Mythology, Celtic -- Wales; Tales -- Wales; Welsh literature -- 1100-1400 -- Translations into English
Math himself went forward to Caerdathyl. Gilvaethwy the son of Don, and
they of the household that were with him went to make the circuit of
Gwynedd as they were wont, without coming to the court. Math went into
his chamber, and caused a place to be prepared for him whereon to
recline, so that he might put his feet in the maiden's lap. "Lord," said
Goewin, "seek now another {88} to hold thy feet, for I am now a wife."
"What meaneth this?" said he. "An attack, lord, was made unawares upon
me; but I held not my peace, and there was no one in the court who knew
not of it. Now the attack was made by thy nephews, lord, the sons of thy
sister, Gwydion the son of Don, and Gilvaethwy the son of Don; unto me
they did wrong, and unto thee dishonour." "Verily," he exclaimed, "I
will do to the utmost of my power concerning this matter. But first I
will cause thee to have compensation, and then will I have amends made
unto myself. As for thee, I will take thee to be my wife, and the
possession of my dominions will I give unto thy hands."
And Gwydion and Gilvaethwy came not near the court, but stayed in the
confines of the land until it was forbidden to give them meat and drink.
At first they came not near unto Math, but at last they came. "Lord,"
said they, "Good day to thee." "Well," said he, "is it to make me
compensation that ye are come?" "Lord," they said, "we are at thy will."
"By my will I would not have lost my warriors, and so many arms as I have
done. You cannot compensate me my shame, setting aside the death of
Pryderi. But since ye come hither to be at my will, I shall begin your
punishment forthwith."
Then he took his magic wand, and struck Gilvaethwy, so that he became a
deer, and he seized upon the other hastily lest he should escape from
him. And he struck him with the same magic wand, and he became a deer
also. "Since now ye are in bonds, I will that ye go forth together and
be companions, and possess the nature of the animals whose form ye bear.
And this day twelvemonth come hither unto me."
At the end of a year from that day, lo there was a loud noise under the
chamber wall, and the barking of the dogs of the palace together with the
noise. "Look," said he, "what is without." "Lord," said one, "I have
looked; there are there two deer, and a fawn with them." Then he arose
and went out. And when he came he beheld the three animals. And he
lifted up his wand. "As ye were deer last year, be ye wild hogs each and
either of you, for the year that is to come." And thereupon he struck
them with the magic wand. "The young one will I take and cause to be
baptized." Now the name that he gave him was Hydwn. "Go ye and be wild
swine, each and either of you, and be ye of the nature of wild swine. And
this day twelvemonth be ye here under the wall."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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