that Badon may
be identical with Badbury Rings, near Wimborne in Dorsetshire.
To quote more poetical authority, the feats performed by the hero
Arthur, at the battle of Badon Mount, are thus prettily celebrated
in Drayton's verse.
" They sung how he himself at Badon bore that day,
When at the glorious gole his British scepter lay ;
Two daies together how the battel stronglie stood :
Pendragon's worthie son, who waded there in blood,
Three hundred Saxons slew with his owne valiant hand."
Song iv.
Cynddelw, and others of the Welsh. Bards, speak of this fight with
becoming admiration.
NOTES. 327
Osla Gyllellvawr. —Page 304.

Ossa, or Osla, Gyllellvawr has already appeared in the Mabinogi of
Kilhwch, pp. 226 and 256, where his prowess in the hunt of the
Twrch Trwyth, occasioned the loss of his marvellous knife. From
his name, and from the part assigned to him in this Tale, he was
probably a Saxon ; the Ossa, it may be, of Nennius's genealogies.
This conjecture is strengthened by the epithet " Cyllellvawr " ; the
great or long knife, being in some measure associated with the Saxon
name, owing to the massacre of Stonehenge, commonly called the
"Treachery of the Long Knives," "Brad y Cyllyll hirion."* Hen-
gist on that occasion is said to have invited the British Chieftains to a
banquet and conference at Ambreabury, when beside each was placed
a Saxon, who, at a signal agreed upon, drew forth his long knife,
and suddenly fell upon his neighbour. This scheme was so effectually
executed that four hundred and sixty of the British nobles are sup
posed to have been slaughtered. They did not, indeed, fall wholly
unavenged; some defended themselves valiantly, and killed many
of the Saxons with the stones that lay around. Eidiol,t earl of
Gloucester, who was fortunate enough to escape the general carnage,
slew seventy Saxons with his own hand ; the Triads say six hundred
and sixty. The circle of Stonehenge is said, though with small
semblance of probability, to have been erected by the Britons as a
monument of this massacre upon the spot on which it occurred.
Caradawc Vreichvras.—Page 305.

Caradawc, like Trystan, and many other heroes whose names occur
in the Mabinogion, was celebrated both in Welsh and Norman story.
He was a son of Llyr Merini, a prince of Cornwall, and himself
chief elder of Gelliwig,J the royal residence in that part of the Island.
His mother was Gwen, grand-daughter of Brychan, through whose
right he is supposed to have become ruler of the district of Brychei-
niog.§ According to the Triads, he was one of the battle knights of
Britain, 1 1 and in an Englyn attributed to Arthur himself, he is styled
" Caradawc pillar of the Cymry."
* Triad 20.—Gruffydd ab Arthur. Myv. Arch. II. 254.

t Eidiol is associated for his strength with Gwrnerth Ergydlym, who slew
the largest bear that ever was seen, with an arrow of straw ; and Gwgan Law.
gadarn, who rolled the stone of Maenarch from the valley to the top of the
hill, whioh not less than thirty oxen could have drawn.—Tr. 60.
J Triad 64. § Jones's History of Brecknockshire, I. p. 53. || Triad 29.
328 THE DREAM OF RHONABWV.
His prowess at the battle of Cattraeth, is also sung in the verse of
his contemporary Aneurin,* who calls several of his fellow-warriors
in evidence of his assertion.
" When Caradawc rushed into battle,

It was like the tearing onset of the woodland boar,
The bull of combat in the field of slaughter,
He attracted the wild dogs by the action of his hand.
My witnesses are Owain the son of Eulat,
And Gwrien, and Gwynn, and Gwriat.
From Cattraeth and its carnage,
From the hostile encounter,
After the clear bright mead was served,
He saw no more the dwelling of his father."
From the latter part of this passage, it appears that Caradawc fell
in this battle, and the same is again repeated a few lines further on
in the passage already quoted in the notes to Peredur ab Evrawc.—
See p. 125.
Several Welsh families trace their pedigree to Caradawc.
Caradawc's horse Lluagor is recorded as one of the three battle
horses of the Island.f
Tegau Eurvron, the beautiful wife of Caradawc, was no less
renowned for her virtue than for her charms. In the Triads she is
spoken of as one of the three fair ladies, and one of the three chaste
damsels of Arthur's Court.J She possessed three precious things of
which she alone was worthy ; her mantle, her goblet of gold, and her
knife. She is frequently alluded to by the bards.
In Anglo-Norman Romance, Caradawc's cognomen of Vreichvras
" with the brawny arm," becomes " Brise Bras " and he himself takes
his place as a principal hero of the Round Table. His wife preserves
her British character and attributes under a Norman garb, and is
well known as " faithful among the faithless " of Arthur's Court, the
heroine of the mantle, "over her decent shoulders drawn." Sir
Caradawc's well-founded confidence in his wife's virtue, enabled him
to empty the marvellous Horn, and carve the tough (Boar's head,
adventures in which his compeers failed. In token of the latter of
them, the Boar's head, in some form or other, appears as the armorial
bearing of all of his name.
* Myv. Arch. I. p. 5.
t Trioedd y Meirch, Myv. Arch. II. p. 20. J Triads 103, 10S.
NOTES. 320
The Trouveres have a pretty story* in reference to the appellation
of Brise Bras which they rendered the " wasted arm." They tell of
an enchanter who fixed a serpent upon Caradawc's arm, from whose
wasting tooth he could never be relieved, until she whom he loved
best should consent to undergo the torture in his stead. His betrothed
on learning this, was not to be deterred from giving him this proof of
her devotion. As, however, the serpent was in the act of springing
from the wasted arm of the knight to the fair neck of the lady, her
orother, Kadwr, earl of Cornwall, struck off its head with his sword,
and thus dispelled the enchantment. Caradawc's arm, however,
never recovered its pristine strength and size, and hence, according
to some authorities, the name of Brise Bras.
In the life of St. Collen, two persons of the name are mentioned,
one of whom was the ancestor of St Collen himself, and was called
Vreichvras, because he broke his arm in the battle of Hiraddig, from
which injury that arm became larger than the other. He is expressly
distinguished from the other Caradawc Vreichvras the son of Llyr
Merini.—See Greal, 337.
Cevn Digoll.—Page 305.

On the eastern boundary of Montgomeryshire, we find situated Cevn
Digoll, called also " Hir Vynydd," or the Long Mountain. From
its natural position, it seems to have been considered as a military
post of some importance, and is celebrated as the scene of several
remarkable events. There is a Triad relating to the conflicts that
took place between Cadwallawn, and Edwin, king of Northumbria,
on Cevn Digoll, in the early part of the seventh century, and
which is said to have occasioned one of the three discolourings of the
Severn, when that river was discoloured from its source to its
estuary.t
These engagements are thus alluded to in an Elegy upon Cadwall
awn ab Cadvan.—Myv. Arch. I. 121.
" It was on Cevn Digoll that the Welsh maintained their last
struggle against Edward I. when Madawc, the son of Llywellyn ab
Gruffydd was defeated and taken prisoner by the Lords Marchers.
It was also said that Henry VII. encamped on this mountain, on his
march from Wales to Bosworth field. On the summit of Cevn
Digoll is a circular encampment, called the Beacon King. It is
several acres in extent, but there is no water within its limits."
• See Metrical and Prose versions of Perceval le Galloia.
f Triad lxxv.
March, the Son of Meirchion. —Page 305.

This prince, whose territory is said to have been in Cornwall,
was particularly unfortunate in having such a nephew as Trystan,
and such a wife as Essyllt, the Yseult La Belle of the Trouveres.
As a possessor of ships he has been already noticed, the Triad which
represents him as such having been cited at p. 193. His grave is
mentioned by the Englynion y Beddau, Myv. Arch. II. p. 81.
Kadwr, Earl of Cornwall. — Page 306.

In the wars of Arthur, as recounted by Gruffydd ab Arthur, Kadwr
bore a conspicuous part. He shared the dangers of the expedition
against the Romans, and was present at the battle in which the
emperor of Rome was slain. He assisted at the coronation of his
sovereign at Caerlleon upon Usk. Kadwr is mentioned in the Triads
as one of the three battle knights, who fled neither for spear, nor
arrow, nor sword, and who never shamed their leader in the day of
conflict.*
His son Cystennin succeeded Arthur in his kingdom. Tegau
Eurvron, the virtuous wife of Caradawc Vreichvras, and the heroine
of the Mantel mal taille, appears to have been the sister of Kadwr.
Taliesin alludes to him in his poem entitled the Glaswawd—
" He will spare no kindred,
Neither cousin nor brother ;
At the sound of Kadwr's horn
Nine hundred are stunned."
Overlaid with fine Silver.—Page 311.

The words in the original are " Gwedy latteinu ac aryant coeth,"
being lattened over with refined silver. Latten, or laton, was a
mixed metal of the colour of brass, and was much employed in the
fourteenth century for monumental effigies. For this and many
other purposes it was prepared in the form of plate, and hence its
name seems occasionally to have been used to express a plate
or coating of metal generally, as in this particular instance of
silver.
• Myv. Arch. II. p. 80.'

NOTES. 331
It may be remarked, that the term " latten " is still technically
applied to the thinnest manufactured iron plate.
Ravens. —Page 311.

The Ravens of Owain have already appeared in the Mabinogi of
Iarlles y Ffynawn, where they are said to have been three hundred
in number, and to have descended to their master from Cynvarcb,
his paternal grandsire. It seems from passages in the writings of
various bards, that the tradition of this singular army was familiarly
current in the middle ages. It is alluded to by Bleddynt Vardd, in
an Elegy on Davydd, the son of Gruffydd (and brother to Llewelyn,
the last of the Welsh Princes), who was imprisoned and put to death
by Edward I. about 1283.
" A man he was with a battered shield and a daring lance, in the
field of battle ;
A man proud to seek the furious trampling ;
A man whose warriors were proud of their stately array ;
A man of the cleaving stroke and broken spear, loving the fight ;
A man who caused the birds to fly upon the hosts [of slain]
Like the ravens of Owain eager for prey."
Lewis Glyn Cothi even mentions the particular staff' or shaft, by
the uplifting of which the Ravens were inspirited to destroy Arthur's
pages and attendants, as related in the text.
" Owain son of Urien overthrew
The three towers of Cattraeth of old,
Arthur dreaded, as the flames,
Owain, his ravens, and his parti-coloured staff."—Works, I. 1 40.
Another poem of his has also an allusion to the " Vran a'r vaner
vraith."—I. 72.
Selyv the Son op Kynan Garwyn Page 312.

He has been already noticed as one of the " grave-slaughtering "
warriors of the Island of Britain, who avenged their wrongs from
their sepulchres. A satire upon his father, Kynan Garwyn, is printed
in the Myvyrian Archaiology, I. p. 168, among the Poems of Taliesin,
to whom it is assigned.
Gwgawn Gleddyvrud.—Page 312.

We find the name of this chieftain twice occurring in the Triads.
He is first noticed as one of the three stayers of slaughter * (ysgym-
niydd aercu), and afterwards, as one of the sentinels in the battle of
Bangor Orchard. —Tr. lxvi.
His grave is alluded to in the Englynion y Beddau. The passage
has been already quoted (p. 33).
The name of his horse, which was Buchestom, is preserved in the
Trioedd y Meirch.
BHIOGAN.—Page 312.
This prince is mentioned in the graves of the warriors.
" Whose is the grave on the banks of the Bhydnant 1
Bhun was his name, of the steady progress,
He was a king ; Ehiogan slew him."—Myv. Arch. I. p. 82.
Gwair the Son of Gwestyl.—Page 312.

It would seem that this personage was distinguished as being of a
peculiarly dismal disposition, for we find him referred to as such
by Llywarch ab Llewelyn,t in an Elegy on Hywel ap Grufiydd,
(who died in 1216,) where he tells us, that through grief for his
loss, his friends are become like Gwair ab Gwestyl. —Myv. Arch. I.
p. 294.
And Einion Wan, in his Elegy on Madawc ab Grufiydd Maelor, a
few years later, has the same expression in allusion to Madawc.
" The man who has become like Gwair ab Gwestyl."
It is not impossible that he is the same person as the Gwevyl
mab Gwestad, of Kilhwch and Olwen, whose melancholy was such
that "on the day that he was sad, he would let one of his lips
drop below his waist, while he turned up the other like a cap
upon his head" (p. 227).
The variation in the names is perhaps not greater than may be
accounted for by the errors into which the transcribers of the
olden time are well known to have but too frequently fallen.
In one version of the Triads, he is mentioned as one of the
* The others were Morvran eil Tegid, and Gilbert mab Cadgyffro.—Tr. xxix.
t Commonly called Prydydd y Moch.
NOTES.
three diademed chiefs of the Island, together with Kai, and Try-
stan mab Tallwch.* But others substitute for his name that of
Huail, the son of Kaw of Cwm Cawlwyd.
Trystan the Son of Tallwch.—Page 312.

This personage is better known as the Tristan of Chivalric, and
the Sir Tristrem of Metrical Romance, than in his proper character
as a chieftain of the sixth century. In the Triads,t he is mentioned
as one of the three compeers of Arthur's Court, as one of the diademed
Princes, as one of the three Heralds, and as one of the three stubborn
ones, whom no one could deter from their purpose. His chief
celebrity, however, is derived from his unfortunte attachment to
Essyllt, the wife of his uncle, March ab Meirchion, which gained him
the appellation of one of the three ardent lovers of Britain. It was
owing to the circumstance of his having tended his uncle's swine,
whilst he despatched their usual keeper with a message to this lady,
that he became classed as one of the three swineherds of the Island.
There is a further Triad concerning Trystan, in which he is repre
sented as able to transform himself into any shape he pleased.—
Myv. Arch. II. p. 80.
Mobyen.—Page 312.
A warrior whose name repeatedly occurs in the Gododin.
Llacheu the Son of Arthor.—Page 312.

Llacheu has already been mentioned (p. 60) with Gwalchmai, and
Rhiwallon of the broom blossom hair, as one of the learned ones of
the Island of Britain, to whom the elements and material essence of
every thing were known. He was no less renowned for warlike
prowess than for his deep knowledge, and is said to have fallen fight
ing bravely for his country, in the battle of Llongborth, so celebrated
in the verse of Llywarch HSn. The death of Llacheu is thus alluded
to, in a curious Dialogue between Gwyn ab Nudd and Gwyddno
Garanhir.j:
" I know where Llacheu the son of Arthur
Renowned in song was slain,
When the ravens rushed upon blood."
• Tr. xxiii. Myv. Arch. II., p. 12.
t Triads 113, 82, 69, 78, 102. See also the dialogue between him and
Gwalchmai (p. 57).
t Myv. Arch. I. p. 166.
334 THE DREAM OP RHONABWY.
Rhyawd the Son of Morgant.—Page 312.

The Triads celebrate him as one of the three irregular Bards of the
Island of Britain, the other two being Arthur himself, and Cad-
wallawn the son of Cadvan. He also ranked •with Trystan, and
Dalldav mab Kynin C6v, as one of the three compeers of Arthur's
court. Rhuddfrych was the name of his horse.*
Gilbert the Son of Kadoyffro.—Page 313.

Gilbert the son of Kadgyflro, has already been cited (p. 332) with
Gwgan Gleddyvrudd and Morvran Eil Tegid, as one of the three
stayers of slaughter. His name occurs again in the Trioedd y
Meirch 3, where his horse is said to have been one of the chief
steeds of the Island of Britain, and to have been known by the
designation of Rhuddfreon Tuthfleidd.
Gwrthmwl Wledig.—Page 313.

Gwbthmwl, a prince of North Britain, was the chief elder of Penrhyn
Rhionydd, one of the three tribe-thrones or royal cities of the Island.
The celebrated St. Kentigern was chief Bishop of Penrhyn Rhionydd,
during Gwrthmwl's eldership. —Tr. vii.
Gwrthmwl's history is brief. It may be inferred that he was slain
by Maelwr of Rhiw or Allt Faelwr, in Cardiganshire, since there are
notices in the triads of his sons, Gwair and Clais, and Arthaual,t
riding against Maelwr, upon Erch their horse, to avenge their father's
fate. It was one of Maelwr's customs never to close his gates against
a single horse-load, and thus they gained entrance, and slew him.
This was one of the three great horse-loads of the Island of Britain.
The first of the three was a burthen of seven persons and a half,
borne by Du y Moroedd, the horse of Elidyr Mwynvawr, from Llech
Elidyr in the North, to Llech Elidyr in Anglesey. The seven were
Elidyr himself, and Eurgain the daughter of Maelgwn Gwynedd, his
wife, and Gwynda Gyned,and Gwynda Rheimad, and Mynach Nawmon
the counsellor, and Petryleu Venestyr the butler, and Arianvagyl
his servant, and Gellfeinesin his jester, who held on with his two
* Triads lxxxix. 113, and Trioedd y Meirch, 5.

t Myv. Arch. II. 8, 10, 20, 80. In some accounts only two of his sons are
said to have been on this expedition, and one of them is called Achlen.
NOTES. 335
hands at the horse's crupper and so was the half person. It does not
appear what was the reason of their travelling in so singular a
manner.
Gwrthmwl Wledig, was also the possessor of one of the spectre
bulls of the Island of Britain, or as another version has it, one of the
spectre stags ; Carw and Tarw, having been evidently confounded by
the copyists.* What these sprites were is not explained. According
to Beddau y Milwyr, his grave was in the wood of Briavael.t
• Myv. Arch. II. p. 16, 17, 71 t lb. I. p. 81.

PWYLL PRINCE OF DYYED.
Uaiinogion- 7.
PWYLL PRINCE OF DYVED.
Pwyll Prince of Dyved, was lord of the seven Cantrevs of

Dyved ; and once upon a time he was at Narberth his chief
palace, and he was minded to go and hunt, and the part of
his dominions in which it pleased him to hunt was Glyn Cuch.
So he set forth from Narberth that night, and went as far as
Llwyn Diarwyd. And that night he tarried there, and early
on the morrow he rose and came to Glyn Cuch ; when he let
loose the dogs in the wood, and sounded the horn, and began
the chase. And as he followed the dogs, he lost his com
panions ; 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
z 2
340 PWYLL PRINCE OF DYVED.
the world, he had never seen any that were like unto these.
For their hair was of a brilliant shining white, and their ears
were red ; and as the whiteness of their bodies shone, so did
the redness of their ears glisten. And he came towards the
dogs, and drove away those that had brought down the stag,
and set his own dogs upon it.
And as he was setting on his dogs he saw a horseman
coming towards him upon a large light-grey steed, with a
hunting horn round his neck, and clad in garments of grey
woollen in the fashion of a hunting garb. And the horseman
drew near and spoke unto him thus. " Chieftain," said he,
" I know who thou art, and I greet thee not." " Peradven-
ture," said Pwyll, " thou art of such dignity that thou shouldest
not do so." "Verily," answered he, "it is not my dignity
that prevents me." " What is it then, O Chieftain ? " asked
he. "By Heaven, it is by reason of thine own ignorance
and want of courtesy." " What discourtesy, Chieftain, hast
thou seen in me ? " " Greater discourtesy saw I never in
man," said he, " than to drive away the dogs that were killing
the stag and to set upon it thine own. This was discourteous,
and though I may not be revenged upon thee, yet I declare to
Heaven that I will do thee more dishonour than the value of
an hundred stags." " 0 Chieftain," he replied, " if I have done
ill I will redeem thy friendship." " How wilt thou redeem it V
"According as thy dignity may be, but I know not who
thou art ? " "A crowned King am I in the land whence I
come." " Lord," said he, " may the day prosper with thee,
and from what land comest thou ? " " From Annwvyn,"
answered he ; " Arawn, a King of Annwvyn, am I." " Lord,"
said he, "how may I gain thy friendship ?" "After this
manner mayest thou," he said. " There is a man whose domi
nions 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
PWYLL PRINCE OP DYVED. 341
do. I will send thee to Annwvyn in my stead, and I will

give thee the fairest lady thou didst ever behold to be thy
companion, and I will put my form and semblance upon thee,
so that not a page of the chamber, nor an officer, nor any
other man that has always followed me shall know that it is not
I. And this shall be for the space of a year from to-morrow,
and then we will meet in this place." " Yes," said he ; " but
when I shall have been there for the space of a year, by what
means shall I discover him of whom thou speakest ? " " One
year from this night," he answered, " is the time fixed between
him and me that we should meet at the Ford ; be thou there in
my likeness, and with one stroke that thou givest him, he shall
no longer live. And if he ask thee to give him another, give
it not, how much soever he may entreat thee, for when I did
so, he fought with me next day as well as ever before."
" Verily," said Pwyll, " what shall I do concerning my king
dom ? " 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 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 dis
arrayed 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
342 PWYLL PRINCE OP DYVED.
Queen, who was the fairest woman that he had ever yet beheld.
And she had on a yellow robe of shining satin ; and they
washed and went to the table, and sat, the Queen upon one
side of him, and one who seemed to be an Earl on the other
side.
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 par
took of meat, and drink, with songs and with feasting ; and
of all the Courts upon the earth, behold this was the best sup
plied with food and drink, and vessels of gold and royal jewels.
And the year he spent in hunting, and minstrelsy, and

feasting, and diversions, and discourse with his companions
until the night that was fixed for the conflict. And when
that night came, it was remembered even by those who lived
in the furthest part of his dominions, and he went to the
meeting, and the nobles of the kingdom with him. And when
he came to the Ford, a knight arose and spake thus. " Lords,"
said he, "listen well. It is between two Kings that this
meeting is, and between them only. Each claimeth of the
other his land and territory, and do all of you stand aside and
leave the fight to be between them."
Thereupon the two kings approached each other in the
middle of the Ford, and encountered, and at the first thrust,
the man who was in the stead of Arawn struck Havgan on
the centre of the boss of his shield, so that it was cloven in
twain, and his armour was broken, and Havgan himself was
borne to the ground an arm's and a spear's length over the
crupper of his horse, and he received a deadly blow. " O
Chieftain," said Havgan, " what right hast thou to cause my
death ? I was not injuring thee in anything, and I know not
wherefore thou wouldest slay me. But, for the love of Heaven,
since thou hast begun to slay me, complete thy work." " Ah
Chieftain," he replied, " I may yet repent doing that unto
thee, slay thee who may, I will not do so." "My trusty
Lords," said Havgan, " bear me hence. My death has come.
PWYLL PRINCE OF DYVED. 343
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 inquire of the nobles of the land,
how his rule had been during the past year, compared with
what it had been before. " Lord," said they, " thy wisdom
was never so great, and thou wast never so kind or so free
in bestowing thy gifts, and thy justice was never more
worthily seen than in this year." " By heaven," said he,
"for all the good you have enjoyed, you should thank him
who hath been with you ; for behold, thus hath this matter
been." And thereupon Pwyll related the whole unto them.
" Verily, Lord," said they, " render thanks unto Heaven that
thou hast such a fellowship, and withhold not from us the
rule which we have enjoyed for this year past." " I take
Heaven to witness that I will not withhold it," answered
Pwyll.
And thenceforth they made strong the friendship that was
between them, and each sent unto the other horses, and grey
hounds, 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 gar
ment of shining gold around her, coming along the highway
that led from the mound ; and the horse seemed to move at a
slow and even pace, and to be coming up towards the mound.
" My men," said Pwyll, " is there any among you who knows
yonder lady?" "There is not, Lord," said they. "Go one
of you and meet her, that we may know who she is." And
one of them arose, and as he came upon the road to meet her,
rWYLL PRINCE OF DYVED. 345
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 not
withstanding 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." " Be
hold," 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, u 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 dis
course 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 ate and feasted and talked one with
another, and at the beginning of the carousal after the meat,
there entered a tall auburn-haired youth, of royal bearing,
clothed in a garment of satin. And when he came into the
hall, he saluted Pwyll and his companions. " The greeting of
Heaven be unto thee, my soul," said Pwyll, " come thou and
sit down." " Nay," said he, " a suitor am I, and I will do
mine errand." "Do so willingly," said Pwyll. "Lord,"
said he, " my errand is unto thee, and it is to crave a boon of
thee that I come." " What boon soever thou mayest ask of
me, as far as I am able, thou shalt have." "Ah," said
Rhiannon, " wherefore didst thou give that answer ? " " Has
he not given it before the presence of these nobles ? " asked
the youth. "My soul," said Pwyll, "what is the boon thou
askest?" "The lady whom best I love is to be thy bride
this night ; I come to ask her of thee, with the feast and the
banquet that are in this place." And Pwyll was silent be
cause of the answer which he had given. " Be silent as long
as thou wilt," said Rhiannon. " Never did man make worse
use of his wits than thou hast done." " Lady," said he, " I
knew not who he was." " Behold this is the man to whom
they would have given me against my will," said she. " And
he is Gwawl the son of Clud, a man of great power and
wealth, and because of the word thou hast spoken, bestow me
upon him lest shame befall thee." " Lady," said he, " I
understand not thine answer. Never can I do as thou sayest."
" Bestow me upon him," said she, " and I will cause that I
shall never be his." " By what means will that be ? " asked
Pwyll. " In thy hand will I give thee a small bag," said she.
" See that thou keep it well, and he will ask of thee the
banquet, and the feast, and the preparations which are not in
thy power. Unto the hosts and the household will I give the
feast. And such will be thy answer respecting this. And as
concerns myself, I will engage to become his bride this night
twelvemonth. And at the end of the year be thou here," said
she, "and bring this bag with thee, and let thy hundred
knights be in the orchard up yonder. And when he is in the

midst of joy and feasting, come thou in by thyself, clad in
ragged garments, and holding thy bag in thy hand, and ask
nothing but a bagful of food, and I will cause that if all the
meat and liquor that are in these seven Cantrevs were put into
it, it would be no fuller than before. And after a great deal
has been put therein, he will ask thee whether thy bag will
ever be full. Say thou then that it never will, until a man of
noble birth and of great wealth arise and press the food in the
bag with both his feet, saying, 'Enough has been put therein;'
and I will cause him to go and tread down the food in the
bag, and when he does so, turn thou the bag, so that he shall be
up over his head in it, and then slip a knot upon the thongs of
the bag. Let there be also a good bugle horn about thy neck,
and as soon as thou hast bound him in the bag, wind thy horn,
and let it be a signal between thee and thy knights. And
when they hear the sound of the horn, let them come down
upon the palace." "Lord," said Gwawl, "it is meet that I
have an answer to my request." " As much of that thou hast
asked as it is in my power to give, thou shalt have," replied
Pwyll. " My soul," said Rhiannon unto him, " as for the
feast and the banquet that are here, I have bestowed them
upon the men of Dyved, and the household, and the warriors
that are with us. These can I not suffer to be given to any.
In a year from to-night a banquet shall be prepared for thee
in this palace, that I may become thy bride."
So Gwawl went forth to his possessions, and Pwyll went
also back to Dyved. And they both spent that year until it
was the time for the feast at the palace of Heveydd Hen.
Then Gwawl the son of Clud set out to the feast that was pre
pared 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
350 PWYLL PRINCE OP DYVED.
he came into the hall, he saluted Gwawl the son of Clud, and
his company, both men and women. " Heaven prosper thee,"
said Gwawl, "and the greeting of Heaven be unto thee."
" Lord," said he, " may heaven reward thee, I have an errand
unto thee." " Welcome be thine errand, and if thou ask of
me that which is just, thou shalt have it gladly." " It is
fitting," answered he. " I crave but from want, and the boon
that I ask is to have this small bag that thou seest filled with
meat." " A request within reason is this," said he, " and
gladly shalt thou have it. Bring him food." A great number
of attendants arose and began to fill the bag, but for all that
they put into it, it was no fuller than at first. " My soul,"
said Gwawl, " will thy bag be ever full ? " " It will not, I
declare to Heaven," said he, " for all that may be put into it,
unless one possessed of lands, and domains, and treasure,
shall arise and tread down with both his feet the food that is
within the bag, and shall say. ' Enough has been put herein."'
Then said Bhiannon unto Gwawl the son of Clud, " Eise 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 connsel 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 cove
nant." "It will suffice me that it be as Rhiannon said,"
answered Pwyll. So unto that covenant were the sureties
pledged. " Verily, Lord," said Gwawl, " I am greatly hurt,
and I have many bruises. I have need to be anointed, with
thy leave I will go forth. I will leave nobles in my stead, to
answer for me in all that thou shalt require." " Willingly,"
said Pwyll, " mayest thou do thus." So Gwawl went towards
his own possessions.
And the hall was set in order for Pwyll and the men of his
host, and for them also of the palace, and they went to the
tables and sat down. And as they had sat that time twelve
month, so sat they that night. And they ate, and feasted,
and spent the night in mirth and tranquillity. And the time
came that they should sleep, and Pwyll and Rhiannon went to
their chamber.
And next morning at the break of day, " My Lord," said
Rhiannon, "arise and begin to give thy gifts unto the
minstrels. Refuse no one to-day that may claim thy bounty."
" Thus shall it be gladly," said Pwyll, " both to-day and every
day while the feast shall last." So Pwyll arose, and he caused
silence to be proclaimed, and desired all the suitors and the

minstrels to show and to point out what gifts were to their
wish and desire. And this being done, the feast went on,
and he denied no one while it lasted. And when the feast
was ended, Pwyll said unto Heveydd, " My Lord, with thy
permission I will set out for Dyved to-morrow." " Certainly,"
said Heveydd, " may Heaven prosper thee. Fix also a time
when Rhiannon may follow thee." " 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 was none to whom Rhiannon did not give some
rich gift, either a bracelet, or a ring, or a precious stone.
And they ruled the land prosperously both that year and the
next.
And in the third year the nobles of the land began to be
sorrowful at seeing a man whom they loved so much, and who
was moreover their lord and their foster-brother, without an
heir. And they came to him. And the place where they met
was Preseleu, in Dyved. " Lord," said they, " we know that
thou art not so young as some of the men of this country,
and we fear that thou mayest not have an heir of the wife
whom thou hast taken. Take therefore another wife of whom
thou mayest have heirs. Thou canst not always continue
with us, and though thou desire to remain as thou art, we
will not suffer thee." "Truly," said Pwylh "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
PWYLL PRINCK OF DYVED. 353)
the number of the women that were brought into the chamber
was six. And they watched for a good portion of the night,
and before midnight every one of them fell asleep, and towards
break of day they awoke ; and when they awoke, they looked
where they had put the boy, and behold he was not there.
" Oh," said one of the women, "the boy is lost!" "Yes," said
another, " and it will be small vengeance if we are burnt or put
to death because of the child." Said one of the women, " Is
there any counsel for us in the world in this matter ? " " There
is," answered another, " I offer you good counsel." " What is
that ? " asked they. " There is here a stag-hound bitch, and
she has a litter of whelps. Let us kill some of the cubs, and
rub the blood on the face and hands of Rhiannon, and lay the
bones before her, and assert that she herself hath devoured
her son, and she alone will not be able to gainsay us six."
And according to this counsel it was settled. And towards
morning Rhiannon awoke, and she said, " Women, where is
my son ? " " Lady," said they, " ask us not concerning thy
son, we have nought but the blows and the bruises we got by
struggling with thee, and of a truth we never saw any woman
so violent as thou, for it was of no avail to contend with thee.
Hast thou not thyself devoured thy son ? Claim him not
therefore of us." "For pity's sake," said Rhiannon; "the Lord
God knows all things. Charge me not falsely. If you tell me
this from fear, I assert before Heaven that I will defend you."
" Truly," said they, " we would not bring evil on ourselves
for any one in the world." " For pity's sake," said Rhiannon,
" you will receive no evil by telling the truth." But for all
her words, whether fair or harsh, she received but the same
answer from the women.
And Pwyll the chief of Annwvyn arose, and his household,
and his hosts. And this occurrence could not be concealed,
but the story went forth throughout the land, and all the
nobles heard it. Then the nobles came to Pwyll, and besought
him to put away his wife, because of the great crime which
she had done. But Pwyll answered them, that they had no
cause wherefore they might ask him to put away his wife, save
Mabinogion. 2 A
;J54 PWYLL PRINCE OF DYVED.
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 beau
tiful colt. And it was standing up in the place. And
Teirnyon rose up and looked at the size of the colt, and
as he did so he heard a great tumult, and after the tumult
behold a claw came through the window into the house, and
it seized the colt by the mane. Then Tiernyon drew his
sword, and struck off the arm at the elbow, so that portion
of the arm together with the colt was in the house with
PWYU. miNCE OF DYVF.D. 355
him. And then did he hear a tumult and wailing, both at

once. And he opened the door, and rushed out in the
direction of the noise, and he could not see the cause of the
tumult because of the darkness of the night, but he rushed
after it and followed it. Then he remembered that he had
left the door open, and he returned. And at the door behold
there was an infant boy in swaddling-clothes, wrapped around
in a mantle of satin. And he took up the boy, and behold
he was very strong for the age that he was of.
Then he shut the door, and went into the chamber where
his wife was. " Lady," said he, " art thou sleeping ?" " No,
lord," said she, "I was asleep, but as thon eamest in I
did awake." " Behold, here is a boy for thee if thou wilt,"
said he, " since thou hast never had one." " My lord," said
she, " what adventure is this ? " " It was thus," said
Teirnyon ; and he told her how it all befell. " Verily, lord,"
said she, " what sort of garments are there upon the boy ? "
" A mantle of satin," said he. " He is then a boy of gentle
lineage," she replied. " My lord," she said, " if thou wilt, I
shall have great diversion and mirth. I will call my women
unto me, and tell them that I have been pregnant." " I
will readily grant thee to do this," he answered. And thus
did they, and they caused the boy to be baptized, and the
ceremony was performed there ; and the name which they
gave unto him, was Gwri Wallt Euryn, because what hair was
upon his head was as yellow as gold. And they had the boy
nursed in the court until he was a year old. And before the
year was over he could walk stoutly. And he was larger than
a boy of three years old, even one of great growth and size.
And the boy was nursed the second year, and then he was as
large as a child six years old. And before the end of the
fourth year, he would bribe the grooms to allow him to
teke the horses to water. " My lord," said his wife unto
Teirnyon, " where is the colt which thou didst save on the
night that thou didst find the boy V "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
2a 2
350 PWYLT, PRINCE OF DYVED.
to cause him to be broken in, and given to the boy, seeing'

that on the same night that thou didst find the boy, the colt
was foaled and thou didst save him ? " "I will not oppose thee
in this matter," said Teirnyon. " I will allow thee to give
him the colt." "Lord," said she, "may Heaven reward
thee ; I will give it him." So the horse was given to the boy.
Then she went to the grooms and those who tended the
horses, and commanded them to be careful of the horse, so
that he might be broken in by the time that the boy could
ride him.
And while these things were going forward, they heard
tidings of Rhiannon and her punishment. And Teirnyon
Twryv Vliant, by reason of the pity that he felt on hearing
this story of Rhiannon and her punishment, inquired closely
concerning it, until he had heard from many of those who
came to his court. Then did Teirnyon, often lamenting the
sad history, ponder within himself, and he looked steadfastly
on the boy, and as he looked upon him, it seemed to him that
he had never beheld so great a likeness between father and
son, as between the boy and Pwyll, the chief of Annwvyn.
Now the semblance of Pwyll was well known to him, for he
had of yore been one of his followers. And thereupon he
became grieved for the wrong that he did, in keeping with
him a boy whom he knew to be the son of another man. And
the first time that he was alone with his wife, he told her that
it was not right that they should keep the boy with them,
and suffer so excellent a lady as Rhiannon to be punished
so greatly on his account, whereas the boy was the son of
Pwyll, the chief of Annwvyn. And Teirnyon's wife agreed
with him, that they should send the boy to Pwyll. "And
three things, lord," said she, " shall we gain thereby.
Thanks and gifts for releasing Rhiannon from her punishment;
and thanks from Pwyll for nursing his son and restoring him
unto him ; and thirdly, if the boy is of gentle nature, he will
be our foster-son, and he will do for us all the good in his
power." So it was settled according to this counsel.
And no later than the next day was Teirnyon equipped, and
two other knights with him. And the boy, as a fourth in their
company, went with them upon the horse which Teirnyon had
given him. And they journeyed towards Narberth, and it
was not long before they reached that place. And as they
drew near to the palace, they beheld Rhiannon sitting beside
the horse-block. And when they were opposite to her,
" Chieftain," said she, " go not further thus, I will bear every
one of you into the palace, and this is my penance for slaying
my own son and devouring him." " Oh, fair lady," said
Teirnyon, " think not that I will be one to be carried upon
thy back." " Neither will I," said the boy. " Truly, my
soul," said Teirnyon, " we will not go." So they went for
ward 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 he concerning thee, has done
wrong. And when I heard of thy sorrow, I was troubled and
grieved. And I believe that there is none of this host, who
will not perceive that the boy is the son of Pwyll," said
Teirnyon. " There is none," said they all, " who is not
certain thereof." "I declare to Heaven," said Rhiannon,
" that if this be true, there is indeed an end to my trouble."
" Lady," said Pendaran Dyved, " well hast thou named thy son
Pryderi,* 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
* The word "Prydcr" or " Pryderi" means anxiety.
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, it were fitting that he repay thee for it." " My
lord," said Teirnyon, " it was my wife who nursed him, and
there is no one in the world so afflicted as she at parting
with him. It were well that he should bear in mind what I
and my wife have done for him." "I call Heaven to witness,"
said Pwyll, " that while I live I will support thee and thy
possessions, as long as I am able to preserve my own. And
when he shall have power, he will more fitly maintain them
than I. And if this counsel be pleasing unto thee, and to my
nobles, it shall be that, as thou hast reared him up to the
present time, I will give him to be brought up by Pendaran
Dyved, from henceforth. And you shall be companions, and
shall both be foster-fathers unto him." " This is good
counsel," said they all. So the boy was given to Pendaran
Dyved, and the nobles of the land were sent with him. And
Teirnyon Twryv Vliant, and his companions, set out for his
country, and his possessions, with love and gladness. And
he went not without being offered the fairest jewels and the
fairest horses, and the choicest dogs ; but he would take none
of them.
Thereupon they all remained in their own dominions. And
Pryderi, the son of Pwyll the Chief of Annwvyn, was brought
up carefully as was fit, so that he became the fairest youth,
and the most comely, and the best skilled in all good games,
of any in the kingdom. And thus passed years and years,
until the end of Pwyll the Chief of Annwvyn's life came, and
he died.
And Pryderi ruled the seven Cantrevs of Dyved prosper
ously, and he was beloved by his people, and by all around
him. And at length he added unto them the three Cantrevs
of Ystrad Tywi, and the four Cantrevs of Cardigan; and
TWYLL PRINCE OF DYVED. 359
these were called the Seven Cantrevs of Seissyllwch. And

when he made this addition, Pryderi the son of Pwyll the
Chief of Annwvyn, desired to take a wife. And the wife he
chose was Kicva, the daughter of Gwynn Gohoyw, the son of
Gloyw Wlallt Lydan, the son of Prince Casnar, one of the
nobles of this Island.
And thus ends this portion of the Mabinogion.
NOTES TO PWYLL PRINCE OF DYYED.
Pwyll.—Page 339.
Nearly the whole of the Mabinogi of Pwyll Pendevig Dyved, has
already been printed with a translation in the Cambrian Register,
and the story has also appeared in Jones's Welsh Bards.
Who Pwyll (whose name literally signifies Prudence) really was,
appears to be a matter of uncertainty, but in some of the pedigrees
of Gwynvardd Dyved, Prince of Dyved, he is said to be the son of
Argoel, or Aircol Law Hir,* son of Pyr y Dwyrain. Mr. Davies, in
the " Rites and Mythology of the Druids," states that he was the
pon of Meirig, son of Aircol, son of Pyr, which is rather confirmed
by some other MS. pedigrees.
In Taliesin's Preiddeu Annwn, he is mentioned, with his son
Pryderi, in such a manner as to lead to the inference that he
flourished not later than the age of Arthur. The opening lines of
that remarkable composition are given in the Myvyrian Archaiology,
I. p. 45. It must be allowed that their exact interpretation is by
* Aircol Law Ilir reoorded, in the Liber Landaveiisis, to havo been the
son of Tryfnn and contemporary with St. Teiliaw, who flourished in the sixth
centnry. We find the grave of Aircol spoken of as being in Dyved.—Myv.
Arch. I. p. 82.
NOTES. mi
no means easy to discover, but the following version is from the

pen of a distinguished Welsh scholar. The allusions, it should be
observed, are very old and very obscure.
" Adorable potentate, sovereign ruler !
Who hast extended thy dominion over the boundaries of
the world !
Arranged was the prison of Gwair in Caer Sidi
By the ministration of Pwyll and Pryderi.
None before him ever entered it.
The heavy blue chain the faithful one keeps.—
And on account of the herds of Annwn I ana afflicted ;
And till doom shall my bardic prayer continue.
Three times the loading of Prydwen we went there,
Besides seven none returned from Caer Sidi."
In subsequent parts of the poem Arthur is spoken of as having
himself taken a share in the various expeditions which it records.
The ship Prydwen is well known as one of his treasures. See
p. 261. Gwair's captivity, which one of the Triads places in the
Castle of Oeth and Annoeth, has been already adverted to, p. 192.
Dyved.—Page 339.
It often happens, and is a cause of great confusion in comparing
ancient story with modern topography, that the old names are
retained while the boundaries of the territory which they indicated
are changed. Not unfrequently the names of petty Celtic kingdoms
were applied to modern counties. This is the case with the name
now before us. Dyved, the country inhabited by the Dimetee of the
Romans, is now generally considered to apply only to the county of
Pembroke. It once included also the counties of Carmarthen and
Cardigan, forming, in fact, the western, while Gwent formed the
eastern division of South Wales.
There appears, however, to have been an exception to this general
division, a portion of Cardigan having been once exclusively termed
Ceredigiawn, and one third part of Carmarthenshire having been
included in the District of Rheged, called subsequently " Cantrev
Bychan and Kidwelly." Lewis Dwnn,* in the reign of Elizabeth,
thus describes the ancient boundaries of Dyved, as he understood
them to have been :—
* " Heraldic Visitation of Wales," published by the Welsh MSS. Society,
under the care of Sir Samuel Rush Meyrick.
362 J'WYLL l'RINCE OF DYVED.
" The kingdom of Dyved formerly extended between the rivers
Teivy and Towy, from Llyn Teivy and the source of the Towy to
St. David's, and the centre of this kingdom was the Dark-Gate, in.
Carmarthen, and there is at this day a record of these boundaries in
an old parchment book of the Bishop of St. David's."
According to this Dyved would appear to have comprehended
about a sixth part of Cardiganshire, two-thirds of the county of
Carmarthen, and the whole county of Pembroka
It is evident, however, that at the time the Mabinogi of Pwyll
was committed to writing, Dyved was restricted to the Cantrevs (or
Hundreds) of Arberth (or Narberth), Dau Gleddyv, y Coed, Penvro,
Rhos, Pebidiog, and Cenmaes, to which we are told that Pryderi
added the three Cantrevs of Ystrad Tywi, or Carmarthenshire,
Cantrev Bychan, Cantrev Mawr, and Cantrev Eginawg, together with
the four Cantrevs of Ceredigiawn, Cantrev Emlyn, Cantrev Caer
Wedws, Cantrev Mabwyniawn, and Cantrev Gwarthav, which seven
Cantrevs were classed together under the appellation of Seissyllwch.*
The addition made by Pryderi probably restored Dyved to its original
extent at the time of the Romans.
Glyn Cuch.—Page 339.

Cuch, or, as it is generally written, Cych, is the boundary stream
between the counties of Pembroke and Carmarthen, and falls into
the Teivy between Cenarth and Llechryd. In the upper part of
Glyn Cuch (the valley of the Cuch) was the residence of Cadivor
Vawr, a regulus or petty king of Dyved, who died in 1088, and was
called lord of Blaen Cuch and Cilsant. From him many of the prin
cipal families of Pembrokeshire trace their descent.
* Seissyllwch was one of the ancient kingdoms of South Wales, and must
not be confounded with Essyllwg (the Welsh word for the country of the
Silures), as it has sometimes been. In the life of St. Paternus (preserved
among the Cotton MSS.) it is said that the whole of South Wales was divided
into three kingdoms, the same forming three bishopries. Of these, the kingdom
of Seissyl received its consecration from St. Paternus, Bishop of Llanbadarn
Vawr, as the other two, those of Eein and Morgant, did from St. David and
St. Eliu [Teiliaw]. The latter kingdom, Glamorgan, having derived its
appellation from Morgan, a sovereign of the tenth century, it is probable that
the name of Seissyllwch is of the same date, and also that it may be derived
from Scissyll, or Sitsyllt, tho father of Llewelyn ab Sitsyllt, Prince of North
Wales. The name of Seissyllwch occurs in the Triads, where we are told that
Cynan Meriadawc led the warriors of that district to the assistance of Maxen
Wlcdig—Triad 14.
NOTES. 363
Arawn, King of Annwvyn. —Page 340.

This personage is the King of Annwn, already noticed (see p. 280)
as having fought against Amaethon mab Don, in the battle of Cad
Goddeu. But it is doubtful whether he can be identified either with
the Arawn ab Cynvarch, whom the Triads celebrate as one of tho
three Knights of Counsel,* or with the Aron mab Dewinvin, whose
grave is alluded to in the Englynion y Beddau. — Myv. Arch.
L p. 82.
Annwvyn.—Page 340.
Annwvyn, or Annwn, is frequently rendered " Hell," though, perhaps,
" The Lower Regions " would more aptly express the meaning which
the name conveys.
The Dogs of Annwn are the subject of an ancient Welsh supersti
tion, which was once universally believed in throughout the Princi
pality, and which it would seem is not yet quite extinct. It is said
that they are sometimes heard at night passing through the air over
head, as if in full cry in pursuit of some object.
Mound. —Page 344.

The word in the original is Gorsedd, which signifies a tumulus or
mound, used as a seat of judicature, to which in its derivative sense
it is commonly applied.
The mound called the Tyn-wald, still remaining in the Isle of Man,
was long the place upon which the Deemsters of that Island held their
judicial assemblies.
Rhiannon. —Page 347.

After the death of Pwyll, Rhiannon was, by her son Pryderi,
bestowed in marriage upon Manawyddan, the son of Llyr, and her
subsequent history is detailed in the Mabinogi that bears his name.
Her marvellous birds, whose notes were so sweet that warriors re
mained spell-bound for eighty years together listening to them, are
a frequent theme with the poets.
" Three things that are not often heard ; the song of the birds of
Rhiannon, a song of wisdom from the mouth of a Saxon, and an
invitation to a feast from a miser." t
* Triad lxxxvi.
t Triocdd y Cybydd, The Miser's Triads. Myv. Arch. III. p. 215.
Heveydd Hen. —Page 347.

According to the Triads, Heveydd Hen (probably the same as
Hyvaidd Hir) was the son of Bleiddan Sant* of Glamorgan, and
was one of the three stranger kings upon whom dominion was con
ferred for their mighty deeds, and for their praiseworthy and gracious
qualities. But in some ofthe pedigrees he is called the son of Caradawc
Vreichvras.—See Professor Rees's Welsh Saints, p. 103.
Gwent Is Coed.—Page 354.

One of the divisions of Gwent ; the other two being Gwent Uch
Coed, and Gwent Coch yn y Dena, or the Forest of Dean. Gwent
was the name formerly applied to the eastern division of South Wales.
In its present restricted sense it is applied only to the county of
Monmouth.
Gwri Gwallt Euryn.—Page 355.

Gwri Gwallt Euryn, styled at the close of the present tale Pryderi
(care or anxiety), is frequently alluded to by the Bards, who speak
of him under either name indiscriminately. In the Mabinogi of
Kilhwch and Olwen he appears under his earlier appellation ;
perhaps, however, Pryderi is that by which he is best known. He
was one of the chief swineherds of the island, and was so called
because he kept the swine of Pendaran Dyved, in the Vale of Cuch
in Emlyn. One of the Triads says that the swine he tended were
those of Pwyll himself, and that he had the care of them during his
father's absence in Annwn. This version, however, does not corre
spond with the circumstances as given in the text,which imply that
Pryderi's birth must have taken place long after Pwyll's mysterious
expedition.
We find the adventures of Pryderi's maturer years detailed in the
Mabinogi of Manawyddan, with whom his name is coupled in a passage
of the Kerdd am Veib Llyr, attributed to Taliesin.
In the tale of Math ab Mathonwy it is related that Pryderi was
deprived of life by Gwydion ab Don, who was enabled by magical
arts to overcome him in single combat, after having by similar means
defrauded him of some swine which had been sent him from Annwn,
and which he and his people highly prized.
The encounter took place near Melenryd, a ford on the Cynvael, a
* Written in other versions of the Triads, Bleiddig in Dehcnbarth.
XOTES. 365
river of Merionethshire. The same authority places his grave at
Maen Tyriawg, near Ffestiniog, but a different locality is assigned to
it in the Englynion Beddau.
" In Abergenoli is the grave of Pryderi,
Where the waves beat against the shore."
Dyved was called by Lewis Glyn Cothi " Gwlad Pryderi," and
by Davydd ab Gwilym " Pryderi dir," and sometimes " Gwlad
yr Hud," or the Land of Enchantment.
Pendaran Dyved.—Page 357.

We learn from the Triads, that the foster-father of Pryderi was the
chief of one of the principal Welsh tribes ; that which extended
over Dyved, Gower (in Glamorgan), and Cardigan.*
Beyond this, and the fact of his possessing an immense herd of
swine, which his foster-son Pryderi kept for him in the Vale of Ouch,
but few particulars of Pendaran Dyved are extant.
Triad 16.
BRANWEN THE DAUGHTER
LLYR
BRANWEN THE DAUGHTER OF LLYR.
HERE IS THE SECOND PORTION OF THE MABINOGI.
T3ENDIGEID VRAN, the son of Llyr, was the crowned

king of this island, and he was exalted from the crown
of London. And one afternoon he was at Harlech in Ardudwy,
at his Court, and he sat upon the rock of Harlech, looking
over the sea. And with him were his brother Manawyddan
the son of Llyr, and his brothers by the mother's side,
Nissyen and Evnissyen, and many nobles likewise, as was
fitting to see around a king. His two brothers by the
mother's side were the sons of Eurosswydd, by his mother,
Penardun, the daughter of Beli son of Manogan. And one oi
these youths was a good youth and of gentle nature, and
would make peace between his kindred, and cause his familv
to be friends when their wrath was at the highest ; and this
one was Nissyen ; but the other would cause strife between
his two brothers when they were most at peace. And as they
sat thus, they beheld thirteen ships coming from the south of
3fabi*oyion. 2 B
370 BRANWEN THE DAUGHTER OP LLYR.
Ireland, and making towards them, and they came with a

swift motion, the wind being behind them, and they neared
them rapidly . " I see ships afar," said the king, " coming
swiftly towards the land. Command the men of the Court
that they equip themselves, and go and learn their intent."
So the men equipped themselves and went down towards
them. And when they saw the ships near, certain were they
that they had never seen ships better furnished. Beautiful
flags of satin were upon them. And behold one of the ships
outstripped the others, and they saw a shield lifted up above
the side of the ship, and the point of the shield was upwards,
in token of peace. And the men drew near that they might
hold converse. Then they put out boats and came towards the
land. And they saluted the king. Now the king could hear
them from the place where he was, upon the rock above their
heads. " Heaven prosper you," said he, " and be ye welcome.
To whom do these ships belong, and who is the chief amongst
you ? " " Lord," said they, " Matholwch, king of Ireland, is
here, and these ships belong to him." " Wherefore comes
he ? " asked the king, " and will he come to the land ? "
" He is a suitor unto thee, lord," said they, " and he will not
land unless he have his boon." " And what may that be ? "
inquired the king. " He desires to ally himself with thee,
lord," said they, " and he comes to ask Branwen the daughter
of Llyr, that, if it seem well to thee, the Island of the Mighty
may be leagued with Ireland, and both become more power
ful." " Verily," said he, " let him come to land, and we will
take counsel thereupon." And this answer was brought to
Matholwch. " I will go willingly," said he. So he landed,
and they received him joyfully ; and great was the throng in
the palace that night, between his hosts and those of the
Court ; and next day they took counsel, and they resolved to
bestow Branwen upon Matholwch. Now she was one of the
three chief ladies of this island, and she was the fairest damsel
in the world.
And they fixed upon Aberffraw as the place where she
should become his bride. And they went thence, and towards
BRANWEN THE DAUGHTER OF LLYB. 371
Aberffraw the hosts proceeded; Matholwch and his host in

their ships ; Bendigeid "Wan and his host by land, until they
came to Aberffraw. And at Aberffraw they began the feast
and sat down. And thus sat they. The King of the Island
of the Mighty and Manawyddan the son of Llyr, on one side*
and Matholwch on the other side, and Branwen the daughter
of Llyr beside him. And they were not within a house, but
under tents. No house could ever contain Bendigeid Vran1
And they began the banquet and caroused and discoursed"
And when it was more pleasing to them to sleep than to
carouse, they went to rest, and that night Branwen became
Matholwch's bride.
And next day they arose, and all they of the Court, and
the officers began to equip and to range the horses and
the attendants, and they ranged them in order as far as
the sea.
And behold one day, Evnissyen, the quarrelsome man of
whom it is spoken above, came by chance into the place,
where the horses of Matholwch were, and asked whose horses
they might be. " They are the horses of Matholwch king of
Ireland, who is married to Branwen, thy sister; his horses are
they." " And is it thus they have done with a maiden such
as she, and moreover my sister, bestowing her without my
consent ? They could have offered no greater insult to me
than this," said he. And thereupon he rushed under the
horses and cut off their lips at the teeth, and their ears close
to their heads, and their tails close to their backs, and
wherever he could clutch their eyelids, he cut them to the
very bone, and he disfigured the horses and rendered them
useless.
And they came with these tidings unto Matholwch, saying
that the horses were disfigured, and injured so that not one
of them could ever be of any use again. " Verily, lord," said
one, "it was an insult unto thee, and as such was it meant."
" Of a truth, it is a marvel to me, that if they desire to insult
me, they should have given me a maiden of such high rank
and so much beloved of her kindred, as they have done."
2 b 2
372 BEANWEN THE DAUGHTER OP LLYK.
" Lord/' said another, "thou seest that thus it is, and there is
nothing for thee to do but to go to thy ships." And there
upon towards his ships he set out.
And tidings came to Bendigeid Vran that Matholwch was
quitting the Court without asking leave, and messengers were
sent to inquire of him wherefore he did so. And the mes
sengers that went were Iddic the son of Anarawd, and
Heveydd Hir. And these overtook him and asked of him
what he designed to do, and wherefore he went forth. " Of
a truth," said he, " if I had known I had not come hither. I
have been altogether insulted, no one had ever worse treat
ment than I have had here. But one thing surprises me
above all." " What is that ? " asked they. " That Branwen
the daughter of Llyr, one of the three chief ladies of this
island, and the daughter of the King of the Island of the
Mighty, should have been given me as my bride, and that
after that I should have been insulted ; and I marvel that the
insult was not done me before they had bestowed upon me a
maiden so exalted as she." " Truly, lord, it was not the will
of any that are of the Court," said they, " nor of any that are
of the council, that thou shouldest have received this insult ;
and as thou hast been insulted, the dishonour is greater unto
Bendigeid Vran than unto thee." "Verily," said he, "I
think so. Nevertheless he cannot recall the insult/' These
men returned with that answer to the place where Bendigeid
Vran was, and they told him what reply Matholwch had
given them. " Truly," said he, " there are no means by
which we may prevent his going away at enmity with us,
that we will not take." " Well, lord," said they, " send after
him another embassy." " I will do so," said he. " Arise,
Manawyddan son of Llyr, and Heveydd Hir, and Unic Glew
Ysgwyd, and go after him, and tell him that he shall have a
sound horse for every one that has been injured. And beside
that, as an atonement for the insult, he shall have a staff of
silver, as large and as tall as himself, and a plate of gold of
the breadth of his face. And show unto him who it was that
did this, and that it was done against my will ; but that he
BRANWEN THE DAUGHTER OF LLYR. 373
who did it is my brother, by the mother's side, and therefore

it would be hard for me to put him to death. And let him
come and meet me," said he, " and we will make peace in any
way he may desire."
The embassy went after Matholwch, and told him all these
sayings in a friendly manner, and he listened thereunto.
" Men," said he, " I will take counsel." So to the council
he went. And in the council they considered that if they
should refuse this, they were likely to have more shame
rather than to obtain so great an atonement. They resolved
therefore to accept it, and they returned to the Court in
peace.
Then the pavilions and the tents were set in order after the
fashion of a hall ; and they went to meat, and as they had
sat at the beginning of the feast, so sat they there. And
Matholwch and Bendigeid Vran began to discourse ; and
behold it seemed to Bendigeid Vran, while they talked, that
Matholwch was not so cheerful as he had been before. And he
thought that the chieftain might be sad, because of the small-
ness of the atonement which he had, for the wrong that had
been done him. " Oh, man," said Bendigeid Vran, " thou
dost not discourse to-night so cheerfully as thou wast wont.
And if it be because of the smallness of the atonement, thou
shalt add thereunto whatsoever thou mayest choose, and
to-morrow I will pay thee the horses." "Lord," said he,
" Heaven reward thee." " And I will enhance the atone
ment," said Bendigeid Vran, "for I will give unto thee a
cauldron, the property of which is, that if one of thy men be
slain to-day, and be cast therein, to-morrow he will be as well
as ever he was at the best, except that he will not regain his
speech." And thereupon he gave him great thanks, and very
joyful was he for that cause.
And the next morning they paid Matholwch the horses as
long as the trained horses lasted. And then they journeyed
into another commot, where they paid him with colts until the
whole had been paid, and from thenceforth that commot was
called Talebolion.
374 BRANWEN THE DAUGHTER OT LLYR.
And a second night sat they together. " My lord," said

Matholwch, " whence hadst thou the cauldron which thou
hast given me ? " "I had it of a man who had been in thy
land/' said he, " and I would not give it except to one from
there." " Who was it ? " asked he. " Llassar Llaesgyvnewid ;
he came here from Ireland with Kymideu Kymeinvoll, his
wife, who escaped from the Iron House in Ireland, when it
was made red hot around them, and fled hither. And it is a
marvel to me that thou should st know nothing concerning the
matter." " Something I do know," said he, " and as much as
I know I will tell thee. One day I was hunting in Ireland,
and I came to the mound at the head of the lake, which is
called the Lake of the Cauldron. And I beheld a huge
yellow-haired man coming from the lake with a cauldron
upon his back. And he was a man of vast size, and of horrid
aspect, and a woman followed after him. And if the man
was tall, twice as large as he was the woman, and they came
towards me and greeted me. ' Verily,' asked I, ' wherefore
are you journeying ? ' ' Behold, this,' said he to me, ' is the
cause that we journey. At the end of a month and a fort
night this woman will have a son ; and the child that will be
born at the end of the month and the fortnight will be a
warrior fully armed.' So I took them with me and maintained
them. And they were with me for a year. And that year I
had them with me not grudgingly. But thenceforth was
there murmuring, because that they were with me. For, from
the beginning of the fourth month they had begun to make
themselves hated and to be disorderly in the land ; committing
outrages, and molesting and harassing the nobles and ladies ;
and thenceforward my people rose up and besought me to
part with them, and they bade me to choose between them and
my dominions. And I applied to the council of my country
to know what should be done concerning them ; for of their
own free will they would not go, neither could they be com
pelled against their will, through fighting. And [the people
of the country] being in this strait, they caused a chamber
to be made all of iron. Now when the chamber was ready,
there came there every smith that was in Ireland, and every
one who owned tongs and hammer. And they caused coals
to be piled up as high as the top of the chamber. And they
had the man, and the woman, and the children, served with
plenty of meat and drink ; but when it was known that they
were drunk, they began to put fire to the coals about the
chamber, and they blew it with bellows until the house was
red hot all around them. Then was there a council held
in the centre of the floor of the chamber. And the man
tarried until the plates of iron were all of a white heat ; and
then, by reason of the great heat, the man dashed against
the plates with his shoulder and struck them out, and his wife
followed him; but except him and his wife none escaped
thence. And then I suppose, lord," said Matholwch unto
Bendigeid Vran, " that he came over unto thee." " Doubt
less he came here," said he, "and gave unto me the cauldron."
" In what manner didst thou receive them ? " "I dispersed
them through every part of my dominions, and they have
become numerous and are prospering everywhere, and they
fortify the places where they are with men and arms, of the
best that were ever seen."
That night they continued to discourse as much as they
would, and had minstrelsy and carousing, and when it was
more pleasant to them to sleep than to sit longer, they went
to rest. And thus was the banquet carried on with joyous-
ness ; and when it was finished, Matholwch journeyed towards
Ireland, and Branwen with him, and they went from Aber
Menei with thirteen ships, and came to Ireland. And in
Ireland was there great joy because of their coming. And
not one great man or noble lady visited Branwen unto whom
she gave not either a clasp, or a ring, or a royal jewel to keep,
such as it was honourable to be seen departing with. And
in these things she spent that year in much renown, and she
passed her time pleasantly, enjoying honour and friendship.
And in the meanwhile it chanced that she became pregnant,
and in due time a son was born unto her, and the name that
they gave him was Gwern the son of Matholwch and, they
376 BRANWEN THE DAOGHTER OP LLYE.
put the boy out to be foster-nursed, in a place where were

the best men of Ireland.
And behold in the second year a tumult arose in Ireland,
on account of the insult which Matholwch had received in
Cambria, and the payment made him for his horses. And his
foster-brothers, and such as were nearest unto him, blamed
him openly for that matter. And he might have no peace by
reason of the tumult until they should revenge upon him this
disgrace. And the vengeance which they took was to drive
away Branwen from the same chamber with him, and to make
her cook for the Court ; and they caused the butcher after he
had cut up the meat to come to her and give her every day
a blow on the ear, and such they made her punishment.
" Verily, lord," said his men to Matholwch, " forbid now
the ships and the ferry boats and the coracles, that they go
not into Cambria, and such as come over from Cambria hither,
imprison them that they go not back for this thing to be
known there." And he did so ; and it was thus for no less
than three years.
And Branwen reared a starling in the cover of the kneading
trough, and she taught it to speak, and she taught the bird
what manner of man her brother was. And she wrote a letter
of her woes, and the despite with which she was treated, and
she bound the letter to the root of the bird's wing, and sent
it towards Britain. And the bird came to this island, and one
day it found Bendigeid Vran at Caer Seiont in Arvon, con
ferring there, and it alighted upon his shoulder and ruffled its
feathers, so that the letter was seen, and they knew that
the bird had been reared in a domestic manner.
Then Bendigeid Vran took the letter and looked upon it.
And when he had read the letter he grieved exceedingly at
the tidings of Branwen's woes. And immediately he began
sending messengers to summon the island together. And he
caused sevenscore and four countries to come unto him, and
he complained to them himself of the grief that his sister
endured. So they took counsel. And in the council they
resolved to go to Ireland, and to leave seven men as princes
here, and Caradawc the son of Bran, as the chief of them,
and their seven knights. In Edeyrnion were these men left.
And for this reason were the seven knights placed in the
town. Now the names of these seven were, Caradawc the
son of Bran, and Heveydd Hir, and Unic Glew Ysgwyd, and
Iddic the son of Anarawc Gwalltgrwn, and Fodor the son
of Ervyll, and Gwlch Minascwrn, and Llassar the son of
Llaesar Llaesgygwyd, and Pendaran Dyved as a young page
with them. And these abode as seven ministers to take
charge of this island ; and Caradawc the son of Bran was the
chief amongst them.
Bendigeid Vran, with the host of which we spoke, sailed
towards Ireland, and it was not far across the sea, and he
came to shoal water. It was but by two rivers ; the Lli and
the Archan were they called ; and the nations covered the
sea. Then he proceeded with what provisions he had on his
own back, and approached the shore of Ireland.
Now the swineherds of Matholwch were upon the sea-shore,
and they came to Matholwch. " Lord," said they, " greeting
be unto thee." "Heaven protect you," said he, "have you
any news ?" " Lord," said they, "we have marvellous news,
a wood have we seen upon the sea, in a place where we never
yet saw a single tree." " This is indeed a marvel," said he ;
" saw you aught else ? " " We saw, lord," said they, " a vast
mountain beside the wood, which moved, and there was a
lofty ridge on the top of the mountain, and a lake on each
side of the ridge. And the wood, and the mountain, and all
these things moved." " Verily," said he, " there is none who
can know aught concerning this, unless it be Branwen."
Messengers then went unto Branwen. " Lady/' said they,
" what thinkest thou that this is?" " The men of the Island
of the Mighty, who have come hither on hearing of ray ill
treatment and my woes." " What is the forest that is seen
upon the sea ? " asked they. " The yards and the masts of
ships," she answered. "Alas," said they, "what is the
mountain that is seen by the side of the ships ? " " Bendigeid
Vran, my brother," she replied, "coming to shoal water;
378 BRANWEN THE DAUGHTER OF LLYR.
there is no ship that can contain him in it." " What is the
lofty ridge with the lake on each side thereof ? " " On
looking towards this island he is wroth, and his two eyes,
one on each side of his nose, are the two lakes beside the
ridge."
The warriors and the chief men of Ireland were brought
together in haste, and they took counsel. " Lord," said the
nobles unto Matholwch, " there is no other counsel than to
retreat over the Linon (a river which is in Ireland), and to
keep the river between thee and him, and to break down the
bridge that is across the river, for there is a loadstone at the
bottom of the river that neither ship nor vessel can pass
over." So they retreated across the river, and broke down
the bridge.
Bendigeid Vran came to land, and the fleet with him by the
bank of the river. "Lord," said his chieftains, "knowest
thou the nature of this river, that nothing can go across it,
and there is no bridge over it ? " " What," said they, " is
thy counsel concerning a bridge ? " " There is none," said
he, " except that he who will be chief, let him be a bridge.
I will be so," said he. And then was that saying first uttered,
and it is still used as a proverb. And when he had lain down
across the river, hurdles were placed upon him, and the host
passed over thereby.
And as he rose up, behold the messengers of Matholwch
came to him, and saluted him, and gave him greeting in the
name of Matholwch, his kinsman, and showed how that of his
goodwill he had merited of him nothing but good. " For
Matholwch has given the kingdom of Ireland to Gwern the
son of Matholwch, thy nephew and thy sister's son. And
this he places before thee, as a compensation for the wrong
and despite that has been done unto Branwen. And
Matholwch shall be maintained wheresoever thou wilt, either
here or in the Island of the Mighty." Said Bendigeid Vran,
" Shall not I myself have the kingdom ? Then peradventure
I may take counsel concerning your message. From this
time until then no other answer will you get from me."
" Verily," said they, " the best message that we receive for
thee, we will convey it unto thee, and do thou await our
message unto him." " I will wait," answered he, " and do
you return quickly."
The- messengers set forth and came to Matholwch. "Lord,"
said they, "prepare a better message for Bendigeid Vran.
He would not listen at all to the message that we bore him."
" My friends," said Matholwch, "what may be your counsel?"
" Lord," said they, " there is no other counsel than this alone.
He was never known to be within a house, make therefore a
house that will contain him and the men of the Island of the
Mighty on the one side, and thyself and thy host on the
other; and give over thy kingdom to his will, and do him
homage. So by reason of the honour thou doest him in
making him a house, whereas he never before had a house
to contain him, he will make peace with thee." So the
messengers went back to Bendigeid Vran, bearing him this
message.
And he took counsel, and in the council it was resolved that
he should accept this, and this was all done by the advice of
Branwen, and lest the country should be destroyed. And this
peace was made, and the house was built both vast and strong.
But the Irish planned a crafty device, and the craft was that
they should put brackets on each side of the hundred pillars
that were in the house, and should place a leathern bag on
each bracket, and an armed man in every one of them. Then
Evnissyen came in before the host of the Island of the
Mighty, and scanned the house with fierce and savage looks,
and descried the leathern bags which were around the pillars.
" What is in this bag ? " asked he of one of the Irish.
"Meal, good soul," said he. And Evnissyen felt about it
until he came to the man's head, and he squeezed the head
until he felt his fingers meet together in the brain through
the bone. And he left that one and put his hand upon
another, and asked what was therein. " Meal," said the
Irishman. So he did the like unto every one of them, until
. he had not left alive, of all the two hundred men, save one
380 BRANWEN THE DAUGHTER OF LhYK.
only ; and when he came to him, he asked what was there.

"Meal, good soul," said the Irishman. And he felt about
until he felt the head, and he squeezed that head as he had
done the others. And, albeit he found that the head of this
one was armed, he left him not until he had killed him. And
then he sang an Bnglyn :—
" There is in this bag a different sort of meal,

The ready combatant, when the assault is made
By his fellow-warriors, prepared for battle."
Thereupon came the hosts unto the house. The men of the
Island of Ireland entered the house on the one side, and the
men of the Island of the Mighty on the other. And as soon
as they had sat down there was concord between them ; and
the sovereignty was conferred upon the boy. When the peace
was concluded, Bendigeid Vran called the boy unto him, and
from Bendigeid Vran the boy went unto Manawyddan, and he
was beloved by all that beheld him. And from Manawyddan
the boy was called by Nissyen the son of Eurosswydd, and
the boy went unto him lovingly. "Wherefore," said Evnissyen
" comes not my nephew the son of my sister unto me ?
Though he were not king of Ireland, yet willingly would I
fondle the boy." " Cheerfully let him go to thee," said
Bendigeid Vran, and the boy went unto him cheerfully. "By
my confession to Heaven," said Evnissyen in his heart, " un-
thought of by the household is the slaughter that I will this
instant commit."
Then he arose and took up the boy by the feet, and before
any one in the house could seize hold of him, he thrust the
boy headlong into the blazing fire. And when Branwen saw
her son burning in the fire, she strove to leap into the fire
also, from the place where she sat between her two brothers.
But Bendigeid Vran grasped her with one hand, and his
shield with the other. Then they all hurried about the house,
and never was there made so great a tumult by any host in
one house as was made by them, as each man armed himself.
BRA.NWEN THE DAUGHTER OF tLYR. 381
Then said Morddwydtyllyon, " The gadflies of Morddwyd-

tyllyon's Cow ! " And while they all sought their arms,
Bendigeid Vran supported Branwen between his shield and
his shoulder.
Then the Irish kindled a fire under the cauldron of renova
tion, and they cast the dead bodies into the cauldron until it
was full, and the next day they came forth fighting-men as
good as before, except that they were not able to speak.
Then when Evnissyen saw the dead bodies of the men of the
Island of the Mighty nowhere resuscitated, he said in his
heart, " Alas ! woe is me, that I should have been the cause
of bringing the men of the Island of the Mighty into so great
a strait. Evil betide me if I find not a deliverance there
from." And he cast himself among the dead bodies of the
Irish, and two unshod Irishmen came to him, and, taking
him to be one of the Irish, flung him into the cauldron.
And he stretched himself out in the cauldron, so that he
rent the cauldron into four pieces, and burst his own heart
also.
In consequence of that the men of the Island of the Mighty
obtained such success as they had ; but they were not victo
rious, for only seven men of them all escaped, and Bendigeid
Vran himself was wounded in the foot with a poisoned dart.
Now the seven men that escaped were Pryderi, Manawyddan,
Gluneu Eil Taran, Taliesin, Ynawc, Grudyen the son of
Muryel, and Heilyn the son of Gwynn Hen.
And Bendigeid Vran commanded them that they should
cut off his head. " And take you my head," said he, " and
bear it even unto the White Mount, in London, and bury it
there, with the face towards France. And a long time will
you be upon the road. In Harlech you will be feasting seven
years, the birds of Rhiannon singing unto you the while.
And all that time the head will be to you as pleasant company
as it ever was when on my body. And at Gwales in Penvro
you will be fourscore years, and you may remain there, and
the head with you uncorrupted, until you open the door that
looks towards Aber Henvelen, and towards Cornwall. And
382 BRANWEN THE DAUGHTER OF IJ.YB.
after you have opened that door, there you may no longer
tarry, set forth then to London to bury the head, and go
straight forward."
So they cut off his head, and these seven went forward
therewith. And Branwen was the eighth with them, and
they came to land at Aber Alaw, in Talebolyon, and they sat
down to rest. And Branwen looked towards Ireland and
towards the Island of the Mighty, to see if she could descry
them. " Alas," said she, " woe is me that I was ever born ;
two islands have been destroyed because of me ! " ' Then she
uttered a loud groan, and there broke her heart. And they
made her a foursided grave, and buried her upon the banks
of the Alaw.
Then the seven men journeyed forward towards Harlech,
bearing the head with them ; and as they went behold there
met them a multitude of men and of women. "Have you
any tidings ? " asked Manawyddan. " We have none," said
they, " save that Caswallawn the son of Beli, has conquered
the Island of the Mighty, and is crowned king in London."
"What has become," said they, "of Caradawc the son of
Bran, and the seven men who were left with him in this
island ? " " Caswallawn came upon them, and slew six of the
men, and Caradawc's heart broke for grief thereof; for he
could see the sword that slew the men, but knew not who it
was that wielded it. Caswallawn had flung upon him the
Veil of Illusion, so that no one could see him slay the men,
but the sword only could they see. And it liked him not to
slay Caradawc, because he was his nephew, the son of his
cousin. And now he was the third whose heart had broke
through grief. Pendaran Dyved, who had remained as a
young page with these men, escaped into the wood," said
they.
Then they went on to Harlech, and there stopped to rest,
and they provided meat and liquor, and sat down to eat and
to drink. And there came three birds, and began singing
unto them a certain song, and all the songs they had ever
heard were unpleasant compared thereto ; and the birds
BRAN WEN THE DAUGHTER OF LLYR.
seemed to them to be at a great distance from them over

the sea, yet they appeared as distinct as if they were close by,
and at this repast they continued seven years.
And at the close of the seventh year they went forth to
Gwales in Penvro. And there they found a fair and regal
spot overlooking the ocean ; and a spacious hall was therein.
And they went into the hall, and two of its doors were open,
but the third door was closed, that which looked towards
Cornwall. " See, yonder," said Manawyddan, " is the door
that we may not open." And that night they regaled them
selves and were joyful. And of all they had seen of food laid
before them, and of all they had heard of, they remembered
nothing ; neither of that, nor of any sorrow whatsoever. And
there they remained fourscore years, unconscious of having
ever spent a time more joyous and mirthful. And they were
not more weary than when first they came, neither did they,
any of them, know the time they had been there. And it was
not more irksome to them having the head with them, than if
Bendigeid Vran had been with them himself. And because
of these fourscore years, it was called the entertaining of the
noble head. The entertaining of Branwen and Matholwch
was in the time that they went to Ireland.
One day said Heilyn the son of Gwynn, " Evil betide me,
if I do not open the door to know if that is true which is said
concerning it." So he opened the door and looked towards
Cornwall and Aber Henvelen. And when they had looked,
they were as conscious of all the evils they had ever sustained,
and of all the friends and companions they had lost, and of
all the misery that had befallen them, as if all had happened
in that very spot; and especially of the fate of their lord.
And because of their perturbation they could not rest, but
journeyed forth with the head towards London. And they
buried the head in the White Mount, and when it was buried,
this was the third goodly concealment ; and it was the third
ill-fated disclosure when it was disinterred, inasmuch as no
invasion from across the sea came to this island while the
head was in that concealment.
And thus is the story related of those who journeyed oyer

from Ireland.
In Ireland none were left alive, except five pregnant women
in a cave in the Irish wilderness ; and to these five women in
the same night were born five sons, whom they nursed until
they became grown-up youths. And they thought about
wives, and they at the same time desired to possess them, and
each took a wife of the mothers of their companions, and they
governed the country and peopled it.
And these five divided it amongst them, and because of
this partition are the five divisions of Ireland still so termed.
And they examined the land where the battles had taken
place, and they found gold and silver until they became
wealthy.
And thus ends this portion of the Mabinogi, concerning the
blow given to Branwen, which was the third unhappy blow of
this island ; and concerning the entertainment of Bran, when
the hosts of sevenscore countries and ten went over to Ireland
to revenge the blow given to Branwen ; and concerning the
seven years' banquet in Harlech, and the singing of the birds
of Rhiannon, and the sojourning of the head for the space of
fourscore years.
NOTES TO BRANWEN THE DAUGHTER OF LLYR.
Bendigeid Vran. —Page 369.

Bran the son of Llyr Llediaith, and sovereign of Britain, derives,
according to the Welsh authorities, his title of Bendigeid, or the
Blessed, from the circumstance of his having introduced Christianity
into this Island. They tell us that he was the father of the celebrated
Caradawc (Caractacus), whose captivity he is said to have shared ;
and proceed to state that having embraced the Christian faith, during
his seven years' detention in Rome, he returned to his native country,
and caused the Gospel to be preached there.* The following Triad
recites these events.
"The three blissful Rulers of the Island of Britain, Bran the
Blessed, the son of Llyr Llediaith, who first brought the faith of
Christ to the nation of the Cymry from Rome, where he was seven
years a hostage for his son Caradawc, whom the Romans made pri
soner through the craft, and deceit, and treachery of Aregwedd
Foeddawg [usually supposed to be Cartismandua]. The second was
Lleurig ab Coel ab Cyllyn Sant, who was called Lleufer Mawr,
[the great Light], and built the ancient church at Llandaff, which
* For an account of Bendigeid Vran, see Professor Bees's Welsh Saints
P- 77.
Mabinogion. 2 c
:38(3 BRANWEN THE DAUGHTER OF LLYR.
was the first in Britain, and who gave the privileges of land, and of
kindred, and of social rights, and of society to such as were of the
faith of Christ. The third was Cadwaladyr the Blessed, who gave
refuge, with his lands, and with all his goods, to the believers who
fled from the Saxons without faith, and from the aliens who would
have slain them."—Tr. 35.
The benefit which Bran thus conferred upon his country procured
for his family the distinction of being accounted one of the three
Holy Tribes ; the families of Cunedda Wledig and Brychan Bry-
cheiniog were the other two.
All this, however, it may be observed, is much at variance with
the particulars of Caradawc's captivity, and of his family, recorded
by classical writers.
Bran is ranked with Prydain ab Aedd Mawr, and Dyvnwal
Moelmud as one of the three Kings who gave stability to sove
reignty by the excellence of their system of government.—Tr. 36.
Various ancient Welsh documents allude to the incidents recorded
of Bran in the Mabinogi of Branwen. Thus in the curious poem
entitled Kerdd am Veib Llyr ab Brychwel Powys, attributed to
Taliesin, are the following lines, —
I was with Bran in Ireland,

I saw when Morddwyd Tyllon was slain.*
And there is a Triad upon the story of his head being buried
under the White Tower of London, with the face towards France,
intended as a charm against foreign invasion. Arthur, it appears,
proudly disinterred the head, preferring to hold the Island by his
own strength alone, and this is recorded as one of the fatal disclosures
of Britain.
" The three Closures and Disclosures of the Island ; First the head
of Bendigeid Vran ab Llyr, which Owain the son of Maxen Wledig
buried under the White Tower in London, and while it was so placed
no invasion could be made upon this Island ; the second was the
bones of Gwrthevyr the Blessed [Vortimer], which were buried in
the chief harbour of the Island, and while they remained there
hidden all invasions were ineffectual. The third was the dragons
buried by Lludd ab Beli, in the city of Pharaon, in the rocks of
Snowdon. And the three closures were made under the blessing of
God and his attributes, and evil befel from the time of their dis
closure. Gwrtheyrn Gwrtheneu [Vortigern], disclosed the dragons
* Myv. Arch. I. p. 66.
XOTE8. 387
to revenge the displeasure of the Cymry against him, and he invited
the Saxons in the guise of men of defence to fight against the
Gwyddyl Ffychti ; and after this he disclosed the bones of Gwrthevyr
the Blessed, through love of Ronwen [Rowena], the daughter of the
Saxon Hen gist. And Arthur disclosed the head of Bendigeid Vran
ab Llyr, because he chose not to hold the Island except by his own
strength. And after the three disclosures came the chief invasions
upon the race of the Cymry."—Tr. 53.
The name of Bran is of frequent occurrence in the poems of Cyn-
ddelw, and other bards of the middle ages.
Harlech.—Page 369.
Most of the localities which occur in the Tale of Branwen are too
well known to need any description ; one or two, however, require a
slight notice. Of Harlech, it may be remarked that it is also called
Twr Bronwen, or Branwen's Tower. The name of Caer Collwyn
was also bestowed upon it after Collwyn ab Tangno, chief of one of
the fifteen Noble Tribes of North Wales. It possesses the ruins of
a fine castle. Harlech stands on the sea coast, on the confines of
Ardudwy, one of the six districts of Merionethshire, of which the
portion called Dyffryn Ardudwy is a remnant of the Cantrev y
Gwaelod, inundated in the time of Gwyddno Garanhir.
Edeyrnion, mentioned a little further on in the story, is also
situated in Merionethshire.
Talebolion is a Commot in Anglesey.
Aberffraw, likewise in Anglesey, was the residence of the princes
of Gwynedd from the time of Roderick the Great, in 843, to that of
the last Llywelyn, in 1282.
Eurosswydd.—Page 369.
Eurosswydd is beyond doubt the Roman general Ostorius, the captor
of Llyr Llediaith, and his family, including Bran and Caradawc
(Caractacus).
He is mentioned as such in Triad L, already quoted.—See p. 192.
Beli the Son of Manogan.—Page 369.

Beli, surnamed the Great, was king over Britain forty years, and
was succeeded in the sovereignty by his sons, Lludd and Caswallawn,
better known as Cassivelaunus. In the Armes attributed toTaliesin,
Beli is thus addressed,—
2 c 2
388 BRANWEN THE DAUGHTER OF LI.YK.
" Greatly do I honour thee

Victorious Beli,
Son of Manogan the king.
Do thou preserve the glory
Of the Honey Island* of Beli."
Myv. Arch. L p. 73.
Branwen.—Page 370.
The beautiful Branwen (or Bronwen, the " white-bosomed," as

she is more frequently called), is one of the most popular heroines of
Welsh romance. No less celebrated for her woes than for her
charms, we find that her eventful story was a favourite theme with
the bards and poets of her nation. Numerous instances might be
adduced of the allusions to her, which their compositions contain ;
suffice it to refer to the words of Davydd ab Gwilym, who, in one of
his odes addressed to Morvudd, compares her hue to that of Bronwen,
the daughter of Llyr.
The indignities to which Branwen was subjected in Ireland are
referred to in one of the Triads (49).
In 1813, a grave containing a funeral urn was discovered on the
banks of the river Alaw, in Anglesey, in a spot called Ynys Bronwen.
The appearance of the grave, and its remarkable locality, led to the
inference that it might indeed be the " Bedd Fetrual," the four-sided
place of burial, in which, according to the text, her sorrowing com
panions deposited the remains of the unfortunate heroine of the
Mabinogion. The following account of its discovery was communi
cated, in 1821, to the Cambro-Briton (and printed in that publica
tion, II. p. 71), by Sir R. C. Hoare, on the authority of Richard
Fenton, Esq., of Fishguard.
"An Account of the Discovery, in 1813, of an Urn, in which,
there is every reason to suppose, the ashes of Bronvoen (White
Bosom), the daughter of Llyr, and aunt to the great Caractacus, were
deposited.
A farmer, living on the banks of the Alaw, a river in the Isle of
Anglesea, having occasion for stones, to make some addition to his
farm-buildings, and having observed a stone or two peeping through
the t urf of a circular elevation on a flat not far from the river, was
induced to examine it, where, after paring off the turf, he came to a
considerable heap of stones, or carnedd, covered with earth, which he
* An ancient name for Britain.

NOTES. 389
removed with some degree of caution, and got to a cist formed of coarse
flags canted and covered over. On removing the lid, he found it
contained an urn placed with its mouth downwards, full of ashes and
half-calcined fragments of bone. The report of this discovery soon
went abroad, and came to the ears of the parson of the parish, and
another neighbouring clergyman, both fond of, and conversant in,
Welsh antiquities, who were immediately reminded of a passage in
one of the early Welsh romances, called the Habinogion (or juve
nile tales), the same that is quoted in Dr. Davies's Latin and
Welsh Dictionary, as well as in Bichards's, under the word Petrutd
(square).
1 Bedd petrual a wnaed i Fronwen ferch Lyr ar lan Alaw, ac yno
y claddwyd hi.'
A square grave was made for Bronwen, the daughter of Llyr, on
the banks of the Alaw, and there she was buried.
Happening to be in Anglesea soon after this discovery, I could not
resist the temptation of paying a visit to so memorable a spot, though
separated from it by a distance of eighteen miles. I found it, in all
local respects, exactly as described to me by the clergyman above
mentioned, and as characterised by the cited passage from the
romance. The tumulus, raised over the venerable deposit, was of
considerable circuit, elegantly rounded, but low, about a dozen paces
from the river Alaw.* The Urn was preserved entire, with an
exception of a small bit out of its lip, was ill-baked, very rude and
simple, having no other ornament than little pricked dots, in height
from about a foot to fourteen inches, and nearly of the following
shape.
* "This spot is still called Ynyt Bronwen, or the Islet of Bronwen, which is
a remarkable confirmation of the genuineness of this discovery."
390 BRANWEN THE DAUGHTER OP LLYR.
When I saw the urn, the ashes and half-calcined bones were
in it"
Branwen appears to be the Brangwaine or Brangian of romance,
though the character of the Welsh heroine, and the part she sustains,
differ widely from those attributed to the confidante of Tristan and
Yseult la Belle. In like manner Matholwch the Irishman also seems
identical with Morholt the stern king of Ireland of the Trouveres.
—See the Romances of Meliadus of Leonnoys, Tristan, <fec.
The Island of the Mighty. —Page 370.

Ynys y Kedyrn, the Island of the Mighty, is one of the many
names bestowed upon Britain by the Welsh. A Triad, in which
several more of these ancient appellations are preserved, asserts that
while yet uninhabited the Island was called Clas Merddin, but that
after its colonization it bore the name of Vel Ynys, which was again
changed in compliment to its conquest by Brut, into Ynys Prydain,
or the Island of Brut. The same Triad states that some authorities
attribute the more modern designation to its conquest by Prydain
son of Aedd the Great. —Myv. Arch. II. p. 1.
An Atonement for the Insult.—Page 372.

The compensation here offered to Matholwch, is strictly in accord
ance, except as regards the size of the silver rod, with what was
required by the Laws of Hywel Dda, where the fine for insult to a
king is fixed at a " hundred cows on account of every cantrev in the
kingdom, and a silver rod with three knobs at the top, that shall
reach from the ground to the king's face, when he sits in his chair
and as thick as his ring-finger ; and a golden bason, which shall hold
fully as much as the king drinks, of the thickness of a husbandman's
nail, who shall have followed husbandry for seven years, and a golden
cover, as broad as the king's face, equally thick as the bason." In
another MS. the payment, instead of being only partly in gold, is said
to have been entirely in that metal ; thus "a golden rod as long as
himself, of the thickness of his little finger, and a golden tablet, as
broad as his face, and as thick as a husbandman's nail."
The Cauldron.—Page 374.

The 'powers exercised by this family through the influence of the
cauldron, bear a strong resemblance to those possessed by the Tuatha
NOTES. 391
de Danann, a race of necromancers, who once invaded Ireland. This
tribe, whilst sojourning in Asia, were at war with the Syrians, and
were enabled to triumph through the aid of magic, as they had
the art of resuscitating such of their number as fell in fight by
sending demons to animate their corpses, so that the Syrians found
to their dismay that those whom they had slain met them in battle
the next day as vigorous as ever. In this difficulty, they had recourse
to the advice of their priests, who told them to drive a stake of
mountain ash through the bodies of such as they slew, and that, if
they had been animated by demons, they would instantly turn into
worms. This counsel was followed, and the Tuatha de Danann were
compelled to quit that country.
An ancient Irish poem contains a series of Triads respecting this
race which remind us of some passages in the Mabinogi of Kilhwch
and Olwen.—See p. 228.
" Blackness, obscurity, and darkness were their three cup-bearers ;
strength, robustness, and vigour, their three horses ; indignation,
pursuit and swiftness, their three hounds, &c."—See Bunting.
Carauawc the Son ok Bran.—Page 377.
This Prince, so well known under his Latinized name of Caractacus,

is chiefly remarkable for his captivity in Rome, which, according to
Welsh authorities, was shared by his father Bran, his grandfather
Llyr Llediaith, and all his near kinsfolk. There are several
Triads relating to this principal event of his life.* From one of these
it seems that he was chosen by his countrymen as their general, or
War-king, to repel the incursions of the Romans, and another
corroborates this by styling him " One of the three Rulers of choice,"
having been elected by the voice of the country and the people,
although he was not an elder. There is no doubt of his having stood
high in the esteem of his nation ; and we are told that " the men of
Britain, from the prince to the slave, became his followers in their
country's need against the progress of the foe and of destruction.
And wheresoever he went in war, all the men of the Island went in
his train, and none desired to remain at home."t
Caradawc is also extolled as one of those brave princes, who, by
reason of their valour, could never be overcome save by treachery ;
• Tr. 17, 23, 24, 34, 41, 55.

t In this Triad (41) he is railed one of the exalted servants, and is distin
guished as the son of a Bard. , ,
and the treason by which he was cast into the hands of his enemies
is very frequently alluded to. Avarwy ab Lludd ab Beli, and his
daughter Aregwedd Foeddawg, were the traitors, and are mentioned
in terms of disgust and execration. " One of the praiseworthy
opposers," is another of the titles bestowed upon Caradawc, because
he resisted the invasion of the Caesarians.
White Mount in London. —Page 381.
Under the name of the Gwynvryn, or White Mount of the text,

allusion is most probably intended to the Tower of London, in which
the Welsh, who always regarded the capital as a city of their own
foundation, appear to have felt a peculiar interest.
Llywarch ab Llewelyn (Prydydd y Moch), a poet of the twelfth
and early part of the thirteenth century, speaks of it as " The White
eminence of London, a place of splendid fame."—Myv. Arch. I.
p. 280.
The keep of the metropolitan fortress of England has in turn been
attributed to Celts, Romans, Saxons, and Normans ; now, however,
the " Towers of Julius " are assigned, upon irrefragable evidence, to
the early Norman period.
Caswallawn.— Page 382.
Caswallawn the son of Beli, known more generally by the name of

Cassivelaunus, bestowed on him by the Romans, is a celebrated
character in Welsh history. He is recorded as one of the chiefs
chosen to oppose the invasion of Caesar, and was styled one of the
War-kings of Britain.—Tr. 24.
It is related that Caswallawn led an army of sixty-one thousand
men against Julius Caesar. The charms of Flur, the daughter of
Mygnach Gorr, are said to have been the cause of this incursion.
She had been carried off by Mwrchan, a Gaulish prince, in alliance
with Caesar, to whom he intended to present his prize. The expe
dition which Caswallawn headed was successful ; six thousand of the
partisans of Caesar were slain, and Flur was recovered. Some of the
circumstances of this exploit acquired for Caswallawn the designation
of " One of the Three Gold-Shoemakers " (the other two being
Manawyddan mab Llyr, and Llew Llaw Gyffes, as will be detailed
hereafter), and the whole achievement occasioned him to be ranked
among the three faithful lovers of Britain.
NOTES. 393
The army of Caswallawn did not return with their leader, whence
it is called one of the three Emigrant hosts of Britain.*
Meinlas was the name of Caswallawn's horse.—Trioedd y Meirch ii.
Five Divisions of Ireland.—rage 384.
Before the invasion of the Anglo-Normans, in Henry II. 's time,

Ireland was divided into a pentarchy composed of the kingdoms of
Munster, Leinster, Connaught, Ulster, and Meath.
* The above particulars with regard to Caswallawn are related in the Triads
14, 102, 124, and rL
MANAWYDDAN THE SON OF LLYE.
MANAWYDDAN THE SON OF LLYE.
HERE IS THE THIRD PORTION OF THE MABINOOI.
"\\THEN the seven men of whom we spoke above had

' ™ buried the head of Bendigeid Vran, in the White
Mount in London, with its face towards France ; Manawyddan
gazed upon the town of London, and upon his companions,
and heaved a great sigh ; and much grief and heaviness came
upon him. "Alas, Almighty Heaven, woe is me," he ex
claimed, " there is none save myself without a resting-place
this night." " Lord," said Pryderi, " be not so sorrowful.
Thy cousin is king of the Island of the Mighty, and though
he should do thee wrong, thou hast never been a claimant of
land or possessions. Thou art the third disinherited prince."
" Yea," answered he, " but although this man is my cousin,
it grieveth me to see any one in the place of my brother
Bendigeid Vran, neither can I be happy in the same dwelling
with him." " Wilt thou follow the counsel of another ? "
said Pryderi. " I stand in need of counsel," he answered,
398 MANAWYDDAN THE SON OF LLYR.
" and what may that counsel be ? " " Seven Cantrevs re
main unto me," said Pryderi, "wherein Rhiannon my mother
dwells. I will bestow her upon thee and the seven Cantrevs
with her, and though thou hadst no possessions but those
Cantrevs only, thou couldst not have seven Cantrevs fairer
than they. Kicva, the daughter of Gwynn Gloyw, is my
wife, and since the inheritance of the Cantrevs belongs to
me, do thou and Rhiannon enjoy them, and if thou ever
desire any possessions thou wilt take these." "I do not,
Chieftain," said he; "Heaven reward thee for thy friend
ship." " I would show thee the best friendship in the world
if thou wouldst let me." " I will, my friend," said he, " and
Heaven reward thee. I will go with thee to seek Rhiannon
and to look at thy possessions." " Thou wilt do well," he
answered. " And I believe that thou didst never hear a lady
discourse better than she, and when she was in her prime
none was ever fairer. Even now her aspect is not un
comely."
They set forth, and, however long the journey, they came
at length to Dyved, and a feast was prepared for them against
their coming to Narberth, which Rhiannon and Kicva had
provided. Then began M^nawyddan and Rhiannon to sit
and to talk together, and from their discourse his mind and
his thoughts became warmed towards her, and he thought in
his heart he had never beheld any lady more fulfilled of grace
and beauty than she. " Pryderi," said he, " I will that it be
as thou didst say." " What saying was that ? " asked
Rhiannon. " Lady," said Pryderi, " I did offer thee as a
wife to Manawyddan the son of Llyr." " By that will I gladly
abide," said Rhiannon. " Right glad am I also," said Mana
wyddan; " may Heaven reward him who hath shown unto me
friendship so perfect as this."
And before the feast was over she became his bride. Said
Pryderi, " Tarry ye here the rest of the feast, and I will go
into Lloegyr to tender my homage unto Caswallawn the son
of Beli." " Lord," said Rhiannon, " Caswallawn is in Kent,
thou mayest therefore tarry at the feast, and wait until he
MANAWYDDAN THE SON OF LLYR 399
shall be nearer." "We will wait," he answered. So they

finished the feast. And they began to make the circuit of
Dyved, and to hunt, and to take their pleasure. And as they
went through the country, they had never seen lands more
pleasant to live in, nor better hunting grounds, nor greater
plenty of honey and fish. And such was the friendship
between those four, that they would not be parted from
each other by night nor by day.
And in the midst of all this he went to Caswallawn at
Oxford, and tendered his homage; and honourable was his
reception there, and highly was he praised for offering his
homage.
And after his return, Pryderi and Manawyddan feasted and
took their ease and pleasure. And they began a feast at
Narberth, for it was the chief palace ; and there originated all
honour. And when they had ended the first meal that night,
while those who served them ate, they arose and went forth,
and proceeded all four to the Gorsedd of Narberth, and their
retinue with them. And as they sat thus, behold, a peal of
thunder, and with the violence of the thunderstorm, lo there
came a fall of mist, so thick that not one of them could see
the other. And after the mist it became light all around.
And when they looked towards the place where they were
wont to see cattle, and herds, and dwellings, they saw nothing
now, neither house, nor beast, nor smoke, nor fire, nor man,
nor dwelling ; but the houses of the Court empty, and desert,
and uninhabited, without either man, or beast within them.
And truly all their companions were lost to them, without
their knowing aught of what had befallen them, save those
four only.
" In the name of Heaven," cried Manawyddan, " where are
they of the Court, and all my host beside these ? Let us go
and see." So they came into the hall, and there was no man ;
and they went on to the castle, and to the sleeping-place, and
they saw none ; and in the mead-cellar and in the kitchen
there was nought but desolation. So they four feasted, and
hunted, and took their pleasure. Then they began to go
through the land and all the possessions that they had, and
they visited the houses and dwellings, and found nothing but
wild beasts. And when they had consumed their feast and
all their provisions, they fed upon the prey they killed in
hunting, and the honey of the wild swarms. And thus they
passed the first year pleasantly, and the second ; but at the
last they began to be weary.
"Verily," said Manawyddan, "we must not bide thus.
Let us go into Lloegyr, and seek some craft whereby we may
gain our support." So they went into Lloegyr, and came as
far as Hereford. And they betook themselves to making
saddles. And Manawyddan began to make housings, and he
gilded and coloured them with blue enamel, in the manner
that he had seen it done by Llasar Llaesgywydd. And he
made the blue enamel as it was made by the other man. And
therefore is it still called Calch Lasar [blue enamel] , because
Llasar Llaesgywydd had wrought it.
And as long as that workmanship could be had of Mana
wyddan, neither saddle nor housing was bought of a saddler
throughout all Hereford; till at length every one of the
saddlers perceived that they were losing much of their gain,
and that no man bought of them, but him who could not get
what he sought from Manawyddan. Then they assembled
together, and agreed to slay him and his companions.
Now they received warning of this, and took counsel whether
they should leave the city. " By Heaven," said Pryderi, " it
is not my counsel that we should quit the town, but that we
should slay these boors." "Not so," said Manawyddan, " for
if we fight with them, we shall have evil fame, and shall be
put in prison. It were better for us to go to another town to
maintain ourselves." So they four went to another city.
" What craft shall we take ? " said Pryderi. " We will make
shields," said Manawyddan. " Do we know anything about
that craft ? " said Pryderi. " We will try," answered he.
There they began to make shields, and fashioned them after the
shape of the good shields they had seen ; and they enamelled
them, as they had done the saddles. And they prospered
MANAWYDDAN THE SON OF LLYR. 401
in that place, so that not a shield was asked for in the whole
town, but such as was had of them. Rapid therefore was their
work, and numberless were the shields they made. But at last
they were marked by the craftsmen, who came together in
haste, and their fellow-townsmen with them, and agreed that
they should seek to slay them. But they received warning,
and heard how the men had resolved on their destruction.
" Pryderi," said Manawyddan, " these men desire to slay us."
" Let us not endure this from these boors, but let us rather
fall upon them and slay them." "Not so," he answered J
" Caswallawn and his men will hear of it, and we shall be
undone. Let us go to another town." So to another town
they went.
" What craft shall we take ? " said Manawyddan. " Whatso
ever thou wilt that we know," said Pryderi. " Not so," he
replied, "but let us take to making shoes, for there is not
courage enough among cordwainers either to fight with us
or to molest us." " I know nothing thereof," said Pryderi.
" But I know," answered Manawyddan ; " and I will teach
thee to stitch. We will not attempt to dress the leather,
but we will buy it ready dressed and will make the shoes
from it."
So he began by buying the best cordwal that could be had
in the town, and none other would he buy except the leather
for the soles ; and he associated himself with the best gold
smith in the town, and caused him to make clasps for the
shoes, and to gild the clasps, and he marked how it was done
until he learnt the method. And therefore was he called one
of the three makers of Gold Shoes ; and, when they could be
had from him, not a shoe nor hose was bought of any of the
cordwainers in the town. But when the cordwainers perceived
that their gains were failing (for as Manawyddan shaped the
work, so Pryderi stitched it), they came together and took
counsel, and agreed that they would slay them.
" Pryderi," said Manawyddan, " these men are minded to
slay us." "Wherefore should we bear this from the boorish
thieves ?" said Pryderi. " Rather let us slay them all." Not
Hahmogion. 2 D
402 MANAWYDDAN THE SON OF T,LYR.
so," said Manawyddan, " we will not slay them, neither will
we remain in Lloegyr any longer. Let us set forth to Dyved
and go to see it."
So they journeyed along until they came to Dyved, and they
went forward to Narberth. And there they kindled fire and
supported themselves by hunting. And thus they spent a
month. And they gathered their dogs around them, and
tarried there one year.
And one morning Pryderi and Manawyddan rose up to
hunt, and they ranged their dogs and went forth from the
palace. And some of the dogs ran before them and came to
a small bush which was near at hand ; but as soon as they
were come to the bush, they hastily drew back and returned
to the men, their hair bristling up greatly. " Let us go near
to the bush," said Pryderi, "and see what is in it." And as
they came near, behold, a wild boar of a pure white colour
rose up from the bush. Then the dogs being set on by the
men, rushed towards him ; but he left the bush and fell back
a little way from the men, and made a stand against the dogs
without retreating from them, until the men had come near.
And when the men came up, he fell back a second time,
and betook him to flight. Then they pursued the boar until
they beheld a vast and lofty castle, all newly built, in a place
where they had never before seen either stone or building.
And the boar ran swiftly into the castle and the dogs after
him. Now when the boar and the dogs had gone into the
castle, they began to wonder at finding a castle in a place
where they had never before then seen any building whatso
ever. And from the top of the G-orsedd they looked and
listened for the dogs. But so long as they were there they
heard not one of the dogs nor aught concerning them.
"Lord," said Pryderi, "I will go into the castle to get
tidings of the dogs." "Truly," he replied, "thouwouldst be
unwise to go into this castle, which thou hast never seen till
now. If thou wouldst follow my counsel, thou wouldst not enter
therein. Whosoever has cast a spell over this land has caused
this castle to be here." " Of a truth," answered Pryderi, " I
cannot thus give up my dogs." And for all the counsel that
Manawyddan gave him, yet to the castle he went.
When he came within the castle, neither man nor beast, nor
boar nor dogs, nor house nor dwelling saw he within it. But
in the centre of the castle floor he beheld a fountain with
marble work around it, and on the margin of the fountain a
golden bowl upon a marble slab, and chains hanging from the
air, to which he saw no end.
And he was greatly pleased with the beauty of the gold, and
with the rich workmanship of the bowl, and he went up to
the bowl and laid hold of it. And when he had taken hold of
it his hands stuck to the bowl, and his feet to the slab on
which the bowl was placed, and all his joyousness forsook him,
so that he could not utter a word. And thus he stood.
And Manawyddan waited for him till near the close of the
day. And late in the evening, being certain that he should
have no tidings of Pryderi or of the dogs, he went back to
the palace. And as he entered, Rhiannon looked at him.
"Where," said she, "are thy companion and thy dogs?"
"Behold," he answered, "the adventure that has befallen
me." And he related it all unto her. " An evil companion
hast thou been," said Rhiannon, " and a good companion hast
thou lost." And with that word she went out, and proceeded
towards the castle according to the direction which he gave
her. The gate of the castle she found open. She was nothing
daunted, and she went in. And as she went in, she perceived
Pryderi laying hold of the bowl, and she went towards him.
" Oh, my lord," said she, "what dost thou do here?" And
she took hold of the bowl with him ; and as she did so her
hands became fast to the bowl, and her feet to the slab, and
she was not able to utter a word. And with that, as it
became night, lo, there came thunder upon them, and a fall
of mist, and thereupon the castle vanished, and they with it.
When Kicva the daughter of Gwynn Gloew saw that there
was no one in the palace but herself and Manawyddan, she
sorrowed so that she cared not whether she lived or died.
And Manawyddan saw this. " Thou art in the wrong," said
2 d 2
he, " if through fear of me thou grievest thus. I call Heaven

to witness that thou hast never seen friendship more pure
than that which I will bear thee, as long as Heaven will that
thou shouldst be thus. I declare to thee that were I in the
dawn of youth I would keep my faith unto Pryderi, and unto
thee also will I keep it. Be there no fear upon thee, there
fore," said he, "for Heaven is my witness that thou shalt
meet with all the friendship thou canst wish, and that it is in
my power to show thee, as long as it shall please Heaven to
continue us in this grief and woe." " Heaven reward thee,"
she said, ('and that is what I deemed of thee." And the
damsel thereupon took courage and was glad.
" Truly, lady," said Manawyddan, " it is not fitting for us
to stay here, we have lost our dogs, and we cannot get food.
Let us go into Lloegyr ; it is easiest for us to find support
there." "Gladly, lord," said she, "we will do so." And
they set forth together to Lloegyr.
" Lord," said she, " what craft wilt thou follow ? Take
up one that is seemly." " None other will I take," answered
he, " save that of making shoes, as I did formerly." " Lord,"
said she, " such a craft becomes not a man so nobly born as
thou." " By that however will I abide," said he.
So he began his craft, and he made all his work of the
finest leather he could get in the town, and, as he had done at
the other place, he caused gilded clasps to be made for the
shoes. And except himself all the cordwainers in the town
were idle, and without work. For as long as they could be
had from him, neither shoes nor hose were bought elsewhere.
And thus they tarried there a year, until the cordwainers
became envious, and took counsel concerning him. And he
had warning thereof, and it was told him how the cordwainers
had agreed together to slay him.
"Lord," said Kicva, "wherefore should this be borne from
these boors?" "Nay," said he, "we will go back unto
Dyved." So towards Dyved they set forth.
Now Manawyddan, when he set out to return to Dyved,
took with him a burden of wheat. And he proceeded towards
Narberth, and there he dwelt. And never was he better

pleased than when he saw Narberth again, and the lands
where he had been wont to hunt with Pryderi and with
Rhiannon. And he accustomed himself to fish, and to hunt
the deer in their covert. And then he began to prepare some
ground and he sowed a croft, and a second, and a third. And
no wheat in the world ever sprung up better. And the three
crofts prospered with perfect growth, and no man ever saw
fairer wheat than it.
And thus passed the seasons of the year until the harvest
came. And he went to look at one of his crofts, and behold
it was ripe. " I will reap this to-morrow," said he. And
that night he went back to Narberth, and on the morrow in
the grey dawn he went to reap the croft, and when he came
there he found nothing but the bare straw. Every one of the
ears of the wheat was cut from off the stalk, and all the ears
carried entirely away, and nothing but the straw left. And
at this he marvelled greatly.
Then he went to look at another croft, and behold that also
was ripe. " Verily," said he, " this will I reap to-morrow."
And on the morrow he came with the intent to reap it, and
when he came there he found nothing but the bare straw.
" Oh, gracious Heaven," he exclaimed, " I know that whoso
ever has begun my ruin is completing it, and has also de
stroyed the country with me."
Then he went to look at the third croft, and when he came
there, finer wheat had there never been seen, and this also
was ripe. " Evil betide me," said he, " if I watch not here
to-night. Whoever carried off the other corn will come in
like manner to take this. And I will know who it is." So
he took his arms, and began to watch the croft. And he told
Kicva all that had befallen. " Verily," said she, " what
thinkest thou to do ? " "I will watch the croft to-night,"
said he.
And he went to watch the croft. And at midnight, lo,
there arose the loudest tumult in the world. And he looked,
and behold the mightiest host of mice in the world, which
could neither be numbered nor measured. And he knew not

what it was until the mice had made their way into the croft,
and each of them climbing up the straw and bending it down
with its weight, had cut off one of the ears of wheat, and had
carried it away, leaving there the stalk, and he saw not a
single straw there that had not a mouse to it. And they all
took their way, carrying the ears with them.
In wrath and anger did he rush upon the mice, but he
could no more come up with them than if they had been
gnats, or birds in the air, except one only, which though it
was but sluggish, went so fast that a man on foot could scarce
overtake it. And after this one he went, and he caught it and
put it in his glove, and tied up the opening of the glove with
a string, and kept it with him, and returned to the palace.
Then he came to the hall where Kicva was, and he lighted a
fire, and hung the glove by the string upon a peg. " What
hast thou there, lord ? " said Kicva. " A thief," said he,
" that I found robbing me." " What kind of thief may it be,
lord, that thou couldst put into thy glove ? " said she. " Be
hold I will tell thee," he answered. Then he showed her how
his fields had been wasted and destroyed, and how the mice
came to the last of the fields in his sight. " And one of them
was less nimble than the rest, and is now in my glove ; to
morrow I will hang it, and before Heaven, if I had them, I
would hang them all." " My lord," said she, " this is mar
vellous ; but yet it would be unseemly for a man of dignity
like thee to be hanging such a reptile as this. And if thou
doest right, thou wilt not meddle with the creature, but wilt
let it go." "Woe betide me," said he, "if I would not
hang them all could I catch them, and such as I have I will
hang." "Verily, lord," said she, "there is no reason that I
should succour this reptile, except to prevent discredit unto
thee. Do therefore, lord, as thou wilt." " If I knew of any
cause in the world wherefore thou shouldst succour it, I would
take thy counsel concerning it," said Manawyddan, " but as I
know of none, lady, I am minded to destroy it." "Do so
willingly then," said she.
And then he went to the Gorsedd of Narberth, taking the

mouse with him. And he set up two forks on the highest
part of the Gorsedd. And while he was doing this, behold
he saw a scholar coming towards him, in old and poor and
tattered garments. And it was now seven years since he had
seen in that place either man or beast, except those four
persons who had remained together until two of them were lost.
" My lord," said the scholar, " good day to thee." " Heaven
prosper thee, and my greeting be unto thee. And whence
dost thou come, scholar ? " asked he. " I come, lord, from
singing in Lloegyr ; and wherefore dost thou inquire ? "
" Because for the last seven years," answered he, " I have
seen no man here save four secluded persons, and thyself this
moment." " Truly, lord," said he, " I go through this land
unto mine own. And what work art thou upon, lord ? " "I
am hanging a thief that I caught robbing me," said he.
" What manner of thief is that ? " asked the scholar. " I
see a creature in thy hand like unto a mouse, and ill does it
become a man of rank equal to thine to touch a reptile such
as this. Let it go forth free." " I will not let it go free, by
Heaven," said he, " I caught it robbing me, and the doom of
a thief will I inflict upon it, and I will hang it." " Lord,"
said he, " rather than see a man of rank equal to thine at such
a work as this, I would give thee a pound which 1 have re
ceived as alms, to let the reptile go forth free." I will not
let it go free," said he, " by Heaven, neither will I sell it."
" As thou wilt, lord," he answered, " except that I would not
see a man of rank equal to thine touching such a reptile, I
care nought." And the scholar went his way.
And as he was placing ,the crossbeam upon the two forks,
behold a priest came towards him upon a horse covered with
trappings. " Good day to thee, lord," said he. "Heaven
prosper thee," said Manawyddan ; " thy blessing." " The
blessing of Heaven be upon thee. And what, lord, art thou
doing ?" " I am hanging a thief that I caught robbing me,"
said he. " What manner of thief, lord ? " asked he. " A
creature," he answered, " in form of a mouse. It has been
408 MANAWYDDAN THE 80N OF LLYR.
robbing me, and I am inflicting upon it the doom of a thief."

" Lord," said he, " rather than see thee touch this reptile, I
would purchase its freedom." " By my confession to Heaven,
neither will I sell it nor set it free." " It is true, lord, that it
is worth nothing to buy ; but rather than see thee defile thy
self by touching such a reptile as this, I will give thee three
pounds to let it go." "I will not, by Heaven," said he,
" take any price for it. As it ought, so shall it be hanged."
" Willingly, lord, do thy good pleasure." And the priest
went his way.
Then he noosed the string around the mouse's neck, and as
he was about to draw it up, behold, he saw a bishop's retinue
with his sumpter-horses, and his attendants. And the bishop
himself came towards him. And he stayed his work. "Lord
bishop," said he, " thy blessing." " Heaven's blessing be
unto thee," said he, "what work art thou upon ? " " Hang
ing a thief that I caught robbing me," said he. "Is not that
a mouse that I see in thy hand ? " " Yes," answered he.
" And she has robbed me." " Aye," said he, " since I have
come at the doom of this reptile, I will ransom it of thee. I
will give thee seven pounds for it, and that rather than see a
man of rank equal to thine destroying so vile a reptile as this.
Let it loose and thou shalt have the money." " I declare to
Heaven that I will not set it loose." " If thou wilt not loose
it for this, I will give thee four-and-twenty pounds of ready
money to set it free." " I will not set it free, by Heaven, for
as much again," said he. " If thou wilt not set it free for
this, I will give thee all the horses that thou seest in this
plain, and the seven loads of baggage, and the seven horses
that they are upon." " By Heaven, I will not," he replied.
" Since for this thou wilt not, do so at what price soever thou
wilt." " I will do so," said he. " I will that Rhiannon and
Pryderi be free," said he. " That thou shalt have," he
answered. " Not yet will I loose the mouse, by Heaven."
" What then wouldst thou ? " " That the charm and the
illusion be removed from the seven Cantrevs of Dyved."
" This shalt thou have also, set therefore the mouse free."
ilANAWYDDAN THE SON OF LLYR. 409
" I will not set it free, by Heaven,'' said he. " I will know
who the mouse may be." " She is my wife." " Even though
she be, I will not set her free. Wherefore came she to me ? "
" To despoil thee," he answered. " I am Llwyd the son of
Kilcoed, and I cast the charm over the seven Cantrevs of
Dyved. And it was to avenge Gwawl the son of Clud, from
the friendship I had towards him, that I cast the charm.
And upon Pryderi did I revenge Gwawl the son of Clud, for
the game of Badger in the Bag, that Pwyll Pen Annwn
played upon him, which he did unadvisedly in the Court of
Heveydd H&n. And when it was known that thou wast come
to dwell in the land, my household came and besought me to
transform them into mice, that they might destroy thy corn.
And it was my own household that went the first night. And
the second night also they went, and they destroyed thy two
crofts. And the third night came unto me my wife and the
ladies of the Court, and besought me to transform them.
And I transformed them. Now she is pregnant. And had
she not been pregnant thou wouldst not have been able to
overtake her; but since this has taken place, and she has been
caught, I will restore thee Pryderi and Rhiannon ; and I will
take the charm and illusion from off Dyved. I have now told
thee who she is. Set her therefore free." " I will not set
her free, by Heaven," said he. " What wilt thou more ? "
he asked. " I will that there be no more charm upon the
seven Cantrevs of Dyved, and that none shall be put upon it
henceforth." " This thou shalt have," said he. " Now set
her free." " I will not, by my faith," he answered. " What
wilt thou furthermore ? " asked he. " Behold," said he, " this
will I have; that vengeance be never taken for this, either
upon Pryderi or Rhiannon, or upon me." "All this shalt
thou have. And truly thou hast done wisely in asking this.
Upon thy head would have lighted all this trouble." " Yea,"
said he, " for fear thereof was it, that I required this." " Set
now my wife at liberty." " I will not, by Heaven," said he,
" until I see Pryderi and Rhiannon with me free." " Behold,
here they come," he answered.
And thereupon behold Pryderi and Rhiannon. And he

rose up to meet them, and greeted them, and sat down beside
them. "Ah, Chieftain, set now my wife at liberty," said the
bishop. " Hast thou not received all thou didst ask 1 " "I
will release her gladly," said he. And thereupon he set her
free.
Then Llwyd struck her with a magic wand, and she was
changed back into a young woman, the fairest ever seen.
"Look around upon thy land," said he, "and then thou
wilt see it all tilled and peopled, as it was in its best state."
And he rose up and looked forth. And when he looked he
saw all the lands tilled, and full of herds and dwellings.
" What bondage," he inquired, " has there been upon Pryderi
and Rhiannon ?" " Pryderi has had the knockers of the gate
of my palace about his neck, and Rhiannon has had the
collars of the asses, after they have been carrying hay, about
her neck.
And such had been their bondage.
And by reason of this bondage is this story called the
Mabinogi of Mynnweir and Mynord.
And thus ends this portion of the Mabinogi.
MANAWYDDAN THE SON OF LLYR.
The Prince who figures as the hero of the present Mabinogi, is the
subject of two Triads, in one of which his singular adventures are
thus alluded to :—
" Three Makers of Golden Shoes, of the Isle of Britain : Cas-
wallawn the son of Beli, when he went as far as Gascooy to obtain
Flur, the daughter of Mygnach Gorr, who had been carried thither
to Caesar the Emperor, by one called Mwrchan the Thief, king of that
country and friend of Julius Caesar, and Caswallawn brought her
back to the Isle of Britain ; Manawyddan the son of Llyr Llediaith,
when he was as far as Dyved laying restrictions ; Llew Llaw Gyffes,
when he was along with Gwydion, the son of Don, seeking a name
and arms from Arianrod, his mother." — Triad 124.
In the other, he is represented as one of the humble princes of the
Island, because, having cultivated minstrelsy after the captivity of
his brother Bran, he would not afterwards resume his rank, although
he might have done so.—Tr. 38.
412 NOTES.
Manawyddan is mentioned in the Dialogue between Arthur, Kai,
and Glewlwyd ; and his name occurs in connexion with that of
Pryderi in the Poem on the Sons of Llyr, " Kerdd meib Llyr,"* ot
Taliesin.
The other principal personages whose names appear in this Mabi-
nogi, are here passed over in silence, having been already made the
subjects of various preceding notes.
It may be useful to remind the reader that Lloegyr is the Welsh
name for the eastern and greater part of the island ; and corre
sponds in modern usage with the word England.—See p. 210.
• Myv. Arch. L 67, 167.
MATH THE SON OF MATHONWY.
THIB IS THE FOURTH PORTION OF THE MABINOOI.
1% TATH the son of Mathonwy was lord over Gwynedd, and

' Pryderi the son of Pwyll was lord over the one-and-
twenty Cantrevs of the South ; and these were the seven
Cantrevs of Dyved, and the seven Cantrevs of Morganwc, the
four Cantrevs of Ceredigiawn, and the three of Ystrad Tywi.
At that time, Math the son of Mathonwy 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 Goewin, the daughter of Pebin of
D61 Pebin, in Arvon, and she was the fairest maiden of her
time who was known there.
And Math dwelt always at Caer Dathyl, in Arvon, and was
not able to go the circuit of the land, but Gilvaethwy the son
of Don, and Eneyd the son of Don, his nephews, the sons of
his sister, with his household, went the circuit oi the land in
his stead.
414 MATH THE SON OF MATHONWY.
Now the maiden was with Math continually, and Gilvaethwy

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
therefrom 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 Gwydion gazed steadfastly upon him.
" Youth," said he, " what aileth thee ? " " Why," replied he,
" what seest thou in me ? " "I see," said he, " that thou
hast lost thy aspect and thy hue; what, therefore, aileth
thee ? " " My lord brother," he answered, " that which aileth
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 Mathonwy has this property, that if
men whisper together, in a tone how low soever, if the wind
meet it, it becomes known unto him." " Yes," said Gwyd
ion, " hold now thy peace, I know thy intent, thou lovest
Goewin."
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 cause," said he, "if it cannot be otherwise, the rising
of Gwynedd, and Powys, and Deheubarth, to seek the
maiden. Be thou of glad cheer therefore, and I will com
pass it."
So they went unto Math the son of Mathonwy. " Lord,"
said Gwydion, "I have heard that there have come to the
South some 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 change their names.
Swine are they now called." " Who owneth them ?" " Pry-
deri the son of Pwyll ; they were sent him from Annwn, by
Arawn the king of Annwn, and still they keep that name,
half hog, half pig." "Verily," asked he, "and by what
means may they be obtained from him ? " "I will go, lord,
MATH THE SON OF MATHONWY. 415
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 Gilvaethwy went, and ten other men with them.
And they came into Ceredigiawn, to the place that is now
called Rhuddlan Tern, where the palace of Pryderi was.
In the guise of bards they came in, and they were re
ceived joyfully, and Gwydion was placed beside Pryderi that
Dight.
" Of a truth," said Pryderi, " gladly would I have a tale
from some of your men yonder." "Lord," said Gwydion,
" we have a custom that 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 Gwydion 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 every
one in the Court, and it pleased Pryderi to talk with
him.
And after this, "Lord," said he unto Pryderi, "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 Annwn."
"Verily," 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 those words, and this is the way I can do so;
give me not the swine to-night, neither refuse them unto me,
and to-morrow I will show thee an exchange for them."
And that night he and his fellows went unto their lodging,
and they took counsel. "Ah, my men," said he, "we shall
not have the swine for the asking." " Well," said they,
" how may they be obtained f " "I will cause them to be
obtained," said Gwydion.
Then he betook himself to his arts, and began to work a
charm. And he caused twelve chargers to appear, and twelve
black greyhounds, each of them white-breasted, 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 Pryderi.
" 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 wouldst neither give nor sell them. Thou mayest ex
change them for that which is better. And I will give these
twelve horses, all caparisoned as they are, with their saddles
and their bridles, and these twelve greyhounds, 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 Gwydion, and to take his horses and his dogs and
his shields.
Then Gwydion and his men took their leave, and began to
journey forth with the pigs. "Ah, my comrades," said
Gwydion, "it is needful that we journey with speed. The
illusion will not last but from the one hour to the same to
morrow."
And that night they journeyed as far as the upper part of
Ceredigiawn, to the place which, from that cause, is called
Mochdrev still. And the next day they took their course
through Melenydd, and came that night to the town which
is likewise for that reason called Mochdrev, between Keri and
Arwystli. And thence they journeyed forward; and that night
they came as far as that Commot in Powys, which also upon
MATH THE SON OP MATHONWY. 417
account thereof is called Mochnant, and there tarried they

that night. And they journeyed thence to the Cantrev of
Rhos, and the place where they were that night is still called
Mochdrev.
" My men," said Gwydion, " we must push forward to the
fastnesses of Gwynedd with these animals, for there is a
gathering of hosts in pursuit of us." So they journeyed on to
the highest town of Arllechwedd, and there they made a sty
for the swine, and therefore was the name of Creuwyryon
given to that town. And after they had made the sty for the
swine, they proceeded to Math the son of Mathonwy, at Caer-
dathyl. And when they came there, the country was rising.
" What news is there here ? " asked Gwydion. " Pryderi is
assembling one-and-twenty Cantrevs to pursue after you,"
answered they. "It is marvellous that you should have
journeyed so slowly." " Where are the animals whereof you
went in quest ?" said Math. " They have had a sty made
for them in the other Cantrev below," said Gwydion.
Thereupon, lo, they heard the trumpets and the host in the
land, and they arrayed themselves and set forward and came
to Penardd in Arvon.
And at night Gwydion the son of Don, and Gilvaethwy
his brother, returned to Caerdathyl; and Gilvaethwy took
Math the son of Mathonwy's couch. And while he turned
out the other damsels from the room discourteously, he made
Goewin unwillingly remain.
And when they saw the day on the morrow, they went back
unto the place where Math the son of Mathonwy was with his
host ; and when they came there, the warriors were taking
counsel in what district they should await the coming of
Pryderi, and the men of the South. So they went in to the
council. And it was resolved to wait in the strongholds of
Gwynedd, in Arvon. So within the two Maenors they took
their stand, Maenor Penardd and Maenor Coed Alun. And
there Pryderi attacked them, and there the combat took place.
And great was the slaughter on both sides ; but the men of
the South were forced to flee. And they fled unto the place
Ifabinogion. 2 E
418 MATH THE SOS OF MATHONWY.
which is still called Nantcall. And thither did they follow them,
and they made a vast slaughter of them there, so that they fled
again as far as the place called Dol Pen Maen, and there they
halted and sought to make peace.
And that he might have peace, Pryderi gave hostages,
Gwrgi Gwastra gave he and three-and-twenty others, sons of
nobles. And after this they journeyed in peace even unto
Traeth Mawr ; but as they went on together towards Melenryd,
the men on foot could not be restrained from shooting. Pryderi
despatched unto Math an 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 truth," 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."
" Verily," said the messengers, " Pryderi saith that it were
more fair that the man who did him this wrong should oppose
his own body to his, and let his people remain unscathed." " I
declare to Heaven, I will not ask the men of Gwynedd to fight
because of me. If I am allowed to fight Pryderi myself,
gladly will I oppose my body to his." And this answer they
took back to Pryderi. " Truly," said Pryderi, " 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, Pryderi was slain. And at Maen
Tyriawc, above Melenryd, was he buried, and there is his grave.
And the men of the South set forth in sorrow towards their
own land ; nor is it a 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 Gwynedd 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," saith 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 Caerdathyl. Gilvaethwy the
son of Don, and they of the household that were with him went
to make the circuit of Gwynedd 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 Goewin, "seek now another to hold thy feet, for I
am now a wife." " What meaneth this ? " said 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 thy nephews, lord, the sons of
thy sister, Gwydion the son of Don, and Gilvaethwy the son
of Don ; unto me they did wrong, and unto thee dishonour."
" Verily," he exclaimed, " I will do 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 Gwydion and Gilvaethwy 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 the last they came. " Lord," said 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 have done. You cannot compensate me my
shame, setting aside the death of Pryderi. But since ye come
hither to be at my will, I shall begin your punishment
forthwith."
Then he took his magic wand, and struck Gilvaethwy, so
that he became a deer, and he seized upon the other hastily
lest he should escape from him. And he struck him with
the same magic wand, and he became a deer also. " Since
now ye are in bonds, I will that ye go forth together and be
companions, and possess .the nature of the animals whose
2 e 2
form ye bear. And this day twelvemonth come hither

unto me."
At the end of a year from that day, lo there was a loud
noise under the chamber wall, and the barking of the dogs of
the palace together with the noise. " Look," said he, " what
is without." "Lord," said one, "I have looked; there are
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 thereupon 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 Hydwn. " Go ye and be wild
swine, each and either of you, and be ye of the nature of wild
swine. And this day twelvemonth 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
thereupon 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 Hychdwn. " 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 twelvemonth beneath this wall."
And at the same day at the end of the year, he heard a
clamour 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 Bleiddwn. Now
these three, such are they :
The three sons of Gilvaethwy the false,

The three faithful combatants,
Bleiddwn, Hydwn, and Hychdwn the Tall."
Then he struck the two with his magic wand, and they
resumed their own nature. " Oh men," said he, " for the
wrong that ye did unto me sufficient has been your punish
ment and your dishonour. Prepare now precious ointment
for these men, and wash their heads, and equip them." And
this was done.
And after they were equipped, they came unto him. "Oh
men," said he, " you have obtained peace, and you shall like
wise have friendship. Give your counsel unto me, what
maiden I shall seek." " Lord," said Gwydion the son of
Don, " it is easy to give thee counsel ; seek Arianrod, the
daughter of Don, thy niece, thy sister's daughter."
And they brought her unto him, and the maiden came in.
" Ha, 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," said he, " and I shall
know if thou art the maiden." Then stepped she over the
magic wand, and there appeared forthwith a 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 any one could get a second glimpse of it,
Gwydion 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.
" Verily," said Math the son of Mathonwy, 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 whereby he came to his death, was struck
422 MATH THE SON OF MATHOXWY.
by his uncle Govannipn. The third fatal blow was it

called.
As Gwydion 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, Gwydion noticed him, and the boy became
familiar with him, and loved him better than any one 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 Gwydion walked forth, and the boy followed
him, and he went to the Castle of Arianrod, having the boy
with him ; and when he came into the Court, Arianrod
arose to meet him, and greeted him and bade him welcome.
" Heaven prosper thee," said he. " Who is the boy that
followeth thee ? " she asked. " This youth, he is thy son,"
he answered. " Alas," said she, " what has come unto thee
that thou shouldst shame me thus, wherefore dost thou seek
my dishonour, and retain it so long as this ? " " Unless thou
suffer dishonour 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. " Verily," he replied, " he has not
yet a name." " Well," she said, " 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 soever 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 in wrath, and

returned to Caer Dathyl, 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
Menei. And there he saw some sedges and sea weed, 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 coloured 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 Arian-
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 boat?" said Arianrod. "They are cordwainers,"
answered they. " Go and see what kind of leather they have,
and what kind of work they can do."
So they came unto them. And when they came he was
colouring 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 cordwainer to make
shoes for me." So he made the shoes for her, yet not accord
ing 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 they." 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 this. " Verily," said he, " I
will not make her any shoes, unless I see her 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. " Ah, 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, " bu„

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. " Verily," said she, " with
a steady hand did the lion aim at it." " Heaven reward thee
not, but now has he got a name. And a good enough name
it is. Llew Llaw Gyffes be he called henceforth."
Then the work disappeared in sea weed and sedges, and he
went on with it no further. And for that reason was he
called the third Gold-shoemaker. " Of a truth," said she,
" thou wilt not thrive the better for doing evil unto me." " I
have done thee no evil yet," said he. Then he restored the
boy to his own form. " Well," said she, " I will lay a destiny
upon this boy, that he shall never have arms and armour
until I invest him with them." "By Heaven," said he, "let
thy malice be what it may, he shall have arms."
Then they went towards Dinas Dinllev, and there he
brought up Llew Llaw Gyffes, until he could manage any
horse, and he was perfect in features, and strength, and
stature. And then Gwydion saw that he languished through
the want of horses, and arms. And he called him unto him.
" Ah, youth," said he, " we will go to-morrow on an errand
together. Be therefore more cheerful than thoa art." " That
I will," said the youth.
Next morning, at the dawn of day, they arose. And
they took way along the sea coast, up towards Bryn Aryen.
And at the top of Cevn Clydno they equipped themselves with
horses, and went towards the Castle of Arianrod. And
they changed their form, and pricked towards the gate in the
semblance of two youths, but the aspect of Gwydion was more
staid 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 Arianrod.
With great joy were they greeted. And the hall was
arranged, and they went to meat. When meat was ended,
MATH THE SON OF MATHONWI. 425
Arianrod discoursed with Gwydion of tales and stories. Now

Gwydion 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 Gwydion arose, and he called unto
him his magic and his power. And by the time that the
day dawned, there resounded through the land uproar, and
trumpets, and shouts. When it was now day, they heard
a knocking at the door of the chamber, and therewith
Arianrod asking that it might be opened. Up rose the youth
and opened unto her, and she entered and a maiden with her.
"Ah, good men," she said, "in evil plight are we." "Yes,
truly," said Gwydion, " we have heard trumpets, and shouts ;
what thinkest thou that they may mean?" "Verily," said
she, " we cannot see the colour 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 Gwydion, " there is none other counsel
than 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. And here may you have plenty of arms."
And thereupon went she forth for the arms, and behold she
returned, and two maidens, and suits of armour for two men,
with her. " Lady," said he, " do thou accoutre this 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.
" Hast thou finished arming the youth ? " said he. " I have
finished," she answered. "I likewise have finished," said
Gwydion. " 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 Arianrod, " thou art a wicked
man. Many a youth might have lost his life through the
426 MATH THE SON OF MATHONWV.
uproar thou hast caused in this Cantrev to-day. 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." "Verily/'
said he, "thou wast ever a malicious woman, and no one
ought to support thee. A wife shall he have notwith
standing."
They went thereupon unto Math the son Mathonwy, and
complained unto him most bitterly of Arianrod. Grwydion
showed him also how he had procured arms for the youth.
" Well," said Math, " we will seek, I and thou, by charms
and illusion, to form a wife for him out of flowers. He has
now come to man's stature, and he is the comeliest youth that
was ever beheld." So they took the blossoms of the oak, and
the blossoms of the broom, 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 Blodeuwedd.
After she had become his bride, and they had feasted, said
Gwydion, " 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 Cantrev to hold." " Lord," said he,
"what Cantrev is that?" "The Cantrev of Dinodig," he
answered. Now it is called at this day Eivionydd and
Ardudwy. And the place in the Cantrev where he dwelt,
was a palace of his in a spot called Mur y Castell, on the
confines of Ardudwy. There dwelt he and reigned, and both
he and his sway were beloved by all.
One day he went forth to Caer Dathyl, to visit Math the
son of Mathonwy. And on the day that he set out for
Caer Dathyl, Blodeuwedd 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 follow
ing it. And after the dogs and the huntsmen there came
a crowd of men on foot. " Send a youth," said she, " to ask
who yonder host may be." So a youth went, and inquired
who they were. " Gronw Pebyr is this, the lord of Penllynn,"
said they. And thus the youth told her.
MATH THE 80N OF MATHONWY. 427
Gronw Pebyr pursued the stag, and by the river Cynvael

he overtook the stag and killed it. And what with flaying
the stag and baiting his dogs, he was there until the night
began to close in upon him. And as the day departed and
the night drew near, he came to the gate of the Court.
" Verily," said Blodeuwedd, " the 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 fitting 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
Blodeuwedd went to meet him and greeted him, and bade
him welcome. " Lady," said he, " Heaven repay thee thy
kindness."
When they had disaccoutred themselves, they went to sit
down. And Blodeuwedd looked upon him, and from the
moment that she looked on him she became filled with his love.
And he gazed on 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 to-day." And that night he tarried also.
And that night they consulted by what means they might
always be together. " There is none other counsel," said he,
" but that thou strive to learn from Llew Llaw Gyffes in what
manner he will meet his death. And this must thou do under
the semblance of solicitude concerning him."
The next day Gronw sought to depart. " Verily," said she,
" I will counsel thee not to go from me to-day." " 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."
" To-morrow," answered she, " will I indeed permit thee
to go forth."
428 MATH THE SON OP MATHONWY.
The next day he sought to go, and she hindered him not.
" Be mindful," said Gronw, " of what I have said unto 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 Llew Llaw Gyffes 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 Blodeuwedd
once, and he spoke to her a second time. But, for all this,
he could not get from her one word. " What aileth thee,"
said 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 shouldst 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 thine." " I
will tell thee gladly," said he. " Not 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." " Verily," 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
Gronw Pebyr. Gronw toiled at making the spear, and that
day twelvemonth it was ready. And that very day he caused
her to be informed thereof.
" Lord," said Blodeuwedd unto Llew, "I have been thinking
MATH THE SON OP MATHOXWY. 429
how it is possible that what thou didst tell me formerly can be

true ; wilt thou show me in what manner thou couldst stand
at 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 Gronw, and bade him be in ambush on
the hill which is now called Bryn Kyvergyr, on the bank of
the river Cynvael. She caused also to be collected all the
goats that were in the Cantrev, and had them brought to the
other side of the river, opposite Bryn Kyvergyr.
And the next day she spoke thus. " Lord," said she, " I
have caused the roof and the bath to be prepared, and lo !
they are ready." " Well," said Llew, "we will go gladly to
look at them."
The day after they came and looked at the bath. "Wilt
thou go into the bath, lord 1" 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,
" cause one of them to be caught and brought here." And
the buck was brought. Then Llew rose out of the bath,
and put on his trowsers, and he placed one foot on the edge
of the bath and the other on the buck's back.
Thereupon Gronw rose up from the hill which is called
Bryn Cyvergyr, 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 Gronw and Blodeuwedd went to
gether unto the palace that night. And the next day Gronw
arose and took possession of Ardudwy. And after he had
overcome the land, he ruled over it, so that Ardudwy and
Penllyn were both under his sway.
Then these tidings reached Math the son of Mathonwy.
And heaviness and grief came upon Math, and much more
upon Gwydion than upon him. "Lord," said Gwydion, "I
shall never rest until I have tidings of my nephew."
430 MATH THE SON OF MATHONWV.
" Verily," said Math, " may Heaven be thy strength." Then
Gwydion set forth and began to go forward. And he went
through Gwynedd and Powys to the confines. And when he
had done so, he went into Arvon, and came to the house of a
vassal, in Maenawr Penardd. 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 the man of the house to the swineherd, " Well, yonth,
hath thy sow come in to-night ? " " She hath," said he,
"and is this instant returned to "the pigs." "Where doth
this sow go to ? " said Gwydion. " Every day, when the sty-
is opened, she goeth forth and none can catch sight of her,
neither is it known whither she goeth more than if she sank
into the earth." " Wilt thou grant unto me," said Gwydion,
" not to open the sty until I am beside the sty 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 Gwydion. And Gwydion arose
and dressed himself, and went with the swineherd, and stood
beside the sty. Then the swineherd opened the sty. And as
soon as he opened it, behold she leaped forth, and set off
with great speed. And Gwydion followed her, and she went
against the course of a river, and made for a brook, which is
now called Nant y Llew. And there she halted and began
feeding. And Gwydion came under the tree, and looked
what it might be that the sow 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
sow devoured. And it seemed to him that the eagle was
Llew. And he sang an Englyn :—
" Oak that grows between the two banks ;

Darkened is the sky and hill !
Shall I not tell him by his wounds,
That this is Llew ? "
MATH THE SON OF MAJHONWY. 431
Upon this the eagle came down until he reached the centre
of the tree. And Gwydion sang another Englyn : —
" Oak that grows in upland ground,

Is it not wetted by the rain ? Has it not been drenched
By nine score tempests ?
It bears in its branches Llew Llaw Gyffes ! "
Then the eagle came down until he was on the lowest

branch of the tree, and thereupon this Englyn did Gwydion
sing :—
" Oak that grows beneath the steep ;

Stately and majestic is its aspect !
Shall I not speak it ?
That Llew will come to my lap ? "
And the eagle came down upon Gwydion's knee. And

Gwydion struck him with his magic wand, so that he re
turned to his own form. No one ever saw a more piteous
sight, for he was nothing but skin and bone.
Then he went unto Caer Dathyl, and there were brought
unto him good physicians that were in Gwynedd, and before
the end of the year he was quite healed.
"Lord," said he unto Math the son of Mathonwy, "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," said Llew, "the sooner I have my
right, the better shall I be pleased."
Then they called together the whole of Gwynedd, and set
forth to Ardudwy. And Gwydion went on before and pro
ceeded to Mur y Castell. And when Blodeuwedd heard that he
was coming, she took her maidens with her, and fled to the
mountain. And they passed through the river Cynvael, 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 unawares they fell into the lake.
MATH THE SON OF MATHONWY.
And they were all drowned except Blodeuwedd herself, and

her Gwydion 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 the shame thou hast
done unto Llew Llaw Gyffes, thou shalt 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 shalt not lose thy name, but shalt be always
called Blodeuwedd." Now Blodeuwedd is an owl in the
language of this present time, and for this reason is the owl
hateful unto all birds. And even now the owl is called
Blodeuwedd.
Then Gronw Pebyr withdrew unto Penllyn, and he de
spatched thence an embassy. And the messengers he sent
asked Llew Llaw Gyffes, if he would take land, or domain, or
gold, or silver, for the injury he had 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 dart, and
that I stand where he did, and that with a dart I take my
aim at him. And this is the very least that I will
accept."
And this was told unto Gronw Pebyr. " Verily," 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, verily," 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 two went forth to the banks of the river Cynvael,
and Gronw stood in the place where Llew Llaw Gyffes was
when he struck him, and Llew in the place where Gronw was.
Then said Gronw Pebyr unto Llew, " Since it was through
the wiles of a woman that I did unto thee as I have done, I
adjure thee by Heaven to let me place between me and the
blow, the slab thou seest yonder on the river's bank."

" Verily," said Llew, " I will not refuse thee this." " Ah,"
said he, "may Heaven reward thee." So Gronw took the
slab and placed it between him and the blow.
Then Llew flung the dart at him, and it pierced the slab
and went through Gronw likewise, so that it pierced through
his back. And thus was Gronw Pebyr slain. And there is
still the slab on the bank of the river Cynvael, in Ardudwy,
having the hole through it. And therefore is it even now
called Llech Gronw.
A second time did Llew Llaw Gyffes take possession of the
land, and prosperously did he govern it. And as the story
relates, he was lord after this over Gwynedd. And thus ends
this portion of the Mabinogi.
Mabinogiun.
NOTES TO MATH THE SON OF MATHONWY.
Math the Son of Mathoxwy.—Page 413.

The fame of Math ab Mathonwy's magic, in which he would seem
to have excelled all the enchanters of Welsh fiction (except, per
haps, the mighty Merlin and his own pupil, Gwydion the son of
Don), is preserved in two separate Triads (xxxi. and xxxii.), where
he is styled a man of illusion and phantasy, and where one of the
chief enchantments of the Island is attributed to him.
Another version of the latter has already been given.—See
page 213.
The mystical arts of Math appear to have descended to him from
his father, whose magic wand is celebrated by Taliesin, in the Kerdd
Daronwy. It is there asserted that when this wand grows in the
wood, more luxuriant fruit will be seen on the banks of the Spectre
waters.*
Taliesin also frequently speaks of the powers of Math himself.—
See the CaddGoddeu, Marwnad Aeddon o Von, <fec.t
• Mvv. Arch. I. p. 63. t Myv. Arch. I. p. 30, 70.
NOTES. 435
The Tale of Math ab Mathonwy has been already printed, with a
translation in the Cambrian Quarterly.
Goewin, Daughter of Pebin.—Page 413.

The singular occupation assigned to this damsel in the Tale, is by
no means inconsistent with the ancient customs of Wales. By the
laws of Howel Uda, we learn that there was an officer at the king's
court, called " The Footholder," whose especial duty was such as
that title implies. The following particulars are given concerning
bim.
" The Footholder is to sit under the King's feet :
He is to eat from the same dish as the King.
He shall light the candles before the King at his meal.
He shall hare a dish of meat and liquor, though he is not to join
in the feast.
His land shall be free, and he shall receive a horse from the King
and shall have a share of the visitors' gift money."
Caer Dathtl.—Page 413.

Caer Dathtl in Arvon (the present Caernarvonshire), where Math
is said to have held his court, and whence Gwydion set out on his
mischievous journey, has been already noticed. The remains of this
fortress are now called Pen y Gaer. They are situated on the
summit of a hill, about a mile distant from Llanbedr, in Caernarvon
shire, midway between Llanrwst and Conway. It appears to have
been well defended by deep moats, which yet surround it. Founda
tions of circular buildings may still be traced in its vicinity. From
this place Gwydion's route was in a southerly direction, and he
found Pryderiat a place called Rhuddlan Teivi (possibly Glan Teivy,
about a mile and a half from Cardigan Bridge), where we are told that
his palace then was. Returning with his prize, he passed by Moch-
drev (or Swine's Town), in Cardiganshire, to Elenid, most likely an
error of the transcriber's for Melenid, a mountain near Llanddewi
Ystrad Enni, in Radnorshire, which gives its name to the whole
Cantrev. Thence, by the Mochdrev, between Keri and Arwystli, in
Montgomeryshire, we find him entering the Commot of Mochnant
(Swine's Brook), which is partly in Montgomery, and partly in
Denbighshire, and in which the town of Castell y Moch (Swine's
Castle) would seem to point out another allusion to the singular
companions of his hasty retreat. Gwydion stopped at a third
2 r 2
436* MATH THE SON Of MATHONWY.
Mochdrev, in Denbighshire, now a village between Conway and

Abergele, in the ancient Cantrev of Rhos, and rejoined his prince
at Caer Dathyl, after placing his booty in safety in the strongholds
of Arllechwedd, a name applied formerly to two commots (Upper
and Lower) of Arvon, which are at this time cursorily called Uchav
and Isav.
The places between which Math the son of Mathonwy took his
stand, and awaited the approach of the injured Pryderi, may be
recognised as Maenor Penardd, near to Conway, and Maenor Alun,
now Coed Helen, near Caernarvon. Nant Call, to which the men
of the South were compelled to retreat, is a brook crossing the
Dolpenmaen and Caernarvon road, about nine miles from the latter
town. The course of the two armies may be easily traced from
Nant Call to the well-known locality of Dolpenmaen (in the ancient
Cantrev of Dunodig, now the hundred of Eivionydd) ; thence across
the Traeth Mawr to Melenryd, and at length along the picturesque
valley of Ffestiniog to Maen Twrog, where the expedition terminated
in the ignoble victory obtained by Math through the agency of
enchantment, and in the death of the gallant son of PwylL We
are here told that he was buried at Maen Twrawg ; the Beddau
Milwyr, however, as has already been mentioned, place the grave of
Pryderi at Abergenoli, " where the wave beats against the shore."
Gwydion the Son of Don.—Page 414.

Gwydion, as already seen in Triad 85 (cited page 273), was one
of the three famous tribe-herdsmen of the Island, and tended the
cattle of Gwynedd Uch Conwy. He was also a great astronomer,
and as such was classed with Gwynn ab Nudd, and Idris.* The
Milky-way is after him termed Caer Gwydion : similar honours indeed
appear to have been paid to the whole family of Don. Himself gave
his name to the constellation of Cassiopeia, in Welsh, Llys Don,
the Court of Don ; and Caer Arianrod, Corona Borealis, is so
called after his daughter Arianrod, one of the heroines of the present
Tale.
Gwydion was an enchanter, and, as has been already noticed, learnt
his magical arts from Math himself. As such he is repeatedly
alluded to in the poems of the Welsh, especially in those of Taliesin.
The remarkable instances of his powers of incantation, as displayed
in the present Tale, are thus related in the composition ascribed to
that Bard, entitled Kadeir Kerridwen.
» Tri. 89, sec. ii. p. 326.
NOTES. 437
" Gwydion the son of Don, of toil severe,

Formed a woman out of flowers,
And brought the pigs from the South,
Though he had no pigstyes for them ;
The bold traveller out of plaited twigs
Formed a cavalcade,
And perfect saddles." *
In another place (Cad Goddeu) Taliesin says of him,—
" Minstrels have sung.
Armies have admired,
The exalting of Britons,
Achieved by Gwydion."t
He appears in the double character of seer and poet, in the lines
(already quoted, page 280) composed by him on the Cad Goddeu, or
Battle of the Trees, in which his brother Amaethon fought against
Arawn king of Annwn, about a white roebuck and a whelp, which
he had carried off from the realms of darkness. The party who
should guess the name of a particular person among his opponents in
this fight, was to be victor, and Gwydion, by his divinations, accom
plished the required condition on behalf of Amaethon, in consequence
of which he prevailed.
Two of his other brothers, Govannon and Eunydd, are also cele
brated by the Bards, and to the latter of them magic powers are
especially assigned.—See Marwnad Aeddon o VSn. Myv. Arch.
I. p. 70.
The grave of Gwydion ab Don has not been left unrecorded ; it was
in Morva Dinllev, the scene of one of his adventures with Llew
Llaw Gyffes.
Arianrod. — Page 421.

The " Silver circled " daughter of Don, was one of the three beauteous
ladies of the Island. —Tr. 107.
It has already been noticed (page 436) that the Welsh name the
constellation of the Corona Borealis after her, Caer Arianrod.
Besides Dylan Eil Don and Llew Llaw Gyffes, we find that Gwen-
wynwyn and Gwanar were sons of Arianrod, by her alliance with
Lliaws ab Nwyvre.—See Tr. 14.
• Myv. Arch. I. p. 66. t Myv. Aroh. T. p. 29.

Dylan the Son of the Wave. —Page 421.

This passage would appear to point at a Triad on the subject of this
" Trydydd anvad ergyd," but none is to be found among those
printed in the Myvyrian Archaiology.
In the Llyvyr Taliesin, preserved in the Hengwrt Collection,
there is a short composition attributed to Taliesin, entitled
" Marwnad Dylan Ail Ton." It is printed in the Cambro-Briton,
I. 150.
The Castle ©f Arianbod.—Page 422.

The Rev. P. B. Williams, in his " Tourist's Guide through Caernar
vonshire," speaking of Clynnog in that county, says : " There is a
tradition that an ancient British town, situated near this place,
called Caer Arianrbod, was swallowed up by the sea, the ruins of
which, it is said, are still visible during neap tides, and in fine
weather."
Llew Llaw Gyffes.—Page 424.

The incident related in the tale of the journey of Llew Llaw Gyffes
(the Lion with the steady hand), with Gwydion mab Don, in the
disguise of a maker of gold-coloured shoes, to seek a name and arms
from his mother Arianrod, forms the subject of a Triad which has
already been quoted.*
Llew Llaw Gyffes was one of the three crimson-stained ones of
the Island, than whom, however, Arthur was more conspicuous, for
where he had trod neither herb nor grass sprang up for the space
of a year.—Tr. xxiv.
His grave is noticed in the Englynion y Beddau Milwyr Ynys
Prydain, as being protected by the sea.t
Melyngan mangre, the horse of Llew Llaw Gyffes, was one of the
chief war-horses of the island. %
Dinllev.—Page 424.
Dinas Dinlle is situated on the sea-shore, about three miles south
ward from Caernarvon, in the parish of Llantwrawg, on the confines
* See p. 411. t Myv. Arch. I. p. 80.

X Tr. Meirch. ii. ix.
NOTES. 439
of a large tract of land, called Morva Dinlleu. The remains of the
fortress consist of a large circular mount, well defended by earthen
ramparts and deep fosses.
Blodeuwedd. —Page 426.

The story of Blodeuwedd, the fair Flower-aspect, has ever been
popular with the poets. Taliesin's lines relating to her romantic
origin have been already given in the note upon Gwydion ab Don,
and Davydd ap Gwilym has a very pretty poem on the subject of her
transformation into an owl, where, after some preliminary questions
as to the cause of her singular and retired habits, the poet proceeds
to inquire her history and her name. The bird replies that formerly
by nobles at the banquet she was called Blodeuwedd, and she swears
by St David that she is a daughter of a lord of Mona, equal in
dignity to Meirchion himself.
And she goes on to say that Gwydion, the son of Don, on the
Conway, transformed her with his magic wand from her state of
beauty to her present misery, because she once presumed to love
Goronwy, the tall and comely, the son of Perf Goronhir, lord of
Penllyn.
Mur Y Castell.— Page 426.
Mue v Castell, on the confines of Ardudwy, also called Tomen y

Mur, is about two miles south of the Cynvael or Ffestiniog River,
and distant about three miles from the Llyn y Morwynion, or Lake
of the Maidens, in which the unfortunate damsels of Blodeuwedd
met their untimely fate.
Tribe of Goronwy Pebyr.—Page 432.
A Triad (xxxv.) recites the circumstance of the want of devotion

evinced by his tribe, as detailed in the text.
" The three disloyal Tribes of the Isle of Britain.—The Tribe o
Goronwy Pebyr of Penllyn, who refused to stand instead of their
lord to receive the poisoned dart from Llew Llaw Gyffes, by Llech
Goronwy, at Blaen Cynvael, in Ardudwy. And the Tribe of Gwrgi
and Peredur, who deserted their lords in Caer Greu, where there
was an appointment for battle next morning against Eda Glinmawr,
and they were both slain. And the third , the Tribe of Alan Vyrgan
who returned back by stealth from their lord, leaving him and his
servants going to Caralan, where he was slain."
Penllyn, of which Gronw was lord, is a commot on the borders of
Llyn Tegid, or Bala Lake.
t
THE DREAM OF MAXEN WLEDIG.

MAXEN WLEDIG was emperor of Rome, and he was a

comelier man, and a better and a wiser than any
emperor that had been before him. And one day he held
a council of kings, and he said to his friends, " I desire to
go to-morrow to hunt." And the next day in the morning
he set forth with his retinue, and came to the valley of the
river that flowed towards Rome. And he hunted through
the valley until mid-day. And with him also were two-and-
thirty crowned kings, that were his vassals ; not for the
delight of hunting went the emperor with them, but to put
himself on equal terms with those kings.
And the sun was high in the sky over their heads, and the
heat was great. And sleep came upon Maxen Wledig. And
his attendants stood and set up their shields around him upon
the shafts of their spears to protect him from the sun, and
they placed a gold enamelled shield under his head ; and
so Maxen slept.
And he saw a dream. And this is the dream that he saw.
He was journeying along the valley of the river towards its
source; and he came to the highest mountain in the world.
And he thought that the mountain was as high as the sky ;
and when he came over the mountain, it seemed to him that
he went through the fairest and most level regions that man
ever yet beheld, on the other side of the mountain. And he
saw large and mighty rivers descending from the mountain to
the sea, and towards the mouths of the rivers he proceeded.
And as he journeyed thus, he came to the mouth of the largest
river ever seen. And he beheld a great city at the entrance
of the river, and a vast castle in the city, and he saw many
high towers of various colours in the castle. And he saw a
fleet at the mouth of the river, the largest ever seen. And he
saw one ship among the fleet; larger was it by far, and fairer
than all the others. Of such part of the ship as he could see
above the water, one plank was gilded and the other silvered
over. He saw a bridge of the bone of the whale from the
ship to the land, and he thought that he went along the
bridge, and came into the ship. And a sail was hoisted
on the ship, and along the sea and the ocean was it borne.
Then it seemed that he came to the fairest island in the whole
world, and he traversed the island from sea to sea, even to the
furthest shore of the island. "Valleys he saw, and steeps, and
rocks of wondrous height, and rugged precipices. Never yet
saw he the like. And thence he beheld an island in the sea,
facing this rugged land. And between him and this island
was a country of which the plain was as large as the sea, the
mountain as vast as the wood. And from the mountain he
saw a river that flowed through the land and fell into the sea.
And at the mouth of the river he beheld a castle, the fairest
that man ever saw, and the gate of the castle was open,
THE DUEAM OF MAXEN WLEDIG. 445
and he went into the castle. And in the castle he saw a fair
hall, of which the roof seemed to be all gold, the walls of the
hall seemed to be entirely of glittering precious gems, the
doors all seemed to be of gold. Golden seats he saw in the
hall, and silver tables. And on a seat opposite to him, he
beheld two auburn-haired youths playing at chess. He saw
a silver board for the chess, and golden pieces thereon. The
garments of the youths were of jet black satin, and chaplets of
ruddy gold bound their hair, whereon were sparkling jewels
of great price, rubies, and gems, alternately with imperial
stones. Buskins of new cordovan leather on their feet,
fastened by slides of red gold.
And beside a pillar in the hall, he saw a hoary-headed man,
in a chair of ivory, with the figures of two eagles of ruddy
gold thereon. Bracelets of gold were upon his arms, and many
rings were on his hands, and a golden torque about his neck ;
and his hair was bound with a golden diadem. He was of
powerful aspect. A chess-board of gold was before him,
and a rod of gold, and a steel file in his hand. And he was
carving out chess-men.
And he saw a maiden sitting before him in a chair of
ruddy gold. Not more easy than to gaze upon the sun when
brightest, was it to look upon her by reason of her beauty. A
vest of white silk was upon the maiden, with clasps of red
gold at the breast; and a surcoat of gold tissue upon her,
and a frontlet of red gold upon her head, and rubies and gems
were in the frontlet, alternating with pearls and imperial
stones. And a girdle of ruddy gold was around her. She
was the fairest sight that man ever beheld.
The maiden arose from her chair before him, and he threw
his arms about the neck of the maiden, and they two sat .
down together in the chair of gold : and the chair was not
less roomy for them both, than for the maiden alone. And
as he had his arms about the maiden's neck, and his cheek
by her cheek, behold, through the chafing of the dogs at their
leashing, and the clashing of the shields as they struck
446 THE DREAM OF MAXEN WLEDIO.
against each other, and the beating together of the shafts of

the spears, and the neighing of the horses and their prancing",
the emperor awoke.
And when he awoke, nor spirit nor existence was left him,
because of the maiden whom he had seen in his sleep, for the
love of the maiden pervaded his whole frame. Then his
household spake unto him. "Lord," said they, "is it not
past the time for thee to take thy food?" Thereupon the
emperor mounted his palfrey, the saddest man that mortal ever
saw, and went forth towards Rome.
And thus he was during the space of a week. When they
of the household went to drink wine and mead out of golden
vessels, he went not with any of them. When they went to
listen to songs and tales, he went not with them there ; neither
could he be persuaded to do any thing but sleep. And as
often as he slept, he beheld in his dreams the maiden he
loved best ; but except when he slept he saw nothing of her,
for he knew not where in the world she was.
One day the page of the chamber spake unto him ; now,
although he was page of the chamber, he was king of the
Romans. "Lord," said he, "all the people revile thee."
" Wherefore do they revile me?" asked the emperor. " Be
cause they can get neither message nor answer from thee
as men should have from their lord. This is the cause why
thou art spoken evil of." " Youth," said the emperor, " do
thou bring unto me the wise men of Rome, and I will tell
them wherefore I am sorrowful."
Then the wise men of Rome were brought to the emperor,
and he spake to them. " Sages of Rome," said he, " I have
seen a dream. And in the dream I beheld a maiden, and
because of the maiden is there neither life, nor spirit, nor
existence within me." " Lord," they answered, " since thou
judgest us worthy to counsel thee, we will give thee counsel.
And this is our counsel ; that thou send messengers for three
years to the three parts of the world, to seek for thy
dream. And as thou knowest not what day or what night
THE DREAM OF MAXEN WLEDIG. 447
good news may come to thee, the hope thereof will support
thee."
So the messengers journeyed for the space of a year,
wandering about the world, and seeking tidings concerning
his dream. But when they came back at the end of the year,
they knew not one word more than they did the day they set
forth. And then was the emperor exceeding sorrowful, for
he thought that he should never have tidings of her whom
best he loved.
Then spoke the king of the Romans unto the emperor.
" Lord," said he, " go forth to hunt by the way thou didst
seem to go, whether it were to the east, or to the west." So
the emperor went forth to the hunt, and he came to the bank
of the river. "Behold," said he, "this is where I was when
I saw the dream, and I went towards the source of the river
westward."
And thereupon thirteen messengers of the emperor's set
forth, and before them they saw a high mountain, which
seemed to them to touch the sky. Now this was the guise
in which the messengers journeyed; one sleeve was on the
cap of each of them in front, as a sign that they were
messengers, in order that through what hostile land soever
they might pass no harm might be done them. And when
they were come over this mountain, they beheld vast plains,
and large rivers flowing there through. " Behold," said they,
" the land which our master saw."
And they went along the mouths of the rivers, until they
came to the mighty river which they saw flowing to the sea,
and the vast city, and the many-coloured high towers in the
castle. They saw the largest fleet in the world, in the harbour
of the river, and one ship that was larger than any of the
others. "Behold again," said they, "the dream that our
master saw." And in the great ship they crossed the sea, and
came to the Island of Britain. And they traversed the island
until they came to Snowdon. "Behold," said they, "the
rugged land that our master saw." And they went forward
44H THE DBKAM OP MAXEN WLEDIQ.
until they saw Anglesey before them, and until they saw
Arvon likewise. " Behold," said they, " the land our master
saw in his sleep." And they saw Aber Sain, and a castle at
the mouth of the river. The portal of the castle saw they
open, and into the castle they went, and they saw a. hall in the
castle. Then said they, " Behold, the hall which he saw in
his sleep." They went into the hall, and they beheld two
youths playing at chess on the golden bench. And they beheld
the hoary-headed man beside the pillar, in the ivory chair,
carving chessmen. And they beheld the maiden sitting on a
chair of ruddy gold.
The messengers bent down upon their knees. " Empress
of Rome, all hail!" "Ha, gentles," said the maiden, "ye
bear the seeming of honourable men, and the badge of envoys,
what mockery is this ye do to me ? " " We mock thee not,
lady ; bat the Emperor of Rome hath seen thee in his sleep,
and he has neither life nor spirit left because of thee. Thou
shalt have of us therefore the choice, lady, whether thou wilt
go with us and be made empress of Rome, or that the emperor
come hither and take thee for his wife ? " " Ha, lords," said
the maiden, " I will not deny what ye say, neither will I
believe it too well. If the emperor love me, let him come here
to seek me."
And by day and night the messengers hied them back.
And when their horses failed, they bought other fresh ones.
And when they came to Rome, they saluted the Emperor, and
asked their boon, which was given to them according as they
named it. " "VVe will be thy guides, lord," said they, " over
sea and over land, to the place where is the woman whom best
thou lovest, for we know her name, and her kindred, and her
race."
And immediately the emperor set forth with his army.
And these men were his guides. Towards the Island of
Britain they went over the sea and the deep. And he
conquered the Island from Beli the son of Manogan, and his
sons, and drove them to the sea, and went forward even unto
THE DREAM OF MAXEN WLEDIG. 449
Arvon. And the emperor knew the land when he saw it.
And when he beheld the castle of Aber Sain, " Look yonder,"
said he, " there is the castle wherein I saw the damsel whom
I best love." And he went forward into the castle and into
the hall, and there he saw Kynan the son of Eudav, and
Adeon the son of Eudav, playing at chess. And he saw Eudav
the son of Caradawc, sitting on a chair of ivory carving chess
men. And the maiden whom he had beheld in his sleep, he
saw sitting on a chair of gold. " Empress of Rome," said
he, " all hail ! " And the emperor threw his arms about her
neck; and that night she became his bride.
And the next day in the morning, the damsel asked her
maiden portion. And he told her to name what she would.
And she asked to have the Island of Britain for her father,
from the Channel to the Irish Sea, together with the three
adjacent Islands, to hold under the empress of Rome ; and to
have three chief castles made for her, in whatever places she
might choose in the Island of Britain. And she chose to have
the highest castle made at Arvon. And they brought thither
earth from Rome that it might be more healthful for the
emperor to sleep, and sit, and walk upon. After that the two
other castles were made for her, which were Caerlleon and
Caermarthen.
And one day the emperor went to hunt at Caermarthen,
and he came so far as the top of Brevi Vawr, and there the
emperor pitched his tent. And that encamping place is called
Cadeir Maxen, even to this day. And because that he built
the castle with a myriad of men, he called it Caervyrddin.
Then Helen bethought her to make high roads from one castle
to another throughout the Island of Britain. And the roads
were made. And for this cause are they called the roads of
Helen Luyddawc, that she was sprung from a native of this
island, and the men of the Island of Britain would not have
made these great roads for any save for her.
Seven years did the emperor tarry in this Island. Now,
at that time, the men of Rome had a custom, that whatsoever
Mahirtogion. 2 G
450 THE DREAM OF MAXEN WLED1G.
emperor should remain in other lands more than seven years,

should remain to his own overthrow, and should never return
to Rome again.
So they made a new emperor. And this one wrote a letter
of threat to Maxen. There was nought in the letter but only
this. " If thou comest, and if thou ever comest to Rome."
And even unto Caerlleon came this letter to Maxen, and these
tidings. Then sent he a letter to the man who styled himself
emperor in Rome. There was nought in that letter also but
only this. " If I come to Rome, and if I come."
And thereupon Maxen set forth towards Rome with bis
army, and vanquished France and Burgundy, and every land
on the way, and sat down before the city of Rome.
A year was the emperor before the city, and he was no
nearer taking it than the first day. And after him there came
the brothers of Helen Luyddawc from the Island of Britain,
and a small host with them, and better warriors were in that
small host than twice as many Romans. And the emperor was
told that a host was seen, halting close to his army and en
camping, and no man ever saw a fairer or better appointed
host for its size, nor more handsome standards.
And Helen went to see the hosts, and she knew the
standards of her brothers. Then came Kynan the son of
Eudav, and Adeon the son of Eudav, to meet the emperor.
And the emperor was glad because of them, and embraced
them.
Then they looked at the Romans as they attacked the city.
Said Kynan to his brother, " We will try to attack the city
more expertly than this." So they measured by night the
height of the wall, and they sent their carpenters to the wood,
and a ladder was made for every four men of their number.
Now when these were ready, every day at mid-day the
emperors went to meat, and they ceased to fight on both sides
till all had finished eating. And in the morning the men of
Britain took their food, and they drank until they were invigo
rated. And while the two emperors were at meat, the Britons
THE DREAM OF MAXEN WLEDIO. 451
came to the city, and placed their ladders against it, and forth
with they came in through the city.
The new emperor had no time to arm himself when they
fell upon him, and slew him, and many others with him. And
three nights and three days were they subduing the men that
were in the city and taking the castle. And others of them
kept the city, lest any of the host of Maxen should come
therein, until they had subjected all to their will.
Then spake Maxen to Helen Luyddawc. " I marvel, lady,"
said he, " that thy brothers have not conquered this city for
me." " Lord, emperor," she answered, " the wisest youths
in the world are my brothers. Go thou thither and ask the
city of them, and if it be in their possession thou shalt have
it gladly." So the emperor and Helen went and demanded
the city. And they told the emperor that none had taken the
city, and that none could give it him, but the men of the
Island of Britain. Then the gates of the city of Rome were
opened, and the emperor sat on the throne, and all the men
of Rome submitted themselves unto him.
The emperor then said unto Kynan and Adeon, " Lords,"
said he, "I have now had possession of the whole of my
empire. This host give I unto you to vanquish whatever
region ye may desire in the world."
So they set forth and conquered lands, and castles, and
cities. And they slew all the men, but the women they kept
alive. And thus they continued until the young men that
had come with them were grown grey-headed, from the length
of time they were upon this conquest.
Then spoke Kynan unto Adeon his brother, " Whether wilt
thou rather," said he, " tarry in this land, or go back into the
land whence thou didst come forth ? " Now he chose to go
back to his own land, and many with him. But Kynan tarried
there with the other part and dwelt there.
And they took counsel and cut out the tongues of the
women, lest they should corrupt their speech. And because
of the silence of the women from their own speech, the men
2 o 2
452 THE DREAM OF MAXEN WLEDIG.
of Armorica are called Britons. From that time there came

frequently, and still comes, that language from the Island of
Britain.
And this dream is called the Dream of Maxen Wledig,
emperor of Bome. And here it ends.
MAXEN WLEDIG.
Page 443.
Maximus, the Maxen of the present Tale, was invested by his army
with the Imperial purple in the year 383. He was of low birth,
and Spanish origin. He served much in Britain, in which Island he
commanded at the time of his elevation, and whence he proceeded
with his army into Gaul, to support his claim against the lawful
emperor Gratian.
It is said that he rendered part of Britain desolate by transporting
the inhabitants into Gaul, where they are supposed to have formed
the Breton immigration. He was put to death in the neighbourhood
of Aquileia, after having been defeated by Theodosius and Valen-
tinian the Younger, in 388.— Gibbon, chap. xxviL
Maximus is the subject of many Welsh legends. Part of his
history will be recognized as forming the basis of the exaggerated
fictions of the text.
454 THE DREAM OF MAXEJI WLEDIG.
As regards the other personages who figure in the present Tale, we

find that the two most conspicuous, Kynan (or Kynan Meriadawc,
as he is usually called), and his sister Helen Luyddawg, or Helen of
mighty hosts, were the children of Eudav. A Triad is preserved,
which goes at some length into the account of the expedition they
undertook for the purpose of supporting the claim of Maximus to
the Imperial throne. They raised an army of sixty thousand men
in Britain, and proceeded with it across the sea to Armorica,
a.d. 383. The desolation caused by this abstraction of its inha
bitants from the Island is said to have been the remote cause of the
Saxon invasion. —Tr. 14.
The history of Kynan is also preserved in a Legendary Life.
The Brut Gruffydd ab Arthur gives a different account of the
personages and events alluded to in this Mabinogi, but does not
advert to the dream, though it mentions St Ursula and the eleven
thousand virgins, who were sent from Britain as wives for the
emigrated hosts of Kynan Meriadawc, in Armorica. According to
Gruffydd, Helen Luyddawg was the only child of King Coel (the
founder of Colchester), and was bestowed in marriage, with the
dominions she inherited, upon the Roman Constans. Their son, the
celebrated Constantine, was called from his kingdom of Britain to
the Imperial throne, in place of Maximus the Cruel ; after his
departure, Eudav earl of Cornwall, rose up and wrested the govern
ment of the Island from the hands of those princes to whom Constan
tine had consigned it, and, in spite of the Roman forces sent against
him under Trahayarn, Helen's uncle, established himself on the
throne.
Eudav's reign extended to the time of the emperors Gratian
and Valentinian. His heir was an only daughter, whose name does
not appear, but whom, by advice of his nobles, he married to the
Roman senator, Maxen "Wledig, who boasted British descent, being
the son of Helen's uncle Llewelyn. Maxen's marriage, and his suc
cession to the sovereign power, were long and strenuously opposed
by Eudav's nephew, Kynan Meriadawc, who himself aspired to the
crown.
But peace having at length been concluded between them,
Kynan accompanied Maxen in an expedition which he undertook on
the continent, and was rewarded for his assistance with the kingdom
of Llydaw, or Armorica, in which Maxen left him to establish
himself, whilst he proceeded to contend for the nobler prize. But
having killed Valentinian, and driven Gratian from the empire,
NOTES. 455
Maxell himself was soon after slain at Rome ; whereupon the vast
hosts that had accompanied him from Britain dispersed, the chief
part of them seeking refuge in Armorica with Kynan Meriadawc.—
Myv. Arch. II. p. 205-225.
The same story is related by Nennius, who calls the emperor
Maximianus.
" The seventh emperor was Maximianus. He withdrew from
Britain with all its military force, slew Gratianus the king of the
Romans, and obtained the sovereignty of all Europe. Unwilling to
send back his warlike companions to their wives, families, and pos
sessions in Britain, he conferred upon them numerous districts from
the lake on the summit of Mons Iovis, to the city called Cant Guic,
and to the western Tumulus, that is Cruc Occident. These are the
Armoric Britons, and they remain there to the present day. In
consequence of their absence, Britain being overcome by foreign
nations, the lawful heirs were cast out, till God interposed with his
assistance."
The lake here mentioned is thought to be that near the hospice of
the great St. Bernard, and Cant Gwic is probably Cantavic, in
Picardy. It is more difficult to identify Cruc Occident, the western
Tumulus, but the author of the Hanes Cymru supposes it to be
Mont St. Michel, near Quiberon, in Brittany.
Some copies of Nennius contain an account of the lingual disable
ment of the women, similar to that in the text ; and add, that from
this cause they were called Letewiccion [Lledfydion], that is Semi-
tacentes. This is evidently an attempt to account for the name of
Letavia [Llydaw], as applied to Armorica.
Gildas, in his work " De Excidio Britanniae," also mentions the
revolt of Maximus, and its disastrous consequences : —
'* Afterwards Britain, being robbed of all its armed soldiery, and
military forces, was abandoned to cruel rulers, being deprived of an
immense number of youths who accompanied the above-named tyrant
[Maximus], and never returned home ; and being totally ignorant
of the art of war, groaned in stupefaction for many years, under the
oppression of two foreign nations," &c. <kc.
This author, however, has not any allusion to the Armorican
settlement.
The roads attributed in the text to Helen Luyddawc, are evidently
the Roman Roads, which intersected our Island. Their remains in
several places in the Principality, bear, to this day, the name of Sarn
456 THE DREAM OF MAXEN WLEDIG.
Helen, which some, however, consider to be a corruption of Sarn y

Lleng, the Road of the Legion.
The Welsh text of this Mabinogi, Breuddwyd Maxen Wledig, was
printed in 1806, in a Welsh collection entitled theGreal, p. 289, but
no translation of it has hitherto appeared.
THE STORY OF
LLUDD AND LLEVELYS.

HERE IS THE STORY OF LLUDD AND LLEVELYS.
"DELI the Great, the son of Manogan, had three sons,

Lludd, and Caswallawn, and Nynyaw ; and according to
the story he had a fourth son called Llevolys. And after the
death of Beli, the kingdom of the Island of Britain fell into
the hands of Lludd his eldest son ; and Lludd ruled prosper
ously, 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 king
doms 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 Caer Lludd, and
at last Caer London. And after the stranger-race came there,
it was called London, or Lwndrys.
460 LLCDD AND LLETELYS.
Lludd loved Llevelys best of all his brothers, because he

was a wise and 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
Lludd his brother, to beseech his counsel and aid. And that
not so much for his own welfare, as to seek to add to the
glory and honour 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 counsel 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 counsel of the
nobles of France and of the princes, the maiden was given to
Llevelys, and the crown of the kingdom with her. And
thenceforth he 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 in the islands had ever seen
the like of. 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 Island, 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 version in the Greal adds, " And their coin was fairy money ;"
literally, dwarfs money : that is, money which, when received, appeared to
be good coin, but which, if kept, turned into pieces of fungus, &c.
LLUDD AND LLEVELYS. 461
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. And 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 thereupon King Lludd 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 counsel of them what they should do against these
afflictions. And by the common counsel of the nobles, Lludd
the son of Beli, went to Llevelys his brother, king of France,
for he was a man great of counsel 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,
Lludd and those whom he chose with him. And they began
to cleave the seas towards France.
And when these tidings came to Llevelys, 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 Lludd 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 Lludd had shown his brother the cause of his
errand, Llevelys said that he himself knew the cause of the
coming to those lands. And they took counsel together to
discourse on the matter otherwise than thus, in order that the
wind might not catch their words, nor the Coranians know
what they might say. Then Llevelys caused a long horn to
462 LLUDD AND LLEVELYS.
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 Llevelys saw this, and that there
was a demon thwarting them and disturbing through this
horn, he caused wine to be put therein to wash it. And
through the virtue of the wine the demon was driven out
of the horn. And when their discourse was unobstructed,
Llevelys told his brother that he would give him some insects
whereof he should keep some to breed, lest by chance the like
affliction might come a second time. And other of these
insects he should take and bruise in water. And he assured
him that it would have power to destroy the race of the Cora-
nians. That is to say, that when he came home to his king
dom he should call together all the people both of his own
race and of the race of the Coranians 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 Cora
nians, 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 there
fore does your dragon make a fearful outcry. And on this
wise mayest 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 dost find the exact
central point, there cause a pit to be dug, and cause a
cauldron full of the best mead that can be made to be put
in the pit, with a covering of satin 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
LLUDD AND LLEVELY8. 463
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 mead; and after that they will
sleep. Thereupon do thou immediately fold the covering
around them, and bury them in a kistvaen, in the strong
est place thou hast in thy dominions, and hide them in
the earth. And as long as they shall bide 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 every one
to sleep. Therefore it is needful for thee in thy own person
to watch thy food and thy provisions. And lest 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 Lludd returned back unto his land. And immediately
he summoned to him the whole of his own race and of the
Coranians. And as Llevelys had taught him, he bruised the
insects in water, the which he cast over them all together,
and forthwith it destroyed the whole tribe of the Coranians,
without hurt to any of the Britons.
And some time after this, Lludd 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, Lludd folded the covering around them,
464 LLUDD AND LLEVELY8.
and in the securest place he had in Snowdon, he hid them in

a kistvaen. Now after that this spot was called Dinas Emreis,
but before that, Dinas Ffaraon. And thus the fierce outcry
ceased in his dominions.
And when this was ended, King Lludd caused an exceeding1
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
in strong, heavy armour, 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 Lludd, than
that the hamper should hold so much.
And thereupon King Lludd went after him and spoke unto
him thus. " Stop, stop," said he, " though thou hast done
many insults and much spoil erewhile, 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 Lludd grappled with him, and fate bestowed the victory
on Lludd. 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 like from this time forth. But
thy faithful vassal will I be." And the king accepted this
from him.
LLUDD AND LLEVELYS. 4C5
And thus Lludd freed the Island of Britain from the three
plagues. And from thenceforth until the end of his life, in
prosperous peace did Lludd the son of Beli rule the Island of
Britain. And this Tale is called the Story of Lludd and
Llevelys. And thus it ends.
Habinngion.
LLUDD AND LLEVELYS.
Lludd is the celebrated King Lud, brother to Caesar's opponent

Cassibelaunus. The Brut and Geoffrey of Monmouth record his
fortifying and decorating the City of London nearly in the same
terms as the Mabinogi, stating that it was from him called Caerlud,
afterwards corrupted into Caer London, then into London, and lastly
by the foreigners into Londres. They also state that King Lud
was buried near the gate, still called from his name, in the British
language, Poithlud, and in the Saxon, Ludesgate.
Amongst the poems attributed to Taliesin, is one called " Ymarwar
Lludd," " The Conciliation of Lludd," in which the meeting with
Llevelys is mentioned ; but the poem is very obscure in consequence
of the allusions not being understood. Llewelyn the Bard also, in
an ode to Llewelyn ab Iorwerth, refers to this occurrence, but in
so cursory a manner, as not to throw any further light upon the
subject
The Coranians who occupy so conspicuous a place in the present
Tale, form the subject of a Triad (Tr. vii.). They are by some sup
posed to be the Coritani.
NOTES. 467
The imprisonment of the Dragons in Dinas Emrys in Snowdon, is
one of the most curious legends of romantic fiction. Their combats,
five centuries later, led to the discovery of the enchanter Merlin, with
which opens the great drama of Arthurian Komance. This story
being related by Geoffrey of Monmouth, has by many been considered
as the fabrication of that writer; but it must be noticed that it is also
found in Nennius, who wrote in the eighth century, and of whose
works, some copies as old as the tenth, are still extant. The sub
stance of the tale as told by Nennius is as follows :—
Vortigern being forced to retire from his kingdom, in consequence
of his various delinquencies, took refuge in Snowdon ; and finding
Dinas Emrys an eligible spot, commenced building a tower there.
But, to his great dismay, he found that whatever he built in the day
time, always fell down in the succeeding night. Having consulted
his magicians upon the cause of this mystery, they told him that
unless he could find a child without a father, and sprinkle the tower
with his blood, it would never stand. Upon this Vortigern de
spatched messengers in every direction to search for the required
victim, and at length they lit upon Merlin, whom they brought to
Vortigern, that he might be slain. But the boy exposed the ignorance
and imposture of the magicians, and caused the ground to be dug at
the foundation of the building, where they found two sleeping
dragons, one white and the other red. These dragons awaking from
their sleep commenced a furious conflict. The white one at first had
the advantage of the red, but at last the red dragon prevailed, and
expelled his opponent Merlin then informed them that the red was
the British dragon, and the white one that of the invading Saxons.
Then it was, according to Geoffrey and the Brut, that Merlin
uttered the celebrated prophecy concerning the fate of Britain.
Vortigern departing thence to seek some other place of refuge,
bestowed that citadel upon the wonderful child, who declared his
name to be Merlin Ambrosius, and after whom the spot was called
Dinas Emrys.
Whatever date or origin may be assigned to this legend, it is well
known that the red dragon has long been the national standard
of the Welsh. Henry VII. bore it at Bosworth, and afterwards
established the heraldic office of Rouge Dragon in honour of the
occasion.
Dinas Emrys, the site of all these marvels, is a natural mound, or
rather a small insulated hill in one of the valleys of Snowdon, between
Beddgelert and Capel Curig. Giraldus Cambrensis speaks of it in
connection with the story here referred to. He says, "At the head
2 H 2
468 LLUDD AND LLEVELYS.
of the Snowdon Mountains, not far from the source of the Conway,
which flows from this region towards the north, stands Dinas Emrys;
that is, the promontory of Ambrosius, where Merlin, sitting on a
rock, prophesied to Vortigern."
Lludd and Llevelys is found in the Myvyrian Archaiology, Vol. II.,
in the Brut Gruflydd ab Arthur, and the Brut Tysilio ; and is
printed in a separate form in the Greal, apparently from a different
MS. An English translation of the Myvyrian copy has been given
by the Rev. Peter Boberts, in "The Chronicle of the Kings of
Britain."
T A L I E S I N.
T A L I E S I N.
IN times past there lived in Penllyu a man of gentle lineage,

named Tegid Voel, and his dwelling was in the midst of
the lake Tegid, and his wife was called Caridwen. And there
was born to him of his wife a son named Morvran ab Tegid,
and also a daughter named Creirwy, the fairest maiden in the
world was she ; and they had a brother, the most ill-favoured
man in the world, Avagddu. Now Caridwen his mother
thought that he was not likely to bo admitted among men of
noble birth, by reason of his ugliness, unless he had some
exalted merits or 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
Fferyllt, to boil a cauldron of Inspiration and Science for her
son, that his reception might be honourable because of his
knowledge of the mysteries of the future state of the world.
472 TALIESIN.
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 Gwion Bach the son of Gwreang of Llanfair
in Caereinion, in Powys, 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 it 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 Caridwen 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 Gwion Bach. 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 Caridwen, for vast was
her skill. And in very great fear he fled towards his own
land. And the cauldron burst in two, because all the liquor
within it except the three charm-bearing drops was poisonous,
so that the horses of Gwyddno Garanhir 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 Gwyddno from that time forth.
Thereupon came in Caridwen and saw all the toil of the
whole year lost. And she seized a billet of wood and struck
the blind Morda 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 Caridwen, " it was Gwion Bach
who robbed me."
And she went forth after him, running. And he saw her,
and changed himself into a hare and fled. But she changed
herself into a greyhound and turned him. And he ran towards
a river, and became a fish. And she in the form of an otter
TALIESIN. 473
bitch chased him under the water, until he was fain to turn
himself into a bird of the air. 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 espied
a heap of winnowed wheat on the floor of a barn, and he
dropped among 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 leathern
bag, and cast him into the sea to the mercy of God, on the
twenty-ninth day of April.
And at that time the weir of Gwyddno was on the strand
between Dyvi and Aberystwyth, near to his own castle, and
the value of an hundred pounds was taken in that weir every
May eve. And in those days Gwyddno had an only son
named Elphin, the most hapless of youths, and the most needy.
And it grieved his father sore, for he thought that he was
born in an evil hour. And by the advice of his council, his
father had granted him the drawing of the weir that year, to
see if good luck would ever befal him, and to give him some
thing 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
leathern bag upon a pole of the weir. Then said one of the
weir-ward unto Elphin, " Thou wast never unlucky until to
night, and now thou hast destroyed the virtues of the weir,
which always yielded the value of an hundred pounds every
May eve, and to-night there is nothing but this leathern skin
within it." " How now," said Elphin, " there may be therein
the value of an hundred pounds." Well, they took up the
leathern bag, and he who opened it saw the forehead of the
boy, and said to Elphin, " Behold a radiant brow ! "*
* Taliesin.
474 TAUE31X.
" Taliesin 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 amble gently,
that before had been trotting, and he carried him as softly as
if he had been sitting in the easiest chair in the world. And
presently the boy made a Consolation and praise to Elphin,
and foretold honour to Elphin ; and the Consolation was as
you may see, —
" Fair Elphin, cease 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 Cynllo will not be in vain ;
God will not violate his promise.
Never in Gwyddno's weir
Was there such good luck as this night.
Fair 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 forbode 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 three hundred 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 weir
TALIESIN. 475
was lost, and, what was worse, that all the world would
consider that it was through his fault and ill-luck. And then
Gwyddno Garanhir* 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 Ceridwen 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 defence, 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 vigour, I have fled as a frog,
I have fled in the semblance of a crow, scarcely finding rest ;
I have fled vehemently, I have fled as a chain,
I have fled as a roe 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 portending language ;
I have fled as a fox, used to concurrent bounds of quirks ;
I have fled as a martin, which did not avail ;
1 have fled as a squirrel, that vainly hides,
I have fled as a stag's antler, of ruddy course,
I have fled as iron in a glowing fire,
I have fled as a spear-head, of woe to 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 leathern 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 Gwyddno his

father, and Taliesin with him. And Gwyddno 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 V
said Gwyddno. "A Bard," answered Elphin. Then said
* The mention of Gwyddno Garanhir, instead of Elphin ab Gwyddno in

this place is evidently an error of some transcriber of the MS.
478 TALIESIN.
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 Rhun to inquire into the demeanour of
Elphin's wife. Now Rhun 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 Rhun went
in haste towards Elphin's dwelling, being fully minded to
bring disgrace upon his wife, Taliesin told his mistress how
that the king had placed his master in durance in prison, and
how that Rhun was coming in haste to strive to bring dis
grace 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 her 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, Rhun suddenly arrived at Elphin'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 after
wards she sat down to supper again the second time, and
Rhun with her. Then Rhun began jesting with the maid,
who still kept the semblance of her mistress. And verily this
story shows that the maiden became so intoxicated, that she
fell asleep; and the story relates that it was a powder that
Rhun 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,
whereupon was the signet ring of Elphin, which he had sent
to his wife as a token, a short time before. And Rhun
returned to the king with the finger and the ring as a proof,
to show that he had cut it from off her hand, without her
awaking from her sleep of intemperance.
The king rejoiced greatly at these tidings, and he sent for
his councillors, to whom he told the whole story from the
TALIESIN. 477
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 skilful or wiser bards—than
Maelgwn ?
Now at that time the bards were in great favour 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 versed 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 skilful in framing verses,
and ready in making englyns in every one of those languages.
Now of these there were at that feast within the palace of
Maelgwn as many as four-and-twenty, and chief of them all,
was one named Heinin Vardd.
When they had all made an end of thus praising the king
and his gifts, it befel that Elphin spoke in 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
skilful than all the king's bards." In a short space some of
his fellows showed the king all the boastings of Elphin ; 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 Elphin had been put in a tower of the castle,
478 TALIESIN.
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 Rhun to inquire into the demeanour of
Elphin's wife. Now Rhun 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 Rhun went
in haste towards Elphin's dwelling, being fully minded to
bring disgrace upon his wife, Taliesin told his mistress how
that the king had placed his master in durance in prison, and
how that Rhun was coming in haste to strive to bring dis
grace 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 her 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, Rhun suddenly arrived at Elphin'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 after
wards she sat down to supper again the second time, and
Rhun with her. Then Rhun began jesting with the maid,
who still kept the semblance of her mistress. And verily this
story shows that the maiden became so intoxicated, that she
fell asleep; and the story relates that it was a powder that
Rhun 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,
whereupon was the signet ring of Elphin, which he had sent
to his wife as a token, a short time before. And Rhun
returned to the king with the finger and the ring as a proof,
to show that he had cut it from off her hand, without her
awaking from her sleep of intemperance.
The king rejoiced greatly at these tidings, and he sent for
his councillors, to whom he told the whole story from the
TALIESIN. 479
beginning. And he caused Elphin to be brought out of his

prison, and he chided him because of his boast. And he
spake unto Elphin on this wise. " Elphin, 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 Elphin. "With thy leave, mighty king,
I cannot deny my ring, for it is known of many ; but 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 belonged 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 paring her nails before going to bed, and you can see
fully that the nail of this little finger has not been pared
for a month. The third is, truly, that the hand whence this
finger came was kneading rye dough within three days before
the finger was cut therefrom, and I can assure your goodness
that my wife has never kneaded rye dough since my wife she
has been."
Then the king was mightily wroth with Elphin for so stoutly
withstanding him, respecting the goodness of his wife, where
fore he ordered him to his prison a second time, saying that
he should not be loosed thence until he had proved 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
Elphin's dwelling. And Taliesin showed his mistress how that
Elphin was in prison because of them, but he bade her be glad
480 TALIESIN.
for that he would go to Maelgwn'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 1 will pronounce
To silence royal bards.
In presence of their chief,
I will greet to deride,
Upon them I will break
And Blphin 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 erst in Badon's fight,—
With Arthur of liberal ones
The head, with long red blades ;
Through feats of testy men,
And a chief with his foes.
Woe be to them, the fools,
When revenge comes on them.
I Taliesin, chief of bards,
With a sapient Druid's words,
Will set kind Elphin free
From haughty tyrant's 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 Maelgwn Gwynedd,
For this force and this wrong ;
TALIESIN. 481
And be extremes of ills

And an avenged end
To Khun and all his race :
Short be his course of life,
Be all his lands laid waste ;
And long exile be assigned
To Maelgwn Gwynned ! "
After this he took leave of his mistress, and came at last to

the Court of Maelgwn, 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 wont
to come 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 largess,
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
" Blerwm, blerwm," 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 wont, without
speaking a single word, but pouting out their lips, and making
mouths at the king, playing " Blerwm, blerwm," upon their
lips with their fingers, as they had seen the boy do else
where. 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 ceased
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 Heinin
Vardd ; and the squire took a broom and struck him on the
Mabinogion. 2 I
482 TALIESIN.
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 Heinin spoke on
this wise. " Oh, honourable king, be it known to your grace,
that not from the strength of drink, or 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 bard am I to Elphin,

And my original country is the region of the summer stars ;
Idno and Heinin called me Merddin,
At length 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 vale of Hebron ;
I was in the court of Don before the birth of Gwdion.
I Was instructor to Eli and Enoc ;
I have been winged by the genius of the splendid crosier ;
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 Arianrod ;
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 Gomorra ;
I have been in India when Roma was built,
I am now come here to the remnant of Troia.
I have been with my Lord in the manger of the ass ;
I strengthened Moses through the water of Jordan ;
I have been in the firmament with Mary Magdalene ;
TALIESIN. 483
I have obtained the muse from the cauldron of Ceridwen ;
I have been bard of the harp to Lleon of Lochlin.
I have been on the White Hill, in the court of Cynvelyn,
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 Ceridwen ;
I was originally little Gwion,
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 like from
a boy so young as he. And when the king knew that he was
the bard of Elphin, he bade Heinin, his first and wisest bard,
to answer Taliesin and to strive with him. But when he came,
he could do no other, but play " blerwm " on his hps ; and
when he sent for the others of the four-and-twenty bards, they
all did likewise, and could do no other. And Maelgwn 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 endeavouring to retrieve
The loss I may have suffered ;
Complete the attempt I hope,
Since Elphin endures trouble
In the fortress of Teganwy,
On him may there not be laid
Too many chains and fetters ;
The Chair of the fortress of Teganwy
Will I again seek ;
Strengthened by my muse I am powerful ;
Mighty on my part is what I seek,
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 ;
2 i 2
484 TAUESIN.
And there ought not to be about me
Any bard who may not know
That Elphin the son of Gwyddno
Is in the land of Artro,
Secured by thirteen locks,
For praising his instructor ;
And then I Taliesin,
Chief of the bards of the west,
Shall loosen Elphin
Out of a golden fetter."
i * * * •
" 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 Satanas,
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 waggons
In the hair of his two paws ;
There is in his head an eye
Green as the limpid sheet of icicle ;
Three springs arise
In the nape of his neck ;
Sea-roughs thereon
Swim through it ;
There was the dissolution of the oxen
Of Deivrdonwy the water-gifted.
The names of the three springs
From the midst of the ocean ;
One generated brine
Which is from the Corina,
To replenish the flood
Over seas disappearing ;
The second, without injury
It will fall on us,
When there is rain abroad,
Through the whelming sky ;
The third will appear
Through the mountain veins,
Like a flinty banquet.
TALIESIN.
The work of the King of kings.
Yon are blundering bards,
In too much solicitude ;
You cannot celebrate
The kingdom of the Britons ;
And I am Talicsin,
Chief of the bards of the west,
Who will loosen Elphin
Out of the golden fetter."
* » # •
" 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
Khianedd
As a punishment of iniquity on Maelgwn Gwynedd ;
His hair, his teeth, and his eyes being as gold,
And this will bring destruction upon Maelgwn Gwynedd."
• • • *
" Discover thou what is
The strong creature from before the flood,
Without flesh, without bone,
Without vein, without blood,
Without head, without feet ;
It will neither be older nor younger
Than at the beginning ;
For fear of a 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-seval
With the five ages or periods ;
TAL1ESIN.
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 willeth.
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 four-sided ;
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,
Inasmuch as her heat is less.
TALIESIN. 487
One Being has prepared it.
Out of all creatures,
By a tremendous blast,
To wreak vengeance
On Maelgwn Gwynedd."
And while he was thus singing his verse near the door,
there arose a mighty storm of wind, so that the king and all
his nobles thought that the castle would fall on their heads.
And the king caused them to fetch Elphin in 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 heavens, Buler 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 Maelgwn of Anglesey, who supplies us,
From his foaming meadhorns, with the choicest pure liquor.
Since bees collect, and do not enjoy,
We have sparkling distilled mead, which is universally praised.
The multitude of creatures which the earth nourishes
God made for man, with a view to enrich 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 will they continue.
I entreat the Supreme, Sovereign of the region of peace,
To liberate Elphin 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 honour,
A succession of numberless ages, in the retreat of tranquillity.
Elphin, knight of mead, late be thy dissolution 1"
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 Ieuav ; J
488 TALIESIN.
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 wilds 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 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 i
If thy bards, Heinin, be competent,
Let them reply to me, Taliesirr."
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, Heinin,
As to the name of thy verse,
And the name of thy vaunting ;
And as to the name of thy grandsire
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.
Avaunt, ye bards above,
Avaunt, ye bards below !
My beloved is below,
In the fetter of Arianrod.
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 ;
TALIESIN. 489
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 he the piece 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 virgins of Mary they corrupt ;
As they pass their lives away in vanity ;
Poor innocent persons they ridicule ;
At night they get drunk, they sleep the day ;
In idleness without work they feed themselves ;
The Church they hate, and the tavern they frequent ;
With thieves and perjured 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 gripe of death they think not ;
Neither lodging nor charity do they give ;
Indulging in victuals 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,
Every thing travails to obtain its food,
Except minstrels and lazy useless thieves.
I deride neither song nor minstrelsy,
For they are given by God to lighten thought ;
But him who abuses them,
For blaspheming Jesus and his service."
Taliesin having set his master free from prison, and having
490 TALIESIN.
protected the innocence of his wife, and silenced the Bards,

so that not one of them dared to say a word, now brought
Elphin's wife before them, and showed that she had not
one finger wanting. Right glad was Elphin, right glad was
Taliesin.
Then he bade Elphin wager the king, that he had a horse
both better and swifter than the king's horses. And this
Elphin did, and the day, and the time, and the place were
fixed, and the place was that which at this day is called
Morva Rhiannedd: and thither the king went with all his
people, and four-and-twenty of the swiftest horses he pos
sessed. And after a long process the course was marked, and
the horses were placed for 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 get 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 crupper, 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, enjoin
ing the horseman strictly to watch when his own horse should
stumble, and to throw down his cap on the spot. All these
things did the youth fulfil, 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 pay
ment and reward unto thee, for having taken me out of the
weir, and for having reared me from that time until now."
And on this spot stands a pool of water, which is to this time
called Pwllbair.
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
TALIESIN. 491
poem which is now called " One of the Four Pillars of
Song."
" The Almighty made,

Down the Hebron vale,
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 orchard keeping,
Till Satan brought strife,
With wiles from helL
Thence were 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 Abel,
And Cain the forlorn,
The homicide.
To him and his mate
Was given a spade,
To break up the soil,
Thus to get bread.
The wheat pure and white,
Summer tilth to sow,
Every man to feed,
Till great yule feast
492 TALIESIN.
An angelic hand
From the high Father,
Brought seed for growing
That Eve might sow ;
But she then did hide
Of the gift a tenth,
And all did not sow
Of what was dug.
Black rye 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 ruddy wine,
Planted on sunny days,
And on new-moon nights ;
And the white wine.
The wheat rich in grain

And red flowing wine
Christ's pure body make,
Son of Alpha.
The wafer is flesh,
The wine is spilt blood.
The Trinity's words
Sanctify them.
The concealed books
From Emmanuel's hand
Were brought by Raphael
As Adam's gift,
When in his old age,
To his chin immersed
In Jordan's water,
Keeping a fast,
Moses did obtain,
In Jordan's water,
The aid of the three
Most special rods.
TALIESIN.
* Solomon did obtain
In Babel's tower,
All the sciences
In Asia land.
So did I obtiin,
In my bardic books,
All the sciences
Of Europe and Africa.
Their course, their bearing,
Their permitted way,
And their fate I know,
Unto the end.
Oh ! what misery,
Through extreme of woe,
Prophecy will show
On Troia's race !
A coiling serpent
Proud and merciless,
On her golden wings,
From Germany.
She will overrun
England and Scotland,
From Lychlyn sea-shore
To the Severn.
Then will the Brython
Be as prisoners,
By strangers swayed,
From Saxony.
Their Lord they will praise,
Their speech they will keep,
Their land they will lose,
Except wild Walia.
Till some change shall come,
After long penance,
When equally rife
The two crimes come.
Britons then shall have

Their land and their crown,
And the stranger swarm
Shall disappear.
494 TALIESIN.
All the angel's 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.
*****
NOTES TO.TALIESIN.
Taliksin. —Page 471.

Taliesin, literally, the " Radiant Brow," was a Welsh Bard of the
sixth century. His name, regarded by his countrymen with the
reverence due to the "Prince of Song," is known to the Saxon chiefly
through the brief but spirited invocation of Gray.
The text records the fiction of which Taliesin is the hero. Of his
real history little is known, excepting what may be gleaned from his
works, and from the following notices given in the volume of Iolo
MSS. recently published by the Welsh MSS. Society. The first of
these latter is taken from Anthony Powel of Llwydarth's MS.
" Taliesin, Chief of the Bards, the son of Saint Henwg of Oaerlleon
upon TJsk, was invited to the court of TJrien Rheged, at Aberllychwr.
He, with Elffin, the son of Urien, being once fishing at sea in a skin
coracle, an Irish pirate ship seized him and his coracle, and bore him
away towards Ireland ; but while the pirates were at the height of
496 TALIESIN.
their drunken mirth, Taliesin pushed his coracle to the sea, and got
into it himself, with a shield in his hand which he found in the ship,
and with which he rowed the coracle until it verged the land ; but,
the waves breaking then in wild foam, he lost his hold on the shield,
so that he had no alternative but to be driven at the mercy of the
sea, in which state he continued for a short time, when the coracle
stuck to the point of a pole in the weir of Gwyddno, Lord of Cere
digion, in Aberdyvi ; and in that position he was found, at the ebb,
by Gwyddno's fishermen, by whom he was interrogated ; and when
it was ascertained that he was a bard, and the tutor of Elffin, the
son of Urien Rheged, the son of Cynvarch :—' I, too, have a son
named Elffin,' said Gwyddno, ' be thou a bard and teacher to him,
also, and I will give thee lands in free tenure.' The terms were
accepted, and for several successive years he spent his time between
the courts of Urien Rheged and Gwyddno, called Gwyddno Garanhir,
Lord of the Lowland Cantred ; but after the territory of Gwyddno
had become overwhelmed by the sea, Taliesin was invited by the
Emperor Arthur to his court at Caerlleon upon Usk, where he
became highly celebrated for poeiic genius and useful, meritorious
sciences. After Arthur's death he retired to the estate given to him
by Gwyddno, taking Elffin, the son of that prince, under his pro
tection. It was from this account that Thomas, the son of Einion
Offeiriad, descended from Gruflydd Gwyr, formed his romance of
Taliesiu, the son of Cariadwen—Elffin, the son of Goddnou—Rhun,
the son of Maelgwn Gwynedd, and the operations of the Cauldron of
Ceridwen."
Next follows the Pedigree of Taliesin, Chief of the Bards, from
Thomas Hopkin of Coychurch's MS. :—
"Taliesin, Chief of the Bards of the West, the son of Saint
Henwg, of Caerlleon upon Usk, the son of Fflwch, the son of Cynin,
the son of Cynvarch, the son of Saint Clydawc, of Ewyas, the son
of Gwynnar, the son of Caid, the son of Cadren, the son of Cynan,
the son of Cyllin, the son of Caradog, the son of Bran, the son of
Llyr Llediaith, King Paramount of all the Kings of Britain, and
King, in lineal descent, of the country between the rivers Wye and
Towy. Taliesin became Chief Bard of the West, from having been
appointed to preside over the chair of the Round Table, at Caerlleon
upon Usk."
A manuscript once in the Havod Uchtryd collection gives the
following particulars :—
" Taliesin, Chief of the Bards of the West, the son of Henwg the
Bard, of the College of Saint Cadocus, the son of Fflwch Lawdrwm,
NOTiSS. 497
of Caerlleon upon Usk, in Glamorgan, the son of Cynvar, the son of

Saint Clydog, the son of Gwynnar, the son of Cadrain, the son of
Cynan, the son of Caradog, the son of Bran the Blessed, the son of
Llyr Llediaith.
Taliesin, Chief of the Bards, erected the church of Llanhenwg, at
Caerlleon upon Usk, which he dedicated to the memory of his
father, called Saint Henwg, who went to Rome on a mission to
Constantine the Blessed, requesting that he would send Saints
Germanus and Lupus to Britain, to strengthen the faith and renew
baptism there.
Taliesin, the son of Henwg, was taken by the wild Irish, who
unjustly occupied Gower ; but while on board ship, on his way to
Ireland, he saw a skin coracle, quite empty, on the surface of the
sea, and it came closely to the aide of the ship ; whereupon Taliesin,
taking a skin-covered spar in his hand, leaped into it, and rowed
towards land, until he stuck on a pole in the weir of Gwyddno
Garanhir ; when a young chieftain, named Elphin, seeing him so
entangled, delivered him from his peril. This Elphin was taken for
the son of Gwyddno, although in reality he was the son of Elivri,
his daughter, but by whom was then quite unknown ; it was,
however, afterwards discovered that Urien Rheged, King of Gower
and Aberllychwr, was his father, who introduced him to the court of
Arthur, at Caerlleon upon Usk, where his feats, learning, and
endowments were found to be so superior that he was created a
golden-tongued Knight of the Round Table. After the death of
Arthur, Taliesin became Chief Bard to Urien Rheged, at Aberllychwr
in Rheged."
Another extract, given in the above volume, is from amanuscript
by Llywelyn Sion, of Llangewydd :—
" Talhaiarn, the father of Tangwn, presided in the chair of Urien
Rheged, at Caer-Gwyroswydd, after the expulsion of the Irish from
Gower, Carnwyllion, Cantrev-Bychan, and the Cantred of Iscennen.
The said chair was established at Caer-Gwyroswydd, or Ystum
Llwynarth, where Urien Rheged was accustomed to hold his national
and royal court
After the death of Talhaiarn, Taliesin, Chief of the Bards, pre
sided in three chairs, namely : the chair of Caerlleon upon Usk, the
chair of Rheged, at Bangor Teivy, under the patronago of Cedig ab
Ceredig, ab Cuneddav Wledig ; but he afterwards was invited to the
territory of Gwyddnyw, the son of Gwydion, in Arllechwedd, Arvon,
where he had lands conferred on him, and where he resided until the
Mabinogion. 2 K
498 TAL1K8IN.
time of Maelgwn Gwynedd, when he was dispossessed of that

property, for which he pronounced his curse on Maelgwn, and all his
possessions ; whereupon the Vad Velen came to Rhos, and whoever
witnessed it became doomed to Certain death. Maelgwn saw the Vad
Velen through the keyhole, in Rhos church, and died in consequence.
Taliesin, in his old age, returned to Caer-Gwyroswydd, to Riwallon,
the son of Urien ; after which he visited Cedig, the son of Ceredig,
the son of Cunnedav Wledig, where he died, and was buried with
high honours, such as should always be shown to a man who ranked
among the principal wise men of the Cymric nation ; and Taliesin,
Chief of the Bards, was the highest of the most exalted class, either
in literature, wisdom, the science of vocal song, or any other attain
ment, whether sacred or profane. Thus terminates the information
respecting the chief bards of the chair of Caerlleon upon Usk, called
now the chair of Glamorgan."
It is probable that Taliesin was educated, or completed his educa
tion, at the school of the celebrated Cattwg, at Llanveithin, in Gla
morgan. In after life he became the bard of Urien Rheged, to whom,
and to his son Owain, his principal poems are addressed. In the
opinion of the most judicious critics these poems are undoubtedly
genuine. They certainly contain passages of exquisite beauty, and
are far superior to many of the other compositions attributed to him,
of which some rest on very questionable authority, and some are
evidently Middle Age productions. Indeed, the last of the poems
translated in the text bears in some MSS. the name of Ionas Athraw
o Fynyw.
The name of Taliesin is thus commemorated in the Triads:—
" The three Baptismal Bards of the Isle of Britain :—Merddin
Emrys, Taliesin, Chiefof Bards, and Merddin, son of Madoc Morvryn."
—Tr. 125.
This Triad is more fully explained in an extract from MS. Triads
of the Round Table, given in the Iolo MSS., p. 468.
" The Nine Impulsive Stocks of the Baptismal Bards of Britain.—
The three primitive baptismal bards of the Cambro-Britons : Madog,
the son of Morvryn, of Caerlleon upon Usk ; Taliesin, the son of
Saint Henwg, of Caerlleon upon Usk ; and Merddin Emrys, of
Maesaleg, in Glywysyg ; after whom came Saint Talhaiarn, the
father of Tangwyn, Merddin, the son of Madog Morvryn, and
Meugant Hen, of Caerlleon upon Usk ; who were succeeded by
Balchnoe, the bard of Teilo, at Llandatf; Saint Cattwg; and
Cynddjlan, the bard. These nine were called the Impulsive Stocks
NOTES. 499
of the baptismal bards of Britain ; Taliesin being their chair-pre
sident ; for which reason he was designated Taliesin, Chief Bard of
the West. They are likewise called the nine superinstitutionists of
the baptismal chair ; and no institution is deemed permanent unless
renewed triennially, till the end of thrice three, or nine years. The
institution was also called the Chair of the Bound Table, under the
superior privilegesof which Gildas, the prophet, and Saint Cattwg
the Wise, of Lancarvan, were bards ; and also Llywarch Hen, the
son of Elidr Lydanwyn, Ystudvach, the bard, and Ystyphan, the
bard of Teilo."
There are evidently in the foregoing notices some authentic his
torical facts, as well as legendary traditions of the age of chivalry,
which it would require an able critic to separate from each other.
Tradition has handed down a Cairn near Aberystwyth as the
grave of Taliesin, the locality of which agrees with the foregoing
account.
At one of the meetings of the Cambrian Archaeological Association
this Cairn was visited. It contains a Cistvaen, eight feet long by
two feet six wide, and about three feet deep, composed of rude slabs
of stone. One of the top stones, which lies near it, measures five
feet nine by three feet nine. The Cairn was opened some fifty or
sixty years ago, and the Cistvaen then contained some earth of a
different colour to that of the adjoining soil.
The various poems recited in the Tale of Taliesin appear to have
been composed at different periods, and it is not improbable that the
above-mentioned Thomas ab Einion Offeiriad collected the poems
attributed to Taliesin, which were in existence before his time, and
added others to form the Mabinogi, which from expressions in page
474, and the very numerous transformations stated in the poetry,
but not given in the prose, must have been much more complete
than in its present state.
That the story of Taliesin was current in the Middle Ages is well
known. If proof were wanting the lines of Llywarch Prydydd
Moch, in allusion to the liberation of Elphin, might be adduced.
They occur in an ode to Llywelyn ap Iorwerth, composed probably
not later than 1220.
" I will address my Lord with the greatly greeting muse, with
the dowry of Keridwen, the Buler of Bardism, in the manner
of Taliesin, when he liberated Elphin, when he overshaded the
Bardic mystery with the banners of the Bards."—Davics's Myth, of
the Druids.
2 K 2
500 TALIESIN.
From several poems being addressed to Hopkin ap Thomas

ab Einiawn, by Davydd y Coed, Iorwerth Llwyd, and others who
flourished about the years 1300 to 1350, it may be inferred that
Hopkin's father, the above Thomas ab Einiawn, was contemporary
with Llywarch Prydydd y Moch, and therefore not the author but
merely the compiler of the already well-known story of Caridwen,
Taliesin, and Elphin.
No perfect copy of the Mabinogi of Taliesin being accessible, it
has been necessary to print it in the present series from two frag
ments. The former of the two is contained in a MS. in the Library
of the Welsh School, in London. It is written in a modern round
hand and bears the title " Y Prif-feirdd Cymreig, sef Canau &c. a
gasglwyd ganwyf fi, William Morris o Gaergybi ym Mon, 1758."
The MS. is of quarto size.
The second fragment is from a MS. in the library of the late Iolo
Morganwg, and was kindly communicated by his son, the late Mr.
Taliesin Williams (Ab Iolo).
It should be mentioned that the Mabinogi of Taliesin has already
been published, although not in so complete a form as the present
version, with a translation, by the late Dr. Owen Pughe, in the
fifth volume of the Cambrian Quarterly ; and, with two exceptions
(the poems beginning " Discover thou what is," and " I adore the
Supreme, Lord of all animation," pp. 485, 487), the translations of
the poems now published are extracted from that work, the necessary
alterations being made where the text differed materially. The
first portion of it is also to be found (untranslated) in the Myvyrian
Archaiology, vol. I. page 17, and part of it is inserted in Jones's
Welsh Bards.
The Transmigrations of Taliesin will remind the general reader
of the adventures of the second Royal Calender in the Arabian
Nights.
Caridwen. —Page 471.

Cabidwen is generally considered to be the Goddess of Nature of
Welsh mythology. The principal circumstances of her fabulous
history are those detailed in the Mabinogi of Taliesin. Upon them
are founded most of the allusions to her contained in the poems of
the bards, with whom the cauldron of Caridwen, of Inspiration, or
the Awen, is a subject of frequent referenca As regards her sin
gular family we have but little information and few details.
Several notices, however, occur in Welsh writings of her fair
NOTES. 501
daughter Creirwy. Of these it may be sufficient to instance the
Triad which celebrates her with Arianrod and Gwenn, verch
Cywryd ab Crydon, as one of the three beauteous ladies of the
island.* One of the two Triads extant on the subject of Morvran
has been already cited. (See p. 273.) It alludes to the extreme
ugliness assigned him in the text, to which, nevertheless, he was
indebted for the preservation of his life in the battle of Cam!an ; the
other ranks him with Gilbert mab Cadgyffro and Gwgan Gleddyvrudd,
as one of the three stayers of slaughter.+ No further particulars of
him are preserved.
Gwyddno Garanhir. —Page 472.
Gwyddno Garanhir was Sovereign of Cantref y Gwaelod, a ter

ritory bordering on the sea, and protected from its ravages by a high
embankment One evening there was revelry at the Court, and
Seithenin,J the son of Seithyn Saidi, King of Dyved, upon whom it
devolved to look after the embankment,§ and see that all was safe,
became inebriated and neglected his charge. The consequence was
that the sea,broke in through the bank in the course of the night.
Gwyddno and his Court escaped with difficulty from the impending
ruin, and the Cantrev y Gwaelod was submerged and irretrievably
lost. By this calamity sixteen fortified cities, the largest and finest
that were in Wales, excepting only Caerlleon upon Usk, were entirely
destroyed, and Cardigan Bay occupies the spot where the fertile
plains of the Cantrev had been the habitation and support of a
flourishing population. Such as escaped the inundation fled to
Ardudwy, and the country of Arvon, and the mountains of Eryri
(Snowdon), and other places not previously inhabited. By none
was this misfortune more severely felt than by Gwyddno Garanhir,
to whom the reverse of circumstances it occasioned was so great
that, from being an opulent monarch, he was all at once reduced to
* Triad 107. t Triad xxix.

J Seithinyn the Drunkard's mischance in letting the sea overflow the
Cantrev y Gwaelod, is related in Triad xli.
§ Traces of three ancient stone embankments are said to be still visible in
the district where this inundation took place. They are called Sam Cynvelyn,
Sarn y Bwch, and Sarn Padrig. " The latter is particularly conspicuous, being
left dry at low water to the extent of about nine miles, and the sailors of the
neighbouring ports describe its whole length to be .twenty-one miles, beginning
near Harlech, and running in a south-west direction." (Cambro-Briton, I. 362.)
The Hanes Cymru contains some interesting remarks on this subject.
502 TALIESIN.
the necessity of maintaining himself and his only son, the unfortu
nate Elphin, by the produce of the fishing weir mentioned in the
text.
This disastrous event is commemorated in a proverb still repeated
in the Principality.—
" The sigh of Gwyddno Garanhir
When the wave rolled over his land."
There is also preserved in the Myvyrian Archaiology (I. 165), a
short poem upon the subject attributed to Gwyddno Garanhir, in
which there are some exceedingly poetic and striking passages. The
bereft monarch calls upon the author of his distress to view the
calamitous effects of his intemperance, pronounces maledictions upon
his head, and describes the outcry of the perishing inhabitants of
that unhappy region. The piece bears a strong resemblance to some
of the Works of Llywarch Hen, and is probably as old as the sixth
century.
" Stand forth Seithenin and behold the dwelling of heroes,—the
plain of Gwyddno the ocean covers !
Accursed be the sea guard, who after his carousal let loose the
destroying fountain of the raging deep.
Accursed be the watcher, who after his drunken revelry, loosed the
fountain of the desolating sea.
A cry from the sea arises above the ramparts ; even to heaven does
it ascend,—after the fierce excess comes the long cessation !
A cry from the sea ascends above the ramparts ; even to heaven
does the supplication come !—after the excess there ensues restraint !
A cry from the sea awakens me this night !—
A cry from the sea arises above the winds !
A cry from the sea impels me from my place of rest this night !
After excess comes the far extending death ! "
Another composition, attributed to him, is to be found in the same
valuable collection. It is in the colloquial form, between himself
and the king of Faerie, Gwyn ap Nudd.
The magic basket of Gwyddno has a place amongst the Thirteen
Precious Things of Britain.—See page 285.
NOTES. 503
Maelgwn Gwynedd.—Page 476.

This king succeeded his father Caswallon Lawhir in the sovereignty
of Gwynedd, about the year 517. He is the subject of a most violent
invective by Gildas, who accuses him of being a most cruel and
profligate character ; which is rather confirmed by its being recorded
that he was rebuked by St. Padarn, for certaiu injuries committed by
him in Ceredigion ; and that he oppressed Tydecho, one of the
Armorican Saints, who bad settled in his dominion; but in conse
quence of some miracles said to have been performed by that Saint,
he was compelled to make ample amends. He afterwards founded a
College at Caergybi, and a Priory at Penmon, and also endowed
Bangor, and erected it into a Bishopric. His reign was more
powerful than most of those we read of in those unsettled ages ;
about the year 546 he was elected to the nominal sovereignty of the
Britons, and, according to the Brut, he added six islands, Ireland,
Iceland, Gothland, Orkney, Llychlyn (Norway), and Denmark to
the British possessions. He died of the Vad Velen, or Yellow
Pestilence, usually called the Yellow Plague of Rhos, which was said
to have been caused by the number of unburied bodies of the slain
that remained on that spot, and whoever went within the reach
of the effluvia fell dead immediately.
To avoid the effects of this pestilence it is said that Maelgwn
retired from his castle of Dyganwy, to the church of Llanrhos,
where he hoped to remain, shut up in the sanctuary, safe from
all daDger ; but being impelled by curiosity, he looked out through
the keyhole of the door, and thereby caught the infection, thus
fulfilling the prediction uttered by Taliesin,—
" A most strange creature will come,
From the sea marsh of Rhianedd,
As a punishment of iniquity,
On Maelgwn Gwynedd ;
His hair and his teeth,
And his eyes being as gold ;
And this will bring destruction
On Maelgwn Gwynedd."
A traditionary remembrance of this circumstance is preserved
in the adage " Hun Maelgwn Gwynedd yn Eglwys Llanrhos," or
as it is given in the " Annales Cambriae," published by the Record
Commission, " Hir hun Maelgwn en His Ros," The long sleep of
Maelgwn in the court of Rhos.
504 TALIESIN.
This plague lasted from the year 557 to 562, and its ravages were
fearful in the extreme. A Triad records it as one of the three direful
maladies, and it is even employed as an image of horror in the com
positions of the Bards.
Heinin Vardd.— Page 477.

It would appear that Heinin was Bard to the College of Llan-
veithin, at Llancarvan, in Glamorganshire, and that he flourished
between A.D. 520 and 560. In the " Chwedlau'r Doethion," or
" Sayings of Wise Men," preserved in a Welsh MS. called " Llyfr
Tre Brynn," and published in the collection of Iolo MS8. by the
Welsh MSS. Society, the following sayiog is attributed to him.—
" Hast thou heard the saying of Heinin,
The Bard of the college of Llanveithin ? *
The brave is never cruel I "
* Qu. ? " Bangor."—Iolo Morganwg.
w\MiN AMD SONS, PRINTERS, QR11T QURBN STRRBT, 13SDOIT, W.C.

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jo OXFORD

Volumes which are lost, defaced, or damaged must be paidfor.

THE WELSH OF THE LLYFR COCH 0 HERGES!

TRANSLATED, WITH NOTES,

LADY CHARLOTTE GUEST.

Infants as you yet are, I feel that I cannot

May you become early imbued with the chivalric

May you learn to emulate the noble qualities of

Your affectionate Mother,

ri^HE Arthurian Legends have at all times furnished

It is, then, under these altered conditions, and in

Langham House, London,

WHILST engaged on the Translations contained

the characters, were almost wholly those of Chivalry,

in the Celtic dialects of Great Britain and France,

that Wace may have had access, like Geoffrey, to

Society, their Editor, Mr. Robson, seems to hint at a

The Mabinogion, however, though thus early re

names of places are very frequently definitions of the

degree, to camps, barrows, and other artificial earth

It is always valuable to find a place or work called

containing ample internal evidence of a Welsh

Dowlais, August 29th, 1848.

KING ARTHUR was at Caerlleon upon Usk; and one

Then Arthur spoke, "If I thought you would not dis

insteps. In the hand of each of them was an ivory bow,

bead. And he has a club of iron, and it is certain that there

manner to me ; however, he asked me whither I would go ?

and cast a bowlful of water upon the slab; and thereupon,

the night before ; and I was better feasted, and I conversed

On the morrow, with the dawn of day, he pnt on his

other place. Nor did he ever see so excellent a display of

and I will go to Arthur's Court, and ill betide me, if I return

arms, and military skill. "Therefore," said she, "this is

It befell that as Gwalchmai went forth one day with King

signal of combat upon the lance of the Knight. And Kai

for my cousin, owing to the robe of honour that enveloped

And as Owain one day sat at meat, in the city of Caerlleon

much as was seen of the saddle were of gold. And the

ashamed of the unseemliness of his appearance. Then he

went towards the spot, and beheld a huge craggy mound, in

unless he came himself, to deliver me, by a certain day ; and

worth four-and-twenty pence, and they were as sorrowful as

And thenceforward Owain dwelt at Arthur's Court greatly

NOTES TO THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN.

Among the various characters introduced into the foregoing tale,

Caerlleon upon Use.—Page 3.

* March ap Meirchion, Gwythyr ap Greidiol, and Gwgawn Gleddyfrudd,

In the French Copy,—

Owain the Sox of Urien.—Page 3.

* In the Life of St. Kentigern, mention is made of a wicked king of Strath-

• Myv. Arch. i. 105. t Myv. Arch. i. 78.

Kynon the son of Clydno.—Page 3.

Kai the Son of Kyner.—Page 3.

* It is somewhat singular that this adventure was undertaken on behalf of

" The stately entrance is without porters,

Lewis Glyn Cothi also (about 1450), in an eulogium upon Owain,

On a Seat of Green Rushes.—Page 3.

* We trace the customs of a country in what may appear accidental expres

Trees of equal growth.—Page 4.

Chaucer describes a bower in the same style, in his Flour and

Yellow Satin.— Page 4.

Sinews of the Stag.—Page 4.

Bone of the Whale.—Page 5.