Laura Lee Hope - "The Story of a Lamb on Wheels"

Jean de La Fontaine - "The Tales and Novels, v17: The Progress of Wit &c"

Alice Hegan Rice - "Lovey Mary"

James Harrington - "The Commonwealth of Oceana"

New Philadelphia Book Publisher Highlights Local Talent
Book and Publishing News from Publishers Newswire(tm)

Looking for Child to be on Cover of a New Book, 'The Model Child'
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- The Philadelphia literary world will celebrate the launch of two new players today, April 10th: Kay Square Press, a new publishing company focused on Philadelphia-area artists, their stories, and their art; and Kay Square's first release, 'With the Rich and Mighty: Emlen Etting of Philadelphia' (ISBN: 978-0-9815129-0-7), a critical biography by Kenneth C. Kaleta.

FlatSigned Press Alleges Don Imus Remarks Damage Legacy of President Gerald R. Ford
NEW YORK, N.Y. -- Nathan Yungerberg, an accomplished model scout and professional child photographer is launching a nation-wide casting call to find the cover model for his highly anticipated book release, 'The Model Child: A Parents Guide to the Child Modeling Industry' (ISBN: 978-0-9817018-0-6).

Books: The Mabinogion

U >> Unknown >> The Mabinogion




Then Gronw Pebyr withdrew unto Penllyn, and he dispatched thence an
embassy. And the messengers he sent asked Llew Llaw Gyffes if he
would take land, or domain, or gold, or silver, for the injury he had
received. "I will not, by my confession to Heaven," said he.
"Behold this is the least that I will accept from him; that he come
to the spot where I was when he wounded me with the dart, and that I
stand where he did, and that with a dart I take my aim at him. And
this is the very least that I will accept."

And this was told unto Gronw Pebyr. "Verily," said he, "is it
needful for me to do thus? My faithful warriors, and my household,
and my foster-brothers, is there not one among you who will stand the
blow in my stead?" "There is not, verily," answered they. And
because of their refusal to suffer one stroke for their lord, they
are called the third disloyal tribe even unto this day. "Well," said
he, "I will meet it."

Then they two went forth to the banks of the river Cynvael, and Gronw
stood in the place where Llew Llaw Gyffes was when he struck him, and
Llew in the place where Gronw was. Then said Gronw Pebyr unto Llew,
"Since it was through the wiles of a woman that I did unto thee as I
have done, I adjure thee by Heaven to let me place between me and the
blow, the slab thou seest yonder on the river's bank." "Verily,"
said Llew, "I will not refuse thee this." "Ah," said he, "may Heaven
reward thee." So Gronw took the slab and placed it between him and
the blow.

Then Llew flung the dart at him, and it pierced the slab and went
through Gronw likewise, so that it pierced through his back. And
thus was Gronw Pebyr slain. And there is still the slab on the bank
of the river Cynvael, in Ardudwy, having the hole through it. And
therefore is it even now called Llech Gronw.

A second time did Llew Llaw Gyffes take possession of the land, and
prosperously did he govern it. And, as the story relates, he was
lord after this over Gwynedd. And thus ends this portion of the
Mabinogi.



THE DREAM OF MAXEN WLEDIG



Maxen Wledig was emperor of Rome, and he was a comelier man, and a
better and a wiser than any emperor that had been before him. And
one day he held a council of kings, and he said to his friends, "I
desire to go to-morrow to hunt." And the next day in the morning he
set forth with his retinue, and came to the valley of the river that
flowed towards Rome. And he hunted through the valley until mid-day.
And with him also were two-and-thirty crowned kings, that were his
vassals; not for the delight of hunting went the emperor with them,
but to put himself on equal terms with those kings.

And the sun was high in the sky over their heads and the heat was
great. And sleep came upon Maxen Wledig. And his attendants stood
and set up their shields around him upon the shafts of their spears
to protect him from the sun, and they placed a gold enamelled shield
under his head; and so Maxen slept.

And he saw a dream. And this is the dream that he saw. He was
journeying along the valley of the river towards its source; and he
came to the highest mountain in the world. And he thought that the
mountain was as high as the sky; and when he came over the mountain,
it seemed to him that he went through the fairest and most level
regions that man ever yet beheld, on the other side of the mountain.
And he saw large and mighty rivers descending from the mountain to
the sea, and towards the mouths of the rivers he proceeded. And as
he journeyed thus, he came to the mouth of the largest river ever
seen. And he beheld a great city at the entrance of the river, and a
vast castle in the city, and he saw many high towers of various
colours in the castle. And he saw a fleet at the mouth of the river,
the largest ever seen. And he saw one ship among the fleet; larger
was it by far, and fairer than all the others. Of such part of the
ship as he could see above the water, one plank was gilded and the
other silvered over. He saw a bridge of the bone of a whale from the
ship to the land, and he thought that he went along the bridge, and
came into the ship. And a sail was hoisted on the ship, and along
the sea and the ocean was it borne. Then it seemed that he came to
the fairest island in the whole world, and he traversed the island
from sea to sea, even to the furthest shore of the island. Valleys
he saw, and steeps, and rocks of wondrous height, and rugged
precipices. Never yet saw he the like. And thence he beheld an
island in the sea, facing this rugged land. And between him and this
island was a country of which the plain was as large as the sea, the
mountain as vast as the wood. And from the mountain he saw a river
that flowed through the land and fell into the sea. And at the mouth
of the river he beheld a castle, the fairest that man ever saw, and
the gate of the castle was open, and he went into the castle. And in
the castle he saw a fair hall, of which the roof seemed to be all
gold, the walls of the hall seemed to be entirely of glittering
precious gems, the doors all seemed to be of gold. Golden seats he
saw in the hall, and silver tables. And on a seat opposite to him he
beheld two auburn-haired youths playing at chess. He saw a silver
board for the chess, and golden pieces thereon. The garments of the
youths were of jet-black satin, and chaplets of ruddy gold bound
their hair, whereon were sparkling jewels of great price, rubies, and
gems, alternately with imperial stones. Buskins of new Cordovan
leather on their feet, fastened by slides of red gold.

And beside a pillar in the hall he saw a hoary-headed man, in a chair
of ivory, with the figures of two eagles of ruddy gold thereon.
Bracelets of gold were upon his arms, and many rings were on his
hands, and a golden torque about his neck; and his hair was bound
with a golden diadem. He was of powerful aspect. A chessboard of
gold was before him, and a rod of gold, and a steel file in his hand.
And he was carving out chessmen.

And he saw a maiden sitting before him in a chair of ruddy gold. Not
more easy than to gaze upon the sun when brightest, was it to look
upon her by reason of her beauty. A vest of white silk was upon the
maiden, with clasps of red gold at the breast; and a surcoat of gold
tissue upon her, and a frontlet of red gold upon her head, and rubies
and gems were in the frontlet, alternating with pearls and imperial
stones. And a girdle of ruddy gold was around her. She was the
fairest sight that man ever beheld.

The maiden arose from her chair before him, and he threw his arms
about the neck of the maiden, and they two sat down together in the
chair of gold: and the chair was not less roomy for them both, than
for the maiden alone. And as he had his arms about the maiden's
neck, and his cheek by her cheek, behold, through the chafing of the
dogs at their leashing, and the clashing of the shields as they
struck against each other, and the beating together of the shafts of
the spears, and the neighing of the horses and their prancing, the
emperor awoke.

And when he awoke, nor spirit nor existence was left him, because of
the maiden whom he had seen in his sleep, for the love of the maiden
pervaded his whole frame. Then his household spake unto him.
"Lord," said they, "is it not past the time for thee to take thy
food?" Thereupon the emperor mounted his palfrey, the saddest man
that mortal ever saw, and went forth towards Rome.

And thus he was during the space of a week. When they of the
household went to drink wine and mead out of golden vessels, he went
not with any of them. When they went to listen to songs and tales,
he went not with them there; neither could he be persuaded to do
anything but sleep. And as often as he slept, he beheld in his
dreams the maiden he loved best; but except when he slept he saw
nothing of her, for he knew not where in the world she was.

One day the page of the chamber spake unto him; now, although he was
page of the chamber, he was king of the Romans. "Lord," said he,
"all the people revile thee." "Wherefore do they revile me?" asked
the emperor. "Because they can get neither message nor answer from
thee as men should have from their lord. This is the cause why thou
art spoken evil of." "Youth," said the emperor, "do thou bring unto
me the wise men of Rome, and I will tell them wherefore I am
sorrowful."

Then the wise men of Rome were brought to the emperor, and he spake
to them. "Sages of Rome," said he, "I have seen a dream. And in the
dream I beheld a maiden, and because of the maiden is there neither
life, nor spirit, nor existence within me." "Lord," they answered,
"since thou judgest us worthy to counsel thee, we will give thee
counsel. And this is our counsel; that thou send messengers for
three years to the three parts of the world to seek for thy dream.
And as thou knowest not what day or what night good news may come to
thee, the hope thereof will support thee."

So the messengers journeyed for the space of a year, wandering about
the world, and seeking tidings concerning his dream. But when they
came back at the end of the year, they knew not one word more than
they did the day they set forth. And then was the emperor exceeding
sorrowful, for he thought that he should never have tidings of her
whom best he loved.

Then spoke the king of the Romans unto the emperor. "Lord," said he,
"go forth to hunt by the way thou didst seem to go, whether it were
to the east, or to the west." So the emperor went forth to the hunt,
and he came to the bank of the river. "Behold," said he, "this is
where I was when I saw the dream, and I went towards the source of
the river westward."

And thereupon thirteen messengers of the emperor's set forth, and
before them they saw a high mountain, which seemed to them to touch
the sky. Now this was the guise in which the messengers journeyed;
one sleeve was on the cap of each of them in front, as a sign that
they were messengers, in order that through what hostile land soever
they might pass no harm might be done them. And when they were come
over this mountain, they beheld vast plains, and large rivers flowing
there through.

"Behold," said they, "the land which our master saw."

And they went along the mouths of the rivers, until they came to the
mighty river which they saw flowing to the sea, and the vast city,
and the many-coloured high towers in the castle. They saw the
largest fleet in the world, in the harbour of the river, and one ship
that was larger than any of the others. "Behold again," said they,
"the dream that our master saw." And in the great ship they crossed
the sea, and came to the Island of Britain. And they traversed the
island until they came to Snowdon. "Behold," said they, "the rugged
land that our master saw." And they went forward until they saw
Anglesey before them, and until they saw Arvon likewise. "Behold,"
said they, "the land our master saw in his sleep." And they saw Aber
Sain, and a castle at the mouth of the river. The portal of the
castle saw they open, and into the castle they went, and they saw a
hall in the castle. Then said they, "Behold, the hall which he saw
in his sleep." They went into the hall, and they beheld two youths
playing at chess on the golden bench. And they beheld the hoary-
headed man beside the pillar, in the ivory chair, carving chessmen.
And they beheld the maiden sitting on a chair of ruddy gold.

The messengers bent down upon their knees. "Empress of Rome, all
hail!" "Ha, gentles," said the maiden, "ye bear the seeming of
honourable men, and the badge of envoys, what mockery is this ye do
to me?" "We mock thee not, lady; but the Emperor of Rome hath seen
thee in his sleep, and he has neither life nor spirit left because of
thee. Thou shalt have of us therefore the choice, lady, whether thou
wilt go with us and be made empress of Rome, or that the emperor come
hither and take thee for his wife?" "Ha, lords," said the maiden, "I
will not deny what ye say, neither will I believe it too well. If
the emperor love me, let him come here to seek me."

And by day and night the messengers hied them back. And when their
horses failed, they bought other fresh ones. And when they came to
Rome, they saluted the emperor, and asked their boon, which was given
to them according as they named it. "We will be thy guides, lord,"
said they, "over sea and over land, to the place where is the woman
whom best thou lovest, for we know her name, and her kindred, and her
race."

And immediately the emperor set forth with his army. And these men
were his guides. Towards the Island of Britain they went over the
sea and the deep. And he conquered the Island from Beli the son of
Manogan, and his sons, and drove them to the sea, and went forward
even unto Arvon. And the emperor knew the land when he saw it. And
when he beheld the castle of Aber Sain, "Look yonder," said he,
"there is the castle wherein I saw the damsel whom I best love." And
he went forward into the castle and into the hall, and there he saw
Kynan the son of Eudav, and Adeon the son of Eudav, playing at chess.
And he saw Eudav the son of Caradawc, sitting on a chair of ivory
carving chessmen. And the maiden whom he had beheld in his sleep, he
saw sitting on a chair of gold. "Empress of Rome," said he, "all
hail!" And the emperor threw his arms about her neck; and that night
she became his bride.

And the next day in the morning, the damsel asked her maiden portion.
And he told her to name what she would. And she asked to have the
Island of Britain for her father, from the Channel to the Irish Sea,
together with the three adjacent Islands, to hold under the empress
of Rome; and to have three chief castles made for her, an whatever
places she might choose in the Island of Britain. And she chose to
have the highest castle made at Arvon. And they brought thither
earth from Rome that it might be more healthful for the emperor to
sleep, and sit, and walk upon. After that the two other castles were
made for her, which were Caerlleon and Caermarthen.

And one day the emperor went to hunt at Caermarthen, and he came so
far as the top of Brevi Vawr, and there the emperor pitched his tent.
And that encamping place is called Cadeir Maxen, even to this day.
And because that he built the castle with a myriad of men, he called
it Caervyrddin. Then Helen bethought her to make high roads from one
castle to another throughout the Island of Britain. And the roads
were made. And for this cause are they called the roads of Helen
Luyddawc, that she was sprung from a native of this island, and the
men of the Island of Britain would not have made these great roads
for any save for her.

Seven years did the emperor tarry in this Island. Now, at that time,
the men of Rome had a custom, that whatsoever emperor should remain
in other lands more than seven years should remain to his own
overthrow, and should never return to Rome again.

So they made a new emperor. And this one wrote a letter of threat to
Maxen. There was nought in the letter but only this. "If thou
comest, and if thou ever comest to Rome." And even unto Caerlleon
came this letter to Maxen, and these tidings. Then sent he a letter
to the man who styled himself emperor in Rome. There was nought in
that letter also but only this. "If I come to Rome, and if I come."

And thereupon Maxen set forth towards Rome with his army, and
vanquished France and Bugundy, and every land on the way, and sat
down before the city of Rome.

A year was the emperor before the city, and he was no nearer taking
it than the first day. And after him there came the brothers of
Helen Luyddawc from the Island of Britain, and a small host with
them, and better warriors were in that small host than twice as many
Romans. And the emperor was told that a host was seen, halting close
to his army and encamping, and no man ever saw a fairer or better
appointed host for its size, nor more handsome standards.

And Helen went to see the hosts, and she knew the standards of her
brothers. Then came Kynan the son of Eudav, and Adeon the son of
Eudav, to meet the emperor. And the emperor was glad because of
them, and embraced them.

Then they looked at the Romans as they attacked the city. Said Kynan
to his brother, "We will try to attack the city more expertly than
this." So they measured by night the height of the wall, and they
sent their carpenters to the wood, and a ladder was made for every
four men of their number. Now when these were ready, every day at
mid-day the emperors went to meat, and they ceased to fight on both
sides till all had finished eating. And in the morning the men of
Britain took their food and they drank until they were invigorated.
And while the two emperors were at meat, the Britons came to the
city, and placed their ladders against it, and forthwith they came in
through the city.

The new emperor had no time to arm himself when they fell upon him,
and slew him, and many others with him. And three nights and three
days were they subduing the men that were in the city and taking the
castle. And others of them kept the city, lest any of the host of
Maxen should come therein, until they had subjected all to their
will.

Then spake Maxen to Helen Luyddawc. "I marvel, lady," said he, "that
thy brothers have not conquered this city for me." "Lord, emperor,"
she answered, "the wisest youths in the world are my brothers. Go
thou thither and ask the city of them, and if it be in their
possession thou shalt have it gladly." So the emperor and Helen went
and demanded the city. And they told the emperor that none had taken
the city, and that none could give it him, but the men of the Island
of Britain. Then the gates of the city of Rome were opened, and the
emperor sat on the throne, and all the men of Rome submitted them
selves unto him.

The emperor then said unto Kynan and Adeon, "Lords," said he, "I have
now had possession of the whole of my empire. This host give I unto
you to vanquish whatever region ye may desire in the world."

So they set forth and conquered lands, and castles, and cities. And
they slew all the men, but the women they kept alive. And thus they
continued until the young men that had come with them were grown
grey-headed, from the length of time they were upon this conquest.

Then spoke Kynan unto Adeon his brother, "Whether wilt thou rather,"
said he, "tarry in this land, or go back into the land whence thou
didst come forth?" Now he chose to go back to his own land, and many
with him. But Kynan tarried there with the other part and dwelt
there.

And they took counsel and cut out the tongues of the women, lest they
should corrupt their speech. And because of the silence of the women
from their own speech, the men of Armorica are called Britons. From
that time there came frequently, and still comes, that language from
the Island of Britain.

And this dream is called the Dream of Maxen Wledig, emperor of Rome.
And here it ends.



HERE IS THE STORY OF LLUDD AND LLEVELYS



Beli the Great, the son of Manogan, had three sons, Lludd, and
Caswallawn, and Nynyaw; and according to the story he had a fourth
son called Llevelys. And after the death of Beli, the kingdom of the
Island of Britain fell into the hands of Llud his eldest son; and
Lludd ruled prosperously, and rebuilt the walls of London, and
encompassed it about with numberless towers. And after that he bade
the citizens build houses therein, such as no houses in the kingdoms
could equal. And moreover he was a mighty warrior, and generous and
liberal in giving meat and drink to all that sought them. And though
he had many castles and cities this one loved he more than any. And
he dwelt therein most part of the year, and therefore was it called
Caer Lludd, and at last Caer London. And after the stranger-race
came there, it was called London, or Lwndrys.

Lludd loved Llevelys best of all his brothers, because he was a wise
and discreet man. Having heard that the king of France had died,
leaving no heir except a daughter, and that he had left all his
possessions in her hands, he came to Lludd his brother, to beseech
his counsel and aid. And that not so much for his own welfare, as to
seek to add to the glory and honour and dignity of his kindred, if he
might go to France to woo the maiden for his wife. And forthwith his
brother conferred with him, and this counsel was pleasing unto him.

So he prepared ships and filled them with armed knights, and set
forth towards France. And as soon as they had landed, they sent
messengers to show the nobles of France the cause of the embassy.
And by the joint counsel of the nobles of France and of the princes,
the maiden was given to Llevelys, and the crown of the kingdom with
her. And thenceforth he ruled the land discreetly, and wisely, and
happily, as long as his life lasted.

After a space of time had passed, three plagues fell on the Island of
Britain, such as none in the islands had ever seen the like of. The
first was a certain race that came, and was called the Coranians; and
so great was their knowledge, that there was no discourse upon the
face of the Island, however low it might be spoken, but what, if the
wind met it, it was known to them. And through this they could not
be injured. {4}

The second plague was a shriek which came on every May-eve, over
every hearth in the Island of Britain. And this went through
people's hearts, and so scared them, that the men lost their hue and
their strength, and the women their children, and the young men and
the maidens lost their senses, and all the animals and trees and the
earth and the waters, were left barren.

The third plague was, that however much of provisions and food might
be prepared in the king's courts, were there even so much as a year's
provision of meat and drink, none of it could ever be found, except
what was consumed in the first night. And two of these plagues, no
one ever knew their cause, therefore was there better hope of being
freed from the first than from the second and third.

And thereupon King Lludd felt great sorrow and care, because that he
knew not how he might be freed from these plagues. And he called to
him all the nobles of his kingdom, and asked counsel of them what
they should do against these afflictions. And by the common counsel
of the nobles, Lludd the son of Beli went to Llevelys his brother,
king of France, for he was a man great of counsel and wisdom, to seek
his advice.

And they made ready a fleet, and that in secret and in silence, lest
that race should know the cause of their errand, or any besides the
king and his counsellors. And when they were made ready, they went
into their ships, Lludd and those whom he chose with him. And they
began to cleave the seas towards France.

And when these tidings came to Llevelys, seeing that he knew not the
cause of his brother's ships, he came on the other side to meet him,
and with him was a fleet vast of size. And when Lludd saw this, he
left all the ships out upon the sea except one only; and in that one
he came to meet his brother, and he likewise with a single ship came
to meet him. And when they were come together, each put his arms
about the other's neck, and they welcomed each other with brotherly
love.

After that Lludd had shown his brother the cause of his errand,
Llevelys said that he himself knew the cause of the coming to those
lands. And they took counsel together to discourse on the matter
otherwise than thus, in order that the wind might not catch their
words, nor the Coranians know what they might say. Then Llevelys
caused a long horn to be made of brass, and through this horn they
discoursed. But whatsoever words they spoke through this horn, one
to the other, neither of them could hear any other but harsh and
hostile words. And when Llevelys saw this, and that there was a
demon thwarting them and disturbing through this horn, he caused wine
to be put therein to wash it. And through the virtue of the wine the
demon was driven out of the horn. And when their discourse was
unobstructed, Llevelys told his brother that he would give him some
insects whereof he should keep some to breed, lest by chance the like
affliction might come a second time. And other of these insects he
should take and bruise in water. And he assured him that it would
have power to destroy the race of the Coranians. That is to say,
that when he came home to his kingdom he should call together all the
people both of his own race and of the race of the Coranians for a
conference, as though with the intent of making peace between them;
and that when they were all together, he should take this charmed
water, and cast it over all alike. And he assured him that the water
would poison the race of the Coranians, but that it would not slay or
harm those of his own race.

"And the second plague," said he, "that is in thy dominion, behold it
is a dragon. And another dragon of a foreign race is fighting with
it, and striving to overcome it. And therefore does your dragon make
a fearful outcry. And on this wise mayest thou come to know this.
After thou hast returned home, cause the Island to be measured in its
length and breadth, and in the place where thou dost find the exact
central point, there cause a pit to be dug, and cause a cauldron full
of the best mead that can be made to be put in the pit, with a
covering of satin over the face of the cauldron. And then, in thine
own person do thou remain there watching, and thou wilt see the
dragon fighting in the form of terrific animals. And at length they
will take the form of dragons in the air. And last of all, after
wearying themselves with fierce and furious fighting, they will fall
in the form of two pigs upon the covering, and they will sink in, and
the covering with them, and they will draw it down to the very bottom
of the cauldron. And they will drink up the whole of the mead; and
after that they will sleep. Thereupon do thou immediately fold the
covering around them, and bury them in a kistvaen, in the strongest
place thou hast in thy dominions, and hide them in the earth. And as
long as they shall bide in that strong place no plague shall come to
the Island of Britain from elsewhere.