Mythology, Celtic -- Wales; Tales -- Wales; Welsh literature -- 1100-1400 -- Translations into English
Now the maiden was with Math continually, and Gilvaethwy the son of Don
set his affections upon her, and loved her so that he knew not what he
should do because of her, and therefrom behold his hue, and his aspect,
and his spirits changed for love of her, so that it was not easy to know
him.
One day his brother Gwydion gazed steadfastly upon him. "Youth," said
he, "what aileth thee?" "Why," replied he, "what seest thou in me?" "I
see," said he, "that thou hast lost thy aspect and thy hue; what,
therefore, aileth thee?" "My lord, brother," he answered, "that which
aileth me, it will not profit me that I should own to any." "What may it
be, my soul?" said he. "Thou knowest," he said, "that Math the son of
Mathonwy has this property, that if men whisper together, in a tone how
low soever, if the wind meet it, it becomes known unto him." "Yes," said
Gwydyon, "hold now thy peace, I know thy intent, thou lovest Goewin."
When he found that his brother knew his intent, he gave the heaviest sigh
in the world. "Be silent, my soul, and sigh not," he said. "It is not
thereby that thou wilt succeed. I will cause," said he, "if it cannot be
otherwise, the rising of Gwynedd, and Powys, and Deheubarth, to seek the
maiden. Be thou of glad cheer therefore, and I will compass it."
So they went unto Math the son of Mathonwy. "Lord," said Gwydion, "I
have heard that there have come to the South some beasts, such as were
never known in this island before." "What are they called?" he asked.
"Pigs, lord." "And what kind of animals are they?" "They are small
animals, and their flesh is better than the flesh of oxen." "They are
small then?" "And they change their names. Swine are they now called."
"Who owneth them?" "Pryderi the son of Pwyll; they were sent him from
Annwn, by Arawn the king of Annwn, and still they keep that name, half
hog, half pig." "Verily," asked he, "and by what means may they be
obtained from him?" "I will go, lord, as one of twelve in the guise of
bards, to seek the swine." "But it may be that he will refuse you," said
he. "My journey will not be evil, lord," said he, "I will not come back
without the swine." "Gladly," said he, "go thou forward."
So he and Gilvaethwy went, and ten other men with them. And they came
into Ceredigiawn, to the place that is now called Rhuddlan Teivi, where
the palace of Pryderi was. In the guise of bards they came in, and they
were received joyfully, and Gwydion was placed beside Pryderi that night.
"Of a truth," said Pryderi, "gladly would I have a tale from some of your
men yonder." "Lord," said Gwydion, "we have a custom that the first
night that we come to the court of a great man, the chief of song
recites. Gladly will I relate a tale." Now Gwydion was the best teller
of tales in the world, and he diverted all the court that night with
pleasant discourse and with tales, so that he charmed every one in the
court, and it pleased Pryderi to talk with him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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