Mythology, Celtic -- Wales; Tales -- Wales; Welsh literature -- 1100-1400 -- Translations into English
And Manawyddan waited for him till near the close of the day. And late
in the evening, being certain that he should have no tidings of Pryderi
or of the dogs, he went back to the palace. And as he entered, Rhiannon
looked at him. “Where,” said she, “are thy companion and thy dogs?”
“Behold,” he answered, “the adventure that has befallen me.” And he
related it all unto her. “An evil companion hast thou been,” said
Rhiannon, “and a good companion hast thou lost.” And with that word she
went out, and proceeded towards the castle according to the direction
which he gave her. The gate of the castle she found open. She was
nothing daunted, and she went in. And as she went in, she perceived
Pryderi laying hold of the bowl, and she went towards him. “Oh, my
lord,” said she, “what dost thou do here?” And she took hold of the bowl
with him; and as she did so her hands became fast to the bowl, and her
feet to the slab, and she was not able to utter a word. And with that,
as it became night, lo, there came thunder upon them, and a fall of mist,
and thereupon the castle vanished, and they with it.
When Kicva the daughter of Gwynn Gloyw saw that there was no one in the
palace but herself and Manawyddan, she sorrowed so that she cared not
whether she lived or died. And Manawyddan saw this. “Thou art in the
wrong,” said he, “if through fear of me thou grievest thus. I call
Heaven to witness that thou hast never seen friendship mere pure than
that which I will bear thee, as long as Heaven will that thou shouldst be
thus. I declare to thee that were I in the dawn of youth I would keep my
faith unto Pryderi, and unto thee also will I keep it. Be there no fear
upon thee, therefore,” said he, “for Heaven is my witness that thou shalt
meet with all the friendship thou canst wish, and that it is in my power
to show thee, as long as it shall please Heaven to continue us in this
grief and woe.” “Heaven reward thee,” she said, “and that is what I
deemed of thee.” And the damsel thereupon took courage and was glad.
“Truly, lady,” said Manawyddan, “it is not fitting for us to stay here,
we have lost our dogs, and we cannot get food. Let us go into Lloegyr;
it is easiest for us to find support there.” “Gladly, lord,” said she,
“we will do so.” And they set forth together to Lloegyr.
“Lord,” said she, “what craft wilt thou follow? Take up one that is
seemly.” “None other will I take,” answered he, “save that of making
shoes, as I did formerly.” “Lord,” said she, “such a craft becomes not a
man so nobly born as thou.” “By that however will I abide,” said he.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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