Mythology, Celtic -- Wales; Tales -- Wales; Welsh literature -- 1100-1400 -- Translations into English
At the end of the year the barking of dogs was heard under the wall of
the chamber. And the Court assembled, and thereupon he arose and went
forth, and when he came forth he beheld three beasts. Now these were the
beasts that he saw; two wild hogs of the woods, and a well-grown young
one with them. And he was very large for his age. “Truly,” said Math,
“this one will I take and cause to be baptized.” And he struck him with
his magic wand, and he become a fine fair auburn-haired youth, and the
name that he gave him was Hychdwn. “Now as for you, as ye were wild hogs
last year, be ye wolves each and either of you for the year that is to
come.” Thereupon he struck them with his magic wand, and they became
wolves. “And be ye of like nature with the animals whose semblance ye
bear, and return here this day twelvemonth beneath this wall.”
And at the same day at the end of the year, he heard a clamour and a
barking of dogs under the wall of the chamber. And he rose and went
forth. And when he came, behold, he saw two wolves, and a strong cub
with them. “This one will I take,” said Math, “and I will cause him to
be baptized; there is a name prepared for him, and that is Bleiddwn. Now
these three, such are they:—
The three sons of Gilvaethwy the false,
The three faithful combatants,
Bleiddwn, Hydwn, and Hychdwn the Tall.”
Then he struck the two with his magic wand, and they resumed their own
nature. “Oh men,” said he, “for the wrong that ye did unto me sufficient
has been your punishment and your dishonour. Prepare now precious
ointment for these men, and wash their heads, and equip them.” And this
was done.
And after they were equipped, they came unto him. “Oh men,” said he,
“you have obtained peace, and you shall likewise have friendship. Give
your counsel unto me, what maiden I shall seek.” “Lord,” said Gwydion
the son of Don, “it is easy to give thee counsel; seek Arianrod, the
daughter of Don, thy niece, thy sister’s daughter.”
And they brought her unto him, and the maiden came in. “Ha, damsel,”
said he, “art thou the maiden?” “I know not, lord, other than that I
am.” Then he took up his magic wand, and bent it. “Step over this,”
said he, “and I shall know if thou art the maiden.” Then stepped she
over the magic wand, and there appeared forthwith a fine chubby
yellow-haired boy. And at the crying out of the boy, she went towards
the door. And thereupon some small form was seen; but before any one
could get a second glimpse of it, Gwydion had taken it, and had flung a
scarf of velvet around it and hidden it. Now the place where he hid it
was the bottom of a chest at the foot of his bed.
“Verily,” said Math the son of Mathonwy, concerning the fine
yellow-haired boy, “I will cause this one to be baptized, and Dylan is
the name I will give him.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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