It was magic that decided its fate. There was a fighter in the ranks of Hades who could not be overcome unless his antagonist guessed his name—a peculiarity of the terrene gods, remarks Professor Rhys,[351] which has been preserved in our popular fairy tales. Gwydion guessed the name, and sang these two verses:— “Sure-hoofed is my steed impelled by the spur; The high sprigs of alder are on thy shield; _Brân_ art thou called, of the glittering branches! “Sure-hoofed is my steed in the day of battle: The high sprigs of alder are on thy hand: _Brân_ ... by the branch thou bearest Has Amaethon the Good prevailed!”[352] Thus the power of the dark gods was broken, and the sons of Dôn retained for the use of men the deer, the dog, and the lapwing, stolen from that underworld, whence all good gifts came. It was always to obtain some practical benefit that the gods of light fought against the gods of darkness. The last and greatest of Gwydion’s raids upon Hades was undertaken to procure—pork![353] Gwydion had heard that there had come to Dyfed some strange beasts, such as had never been seen before. They were called “pigs” or “swine”, and Arawn, King of Annwn, had sent them as a gift to Pryderi son of Pwyll. They were small animals, and their flesh was said to be better than the flesh of oxen. He thought it would be a good thing to get them, either by force or fraud, from the dark powers. Mâth son of Mâthonwy, who ruled the children of Dôn from his Olympus of Caer Dathyl[354], gave his consent, and Gwydion set off, with eleven others, to Pryderi’s palace[355]. They disguised themselves as bards, so as to be received by Pryderi, and Gwydion, who was “the best teller of tales in the world”, entertained the Prince of Dyfed and his court more than they had ever been entertained by any story-teller before. Then he asked Pryderi to grant him a boon—the animals which had come from Annwn. But Pryderi had pledged his word to Arawn that he would neither sell nor give away any of the new creatures until they had increased to double their number, and he told the disguised Gwydion so. “Lord,” said Gwydion, “I can set you free from your promise. Neither give me the swine at once, nor yet refuse them to me altogether, and to-morrow I will show you how.” He went to the lodging Pryderi had assigned him, and began to work his charms and illusions. Out of fungus he made twelve gilded shields, and twelve horses with gold harness, and twelve black greyhounds with white breasts, each wearing a golden collar and leash. And these he showed to Pryderi.