The Mabinogion Vol. 3 by Sir Owen Morgan Edwards and Lady Charlotte Schreiber (classic fiction TXT) 📕

Then Arawn gave to Pwyll Prince of Dyved his proper form and semblance, and he himself took his own; and Arawn set forth towards the Court of p. 18Annwvyn; and he was rejoiced when he beheld his hosts, and his household, whom he had not seen so long; but they had not known of his absence, and wondered no more at his coming than usual.  And that day was spent in joy and merriment; and he sat and conversed with his wife and his nobles.  And when it was time for them rather to sleep than to carouse, they went to rest.

* * * * *

Pwyll, Prince of Dyved, came likewise to his country and dominions, and began to enquire 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 wert 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 Pwyll related the whole unto them.  “Verily, Lord,” said they, “render thanks unto Heaven that thou hast such a fellowship, and withhold not from us the rule which we have enjoyed for this year past.”  “I take Heaven to witness that I will not withhold it,” answered Pwyll.

And thenceforth they made strong the friendship that was between them, and each sent unto the other horses, and 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 Annwvyn, and having ruled there so prosperously, and united the two kingdoms in one day by his valour and prowess, he lost the name of Pwyll Prince p. 19of Dyved, and was called Pwyll Chief of Annwvyn from that time forward.

* * * * *

Once upon a time, Pwyll was at Narberth his chief palace, where a feast had been prepared for him, and with him was a great host of men.  And after the first meal, Pwyll arose to walk, and he went to the top of a mound that was above the palace, and was called Gorsedd Arberth.  “Lord,” said one of the Court, “it is peculiar to the mound that whosoever sits upon it cannot go thence, without either receiving wounds or blows, or else seeing a wonder.”  “I fear not to receive wounds and blows in the midst of such a host as this, but as to the wonder, gladly would I see it.  I will go therefore and sit upon the mound.”

And upon the mound he sat.  And while he sat there, they saw a lady, on a pure white horse of large size, with a garment of shining gold around her, coming along the high way that led from the mound; and the horse seemed to move at a slow and even pace, and to be coming up towards the mound.  “My men,” said Pwyll, “is there any among you who knows yonder lady?”  “There is not, Lord,” said they.  “Go one of you and meet her, that we may know who she is.”  And one of them arose, and as he came upon the road to meet her, she passed by, and he followed as fast as he could, being on foot; and the greater was his speed, the further was she from him.  And when he saw that it profited him nothing to follow her, he returned to Pwyll, and said unto him, “Lord, it is idle for any one in the world to follow her on foot.”  “Verily,” said Pwyll, “go unto the palace, and take the fleetest horse that thou seest, and go after her.”

p. 20And he took a horse and went forward.  And he came to an open level plain, and put spurs to his horse; and the more he urged his horse, the further was she from him.  Yet she held the same pace as at first.  And his horse began to fail; and when his horse’s feet failed him, he returned to the place where Pwyll was.  “Lord,” said he, “it will avail nothing for any one to follow yonder lady.  I know of no horse in these realms swifter than this, and it availed me not to pursue her.”  “Of a truth,” said Pwyll, “there must be some illusion here.  Let us go towards the palace.”  So to the palace they went, and they spent that day.  And the next day they arose, and that also they spent until it was time to go to meat.  And after the first meal, “Verily,” said Pwyll, “we will go the same party as yesterday to the top of the mound.  And do thou,” said he to one of his young men, “take the swiftest horse that thou knowest in the field.”  And thus did the young man.  And they went towards the mound, taking the horse with them.  And as they were sitting down they beheld the lady on the same horse, and in the same apparel, coming along the same road.  “Behold,” said Pwyll, “here is the lady of yesterday.  Make ready, youth, to learn who she is.”  “My Lord,” said he, “that will I gladly do.”  And thereupon the lady came opposite to them.  So the youth mounted his horse; and before he had settled himself in his saddle, she passed by, and there was a clear space between them.  But her speed was no greater than it had been the day before.  Then he put his horse into an amble, and thought that notwithstanding the gentle pace at which his horse went, he should soon overtake her.  But this availed him not; so he gave p. 21his horse the reins.  And still he came no nearer to her than when he went at a foot’s pace.  And the more he urged his horse, the further was she from him.  Yet she rode not faster than before.  When he saw that it availed not to follow her, he returned to the place where Pwyll was.  “Lord,” said he, “the horse can no more than thou hast seen.”  “I see indeed that it avails not that any one should follow her.  And by Heaven,” said he, “she must needs have an errand to some one in this plain, if her haste would allow her to declare it.  Let us go back to the palace.”  And to the palace they went, and they spent that night in songs and feasting, as it pleased them.

And the next day they amused themselves until it was time to go to meat.  And when meat was ended, Pwyll said, “Where are the hosts that went yesterday and the day before to the top of the mound?”  “Behold, Lord, we are here,” said they.  “Let us go,” said he, “to the mound, to sit there.  And do thou,” said he to the page who tended his horse, “saddle my horse well, and hasten with him to the road, and bring also my spurs with thee.”  And the youth did thus.  And they went and sat upon the mound; and ere they had been there but a short time, they beheld the lady coming by the same road, and in the same manner, and at the same pace.  “Young man,” said Pwyll, “I see the lady coming; give me my horse.”  And no sooner had he mounted his horse than she passed him.  And he turned after her and followed her.  And he let his horse go bounding playfully, and thought that at the second step or the third he should come up with her.  But he came no nearer to her than at first.  Then he p. 22urged his horse to his utmost speed, yet he found that it availed nothing to follow her.  Then said Pwyll, “O maiden, for the sake of him whom thou best lovest, stay for me.”  “I will stay gladly,” said she, “and it were better for thy horse hadst thou asked it long since.”  So the maiden stopped, and she threw back that part of her head dress which covered her face.  And she fixed her eyes upon him, and began to talk with him.  “Lady,” asked he, “whence comest thou, and whereunto dost thou journey?”  “I journey on mine own errand,” said she, “and right glad am I to see thee.”  “My greeting be unto thee,” said he.  Then he thought that the beauty of all the maidens, and all the ladies that he had ever seen, was as nothing compared to her beauty.  “Lady,” he said, “wilt thou tell me aught concerning thy purpose?”  “I will tell thee,” said she.  “My chief quest was to seek thee.”  “Behold,” said Pwyll, “this is to me the most pleasing quest on which thou couldst have come; and wilt thou tell me who thou art?”  “I will tell thee, Lord,” said she, “I am Rhiannon, the daughter of Heveydd Hên, and they sought to give me to a husband against my will.  But no husband would I have, and that because of my love for thee, neither will I yet have one unless thou reject me.  And hither have I come to hear thy answer.”  “By Heaven,” said Pwyll, “behold this is my answer.  If I might choose among all the ladies and damsels in the world, thee would I choose.”  “Verily,” said she, “If thou art thus minded, make a pledge to meet me ere I am given to another.”  “The sooner I may do so, the more pleasing will it be unto me,” said Pwyll, “and wheresoever thou wilt, there will I meet with thee.”  p. 23“I will that thou meet me this day twelvemonth at the palace of Heveydd.  And I will cause a feast to be prepared, so that it be ready against thou come.”  “Gladly,” said he, “will I keep this tryst.”  “Lord,” said she, “remain in health, and be mindful that thou keep thy promise; and now will I go hence.”  So they parted, and he went back to his hosts and to them of his household.  And whatsoever questions they asked him respecting the damsel, he always turned the 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 Heveydd Hên.  And he came to the palace, and there was great joy concerning him, with much concourse of people and great rejoicing, and vast preparations for his coming.  And the whole court was placed under his orders.

And the hall was garnished and they went to meat, and thus did they sit; Heveydd Hên was on one side of Pwyll, and Rhiannon 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 carousal after the meat, there entered a tall auburn-haired youth, of royal bearing, clothed in a garment of satin.  And when he came into the hall, he saluted Pwyll and his companions.  “The greeting of Heaven be unto thee, my soul,” said Pwyll, “come thou and sit down.”  “Nay,” said he, “a suitor am I, and I will do mine errand.”  “Do so willingly,” said Pwyll.  “Lord,” said he, “my errand is unto thee, and it is to crave a boon of thee that I come.”  “What boon soever thou mayest ask of me, as far as I am able, thou shall have.”  “Ah,” said Rhiannon, “Wherefore didst thou give that answer?”  p. 24“Has he not given it before the presence of these nobles?” asked the youth.  “My soul,” said Pwyll, “what is the boon thou askest?”  “The lady whom