Section 1 of the Mabinogen, Volume 3, this is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. The Mabinogen, Volume 3 by Anonymous, translated by Charlotte Guest. Section 1. Poise, Prince of Deved, Part 1. Poise, Prince of Deved, was Lord of the Seven Kentrefs of Deved, 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 he pleased him to hunt was Glen Keith. So he set forth from Narberth that night and went as far as Thluun, D.R., Wood, and that night he tarried there, and early on the morrow he rose and came to Glen Keith, 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 companions, and whilst he listened to the hounds, he heard the cry of other hounds, a cry different from his own, and coming in the opposite direction. And he beheld a glade in the wood, forming a level plain, and as his dogs came to the edge of the glade, he saw a stag before the other dogs. And lo, as it reached the middle of the glade, the dogs that followed the stag overtook it and brought it down. Then looked he at the color of the dogs, staying not to look at the stag, and of all the hounds that he had seen in the world, he had never seen any that were like unto those. For their hair was of a brilliant, shining white, and their ears were red, and as the whiteness of their bodies shone, so did the redness of their ears glisten. And he came towards the dogs, and drove away those that had brought down the stag, and set his own dogs upon it. And as he was sitting on his dogs, he saw a horseman coming towards him upon a large, light-gray steed with a hunting horn about his neck, and clad in garments of gray woolen in the fashion of a hunting garb. And the horseman drew near and spoke unto him thus, O chieftain said he I know who thou art, and I greet thee not. Per adventure said, poise, thou art of such dignity that thou shouldst not do so. Barely 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 then 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 dishonor than the value of an hundred stags. O chieftain, he replied, if I have done ill, I will redeem thy friendship. How wilt thou redeem it, according as thy dignity may be, but I know not who thou art? A crowned king, am I, in the land whence I come? Lord said he, may the day prosper with thee, and from what land comest thou? From an wound answered he, I'll rune a king of an rune, am I? Lord said he, how may I gain thy friendship? After this manner mayest thou, he said, there is a man whose dominions are opposite to mine, who is ever warring against me, and he is half-gan, a king of an wound, and by ridding me of this oppression, which thou canst easily do, shalt thou gain my friendship. Gladly will I do this, said he, show me how I may. I will show thee, behold, thus it is thou mayest. I will make firm friendship with thee, and this will I do. I will send thee to an wound in my stead, and I will give thee the fairest lady thou dost 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 tomorrow, and then will we meet in this place. Yes, said he, but when I shall have been there for the space of a year, by what means shall I discover him of whom thou speakest. One year from this night he answered, is the time fixed between him and me, that we should meet at the Ford, be thou there in my likeness, and with one stroke, that thou giveest him he shall no longer live. And if he asked 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. Barely, said poise, what shall I do concerning my kingdom? Said Arun, 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 poise, 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 inside of the palace and its dwellings, beholds that 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 disarrayed him, and all as they entered, saluted him. And two nights came and drew his hunting-dress from about him and clothed him in a vesture of silk and gold, and the hall was prepared and behold he saw the household and the host enter in, and the host was the most comely and the best equipped that he had ever seen, and with them came in likewise the queen who was the fairest woman that he ever yet beheld, and she had on a yellow robe of shining satin, and they washed and went to the table, and they sat the queen upon one side of him and one who seemed to be an earl on the other side. And he began to speak with the queen, and he thought from her speech that she was the seemliest and most noble lady of converse and of cheer that ever was, and they partook of meat and drink with songs and with feasting and of all the courts upon the earth, behold this was the best supplied with food and drink and vessels of gold and royal jewels. And the year he spent in hunting and minstrel sea and feasting and diversions and discourse with his companions until the night that was fixed for the conflict, and when that night came it was remembered even by those who lived in the farthest part of his dominions, and he went to the meeting and the nobles of the kingdom with him, and when he came to the fort a night arose and spoke 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 fort, and encountered, and at the first thrust the man who was in the stead of our room struck half-gan on the center of the boss of his shield, so that it was cloven in twain, and his armor was broken, and half-gan himself was born to the ground, and arms and a spear's length over the cropper of his horse, and he received a deadly blow. O chieftain, said half-gan, what right hast thou to cause my death? I was not injuring thee in anything, and I know not wherefore thou wouldst slay me, before the love of heaven, since thou hast begun to slay me, complete thy work. O chieftain, he replied, I may yet repent doing that unto thee, slay thee who may, I will not do so. My trusty lords said half-gan, bear me hence, my death is come, I shall be no more able to uphold you. My nobles also said he who was in the semblance of our room, 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 an womb 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 trist, and came to glen Keith. And when he came there the king of Ann Woon was there to meet him, and each of them was rejoiced to see the other. Barely said Arun, may heaven reward thee for thy friendship towards me, I have heard of it, when thou comest thyself to thy dominion, said he that wilt see, that which I have done for thee, whatever thou hast done for me, may heaven repay it thee. Then Arun gave to poise Prince of David his proper form and semblance, and he himself took his own, and Arun set forth towards the court of Ann Woon. And he was rejoiced when he beheld his host 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. Poise Prince of David came likewise to his country in 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 were never so kind, nor so free in bestowing thy gifts, and thy justice was never more worthily seen than in this year. By heaven said he, for all the good you have enjoyed, you should thank him who hath been with you, for behold, thus hath this matter been, and thereupon poise related the whole unto them. Barely, 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 poise. And thenceforth they made strong the friendship that was between them, and each sent unto the other horses, and greyhounds, and hawks, and all such jewels as they thought would be pleasing to each other. And by reason of his having dwelt that year in Ann Woon, and having ruled there so prosperously, and united the two kingdoms in one day by his valor and prowess, he lost the name of Poise Prince of David, and was called Poise Steep of Ann Woon from that time forward. Once upon a time Poise was at Norberth, 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 Poise arose to walk, and he went to the top of a mound that was above the palace, and was called Gorseth Arberth. Lord, said one of the court, it is peculiar to the mound that whosoever sits upon it cannot go thence without either receiving wounds or blows, or else seeing a wonder. I fear not to receive wounds and blows in the midst of such a host as this, but as to the wonder gladly would I see it, I will go therefore and sit upon the mound. And upon the mound he sat, and while he sat there they saw a lady on a pure white horse of large size, with a garment of shining gold around her, coming along the 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, Poise, is there any among you who knows yonder lady? There is not, Lord, said they, go one of you and meet her, that we may know who she is. And one of them arose, and as he came upon the road to meet her, she passed by, and he followed as fast as he could being on foot, and the greater was his speed, the further was she from him. And when he saw that it profited him nothing to follow her, he returned to Poise and said unto him, Lord, it is idle for any one in the world to follow her on foot. Literally said Poise, go unto the palace and take the fleet his 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 Poise 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 Poise, 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 meet. And after the first meal, verily, said Poise, 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 tours, that thou knowest in the field. And thus did the young men, 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 Poise, 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 anvil, and thought that notwithstanding the gentle pace at which his horse went, he should soon overtake her. But this availed him not, so he gave his horse the reins, and still he came no nearer to her than when he went at a foot's pace. And the more he urged his horse, the further was she from him. Yet she rode not faster than before. When he saw that it availed not to follow her, he returned to the place where Poise 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 someone in this plain, if her haste would allow her to declare it. Let us go back to the palace, enter 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 meet. And when meet was ended Poise 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 this, and they went and sat upon the mound, and there 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 Poise, 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 with the thirties 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 Poise, 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 had thou asked it long since. So the maiden stopped, and she threw back that part of her headdress which covered her face. And she fixed her eyes upon him and began to talk with him. Lady asked he, whence comeest thou, and where unto dost thou journey? A journey on mine own errands, 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, ought concerning thy purpose? I wilt tell thee, said she, my chief quest was to seek thee. Behold, said Poise, this is to me the most pleasing quest on which thou couldst have come. And wilt thou tell me, who thou art? I wilt tell thee, Lord, said she, I am Rionan, the daughter of Hapheth, 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 Poise, behold, this is my answer. If I might choose among all the ladies and damsels in the world, thee would I choose. Barely 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 Poise, and whosoever thou wilt there will I meet with thee. I wilt that thou meet meet this day twelve month at the palace of Hapheth. And I will cause a feast to be prepared so that it be ready against thou come. Gladly said he, will I keep this trist? Lord said, she, remain in health, and be mindful that thou keep thy promise. And now will I go hence. So they parted, and he went back to his host and to them of his household. And whatsoever questions they asked him, respecting the damsel, he always turned the discourse upon other matters. And when a year from that time was gone he caused a hundred knights to equip themselves and to go with him to the palace of Hapheth 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 meet, and thus did they sit. Hapheth hen was on one side of Poise and Rhianon on the other, and all the rest according to their rank. And they eat, and feasted, and talked one with another. And at the beginning of the corrals after the meet there entered a tall, auburn-haired youth of royal bearing clothed in a garment and satin. And when he came into the hall he saluted Poise and his companions. The greeting of heaven be unto thee, my soul, said Poise, come thou and sit down. Nay, said he, a suitor am I, and I will do mine errand. Do so willingly, said Poise, 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, and me as far as I am able, thou shall have. Ah, said Rhianon, wherefore dost thou give that answer? Has he not given it before the presence of these nobles? Ask the youth, my soul, said Poise, 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 Poise was silent because of the answer which he had given. Be silent as long as thou wilt, said Rhianon. 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, guile, the son of Gleed, a man of great power and wealth, and because of the word thou hast spoken, bestow me upon him less shame before thee. Lady said he, I understand not thine answer, never can I do as thou sayest.  By what means will that be, asked Poise?  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. Under 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, twelve months. And at the end of the year, be thou here, said she, and bring this bag with thee, and let thy hundred nights be in the orchard up yonder. And when he is in the midst of joy and feasting, come thou in by thyself, glad and ragged garments, and holding thy bag in thy hand, and ask nothing but a bag full of food, and I will cause that if all the meat and liquor that are in these seven cantresses 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, win 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, growl, it is meat that I have, and answer to my request, as much of that thou hast asked, as it is in my power to give thou shalt have replied, poise. My soul, said Rhianon, unto him, as for the feast in the banquet that are here, I bestowed them upon the men of David and the household and the warriors that are with us. These cannot not suffer to be given to any. Any year from tonight a banquet shall be prepared for thee in this palace that I may become thy bride. End of Section 1, Section 2 of the Mabinogen, Volume 3 by Anonymous, translated by Charlotte Guest. This lever box recording is in the public domain. Section 2. So Guile went forth to his possessions and Poise went also back to David, and they both spent that year until it was the time for the feast at the palace of Hethephen. Then Guile, the son of Cleed, set out to the feast that was prepared for him, and he came to the palace and was received there with rejoicing. Poise, also the chief of Anun, came to the orchard with his hundred knights as Rhianon had commanded him, having the bag with him, and Poise was clad in coarse and ragged garments and wore large clumsy old shoes upon his feet, and when he knew that the carousel after the meat had begun, he went towards the hall, and when he came into the hall he saluted Guile, the son of Cleed and his company both men and women. Heaven prosper thee, said Guile, 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 dust, 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 number of attendants arose and begun to fill the bag, but for all that they put into it it was no fuller than at first. My soul, said Guile, 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 therein.    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 and 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 Havath and Lord, he speaks truth. It were fitting that thou listen to him, for he deserves not this. Barely, said Poise, I will do thy counsel concerning him. Behold, this is my counsel, then, said Rhianon, thou art now in that position in which it behooves 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 Poise, since it is the counsel of Havath and Rhianon. Such, then, is our counsel answered they. I accept it, said Poise, seek thy self-sureties. We will be for him, said Havath, until his men be free to answer for him, and upon this he was let out of the bag, and his liegemen were liberated. The man now of Gwal, his sureties, said Havath. We know which should be taken for him, and Havath numbered the sureties. Said Gwal, do thou thyself draw up the covenant? It will suffice me that it be as Rhianon said, answered Poise. So unto that covenant were the sureties pledged. Barely, Lord, said Gwal, I am greatly hurt, and I have many bruises. I have need to be anointed. With thy leave I will go forth. I will leave nobles in my stead to answer for me in all that thou shall require. Willingly, said Poise, mayest thou do thus, so Gwal went towards his own possessions. And the hall was set in order for Poise 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 months, so sat they that night, and they eat and feasted and spent the night in mirth and tranquility. And the time came that they should sleep, and Poise and Rhianon went to their chamber. And next morning at the break of day, my Lord said Rhianon, arise and begin to give thy gifts unto the minstrels. Refuse no one today that may claim thy bounty. Thus shall it be, gladly said Poise, both today and every day, while the feast shall last. So Poise arose, and he called 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, Poise said unto Haveth, my Lord, with thy permission, I will set out for David tomorrow. Certainly said Haveth, may heaven prosper thee. Fix also a time when Rhianon may follow thee. By heaven said Poise, we will go hence together. Willest thou this, Lord, said Haveth, yes by heaven answered Poise. And the next day they set forward towards David and journeyed to the palace of Narberth where a feast was made ready for them. And there came to them great numbers of the chief men and the most noble ladies of the land, and of these there were none to whom Rhianon 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 Presley and David. 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 poise, we have not long been joined together and many things may yet befall grant me a year from this time and for this 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 our birth was he born and on the night that he was born he was brought to watch the mother and the boy and the women slept as did also Rhianon, the mother of the boy and the number of the women that were brought into the chamber was six and they watched for a good portion of the night and before midnight every one of them fell asleep and towards break of day they awoke and when they awoke they looked where they had put the boy and behold he was not there. Oh said one of the women the boy is lost. Yes said another and it will be small vengeance not burnt or put to death because of the child said one of the women is there any council for us in the world in this matter there is answered another I offer you good council what is that as they there is here a stag hound bitch and she has a litter of welps let us kill some of the cubs and rub the blood on the face and hands of Rhianon and lay the bones before her and assert that she herself will regain say us six and according to this council it was settled and towards morning Rhianon awoke and she said women where is my son lady said they ask us not concerning thy son we have not 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 as thou not thyself devour thy son claim him not therefore of us for pretty sakes said Rhianon 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 anyone in the world for pretty sakes said Rhianon 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 poise the chief of Ann Woon and his household and his house 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 poise and besought him to put away his wife because of the great crime which she had done but poise answered them that they had no cause wherefore they might ask him to put away his wife say 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 Rhianon 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 everyday 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 but it would be interesting for her to see the horse and strangers if they were permitted 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 Ter-Nan-Twer-Leont was lord of Goentis Coet and he was the best man in the world and unto his house there belonged a mare than which neither mare nor horse were able and on the night of every first of May she fold and no one ever knew what became of the coat and one night Ter-Nan-Twer-Leont talked with his wife wife said he it is very simple of us that our mare should fold every year and that we should have none of her coats 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 coats he began to watch that night and in the beginning of the night the mare fold a large and beautiful coat and it was standing up in the place and Ter-Nyan rose up and looked at the size of the coat 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 coat by the mane then Ter-Nan drew his sword and struck off the arm at the elbow so that portion of the arm together the 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 his wife was lady said he art thou sleeping no lord said she art was asleep but as thou came us 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 Ter-Nyan and he told her how it all befell barely lord said she what sort of garments are there upon the boy a mantle of satin said he is then a boy of gentle lineage my lord she said if thou wilt thou shalt have great diversion on 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 because what hair was upon his head was as yellow as gold and they had the boy nursed in the court he was six years old and before the year was over he could walk stoutly and he was larger than a boy of three years old even one of great growth and size and the boy was nursed the second year and then he was as large as a child six years old and before the end of the fourth year he would bribe the grooms to allow him to take the horses to water my lord said his wife unto Ter-Nyan where is the coat which thou did save on the night that thou foundest the boy I have commanded the grooms of the horses would it not be well lord said she if thou werest 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 coat was fold and thou didst save him I will not oppose thee in this matter said Ter-Nyan I will allow thee to give him the coat Lord said she may heaven reward thee I will give it him so the horse was given to the boy and 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 Rionan and her punishment in Ter-Nyan to Rion by reason of the pity that he felt on hearing this story of Rionan and her punishment inquired closely concerning it until he had heard from many of those who came to his court then did Ter-Nyan often lamenting the sad history pondered within himself and he looked that fastly 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 poise the chief of An-Woon another semblance of poise was well known to him for he had of your been one of his followers and there upon 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 Rionan to be punished so greatly on his account whereas the boy was the son of poise the chief of An-Woon and Ter-Nyan's wife agreed with him that they should send the boy to poise and three things Lord said she shall we gain thereby thanks and gifts for releasing Rionan from her punishment and thanks from poise 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 and he was settled according to this council and no later than the next day was Ter-Nyan equipped in two other nights with him and the boy as a fourth in their company went with them upon the horse which Ter-Nyan had given him and they journeyed towards Narber and it was not long before they reached that place and as they drew near to the palace they beheld Rionan sitting beside the horse block and when they were opposite to her chief didn't 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 O fair lady said Ter-Nyan think not that I will be one to be carried upon thy back neither will I said the boy truly my soul said Ter-Nyan we will not go so they went forward to the palace and there was great joy at their coming and at the palace a feast was prepared because poise was come back from the confines of the bed and they went into the hall and watched and poise rejoiced to see Ter-Nyan and in this order they sat Ter-Nyan between poise and Rionan and Ter-Nyan's two companions on the other side of poise with the boy between them and after meet they began to quarrel and to discourse and Ter-Nyan'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 Ter-Nyan and whosoever told that lie concerning thee has done wrong and when I heard of that sorrow I was aggrieved and I believed that there is none of this host who will not perceive that the boy is the son of poise said Ter-Nyan there is none said they all who is not certain thereof I declare to heaven said Rionan that if this be true there indeed is an end to my trouble lady said Pandaren Deved well hast thou named thy son Praderi and well becomes him the name of Praderi son of poise chief of Anwun look you said Rionan will not his own name become him better what name has he asked Pandaren Deved Guru Wast is the name that we gave him Praderi said Pandaren shall his name be it were more proper said poise 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 Ter-Nyan said poise 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 Ter-Nyan 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 poise 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 counts to be pleasing unto thee and to my nobles we that as thou hast reared him up to the present time I will give him to be brought up by Pan-Dar-N-Div-Ed finance forth 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 Pan-Dar-N-Div-Ed and the nobles of the land were sent with him and Ter-Nyan to Rift-Liant and his companions set out for his country and his possessions with love and gladness and he went not without being offered the nobles and the fairest horses and the choices dogs but he would take none of them thereupon they all remained in their own dominions and Padary the son of poise the chief of Ann-Woon 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 past years and years until the end of poise the chief of Ann-Woon's life came and he died and Padary ruled the seven cantrefs and he was beloved by his people and by all around him and at length he added unto them the three cantrefs of Aestrad, Tui and the four cantrefs of Cardigan and these were called the seven cantrefs of Cysus, Sooch and when he made this addition Padary the son of poise the chief of Ann-Woon desired to take a wife and the wife he chose was Kik-Fah the daughter of Gu-In Go-Hu the son of Glau U-Las Ladin the son of Prince Kassnar one of the nobles of this island and thus ends this portion of the Mabinogen end of section 2 section 3 of the Mabinogen volume 3 by Anonymous translated by Charlotte Guest this LibriVox recording is in the public domain section 3 Bran-Win the daughter of Fleur Benderguide Fran the son of Fleur was the crown king of this island and he was exalted from the crown of London and one afternoon he was at Harlech in Ardu Doi at his court and he sat upon the rock of Harlech looking over the sea and with them were his brother Ma Noi Than the son of Fleur and his brothers by the mother's side Nysien and Nysien and many nobles likewise as was fitting to see around a king his two brothers by the mother's side were the sons of Eurot Soeth by his mother Panardin the daughter of Belly son of Managan and one of these youths was a good youth and of gentle nature between his kindred and causes family to be friends when their wrath was at the highest and this one was Nysien but the other would cause strife between his two brothers when they were most at peace and as they said thus they beheld thirteen ships coming from the south of Ireland and making towards them and they came with a swift motion the wind being behind them and they neared them rapidly the ships so far 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 mathful which king of Ireland is here and the ships belong to him wherefore comes he ask 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 allow himself with thee Lord said they and he comes to ask Branwyn the daughter of Fleur that if it seems well to thee the Ireland of the mighty may be leagued with Ireland and both become more powerful barely said he let him come to land and we will take counsel there upon and this answer was brought to mathful which 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 Branwyn mathful which 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 Aberfaw as the place where she should become his bride and they went then sent towards Aberfaw the host proceeded mathful which and his host in their ships then to guide Fran and his host by land until they came to Aberfaw and at Aberfaw they began the feast and sat down and thus sat they the king of the island of the mighty and manna with Thon the son of Fleur on one side and mathful which on the other side and Branwyn the daughter of Fleur beside him and they were not within a house but under tents no house could ever contain then to guide Fran and they began the banquet and corrals and discourse and when it was more pleasing to them to sleep then to corrals they went to rest and at night Branwyn became mathful which is 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 range them in order as far as the sea and behold one day Abinacian the quarrelsome man of whom it is spoken above came by chance into the place where the horses of mathful which were and asked whose horses they might be they are the horses king of Ireland who is married to Branwyn 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 there upon 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 their bones and he disfigured the horses and rendered them useless and they came with these tidings unto mathal which saying that the horses were disfigured and injured so that not one of them could ever be of any use again barely Lord said one it was an insult into 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 done Lord said another thus is that thus it is and there is nothing for thee to do but to go to thy ships and thereupon towards his ships he set out and tidings came to bend the guide Fran that mathal which was quitting the court without asking leave and messengers were sent to inquire of him wherefore he did so and the messengers that went were it thick the son of an rude and hatheth her and these overtook him and asked of him what he designed to do and wherefore he went forth of a truth that he if I had known I had not come hither I've been altogether insulted no one had ever worse treatment than I have had here for one thing surprises me above all what is that asked they that brenwin the daughter Fleur 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 shouldst have received this insult and as thou has been insulted the dishonor is greater unto bend to guide Fran than unto thee Verily said he I think so nevertheless I cannot recall the insult these men returned with that answer to the place where bend to guide Fran was and they told him what reply mouth of which had given them truly said he there are no means by which we may prevent is 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 mana with on son of Fleur and unique glue is wood and go after him and tell him that he shall have a sound horse for everyone 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 breath of his face and show unto him who it was that did this and that it was done against my will but that he 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 mouth of which and told him all these things in a friendly manner and he listened there unto 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 meet and as they had sat at the beginning of the feast so sat they there and mouth of which and bendigide and Fran began to discourse and behold it seemed to bendigide Fran while they talked that mouth of which was not so cheerful as he had been before and he thought that the chieftain might be said because of the smallness of the atonement which he had for the wrong that had been done him oh man said bendigide Fran thou dost not discourse tonight so cheerfully as thou were want and if it be because of the smallness of the atonement thou shalt add there unto whatsoever thou mayest choose and tomorrow I will pay thee the horses Lord said he heaven reward thee and I will enhance the atonement sent bendigide Fran for I will give unto thee a cauldron the property of which is that if one of thy men be slain today and be cast therein tomorrow 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 mouth of which the horses as long as the trained horses lasted and then they journeyed into another comet where they paid him with coats until the whole had been paid and from thence forth that comet was called tala boleum and a second night sat they together my lord said mouth for which whence hath 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 was a fleshy newid he came here from Ireland with him a day came in foal 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 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 cauldron and I beheld a huge yellow haired man coming from the lake with the 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 barely asked I wherefore are you journeying behold this said he to me is the cause that we journey at the end of the fortnight 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 thence forth 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 being outrageous and molesting and harassing the nobles and ladies and thence forward 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 compelled 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 and when the chamber was ready there came there every smith that was in Ireland and everyone 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 center 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 then and then I suppose lord said not for which unto then to guide Fran that he came over unto thee doubtless he came here said he and gave unto me the cauldron in what manner did thou receive them I disperse 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 minstrelcy and carousing and when it was more pleasant to them to sleep then to sit longer they went to rest and thus was the banquet carried on with joyousness and when it was finished not for which journeyed towards Ireland and Branwen with him and they went from Abba Menai with thirteen ships and came to Ireland and in Ireland was their 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 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 pleasant 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 Guern the son of Mathawitch and they put the boy out to be foster nursed in a place where it were the best men of Ireland and behold in the second year a two Malta Rose in Ireland on account of the insult which Mathawitch had received in Wales 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 two Malta 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 Barely Lord said his men to Mathawitch forbid now the ships in the ferry boats and the coracles that they go not into Wales and such as come over from Wales hither imprisoned them that they go not back for this thing to be known there and they did so and it was thus for no less than three years and Branwen reared us darling 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 Wales and the bird came to this island and one day it found Ben de Guide Fran and here the aunt in Arvon conferring 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 Ben de Guide Fran 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 seven score countries to come into him and he complained to them himself of the grief that his sister endured so they took council and in the council they resolved to go to Ireland and to leave seven men as princes here and Tara Dowke the son of Bran as the chief of them and their seven knights in Eddie Ernieon were these men left and for this reason were the seven knights placed in the town now the names of these seven were Tara Dowke the son of Bran and Hefeth Hurd and Unik Gluglou Goud and Ithic the son of Anarok, Gwal, Rune and Vatter the son of Er this and Gouch Minna, Kurn and Vlasa the son of Vlasa Goud and Pandaren David as a young page with them and these abode as seven ministers to take charge of this island and Tara Dowke the son of Bran was the chief amongst them then to guide Fran with the host of which we spoke sailed towards Ireland and it was not far across the sea and he came to Shoalwater it was but by two rivers the Flea and the Arcann where 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 swine herds of Mathurich were upon the seashore and they came the Mathurich Lord said they greeting be unto thee heaven protect you said he have you any news Lord said they we have marvelous 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 ought 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 in the mountain and all these things moved barely said he there is none who can know ought concerning this unless it be Branwen messengers then went unto Branwen lady said they what think is thou that this is the men of the island of the mighty who have come hither on hearing of my ill treatment and my woes what is the forest that is seen upon the sea asked they the yards and the mass of ships she answered the last said thee what is the mountain that is seen by the side of the ships been to guide Bran my brother she replied coming to shore water 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 wrought and his two eyes on each side of his nose are the two lakes on each side of the ridge the warriors and chief men of Ireland were brought together in haste and they took counsel Lord said the nobles not the which there is no other counsel than to retreat over the linen 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 load stone 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 then to guide Fran came to land and the fleet with him by the bank of the river Lord said his chieftains there was thou the nature of this river that nothing can go across it and there was 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 same first utter 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 angels of mathel which came to him and saluted him and gave him greeting in the name of mathel which is kinsman and showed how that of his good will he had merited of him nothing but good for mathel which has given the kingdom of Ireland to Gvern the son of mathel which 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 Branwyn the mathel which shall be maintained for so ever thou wilt either here or in the island of the mighty said then to guide Fran shall not I myself have the kingdom then per adventure I may take counsel concerning your message from this time until then no other answer will you get from me barely 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 mathel which Lord say they prepare a better message for then to guide Fran he would not listen at all to the message that we bore him my friend said mathel which 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 I self and I host on the other and give over that kingdom to his will and do him homage so by reason of the honor thou doest him and 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 bend to guide Fran 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 unless 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 leather bag on each bracket and an armed man in every one of them and Evny Sien came in before the host of the island of the mighty and scanned the house with fierce and savage looks and described the leather bags which were around the pillars what is in this bag asked he of one of the Irish meel good soul said he and Evny Sien 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 meel said the Irishman so he did the like unto every one of them until he had not left alive and the men saved one only and when he came to him he asked what was there meel 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 he found that the head of this one was armed he left him not until he had killed him and then he sang an England 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 Benderguide Fran called the boy unto him and from Benderguide Fran the boy went unto Manna with on and he was loved by all that beheld him and from Manna with on the boy was called by Nysian the son of Iros with and the boy went unto him lovingly wherefore said Abnesian 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 Benderguide Fran and the boy went unto him cheerfully by my confession to heaven said Abnesian in his heart unthought of by the household is the slaughter that I will this instant commit then he rose and took up the boy by the feet and before anyone in the house could seize hold of him he thrust the boy headlong into the blazing fire when Branwyn 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 the Benderguide Fran grasped her with one hand and his shield with the other then they all hurried about the house and never was there it made so great they were called by any host in one house as was made by Ben as each man armed himself then said more did Til Sion the Gadfiles have mourned Til Sion's cow and while they all sought their arms Benderguide Fran supported Branwyn between his shield and his shoulder then the Irish came to the fire under the cauldron of renovation and they cast the dead bodies into the cauldron until it was full and the next day the mighty men as good as before except that they were not able to speak then when Abnis Sion saw the dead bodies of the men of the island of the mighty nowhere resuscitated he said in his heart alas for it was me that I should have been the cause of bringing the men of the island of the mighty into so great a strait evil butied me if I find not a deliverance therefrom and he cast himself among the dead bodies of the Irish and two unshot 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 victorious for only seven men of them all escaped Benderguide Fran himself was wounded in the foot with a poisoned dart now the seven men that escaped were the Irish man of the island of the mighty the Irish man of the island of the mighty he was not grew the end the son of Muriel and Highland the son of Gwyn hen and Benderguide Fran commanded them that they should put off his head and take you my heads said he and buried even unto the right mountain in London and buried 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 Rhianon singing unto you the wild and all that time the head will be to you as pleasant company as it ever was when on my body and at Gwalis in Penbro you will be four score years and you may remain there and the head with you uncorrupted until you open the door that looks towards Aber, Hen, Felon and towards Cornwall and after you've opened the door there you may no longer tarry to bury the head and go straight forward so they cut off his head and these seven went forward there with and Branwen was the eighth with them and they came to land at Aber, Alla and they sat down to rest and Branwen looked towards Ireland towards the island of the mighty to see if she could describe them alas that she woes me that I was ever born two islands have been destroyed because of me then she uttered a loud groan and they made her a four-sided grave and buried her upon the banks of the Allau 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 as mana with on we have none said they save the Caswasan the son of Belai has conquered the island of the mighty and his crown king in London what has become said they the son of Bran and the seven men who were left with him in this island Caswasan came upon them and slew six of them in and Caradoc's heart broke of grief thereof for he could see the sword that slew them in but knew not who it was that wielded it Caswasan 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 Caradoc because he was his nephew the son of his cousin and now he was the third and his heart had broke through grief Bindaran David who had remained as a young page with these men escaped into the wood said they then they went on to Harlech and there and 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 that had ever heard were unpleasant compared there too and the birds seemed to them to be at a great distance from them over the sea 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 Gwallis in Penbro and there they found the 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 Seyander said menna withan is the door that we may not open and that night they regaled themselves that they were joyful and of all they had seen a 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 four score years unconscious of having ever spent the 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 to head with them than if bendigod Fran had been with them himself for these four score years it was called the entertaining of the noble head the entertaining of Branwyn and Mathelwitch was in the time that they went to Ireland one day said Highland the son of Gwyn Evo betied 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 and Felon and when they had looked they were as conscious of all the evils that had ever sustained 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 gribbly concealment and it was the third ill-fated disclosure when it was disinterred in as much 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 over 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 away of the mothers of their companions and they governed the country and people did 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 Maba Noji concerning the blow given to Branwyn which was the third unhappy blow of this island and concerning the entertainment of Bran when the hosts of seven score countries and ten went over to Ireland to revenge the blow given to Branwyn and concerning the seven years banquet in Halech and the singing of the birds of Rhianon and the surgeoning of the head for the space of four score years end of section three section four of the Maba Noji volume three by Anonymous translated by Charlotte Guest this lever box recording is in the public domain section four Man of Thon the son of Fleur when the seven men of whom we spoke above had buried the head of Bendeguide Fran in the white mountain London with his face towards France man with Thon 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 exclaimed there is none save myself without a resting place this night Lord said for Derry be not so sorrowful thy cousin is king of the island of the mighty and though he should do the wrong thou hast never been acclaimant of land or possessions thou art the third disinherited prince yea answered he but although this man is my cousin agree with me to see anyone in the place of my brother Bendeguide Fran neither can I be happy with him will thou follow the council of another said for Derry I stand in need of council he answered and what may that council be seven cantreffs remain unto me said for Derry wherein reonon my mother dwells I will bestow her upon thee and the seven cantreffs with her and though thou hadst no possessions but those cantreffs only thou couldst not have seven cantreffs fairer than they kikba the daughter of groin gloi go yin gloi is my wife and since the inheritance of the cantreffs belong to me do thou and reonon enjoy them and if thou ever desire any possessions thou wilt take these I do not chieftain said he have in reward thee for thy friendship I would show thee the best friendship in the world if thou wits let me I will my friend said he and heaven reward thee I will go with thee to seek reonon 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 uncomely they set forth and however long the journey they came at length to deved and a beast was prepared for them against their coming to the earth which reonon and kik pha had provided then began manawathan and reonon 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 Praderi said he I will let it be as thou didst say what saying was that Praderi I did offer thee as a wife to manawathan the son of Fleur by that will I gladly abide said reonon right glad am I also said manawathan may heaven reward him who hath shown unto me friendship so perfect as this and before the feast was over she became as bride said poise teary ye hear the rest of the feast and I will go into England to tender my homage unto Cass wason the son of Belli Lord said reonon Cass wason is in Kent may I therefore teary at the feast and wait until he shall be nearer we will wait he answered so they finished the feast and they began to make the circuit of the bed and to hunt and to take their pleasure and as they went through the country they had never seen lands more pleasant near plenty of honey and fish and such was the friendship between those four that they would not be parted from each other by night or nor by day and in the midst of all this he went to Cass wason at Oxford and tendered his homage and honorable was his reception there and highly was he praised for offering his homage and after his return Praderi and manawathan feasted and took their ease and pleasure and they began a feast and as they sat thus behold the peel of thunder and with the violence of the thunder storm 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 arrived at the place of the feast and they began to see the other and as they sat thus behold the peel of thunder and with the violence of the thunder storm lighting light all around and when they looked towards the place where they were want 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 out of what had befallen them save those four only in the name of heaven cried man and withon where are they of the court and all my hosts 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 not but desolation so they forefeasted and hunted and took their pleasure then they began to go through the land and all the possessions that they had and to 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 barely said man and withon we must not bide thus let us go into England and seek some craft whereby we may gain our support so they went into England and came as far as Hurford and they betook themselves to making saddles and man and withon began to make housings and he gilded and colored them with blue enamel in the manner that he had seen it done by thla, sa, les, go, with and he made the blue enamel as it was made by the other man and therefore is it still called couch, lasar, lou enamel because thla, sa, les, go, with had rotted and as long as that workmanship could be had of man and withon neither saddle nor housing was bought of a saddler throughout all Hurford till it length every one of the saddlers perceived that they were losing much of their gain and that no man bought of them but he who could not get what he sought from man and withon 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 Praderi it is not my counsel that we should quit the town but that we should slay these boars not so said man and withon for if we fight with them we shall have evil fame and shall be put in prison they were better for us to go to another town to maintain ourselves so they forewent to another city what craft shall we take said Praderi we will make shields, said man and withon do we know anything about that craft, said Praderi 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 enameled them as they had done the saddles and they prospered 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 and 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 Praderi said man and withon these men desire to slay us let us not endure this from these boars but let us rather fall upon them and slay them not so he answered, cast well son and his men will hear of it they all be undone let us go to another town so to another town they went what craft shall we take said man and withon whatsoever that wilt that we know said Praderi, not so he replied but let us take to making shoes for there is not courage among cord weaners either to fight with us or to molest us I know nothing thereof said Praderi, but I know answered man and withon we will not attempt to dress the leather but we will buy it ready-dressed and we'll make the shoes from it so he began by buying the best cord wall that could be had in the town and none other would he buy except the leather for the souls and he associated himself with the best goldsmith in the town and caused him to make clasps for the shoes and to yield the clasps and he marked how it was done until he learned the method and therefore was he called one of the orders of gold shoes and when they could be had from him not a shoe nor hose was bought of any of the cord weaners in the town but when the cord weaners perceived that their gains were failing for as man and withon shaped the work so Praderi stitched it they came together and took counsel and agreed that they would slay them Praderi said man and withon these men are minded to slay us wherefore should we bear this from the said Praderi rather let us slay them all not so said man and withon we will not slay them neither will we remain in England any longer let us set forth to deved and go to see it so they journeyed along until they came to deved and they went forward to Narberth and there they came to low 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 Praderi and man and withon 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 Praderi and see what is in it and as they came near behold a wild boar of a pure white color 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 away 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 took him to flight then they pursued the boar until they beheld the 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 whatsoever and from the top of the gorseth they looked and listened for the dogs but so long as they were there they heard not one of the dogs nor ought concerning them Lord said Praderi I will go into the castle to get tidings of the dogs truly he replied thou wouldst 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 answer Praderi I cannot thus give up my dogs and for all the council that Manna with on gave him yet to the castle he went when he came within the castle nor beast nor bore nor dogs nor house nor dwelling saw he within it but in the center 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 were sick him so that he could not utter a word and thus he stood and Manna with on waited for him till near the close of the day and later in the evening being certain that he should have no tidings of Praderi or of the dogs he went back to the palace and as he entered Rhianon looked at him where said she are thy companion and thy dogs behold he answered the adventure that has befallen me and he related all unto her an evil companion hast thou been said Rhianon 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 Praderi laying hold of the bow and she went towards him oh my lord said she what does thou here and she took hold of the bow with him and as she did so her hands also became fast to the bow and her feet to the slab and she was not able to utter a word and with that as it became night low there came thunder upon them and a fall of mist and there upon the castle vanished and they with it when Kikfa the daughter of Gwon Glau saw that there was no one in the palace but herself and Manna with on she saw so that she cared not whether she lived or died and Manna with on saw this thou art in the wrong said he if through fear of me thou grievous thus I call heaven to witness that thou has never seen friendship more pure than that which I will bear thee and as long as heaven will that thou shouldst be thus I declare to thee that where in the dawn of youth I would keep my faith under Praderi and under thee also will I keep it be there no fear upon thee therefore heaven is my witness that thou shall 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 there upon took courage and was glad truly lady said Manna with on it is not fitting for us to stay here we have lost our dogs and we cannot get food let us go into England it is easiest for us to find support there gladly Lord said she we will do so and they set forth together to England Lord said she what craft wilt thou follow take up one that is seemly none other will I take answer 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 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 clasp to be made for the shoes and accept himself all the cord wainers 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 teared there a year until the cord wainers became envious until counsel concerning him and he had warning thereof and it was told him how the cord wainers had agreed together to slay him Lord said kick for wherefore should this be born from these boars nay said he we will go back on to David so towards the bed they set forth now man and with found when he set out to return to the bed took with him a burden of wheat and he proceeded towards Norbert and there he dwelt and never was he better than when he saw Norbert again and the lands where he had been want to hunt with Pardarian with Rhianon and he accustoms 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 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 tomorrow said he and that night he went back to Norbert and on the morrow in the gray dawn he went to reap the crop and when he came there he found nothing but the bear straw every one of the ears of the wheat was cut from off the stock and all the ears carried entirely away and nothing but the straw left and at this he marveled behold that also was ripe barely said he this will I reap tomorrow and on the morrow he came with the intent to reap it and when he came there he found nothing but the bear straw a gracious heaven he exclaimed I know that whosoever has begun my ruin is completing it and has also destroyed 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 not here tonight 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 Kikfa all that had befallen barely said she what think is thou to do I will watch the croft tonight said he and he went to watch the croft and at midnight low there arose the loudest tumult in the world and he looked and behold the mightiest host of mice in the world which could 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 bear that had not amounts to it and they all took their way carrying the ears with them and rather than anger did he rush upon the mice but he could no more come up with them than if they had been gnats or but sluggish men 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 the string and kept it with him and returned to the palace then he came to the hall where Kikfa was and he lighted a fire and hung the glove by the string upon a peg what has thou there Lord said Kikfa a thief said he that I found robbing me what kind of thief may it be Lord that thou my glove said she behold I will tell thee he answered then he showed her how his fields have 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 tomorrow I will hang it and before heaven if I had them I would hang them all my Lord said she this is marvelous but yet it would be unseemly for a man of dignity like thee to be hanging such a reptile as this and if 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 succor 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 should succor it I would take thy counsel concerning it said man ofathon but as I know I mined it to destroy it do so willingly then said she and then he went to the Gorseth of Narburg taking the mouse with him and he set up two forks on the highest part of the Gorseth 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 prostrate for thee and my greeting be unto thee and whence does thou come scholar asked he I come Lord from singing in England and wherefore does thou inquire because for the last seven years answered he I've seen no man here say 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'm hanging a thief that I caught robbing me said he what manner that asked the scholar I see a creature in that 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 I have received as arms 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 not and the scholar went his way and as he was placing the cross beam 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 man of thine the blessing of heaven be upon thee and what Lord art thou doing I'm hanging a thief that I caught robbing me said he what manner thief Lord asked he a creature he answered in form of a mouse it has been robbing me and I'm inflicting upon it the doom of a thief Lord said he rather than see thee touched 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 die but rather than see thee defiled I 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 art so shall it be hanged willingly Lord do thy good pleasure and the priest went his way then he noose 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 sumptor horses and his attendants and he stayed his work Lord Bishop said he thy blessing heaven's blessing be unto thee said he what work art thou upon hanging 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 I 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 or vile a reptile as this let it loose and thou shall 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 seeest in this plane 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 so ever thou wilt I will do so said he I will that we are not and for dairy be free said he that thou shall have he answered not yet will I loose the mouse by heaven what then which thou that the charm and the illusion be removed from the seven cantrefs of defed this shall thou have also set there for the mouse free 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 dispoil thee he answered I am fluid the son of kill Ked and I cast the charm over the seven cantrefs of defed and it was to avenge Guile the son of Cleed from the friendship that I had towards him that I cast the charm and upon prodery did I revenge Guile the son of Cleed for the game of badger in the bag that poise pen a noon played upon him which he did unadvisably in the court of half a pen and when it was known that thou was 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 crops and the third night came unto me in the face of the court and besought me to transform them and I transformed them and had she not been pregnant thou would not have been able to overtake her but since this has taken place and she has been caught I will restore thee prodery and Rianan and I will take the charm and a lesion from all defed I have now told thee who she is set her therefore free I will not set her free by heaven said he shall be put forth charm upon the seven cantrettes of defed and that none shall be put upon it henceforth this thou shall have said he now set her free I will not by my fate he answered what built out furthermore asked he behold said he this will I have that vengeance be never taken for this either upon prodery or Rianan or upon me all this shall thou have and truly thou hast done wisely in asking this upon thy head would have lit yeay said he for fear thereof was it that I required this set now my wife at liberty I will not by heaven set he until I see prodery and Rianan with me free behold here they come he answered and there upon behold prodery and Rianan 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 of thou didst ask I will release her and there upon he set her free then he struck her with a magic wand and she was changed back into a young woman the fairest ever seen look around upon thou lands said he and then thou wilt see it all till them peopled as it was in its best state and he rose up and looked forth and when he looked he saw all the lands till and full of herds and dwellings what bond he inquired has there been upon prodery and Rianan prodery has had the knockers of the gate of my palace about his neck and Rianan 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 mapinoji of men weir and men nord and thus ends this portion of the mapinoji end of section four


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