Mythology, Celtic -- Wales; Tales -- Wales; Welsh literature -- 1100-1400 -- Translations into English
They set forth, and, however long the journey, they came at length to
Dyved, and a feast was prepared for them against their coming to
Narberth, which Rhiannon and Kicva had provided. Then began Manawyddan
and Rhiannon to sit and to talk together, and from their discourse his
mind and his thoughts became warmed towards her, and he thought in his
heart he had never beheld any lady more fulfilled of grace and beauty
than she. “Pryderi,” said he, “I will that it be as thou didst say.”
“What saying was that?” asked Rhiannon. “Lady,” said Pryderi, “I did
offer thee as a wife to Manawyddan the son of Llyr.” “By that will I
gladly abide,” said Rhiannon. “Right glad am I also,” said Manawyddan;
“may Heaven reward him who hath shown unto me friendship so perfect as
this.”
And before the feast was over she became his bride. Said Pryderi, “Tarry
ye here the rest of the feast, and I will go into Lloegyr to tender my
homage unto Caswallawn the son of Beli.” “Lord,” said Rhiannon,
“Caswallawn is in Kent, thou mayest therefore tarry at the feast, and
wait until he shall be nearer.” “We will wait,” he answered. So they
finished the feast. And they began to make the circuit of Dyved, and to
hunt, and to take their pleasure. And as they went through the country,
they had never seen lands more pleasant to live in, nor better hunting
grounds, nor greater plenty of honey and fish. And such was the
friendship between those four, that they would not be parted from each
other by night nor by day.
And in the midst of all this he went to Caswallawn at Oxford, and
tendered his homage; and honourable was his reception there, and highly
was he praised for offering his homage.
And after his return, Pryderi and Manawyddan feasted and took their ease
and pleasure. And they began a feast at Narberth, for it was the chief
palace; and there originated all honour. And when they had ended the
first meal that night, while those who served them ate, they arose and
went forth, and proceeded all four to the Gorsedd of Narberth, and their
retinue with them. And as they sat thus, behold, a peal of thunder, and
with the violence of the thunderstorm, lo there came a fall of mist, so
thick that not one of them could see the other. And after the mist it
became light all around. And when they looked towards the place where
they were wont to see cattle, and herds, and dwellings, they saw nothing
now, neither house, nor beast, nor smoke, nor fire, nor man, nor
dwelling; but the houses of the Court empty, and desert, and uninhabited,
without either man or beast within them. And truly all their companions
were lost to them, without their knowing aught of what had befallen them,
save those four only.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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