Mythology, Celtic -- Wales; Tales -- Wales; Welsh literature -- 1100-1400 -- Translations into English
“The cause of the third plague,” said he, “is a mighty man of magic, who
take thy meat and thy drink and thy store. And he through illusions and
charms causes every one to sleep. Therefore it is needful for thee in
thy own person to watch thy food and thy provisions. And lest he should
overcome thee with sleep, be there a cauldron of cold water by thy side,
and when thou art oppressed with sleep, plunge into the cauldron.”
Then Lludd returned back unto his land. And immediately he summoned to
him the whole of his own race and of the Coranians. And as Llevelys had
taught him, he bruised the insects in water, the which he cast over them
all together, and forthwith it destroyed the whole tribe of the
Coranians, without hurt to any of the Britons.
And some time after this, Lludd caused the Island to be measured in its
length and in its breadth. And in Oxford he found the central point, and
in that place he caused the earth to be dug, and in that pit a cauldron
to be set, full of the best mead that could be made, and a covering of
satin over the face of it. And he himself watched that night. And while
he was there, he beheld the dragons fighting. And when they were weary
they fell, and came down upon the top of the satin, and drew it with them
to the bottom of the cauldron. And when they had drunk the mead they
slept. And in their sleep, Lludd folded the covering around them, and in
the securest place he had in Snowdon, he hid them in a kistvaen. Now
after that this spot was called Dinas Emreis, but before that, Dinas
Ffaraon. And thus the fierce outcry ceased in his dominions.
And when this was ended, King Lludd caused an exceeding great banquet to
be prepared. And when it was ready, he placed a vessel of cold water by
his side, and he in his own proper person watched it. And as he abode
thus clad with arms, about the third watch of the night, lo, he heard
many surpassing fascinations and various songs. And drowsiness urged him
to sleep. Upon this, lest he should be hindered from his purpose and be
overcome by sleep, he went often into the water. And at last, behold, a
man of vast size, clad in strong, heavy armour, came in, bearing a
hamper. And, as he was wont, he put all the food and provisions of meat
and drink into the hamper, and proceeded to go with it forth. And
nothing was ever more wonderful to Lludd, than that the hamper should
hold so much.
And thereupon King Lludd went after him and spoke unto him thus. “Stop,
stop,” said he, “though thou hast done many insults and much spoil
erewhile, thou shalt not do so any more, unless thy skill in arms and thy
prowess be greater than mine.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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