Mythology, Celtic -- Wales; Tales -- Wales; Welsh literature -- 1100-1400 -- Translations into English
said Pwyll, “will I set forward.” “Clear shall be thy path, and nothing
shall detain thee, until thou come into my dominions, and I myself will
be thy guide!”
So he conducted him until he came in sight of the palace and its
dwellings. “Behold,” said he, “the Court and the kingdom in thy power.
Enter the Court, there is no one there who will know thee, and when thou
seest what service is done there, thou wilt know the customs of the
Court.”
So he went forward to the Court, and when he came there, he beheld
sleeping-rooms, and halls, and chambers, and the most beautiful buildings
ever seen. And he went into the hall to disarray, and there came youths
and pages and disarrayed him, and all as they entered saluted him. And
two knights came and drew his hunting-dress from about him, and clothed
him in a vesture of silk and gold. And the hall was prepared, and behold
he saw the household and the host enter in, and the host was the most
comely and the best equipped that he had ever seen. And with them came
in likewise the Queen, who was the fairest woman that he had ever yet
beheld. And she had on a yellow robe of shining satin; and they washed
and went to the table, and sat, the Queen upon one side of him, and one
who seemed to be an Earl on the other side.
And he began to speak with the Queen, and he thought, from her speech,
that she was the seemliest and most noble lady of converse and of cheer
that ever was. And they partook of meat, and drink, with songs and with
feasting; and of all the Courts upon the earth, behold this was the best
supplied with food and drink, and vessels of gold and royal jewels.
* * * * *
And the year he spent in hunting, and minstrelsy, and feasting, and
diversions, and discourse with his companions until the night that was
fixed for the conflict. And when that night came, it was remembered even
by those who lived in the furthest part of his dominions, and he went to
the meeting, and the nobles of the kingdom with him. And when he came to
the Ford, a knight arose and spake thus. “Lords,” said he, “listen well.
It is between two kings that this meeting is, and between them only.
Each claimeth of the other his land and territory, and do all of you
stand aside and leave the fight to be between them.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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