Myths & Legends of the Celtic RaceRolleston, T. W. (Thomas William)
Religion
Myths & Legends of the Celtic Race
Rolleston, T. W. (Thomas William)
Celts -- Religion; Mythology, Celtic
While these things were going on Teirnyon heard the tale of Rhiannon and
her punishment. And as the lad grew up he scanned his face closely and saw
that he had the features of Pwyll Prince of Dyfed. This he told to his
wife, and they agreed that the child should be taken to Narberth, and
Rhiannon released from her penance.
As they drew near to the castle, Teirnyon and two knights and the child
riding on his colt, there was Rhiannon sitting by the horse-block.
“Chieftains,” 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.” But they would not be carried, and went in. Pwyll rejoiced
to see Teirnyon, and made a feast for him. Afterwards Teirnyon declared to
Pwyll and Rhiannon the adventure of the man and the colt, and how they had
found the boy. “And behold, here is thy son, lady,” said Teirnyon, “and
whoever told that lie concerning thee has done wrong.” All who sat at
table recognised the lad at once as the child of Pwyll, and Rhiannon
cried: “I declare to heaven that if this be true there is an end to my
trouble.” And a chief named Pendaran said: “Well hast thou named thy son
Pryderi [trouble], and well becomes him the name of Pryderi son of Pwyll,
Lord of Annwn.” It was agreed that his name should be Pryderi, and so he
was called thenceforth.
Teirnyon rode home, overwhelmed with thanks and love and gladness; and
Pwyll offered him rich gifts of horses and jewels and dogs, but he would
take none of them. And Pryderi was trained up, as befitted a king’s son,
in all noble ways and accomplishments, and when his father Pwyll died he
reigned in his stead over the Seven Cantrevs of Dyfed. And he added to
them many other fair dominions, and at last he took to wife Kicva,
daughter of Gwynn Gohoyw, who came of the lineage of Prince Casnar of
Britain.
*The Tale of Bran and Branwen*
Bendigeid Vran, or “Bran the Blessed,” by which latter name we shall
designate him here, when he had been made King of the Isle of the Mighty
(Britain), was one time in his court at Harlech. And he had with him his
brother Manawyddan son of Llyr, and his sister Branwen, and the two sons,
Nissyen and Evnissyen, that Penardun his mother bore to Eurosswyd. Now
Nissyen was a youth of gentle nature, and would make peace among his
kindred and cause them to be friends when their wrath was at its highest;
but Evnissyen loved nothing so much as to turn peace into contention and
strife.
One afternoon, as Bran son of Llyr sat on the rock of Harlech looking out
to sea, he beheld thirteen ships coming rapidly from Ireland before a fair
wind. They were gaily furnished, bright flags flying from the masts, and
on the foremost ship, when they came near, a man could be seen holding up
a shield with the point upwards in sign of peace.(232)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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