Books: The Mabinogion
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Then he took his magic wand, and struck Gilvaethwy, so that he became
a deer, and he seized upon the other hastily lest he should escape
from him. And he struck him with the same magic wand, and he became
a deer also. "Since now ye are in bonds, I will that ye go forth
together and be companions, and possess the nature of the animals
whose form ye bear. And this day twelvemonth come hither unto me."
At the end of a year from that day, lo there was a loud noise under
the chamber wall, and the barking of the dogs of the palace together
with the noise. "Look," said he, "what is without." "Lord," said
one, "I have looked; there are there two deer, and a fawn with them."
Then he arose and went out. And when he came he beheld the three
animals. And he lifted up his wand. "As ye were deer last year, be
ye wild hogs each and either of you, for the year that is to come."
And thereupon he struck them with the magic wand. "The young one
will I take and cause to be baptized." Now the name that he gave him
was Hydwn. "Go ye and be wild swine, each and either of you, and be
ye of the nature of wild swine. And this day twelvemonth be ye here
under the wall."
At the end of the year the barking of dogs was heard under the wall
of the chamber. And the Court assembled, and thereupon he arose and
went forth, and when he came forth he beheld three beasts. Now these
were the beasts that he saw; two wild hogs of the woods, and a well-
grown young one with them. And he was very large for his age.
"Truly," said Math, "this one will I take and cause to be baptized."
And he struck him with his magic wand, and he become a fine fair
auburn-haired youth, and the name that he gave him was Hychdwn. "Now
as for you, as ye were wild hogs last year, be ye wolves each and
either of you for the year that is to come." Thereupon he struck
them with his magic wand, and they became wolves. "And be ye of like
nature with the animals whose semblance ye bear, and return here this
day twelvemonth beneath this wall."
And at the same day at the end of the year, he heard a clamour and a
barking of dogs under the wall of the chamber. And he rose and went
forth. And when he came, behold, he saw two wolves, and a strong cub
with them. "This one will I take," said Math, "and I will cause him
to be baptized; there is a name prepared for him, and that is
Bleiddwn. Now these three, such are they:-
The three sons of Gilvaethwy the false,
The three faithful combatants,
Bleiddwn, Hydwn, and Hychdwn the Tall."
Then he struck the two with his magic wand, and they resumed their
own nature. "Oh men," said he, "for the wrong that ye did unto me
sufficient has been your punishment and your dishonour. Prepare now
precious ointment for these men, and wash their heads, and equip
them." And this was done.
And after they were equipped, they came unto him. "Oh men," said he,
"you have obtained peace, and you shall likewise have friendship.
Give your counsel unto me, what maiden I shall seek." "Lord," said
Gwydion the son of Don, "it is easy to give thee counsel; seek
Arianrod, the daughter of Don, thy niece, thy sister's daughter."
And they brought her unto him, and the maiden came in. "Ha, damsel,"
said he, "art thou the maiden?" "I know not, lord, other than that I
am." Then he took up his magic wand, and bent it. "Step over this,"
said he, "and I shall know if thou art the maiden." Then stepped she
over the magic wand, and there appeared forthwith a fine chubby
yellow-haired boy. And at the crying out of the boy, she went
towards the door. And thereupon some small form was seen; but before
any one could get a second glimpse of it, Gwydion had taken it, and
had flung a scarf of velvet around it and hidden it. Now the place
where he hid it was the bottom of a chest at the foot of his bed.
"Verily," said Math the son of Mathonwy, concerning the fine yellow-
haired boy, "I will cause this one to be baptized, and Dylan is the
name I will give him."
So they had the boy baptized, and as they baptized him he plunged
into the sea. And immediately when he was in the sea, he took its
nature, and swam as well as the best fish that was therein. And for
that reason was he called Dylan, the son of the Wave. Beneath him no
wave ever broke. And the blow whereby he came to his death, was
struck by his uncle Govannon. The third fatal blow was it called.
As Gwydion lay one morning on his bed awake, he heard a cry in the
chest at his feet; and though it was not loud, it was such that he
could hear it. Then he arose in haste, and opened the chest: and
when he opened it, he beheld an infant boy stretching out his arms
from the folds of the scarf, and casting it aside. And he took up
the boy in his arms, and carried him to a place where he knew there
was a woman that could nurse him. And he agreed with the woman that
she should take charge of the boy. And that year he was nursed.
And at the end of the year he seemed by his size as though he were
two years old. And the second year he was a big child, and able to
go to the Court by himself. And when he came to the Court, Gwydion
noticed him, and the boy became familiar with him, and loved him
better than any one else. Then was the boy reared at the Court until
he was four years old, when he was as big as though he had been
eight.
And one day Gwydion walked forth, and the boy followed him, and he
went to the Castle of Arianrod, having the boy with him; and when he
came into the Court, Arianrod arose to meet him, and greeted him and
bade him welcome. "Heaven prosper thee," said he. "Who is the boy
that followeth thee?" she asked. "This youth, he is thy son," he
answered. "Alas," said she, "what has come unto thee that thou
shouldst shame me thus? wherefore dost thou seek my dishonour, and
retain it so long as this?" "Unless thou suffer dishonour greater
than that of my bringing up such a boy as this, small will be thy
disgrace." "What is the name of the boy?" said she. "Verily," he
replied, "he has not yet a name." "Well," she said, "I lay this
destiny upon him, that he shall never have a name until he receives
one from me." "Heaven bears me witness," answered he, "that thou art
a wicked woman. But the boy shall have a name how displeasing soever
it may be unto thee. As for thee, that which afflicts thee is that
thou art no longer called a damsel." And thereupon he went forth in
wrath, and returned to Caer Dathyl and there he tarried that night.
And the next day he arose and took the boy with him, and went to walk
on the seashore between that place and Aber Menei. And there he saw
some sedges and seaweed, and he turned them into a boat. And out of
dry sticks and sedges he made some Cordovan leather, and a great deal
thereof, and he coloured it in such a manner that no one ever saw
leather more beautiful than it. Then he made a sail to the boat, and
he and the boy went in it to the port of the castle of Arianrod. And
he began forming shoes and stitching them, until he was observed from
the castle. And when he knew that they of the castle were observing
him, he disguised his aspect, and put another semblance upon himself,
and upon the boy, so that they might not be known. "What men are
those in yonder boat?" said Arianrod. "They are cordwainers,"
answered they. "Go and see what kind of leather they have, and what
kind of work they can do."
So they came unto them. And when they came he was colouring some
Cordovan leather, and gilding it. And the messengers came and told
her this. "Well," said she, "take the measure of my foot, and desire
the cordwainer to make shoes for me." So he made the shoes for her,
yet not according to the measure, but larger. The shoes then were
brought unto her, and behold they were too large. "These are too
large," said she, "but he shall receive their value. Let him also
make some that are smaller than they." Then he made her others that
were much smaller than her foot, and sent them unto her. "Tell him
that these will not go on my feet," said she. And they told him
this. "Verily," said he, "I will not make her any shoes, unless I
see her foot." And this was told unto her. "Truly," she answered,
"I will go unto him."
So she went down to the boat, and when she came there, he was shaping
shoes and the boy stitching them. "Ah, lady," said he, "good day to
thee." "Heaven prosper thee," said she. "I marvel that thou canst
not manage to make shoes according to a measure." "I could not," he
replied, "but now I shall be able."
Thereupon behold a wren stood upon the deck of the boat, and the boy
shot at it, and hit it in the leg between the sinew and the bone.
Then she smiled. "Verily," said she, "with a steady hand did the
lion aim at it." "Heaven reward thee not, but now has he got a name.
And a good enough name it is. Llew Llaw Gyffes be he called
henceforth."
Then the work disappeared in seaweed and sedges, and he went on with
it no further. And for that reason was he called the third Gold-
shoemaker. "Of a truth," said she, "thou wilt not thrive the better
for doing evil unto me." "I have done thee no evil yet," said he.
Then he restored the boy to his own form. "Well," said she, "I will
lay a destiny upon this boy, that he shall never have arms and armour
until I invest him with them." "By Heaven," said he, "let thy malice
be what it may, he shall have arms."
Then they went towards Dinas Dinllev, and there he brought up Llew
Llaw Gyffes, until he could manage any horse, and he was perfect in
features, and strength, and stature. And then Gwydion saw that he
languished through the want of horses and arms. And he called him
unto him. "Ah, youth," said he, "we will go to-morrow on an errand
together. Be therefore more cheerful than thou art." "That I will,"
said the youth.
Next morning, at the dawn of day, they arose. And they took way
along the sea coast, up towards Bryn Aryen. And at the top of Cevn
Clydno they equipped themselves with horses, and went towards the
Castle of Arianrod. And they changed their form, and pricked towards
the gate in the semblance of two youths, but the aspect of Gwydion
was more staid than that of the other. "Porter," said he, "go thou
in and say that there are here bards from Glamorgan." And the porter
went in. "The welcome of Heaven be unto them, let them in," said
Arianrod.
With great joy were they greeted. And the hall was arranged, and
they went to meat. When meat was ended, Arianrod discoursed with
Gwydion of tales and stories. Now Gwydion was an excellent teller of
tales. And when it was time to leave off feasting, a chamber was
prepared for them, and they went to rest.
In the early twilight Gwydion arose, and he called unto him his magic
and his power. And by the time that the day dawned, there resounded
through the land uproar, and trumpets and shouts. When it was now
day, they heard a knocking at the door of the chamber, and therewith
Arianrod asking that it might be opened. Up rose the youth and
opened unto her, and she entered and a maiden with her. "Ah, good
men," she said, "in evil plight are we." "Yes, truly," said Gwydion,
"we have heard trumpets and shouts; what thinkest thou that they may
mean?" "Verily," said she, "we cannot see the colour of the ocean by
reason of all the ships, side by side. And they are making for the
land with all the speed they can. And what can we do?" said she.
"Lady," said Gwydion, "there is none other counsel than to close the
castle upon us, and to defend it as best we may." "Truly," said she,
"may Heaven reward you. And do you defend it. And here may you have
plenty of arms."
And thereupon went she forth for the arms, and behold she returned,
and two maidens, and suits of armour for two men, with her. "Lady,"
said he, "do you accoutre this stripling, and I will arm myself with
the help of thy maidens. Lo, I hear the tumult of the men
approaching." "I will do so, gladly." So she armed him fully, and
that right cheerfully. "Hast thou finished arming the youth?" said
he. "I have finished," she answered. "I likewise have finished,"
said Gwydion. "Let us now take off our arms, we have no need of
them." "Wherefore?" said she. "Here is the army around the house."
"Oh, lady, there is here no army." "Oh," cried she, "whence then was
this tumult?" "The tumult was but to break thy prophecy and to
obtain arms for thy son. And now has he got arms without any thanks
unto thee." "By Heaven," said Arianrod, "thou art a wicked man.
Many a youth might have lost his life through the uproar thou hast
caused in this Cantrev to-day. Now will I lay a destiny upon this
youth," she said, "that he shall never have a wife of the race that
now inhabits this earth." "Verily," said he, "thou wast ever a
malicious woman, and no one ought to support thee. A wife shall he
have notwithstanding."
They went thereupon unto Math the son of Mathonwy, and complained
unto him most bitterly of Arianrod. Gwydion showed him also how he
had procured arms for the youth. "Well," said Math, "we will seek, I
and thou, by charms and illusion, to form a wife for him out of
flowers. He has now come to man's stature, and he is the comeliest
youth that was ever beheld." So they took the blossoms of the oak,
and the blossoms of the broom, and the blossoms of the meadow-sweet,
and produced from them a maiden, the fairest and most graceful that
man ever saw. And they baptized her, and gave her the name of
Blodeuwedd.
After she had become his bride, and they had feasted, said Gwydion,
"It is not easy for a man to maintain himself without possessions."
"Of a truth," said Math, "I will give the young man the best Cantrev
to hold." "Lord," said he, "what Cantrev is that?" "The Cantrev of
Dinodig," he answered. Now it is called at this day Eivionydd and
Ardudwy. And the place in the Cantrev where he dwelt, was a palace
of his in a spot called Mur y Castell, on the confines of Ardudwy.
There dwelt he and reigned, and both he and his sway were beloved by
all.
One day he went forth to Caer Dathyl, to visit Math the son of
Mathonwy. And on the day that he set out for Caer Dathyl, Blodeuwedd
walked in the Court. And she heard the sound of a horn. And after
the sound of the horn, behold a tired stag went by, with dogs and
huntsmen following it. And after the dogs and the huntsmen there
came a crowd of men on foot. "Send a youth," said she, "to ask who
yonder host may be." So a youth went, and inquired who they were.
"Gronw Pebyr is this, the lord of Penllyn," said they. And thus the
youth told her.
Gronw Pebyr pursued the stag, and by the river Cynvael he overtook
the stag and killed it. And what with flaying the stag and baiting
his dogs, he was there until the night began to close in upon him.
And as the day departed and the night drew near, he came to the gate
of the Court. "Verily," said Blodeuwedd, "the Chieftain will speak
ill of us if we let him at this hour depart to another land without
inviting him in." "Yes, truly, lady," said they, "it will be most
fitting to invite him."
Then went messengers to meet him and bid him in. And he accepted her
bidding gladly, and came to the Court, and Blodeuwedd went to meet
him, and greeted him, and bade him welcome. "Lady," said he, "Heaven
repay thee thy kindness."
When they had disaccoutred themselves, they went to sit down. And
Blodeuwedd looked upon him, and from the moment that she looked on
him she became filled with his love. And he gazed on her, and the
same thought came unto him as unto her, so that he could not conceal
from her that he loved her, but he declared unto her that he did so.
Thereupon she was very joyful. And all their discourse that night
was concerning the affection and love which they felt one for the
other, and which in no longer space than one evening had arisen. And
that evening passed they in each other's company.
The next day he sought to depart. But she said, "I pray thee go not
from me to-day." And that night he tarried also. And that night
they consulted by what means they might always be together. "There
is none other counsel," said he, "but that thou strive to learn from
Llew Llaw Gyffes in what manner he will meet his death. And this
must thou do under the semblance of solicitude concerning him."
The next day Gronw sought to depart. "Verily," said she, "I will
counsel thee not to go from me to-day." "At thy instance will I not
go," said he, "albeit, I must say, there is danger that the chief who
owns the palace may return home." "To-morrow," answered she, "will I
indeed permit thee to go forth."
The next day he sought to go, and she hindered him not. "Be
mindful," said Gronw, "of what I have said unto thee, and converse
with him fully, and that under the guise of the dalliance of love,
and find out by what means he may come to his death."
That night Llew Llaw Gyffes returned to his home. And the day they
spent in discourse, and minstrelsy, and feasting. And at night they
went to rest, and he spoke to Blodeuwedd once, and he spoke to her a
second time. But, for all this, he could not get from her one word.
"What aileth thee?" said he, "art thou well?" "I was thinking," said
she, "of that which thou didst never think of concerning me; for I
was sorrowful as to thy death, lest thou shouldst go sooner than I."
"Heaven reward thy care for me," said he, "but until Heaven take me I
shall not easily be slain" "For the sake of Heaven, and for mine,
show me how thou mightest be slain. My memory in guarding is better
than thine." "I will tell thee gladly," said he. "Not easily can I
be slain, except by a wound. And the spear wherewith I am struck
must be a year in the forming. And nothing must be done towards it
except during the sacrifice on Sundays." "Is this certain?" asked
she. "It is in truth," he answered. "And I cannot be slain within a
house, nor without. I cannot be slain on horseback nor on foot."
"Verily," said she, "in what manner then canst thou be slain?" "I
will tell thee," said he. "By making a bath for me by the side of a
river, and by putting a roof over the cauldron, and thatching it well
and tightly, and bringing a buck, and putting it beside the cauldron.
Then if I place one foot on the buck's back, and the other on the
edge of the cauldron, whosoever strikes me thus will cause my death."
"Well," said she, "I thank Heaven that it will be easy to avoid
this."
No sooner had she held this discourse than she sent to Gronw Pebyr.
Gronw toiled at making the spear, and that day twelvemonth it was
ready. And that very day he caused her to be informed thereof.
"Lord," said Blodeuwedd unto Llew, "I have been thinking how it is
possible that what thou didst tell me formerly can be true; wilt thou
show me in what manner thou couldst stand at once upon the edge of a
cauldron and upon a buck, if I prepare the bath for thee?" "I will
show thee," said he.
Then she sent unto Gronw, and bade him be in ambush on the hill which
is now called Bryn Kyvergyr, on the bank of the river Cynvael. She
caused also to be collected all the goats that were in the Cantrev,
and had them brought to the other side of the river, opposite Bryn
Kyvergyr.
And the next day she spoke thus. "Lord," said she, "I have caused
the roof and the bath to be prepared, and lo! they are ready."
"Well," said Llew, "we will go gladly to look at them."
The day after they came and looked at the bath. "Wilt thou go into
the bath, lord?" said she. "Willingly will I go in," he answered.
So into the bath he went, and he anointed himself. "Lord," said she,
"behold the animals which thou didst speak of as being called bucks."
"Well," said he, "cause one of them to be caught and brought here."
And the buck was brought. Then Llew rose out of the bath, and put on
his trowsers, and he placed one foot on the edge of the bath and the
other on the buck's back.
Thereupon Gronw rose up from the bill which is called Bryn Kyvergyr,
and he rested on one knee, and flung the poisoned dart and struck him
on the side, so that the shaft started out, but the head of the dart
remained in. Then he flew up in the form of an eagle and gave a
fearful scream. And thenceforth was he no more seen.
As soon as he departed Gronw and Blodeuwedd went together unto the
palace that night. And the next day Gronw arose and took possession
of Ardudwy. And after he had overcome the land, he ruled over it, so
that Ardudwy and Penllyn were both under his sway.
Then these tidings reached Math the son of Mathonwy. And heaviness
and grief came upon Math, and much more upon Gwydion than upon him.
"Lord," said Gwydion, "I shall never rest until I have tidings of my
nephew." "Verily," said Math, "may Heaven be thy strength." Then
Gwydion set forth and began to go forward. And he went through
Gwynedd and Powys to the confines. And when he had done so, he went
into Arvon, and came to the house of a vassal, in Maenawr Penardd.
And he alighted at the house, and stayed there that night. The man
of the house and his house-hold came in, and last of all came there
the swineherd. Said the man of the house to the swineherd, "Well,
youth, hath thy sow come in to-night?" "She hath," said he, "and is
this instant returned to the pigs." "Where doth this sow go to?"
said Gwydion. "Every day, when the sty is opened, she goeth forth
and none can catch sight of her, neither is it known whither she
goeth more than if she sank into the earth." "Wilt thou grant unto
me," said Gwydion, "not to open the sty until I am beside the sty
with thee?" "This will I do, right gladly," he answered.
That night they went to rest; and as soon as the swineherd saw the
light of day, he awoke Gwydion. And Gwydion arose and dressed
himself, and went with the swineherd, and stood beside the sty. Then
the swineherd opened the sty. And as soon as he opened it, behold
she leaped forth, and set off with great speed. And Gwydion followed
her, and she went against the course of a river, and made for a
brook, which is now called Nant y Llew. And there she halted and
began feeding. And Gwydion came under the tree, and looked what it
might be that the sow was feeding on. And he saw that she was eating
putrid flesh and vermin. Then looked he up to the top of the tree,
and as he looked he beheld on the top of the tree an eagle, and when
the eagle shook itself, there fell vermin and putrid flesh from off
it, and these the sow devoured. And it seemed to him that the eagle
was Llew. And he sang an Englyn:-
"Oak that grows between the two banks;
Darkened is the sky and hill!
Shall I not tell him by his wounds,
That this is Llew?"
Upon this the eagle came down until he reached the centre of the
tree. And Gwydion sang another Englyn:-
"Oak that grows in upland ground,
Is it not wetted by the rain? Has it not been drenched
By nine score tempests?
It bears in its branches Llew Llaw Gyffes!"
Then the eagle came down until he was on the lowest branch of the
tree, and thereupon this Englyn did Gwydion sing:-
"Oak that grows beneath the steep;
Stately and majestic is its aspect!
Shall I not speak it?
That Llew will come to my lap?"
And the eagle came down upon Gwydion's knee. And Gwydion struck him
with his magic wand, so that he returned to his own form. No one
ever saw a more piteous sight, for he was nothing but skin and bone.
Then he went unto Caer Dathyl, and there were brought unto him good
physicians that were in Gwynedd, and before the end of the year he
was quite healed.
"Lord," said he unto Math the son of Mathonwy, "it is full time now
that I have retribution of him by whom I have suffered all this woe."
"Truly," said Math, "he will never be able to maintain himself in the
possession of that which is thy right." "Well," said Llew, "the
sooner I have my right, the better shall I be pleased."
Then they called together the whole of Gwynedd, and set forth to
Ardudwy. And Gwydion went on before and proceeded to Mur y Castell.
And when Blodeuwedd heard that he was coming, she took her maidens
with her, and fled to the mountain. And they passed through the
river Cynvael, and went towards a court that there was upon the
mountain, and through fear they could not proceed except with their
faces looking backwards, so that unawares they fell into the lake.
And they were all drowned except Blodeuwedd herself, and her Gwydion
overtook. And he said unto her, "I will not slay thee, but I will do
unto thee worse than that. For I will turn thee into a bird; and
because of the shame thou hast done unto Llew Llaw Gyffes, thou shalt
never show thy face in the light of day henceforth; and that through
fear of all the other birds. For it shall be their nature to attack
thee, and to chase thee from wheresoever they may find thee. And
thou shalt not lose thy name, but shalt be always called Blodeuwedd."
Now Blodeuwedd is an owl in the language of this present time, and
for this reason is the owl hateful unto all birds. And even now the
owl is called Blodeuwedd.
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