Once upon a time, Pwyll was at Narberth 10 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

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 15 must be some illusion here. Let us go toGorsedd 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 20 the first meal, 'Verily,' said Pwyll, 'we will 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.'

wards 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

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. 'Be

And upon the mound he sat. And while 25 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 30 hold,' said Pwyll, 'here is the lady of yesto be coming up towards the mound. 'My Make ready, youth, to learn who men,' said Pwyll, 'is there any among you she is.' 'My lord,' said he, 'that will I who knows yonder lady?' 'There is not, gladly do.' And thereupon the lady came Lord,' said they. 'Go one of you and meet opposite to them. So the youth mounted her, that we may know who she is.' And 35 his horse; and before he had settled himself

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 40
profited him nothing to follow her, he re-
turned 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 45
seest, and go after her.'

terday.

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 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 And he took a horse and went forward. she rode not faster than before. When he And he came to an open level plain, and put saw that it availed not to follow her, he spurs to his horse; and the more he urged returned to the place where Pwyll was. his horse, the further was she from him. Yet 50 '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.

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 5 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

And the next day they amused themselves until it was time to go to meat. And when 10 come to hear thy answer.' 'By Heaven,' meat was ended, Pwyll said, 'Where are the said Pwyll, 'behold this is my answer. hosts that went yesterday and the day be- If I might choose among all the ladies fore to the top of the mound?' 'Behold, and damsels in the world, thee would I Lord, we are here,' said they. 'Let us go,' choose.' 'Verily,' said she, 'if thou art said he, 'to the mound, to sit there. And 15 thus minded, make a pledge to meet me ere

I am given to another.' 'The sooner I may do so, the more pleasing will it be unto me,' said Pwyll, and wheresoever thou wilt, there will I meet with thee.' 'I will that thou

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 20 meet me this day twelvemonth at the palace 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

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,

see the lady coming; give me my horse.' 25 and be mindful that thou keep thy promise; And no sooner had he mounted his horse

and now I will 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

the second step or the third he should come 30 always turned the discourse upon other mat

up with her. But he came no nearer to her than at first. Then he urged his horse to his utmost speed, yet he found that it availed nothing to follow her. Then said Pwyll,

ters. 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

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 ate and feasted and talked

'O maiden, for the sake of him whom thou 35 palace, and there was great joy concerning 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 headdress which covered her 40 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 45 one with another, and at the beginning of the 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 50 companions. 'The greeting of Heaven be aught concerning thy purpose?' 'I will tell thee,' said she. 'My chief quest was to seek thee.' 'Behold,' said Pwyll, 'this is to

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

unto thee, my soul,' said Pwyll, 'come thou and sit down.' 'Nay,' said he, 'a suitor am I, and I will do mine errand.' 'Do

so willingly,' said Pwyll. 'Lord,' said he, 'my errand is unto thee, and it is to crave a boon of thee that I come.' 'What boon soever thou mayest ask of me, as far as I am able, thou shalt have.' 'Ah,' said Rhiannon, 'wherefore didst thou give that answer?' 'Has he not given it before the presence of these nobles?' asked the youth. 'My soul,' said Pwyll, 'what is the boon thou askest?'

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 5 thongs of the bag. Let there be also a good bugle horn about thy neck, and as soon as thou hast bound him in the bag, wind thy horn, and let it be a signal between thee and thy knights. And when they hear the sound

"The lady whom best I love is to be thy 10 of the horn, let them come down upon the

palace.' 'Lord,' said Gwawl, 'it is meet that I have an answer to my request.' 'As much of that thou hast asked as it is in my power to give, thou shalt have,' replied Pwyll.

bride this night; I come to ask her of thee, with the feast and the banquet that are in this place.' And Pwyll was silent because of the answer which he had given. 'Be silent as long as thou wilt,' said Rhiannon. 'Never 15 'My soul,' said Rhiannon unto him, 'as for did man make worse use of his wits than thou hast done.' 'Lady,' said he, 'I knew not who he was.' 'Behold this is the man to whom they would have given me against my will,' said she. 'And he is Gwawl the son of 20 given to any. In a year from to-night a

the feast and the banquet that are here, I have bestowed them upon the men of Dyved, and the household, and the warriors that are with us. These can I not suffer to be

banquet shall be prepared for thee in this palace, that I may become thy bride.'

So Gwawl went forth to his possessions, and Pwyll went also back to Dyved. And

Clud, a man of great power and wealth, and because of the word thou hast spoken, bestow me upon him lest shame befall thee.' 'Lady,' said he, 'I understand not thine answer. Never can I do as thou sayest.' 25 they both spent that year until it was the 'Bestow me upon him,' said she [secretly], 'and I will cause that I shall never be his.' 'By what means will that be?' asked Pwyll. 'In thy hand will I give thee a small bag,'

time for the feast at the palace of Heveydd Hên. Then Gwawl the son of Clud set out to the feast that was prepared for him, and he came to the palace, and was received there

said she. 'See that thou keep it well, and 30 with rejoicing. Pwyll, also, came to the or

chard with his hundred knights, as Rhiannon
had commanded him, having the bag with
him. And Pwyll was clad in coarse and
ragged garments, and wore large clumsy old

the carousal after the meat had begun, he
went towards the hall, and when he came into
the hall, he saluted Gwawl the son of Clud,
and his company, both men and women.
'Heaven prosper thee,' said Gwawl, 'and the
greeting of Heaven be unto thee.' 'Lord,'
said he, 'may Heaven reward thee, I have an
errand unto thee.' 'Welcome be thine er-
rand, and if thou ask of me that which is

he will ask of thee the banquet, and the feast, and the preparations which are not in thy power. Unto the hosts and the household will I give the feast. And such will be thy answer respecting this. And as concerns 35 shoes upon his feet. And when he knew that myself, I will engage to become his bride this night twelvemonth. And at the end of the year be thou here,' said she, 'and bring this bag with thee, and let thy hundred knights be in the orchard up yonder. And 40 when he is in the midst of joy and feasting, come thou in by thyself, clad in ragged garments, and holding thy bag in thy hand, and ask nothing but a bagful of food, and I will cause that if all the meat and liquor that 45 just, thou shalt have it gladly.' 'It is are in these seven Cantrevs were put into it, it would be no fuller than before. And after a great deal has been put therein, he will ask thee whether thy bag will ever be full. Say thou then that it never will, until a man 50 ‘and gladly shalt thou have it. Bring him

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";

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,

food.' A great number of attendants arose and began to fill the bag, but for all that they put into it, it was no fuller than at first.

'My soul,' said Gwawl, 'will thy bag be ever full?' 'It will not, I declare to Heaven,' said he, 'for all that may be put into it, unless one possessed of lands, and domains, and treasure, shall arise and tread down with both his feet the food that is within the bag, and shall say, "Enough has been put therein." Then said Rhiannon unto Gwawl the son of Clud, 'Rise up quickly.' 'I will willingly arise,' said he. So he rose up, 10 hurt, and I have many bruises. I have need and put his two feet into the bag. And Pwyll turned up the sides of the bag, so that Gwawl was over his head in it. And he shut it up quickly and slipped a knot

liegemen were liberated. 'Demand now of Gwawl his sureties,' said Heveydd, 'we know which should be taken for him.' And Heveydd numbered the sureties. Said 5 Gwawl, 'Do thou thyself draw up the covenant.' 'It will suffice me that it be as Rhiannon said,' answered Pwyll. So unto that covenant were the sureties pledged. 'Verily, Lord,' said Gwawl, 'I am greatly

to be anointed; with thy leave I will go forth. I will leave nobles in my stead, to answer for me in all that thou shalt require.' 'Willingly,' said Pwyll, 'mayest thou do

possessions.

And the hall was set in order for Pwyll and the men of his host, and for them also of the palace, and they went to the tables and

upon the thongs, and blew his horn. And 15 thus.' So Gwawl went towards his own thereupon behold his household came down upon the palace. And they seized all the host that had come with Gwawl, and cast them into his own prison. And Pwyll threw off his rags, and his old shoes, and his 20 sat down. And as they had sat that time tattered array; and as they came in, every one of Pwyll's knights struck a blow upon the bag, and asked, 'What is here?' 'A Badger,' said they. And in this manner they played, each of them striking the bag, either with 25 his foot or with a staff. And thus played they with the bag. Every one as he came in asked, 'What game are you playing at thus?' 'The game of Badger in the Bag,'

twelvemonth, so sat they that night. And they ate, and feasted, and spent the night in mirth and tranquillity. And the time came that they should sleep, and Pwyll and Rhiannon went to their chamber.

And next morning at the break of day, 'My Lord,' said Rhiannon, 'arise and begin to give thy gifts unto the minstrels. Refuse no one to-day that may claim thy bounty.'

said they. And then was the game of Badger 30 'Thus shall it be gladly,' said Pwyll, 'both in the Bag first played.

'Lord,' said the man in the bag, 'if thou wouldest but hear me, I merit not to be slain in a bag.' Said Heveydd Hên, 'Lord, he speaks truth. It were fitting that thou 35 listen to him, for he deserves not this.' 'Verily,' said Pwyll, 'I will do thy counsel concerning him.' 'Behold this is my counsel then,' said Rhiannon; 'thou art now in a position in which it behoves thee to satisfy 40 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

to-day and every day while the feast shall last.' So Pwyll arose, and he caused silence to be proclaimed, and desired all the suitors and the minstrels to show and to point out what gifts were to their wish and desire. And this being done, the feast went on, and he denied no one while it lasted. And when the feast was ended, Pwyll said unto Heveydd, 'My Lord, with thy permission I will set out for Dyved to-morrow.' 'Certainly,' said Heveydd, 'may Heaven prosper thee. Fix also a time when Rhiannon may follow thee.' 'By Heaven,' said Pwyll, 'we will go hence together.' 'Willest thou this, Lord?' said

punishment enough.' 'I will do this gladly,' 45 Heveydd. 'Yes, by Heaven,' answered

said the man in the bag. And gladly will I accept it,' said Pwyll, 'since it is the coun

sel of Heveydd and Rhiannon.' 'Such then is our counsel,' answered they. 'I accept it,'

Pwyll.

And the next day, they set forward towards Dyved, and journeyed to the palace of Narberth, where a feast was made ready

said Pwyll. 'Seek thyself sureties.' 'We 50 for them. And there came to them great

will be for him,' said Heveydd, 'until his men be free to answer for him.' And upon this he was let out of the bag, and his

numbers of the chief men and the most

noble ladies of the land, and of these there was none to whom Rhiannon did not give

some rich gift, either a bracelet, or a ring, or a precious stone. And they ruled the land prosperously both that year and the

next.

And in the third year the nobles of the land began to be sorrowful at seeing a man whom they loved so much, and who was moreover their lord and their foster-brother, without an heir. And they came to him.

she said, 'Women, where is my son?' 'Lady,' said they, 'ask us not concerning thy son, we have nought but the blows and the bruises we got by struggling with thee, and 5 of a truth we never saw any woman so violent as thou, for it was of no avail to contend with thee. Hast thou not thyself devoured thy son? Claim him not therefore of us.' 'For pity's sake,' said Rhiannon; 'the Lord

And the place where they met was Preseleu, 10 God knows all things. Charge me not

in Dyved. 'Lord,' said they, 'we know that
thou art not so young as some of the men of
this country, and we fear that thou mayest
not have an heir of the wife whom thou hast
taken. Take therefore another wife of whom 15
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 Pwyll, 'we have
not long been joined together, and many 20
things may yet befall. Grant me a year from
this time, and for the space of a year we will
abide together, and after that I will do ac-
cording to your wishes.' So they granted it.
And before the end of a year a son was born 25
unto him. And in Narberth was he born;
and on the night that he was born, women
were brought to watch the mother and the
boy. And the women slept, as did also
Rhiannon, the mother of the boy. And 30
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 35
they awoke, they looked where they had put
the boy, and behold he was not there. 'Oh,'
said one of the women, 'the boy is lost!'
'Yes,' said another, and it will be small
vengeance if we are burnt or put to death 40
because of the child.' Said one of the women,
'Is there any counsel for us in the world in
this matter?' 'There is,' answered another,
'I offer you good counsel.' 'What is that?'
asked they. "There is here a stag-hound 45
bitch, and she has a litter of whelps. Let us
kill some of the cubs, and rub the blood on
the face and hands of Rhiannon, and lay
the bones before her, and assert that she
herself hath devoured her son, and she alone 50
will not be able to gainsay us six.' And
according to this counsel it was settled.
And towards morning Rhiannon awoke, and

falsely. If you tell me this from fear, I assert before Heaven that I will defend you.' 'Truly,' said they, 'we would not bring evil on ourselves for any one in the world.' 'For pity's sake,' said Rhiannon, 'you will receive no evil by telling the truth.' But for all her words, whether fair or harsh, she received but the same answer from the

women.

And Pwyll the chief of Dyved arose, and his household, and his hosts. And this occurrence could not be concealed, but the story went forth throughout the land, and all the nobles heard it. Then the nobles came to Pwyll, and besought him to put away his wife, because of the great crime which she had done. But Pwyll answered them, that they had no cause wherefore they might ask him to put away his wife, save for her having no children. 'But children has she now had, therefore will I not put her away; if she has done wrong, let her do penance for it.'

So Rhiannon sent for the teachers and the wise men, and as she preferred doing penance to contending with the women, she took upon her a penance. And the penance that was imposed upon her was, that she should remain in that palace of Narberth until the end of seven years, and that she should sit every day near unto a horse-block that was without the gate. And that she should relate the story to all who should come there, whom she might suppose not to know it already; and that she should offer the guests and strangers, if they would permit her, to carry them upon her back into the palace. But it rarely happened that any would permit. And thus did she spend part. of the year.

Now at that time Teirnyon Twryv Vliant was Lord of Gwent Is Coed, and he was the best man in the world. And unto his house