Math son of Mathonwy

Here is the fourth branch of the Mabinogi. Math son of Mathonwy was master of Gwynedd and Pryderi son of Pwyll, of twenty-one cantrevs of the South, i.e. of the seven cantrevs of Dyvet, of the seven cantrevs of Morganhwc (Glamorgan), of the four of Keredigyawn ( Cardigan) and three from Ystrat Tywi (Carmarthen).

Math son of Mathonwy

At that time, Math, son of Mathonwy, could only live on condition that his two feet rest in the lap of a virgin, unless, however, the tumult of war opposed it.

The virgin who thus lived with him was Goewin, daughter of Pebin, of Dol Pebin in Arvon. She was, to the knowledge of the locals, the most beautiful young girl of her time. Math still resided at Caer Dathyl in Arvon; he could not go around the country, but Gilvaethwy, son of Don and Eveydd, son of Don, his nephews, his sister's son, as well as the people of his family, did it for him; the young girl did not leave him. However, Gilwaethwy turned his thoughts to the young girl and began to love her so much that he did not know what to do because of her. Such was his love that he began to wither away, color, physiognomy, exterior appearance: it was hardly if we would have recognized him. Gwydyon, his brother, looked at him intently one day. “Young man,” he said, “what happened to you?

- Why this question ? he replied. What do you notice in me?

- I see that you have lost your air and your colors: what have you?

- Lord brother, what happened to me, I will not be further ahead of confessing it to anyone.

- What, my soul?

- You know the privilege of Math, son of Mathonwy: the slightest conversation between two people, whispered as low as possible, if the wind hits it, he knows it.

- That's good, say no more, I know your thinking: you love Goewin. "

Seeing that his brother knew his mind, Gilvaethwy let out a deep sigh in the world. "Stop sighing, my soul," said Gwydyon; this is not the way to run a business. I will raise, since there is no other way, Gwynedd, Powys and the South to be able to go and look for the young girl. Be happy; I will do this for you. "

They immediately went to Math, son of Mathonwy. “Lord,” said Gwydyon, “I have heard that a species of animal has come to Dyvet like there never was on this island.

- What do we call them? Math replied.

- Hobs (pigs), lord.

- What kind of animals are these?

- They are small animals, but whose flesh is better than that of oxen. They are small in size. They are in the process of changing their names. They're called moch (pigs) now.

- Who do they belong to?

- They were sent from Annwn to Pryderi, son of Pwyll, by Arawn, king of Annwn (something of this name has still been preserved: Hannerhwch, Hannerhob.

- Well ! how could we get them from him?

- I will go, lord, me twelfth, with companions disguised as bards, to ask for the pigs. My imagination is not bad: I will not come back without the pigs.

- Willingly, go. He went, with Gilvaethwy and ten other companions, to Keredigyawn, to the place now called Ruddlan Teivi, where Pryderi's court was.

They entered as bards. We gave them a good face. That evening, Gwydyon was placed next to Pryderi. “We would be happy,” said Pryderi, “to hear a story from those young people over there.

'Our custom,' replied Gwydyon, 'the first evening we visit an important personage is for the Pennkerdd to speak. I'll gladly tell you a story. Gwydyon was the best storyteller in the world. That night he amused the court so well with entertaining speeches and tales that everyone was charmed with him and that Pryderi enjoyed chatting with him. As he finished, Gwydyon said, "Lord, could anyone better fulfill my mission to you than myself?"

- Oh ! no, he replied; it is a language full of resources that yours.

- This is my mission, lord: I have to ask you for the animals that were sent to you from Annwvyn.

- It would be the easiest thing in the world without the agreement that exists on their subject between the country and me; it is agreed that I will not part with them until their number here has doubled.

- I can, lord, free you from your word. Here's how don't give them to me tonight, but don't deny me either. Tomorrow, I will offer you trade items in their place. That very night, Gwydyon and his companions went to their lodgings to confer. “Men,” he said, “we won't get the pigs by asking for them.

Sure, they replied. By what artifice can we have them?

- I will make it. Said Gwydyon.

He then resorted to his tricks and began to show his magical power. He brought out twelve stallions, twelve black hunting dogs, each with a white chest, with their twelve collars and their twelve leashes that everyone would have taken for gold. The twelve horses carried twelve saddles, and everywhere iron was replaced by gold; the bridles were in relation to the saddles. He went to Pryderi with the horses and the dogs. “Hello to you, lord,” he said.

- God give you well, answered Pryderi; welcome.

- Lord, I bring you a way to free yourself from the word you gave, you said last night, about the pigs, namely that you would not give them or sell them. You can trade them in for something better. I offer you these twelve horses with their equipment, as you see it, their saddles and their bridles, these twelve hunting dogs with these collars and these leashes, as well as these twelve golden shields. These coins were mushrooms he had transformed.

"Well," said Pryderi, "we'll take advice." They decided to give the pigs to Gwydyon, in exchange for the horses, dogs and coins. The northerners took their leave, and set off with the pigs. “Companions,” said Gwydyon, “we must march in haste. The charm only lasts from one period from one day to the next ”. That same night they walked to the highest part of Keredigyawn, to the place that is still called, for this reason, Mochdref (the town of pigs). The next day they set out, passed through Elenit, and at nightfall found themselves between Keri and Arwystli, in the town which has since been called Mochdref. They resumed their walk, and arrived, at night, in a kymmwt of Powys, which is called, for this reason, Mochnant. Then they reached the cantrev de Ros, and spent the night in the town still known as Mochdref. “Men,” said Gwydyon, “take refuge with these animals in the heart of Gwynedd; armies are being raised in pursuit of us. They went to the higher town of Arllechwedd, and built there stables for the pigs, which earned the town the name of Creuwyryon. The stables made, they went to Math, son of Mathonwy, to Kaer Dathyl.

When they got there, the country was being called to arms. "What is new? said Gwydyon

“Pryderi,” he was told, “is bringing together the people of his twenty-one cantrevs to pursue you. We were amazed at how slow you walked. Where are the animals you picked up?

- They are, said Gwydyon, in the other cantrev, over there, where we made them stables. At that moment they heard the trumpets calling the locals to arms. They armed themselves and marched to Pennardd, in Arvon. Gwydyon, son of Don, with Gilvaethwy, his brother, went, him, to Kaer Dathyl; he made Gilvaethwy sleep with Goewin, in Math, Mathonwy's son, after having thrown out the other maidens outrageously. Gilvaethwy slept with her that night in spite of herself. The next day, as soon as they saw dawn, they went to Math, son of Mathonwy and his troops. We were just going to take advice to find out on which side we would expect Pryderi and the men from the South. They took part in the deliberation. It was decided that we would wait in the heart of Gwynedd. They waited, in fact, right in the middle of the two maenawr of Pennardd and Coet Alun. Pryderi came to attack them there.

It was there that the meeting took place, and the massacre was great on both sides; the southerners were forced to retreat. They retreated to the place that is still called Nantcall today, pursued by their adversaries. Then an indescribable carnage took place. They then retreated to Dol Penmaen, where they concentrated and asked for peace. Pryderi gave hostages, the hostages were Gwrgi Gwastra and twenty-three other sons of chiefs. They then advanced in peace to Traeth Mawr; but, when they found themselves reunited at Melenryt, the footmen could not be prevented from shooting arrows at each other. Pryderi sent messengers to ask Math to arrest his people, and let the matter settle between him and Gwydyon, son of Don, the author of all that was going on. When Math, son of Mathonwy, had heard his message, he said: “By me and if Gwydyon, son of Don, finds it good, I willingly allow it; I will not force anyone to fight instead of doing our best on our own.

- In truth, say messengers, Pryderi thinks that it would be well, for the man who has done him such wrong, to oppose his body to his body, and to leave his family in peace.

- I attest to God, said Gwydyon, I do not ask the men of Gwynedd to fight for me, when I can fight one on one with Pryderi. I will oppose my body to hers willingly. " The answer was brought to Pryderi. "I do not ask, he said, the redress of my wrongs from anyone other than myself." They were left alone to one side; they armed themselves and fought. By the effect of his strength and impetuosity of his magic and enchantments, Gwydyon prevailed, and Pryderi was slain. He was buried at Maentyvyawc, above Melenryt; this is where his grave is.

The people of the South headed for their country with funeral chants; which was not surprising: they had lost their lord, many of their best warriors, their horses and most of their weapons. Gwynedd's men returned with joy and enthusiasm. "Lord," said Gwydyon to Math, "are we not doing an act of justice by returning to the southerners their lord whom they have given us hostage for peace?" We don't have the right to hold him captive.

- Let him be released. Math replied. Gwrgi and the other hostages were allowed to join the southerners. Math went to Kaer Dathyl, while Gilvaethwy, son of Don, and all the relatives who had previously accompanied him set out to make the circuit to Gwynedd as usual, leaving the courtyard behind. Arrived in his room, Math made prepare a place where he could lean on and rest his feet in the lap of the virgin. “Lord,” said Goewin, “seek a virgin to support your feet now: I am a woman.

- What does that mean ? he replied.

- I was assaulted, lord, and that in secret. I did not remain silent: there is no one at court who did not know it. The attack came from your nephews, sons of your sister, Gwydyon and Gilvaethwy, sons of Don. They have done me violence, and you ashamed. We slept with me, and that in your room and in your own bed.

- Well, he replied, I will do my best. I will give you satisfaction first, and then I will seek the one that is due to me. I will take you as a wife, I will place the property of my States in your hands ”. However, Don's two sons did not come close to the court; they continued to circulate across the country; they stayed away from him until it was forbidden to give them food and drink. Only then did they come to him. “Lord,” they said, “hello to you.

- Yes, he said, is it to give me satisfaction that you have come?

- Lord, they replied, we are ready to do your will.

- If it had always been so, I would not have lost so many men and horses; my shame, you can't fix it for me, let alone Pryderi's death. Since you have come to put yourself at my disposal, your punishment will begin. He took his enchanted wand, and suddenly turned Gilvaethwy into a good-sized doe; then instantly, he prevented any escape from the other, by hitting him with the same wand, and made a stag. “As you are now bonded,” said Math, “you will walk together, you will be a couple, and you will have the instincts of the animals in your form. You will have a little one at the time usual for them. In a year, you will come back to me. "

At the end of a year, to the day, a loud noise was heard against the walls of the room, which immediately excited the barking of the dogs. “Go and see,” Math said, “what's outside.

Lord, someone said, I have just gone to see: there is a stag, a doe and a fawn there ”. He got up immediately and went out; he saw, in fact, three beasts: a stag, a doe and a vigorous fawn. He raised his wand, saying: Let him who was a doe last year be a boar this year, and a stag be a sow. And he struck them with his wand. "The little one, I'll take it," he added; I will have him raised and baptized. He was given the name of Hyddwn. “Come on,” he said; you will be one male boar, the other female, and you will have the same instincts as the pigs of the woods. In a year, find yourself under the walls of this house with your little one ”. At the end of the year, the barking of the dogs was heard under the walls of the room, and the whole court came running to that side. He got up himself and left. Outside, he saw three beasts: a male boar, a female boar and a small very strong for the age it appeared. "This one," he said, "I keep, and I will have him baptized." And, with a wave of his wand, he made him a handsome, dark, strong teenager. It was called HychtWn. "Let him of you," he added, "who was a male boar last year, be a wolf this year, and the sow be a wolf." As he said these words, he struck them with his wand and they became wolves and wolves. "Have," he said, "the instincts of the animals of which you are shaped." Be here, under these walls, a year from now. "

A year later, to the day, he heard a great uproar, the barking of dogs under the walls of his room. He got up and went out. Outside he saw a wolf, a wolf, and with them a strong wolf cub. “This one,” he said, “I take it and will have it baptized. His name is perfect: it will be Bleiddwn. You have three sons, and these three are they: The three sons of Gilvaethwy the traitor; three prominent and loyal warriors: Bleiddwn, Hyddwn, Hychtwn Hir (the Long). And, with a wave of his wand, they found themselves in their own flesh. “Men,” said Math, “if you have done me wrong, you have suffered enough and you were ashamed to have children of each other. Give these men a bath, wash their heads and give them clothes ”. These orders were carried out. When they were equipped, they returned to him. “Men,” said Math, “peace you have had it, affection you will also have; advise me: which virgin will I take?

- Lord ”, replied Gwydyon, nothing could be easier: Aranrot, daughter of Don, your niece, your sister's daughter. "

They went to fetch it for him: the young girl entered. "Young girl," said Math, "are you a virgin?

- Nothing else, lord, she replied, to my knowledge. So he took his wand and bent it. "Go over it," he said, "and if you're a virgin, I'll recognize it." She stepped over the magic wand and, at the same time, left behind a strong blond child. At the cries of the child, she looked for the door, and immediately she left something more after her, like a small child, but, before anyone could see her a second time, Gwydyon grabbed the child, rolled him up. in a brocade coat and hid it in the bottom of a chest at the foot of his bed. "Well," said Math, son of Mathonwy, speaking of the blond child, "I am going to have this one baptized, and I will name him Dylan." He was baptized. No sooner was he baptized than he walked towards the sea. As soon as he entered it, he immediately took to nature and became as good a swimmer as the fastest of fish. So he was called Dylan Eil Ton (Dylan, son of the wave). No wave broke beneath him. The blow that caused his death came from the hand of Govannon, his uncle, and it was one of three fatal blows.

As Gwydyon was in bed one day but awake, he heard screams in the trunk at the foot of his bed; they were barely loud enough to be heard by him. He stood up hurriedly and opened the safe. He saw a little boy waving his arms from the middle of the coat and throwing him back. He took the child in his arms went with him to the city, to a place where he knew to find a woman who could breastfeed and walked with her to feed the child. We feed him a year. At the end of the year, he was a height that would have seemed strong even for a two-year-old. At the end of the second year, he was a big child able to go to court on his own. When he was at court, Gwydyon watched over him, the child became familiar with him and loved him more than anyone. He was brought up at court thus until the age of four; he would have been well enough developed for a child of eight. One day he went for a walk outside following Gwydyon. The latter went with him to Kaer Aranrot. Seeing him enter, Aranrot got up to meet him, welcome him and greet him. “God give you good,” he said.

- So what is this child who follows you?

"This child is your son," Gwydyon replied.

"Man," she cried, "what idea has you taken of outraging me thus, of pursuing and maintaining my dishonor for so long?"

- If you have no other dishonor than to see me feed a child as beautiful as this one, it will be little.

- What's your son's name?

- He doesn't have one yet, really.

- Well, I swear he will have this destiny that he will not have a name until he receives one from me.

- I attest to God; you are a woman of nothing; the child will have a name even if you would find it bad, and you, you will never find again the one that you are so furious to have lost, that of virgin. Saying these words, he stormed out and returned to Kaer Dathyl where he spent the night.

The next day he got up, took the child with him and went for a walk on the seashore, between the ocean and Aber Menei. He enchanted a ship to appear where he saw seaweed and kelp; he transformed algae and seaweed into cordwal in large quantities; he gave it various colors to the point that you could not see finer leather. He set sail and walked him and the child to the doorway of Kaer Aranrot's entrance. Then he began to fashion shoes and sew them. He was noticed from the fort. As soon as he noticed it, he changed his features and those of the child so that they could not be recognized.

"What men are on board this ship?" said Aranrot.

"They are shoemakers," he was told.

- Go see what kind of leather they have and how they work. We went to them, and we found Gwydyon coloring the leather: he was gilding it. The messengers went to bring it back to Aranrot. "Well," she said, "take the measure of my foot to this shoemaker and tell him to make me shoes." He fashioned the shoes, but not according to his measure: he made them bigger. They brought the shoes: they were too big. “They are too big,” she said; I will pay them to him, but let him make a pair of smaller ones ”. What did he do? He fashioned a pair for her that were much too small for her feet and sent them to her. "Tell him," she said, "these don't suit me either." These words were reported to him. “Well,” he cried, “I won't make shoes for him until I see his foot. We went to tell him. “Well,” she cried, “I'll go over to him. She went to the ship: he was trimming and the young boy was sewing. “Princess,” he said, “hello to you.

- God give you well, she replied. I am surprised that you cannot manage to make me custom-made shoes.

- It's true, but I can now. At that moment, a wren stood on the deck of the ship. The child threw him a blow and caught him between the nerve in his leg and the bone. She laughed. "In truth," she cried, "it was with a sure hand that the Lleu reached him.

- Well, said Gwydyon, he has a name, without our having to pray to God to reward you for it, and the name is not bad: from now on, it will be called Lleu Llaw Gyffes. Immediately everything he had done turned into seaweed and seaweed, and he did not continue this work any longer, which led to him being called one of the three eurgrydd (goldsmith shoemakers). “The truth is,” she said, “you couldn't do better to be so mean to me.

- I haven't been. " he replied. And he restored his features to the child. "Well," she said, "I swear the fate of the child will be to have no armor before I put it on myself."

- By me and God, said Gwydyon, you can be as evil as you want, he will have weapons. "

They went to Dinas Dinllev. He raised the child there until he was fit to ride any horse and had reached his full development in face, size and build. Gwydyon realized that he was humiliated at not having a horse or weapons, he called him to him: "Boy," he said to him, "we will go on an expedition tomorrow you and me: so be more cheerful." that.

- I will be. Replied the young man. The next day they got up in the early days of the day and walked up the coast to Brynn Aryan. Arrived at the top of Kevyn Clutno, they equipped themselves and their horses and headed for Kaer Aranrot. They changed their features and went to the entrance as two young people, Gwydyon having taken on a more serious face than his companion, however. “Doorman,” he said, “come in and say there's some Morgannwc bards here. The porter obeyed. “Welcome in the name of God,” she said; let them in. They were given the best welcome. The room was prepared and they sat down to table. When we had finished eating, she chatted with Gwydyon of tales and stories. Gwydyon was a good storyteller. When it was time to quit drinking, a room was made for them and they went to bed. Gwydyon rose early in the morning and called his magic and power to him. A great movement of ships and a great noise of trumpets, to which answered loud cries in the countryside were heard. When day came, they heard a knock on the bedroom door, and Aranrot demanded that it be opened. The young man got up and opened the door. She entered followed by a virgin. “Gentlemen,” she said, “we are in a bad situation.

- Yes, they replied; we hear the sound of trumpets and cries; what do you think?

'In truth,' she said, 'it is impossible to see the waves, the ships are so closely packed together. They are heading towards the earth with all their speed. What to do ?

- Princess, there is nothing else to do than shut ourselves up in the fort and defend it as best we can.

- God give it back to you. Defend him; here you will find weapons in abundance. "

She went to get them some weapons. She returned with two virgins, each bringing an armor: “Princess,” said Gwydyon, “put her armor on this young man; I will cover the other with the help of the two virgins. I hear the tumult of people arriving.

- Gladly. She replied. She eagerly clothed him in full armor. "Have you finished," Gwydyon said to Aranrot, "arming this young man?

- It's done, she replied.

- I finished too. Let us now draw our armor; we no longer need it.

- Oh ! Why ? Here is the fleet around the house.

- No, woman, there is not the slightest fleet.

- What did all this lifting mean?

- It was to break the spell you cast on this young man and get him arms, and he got them without your being entitled to thanks.

- By me and God, you are a wicked man. It could be that many young people lose their lives because of the lifting that you caused in this cantrev today. I swear that this young man will be destined never to have a woman of the race who populates this land at this time.

'The truth is,' he said, 'you've always been a woman of nothing, whom no one should support. He will have a wife anyway. They went to Math, Mathonwy's son, and complained about Aranrot with the greatest insistence. Gwydyon told him how he had obtained armor for the young man. "Well," said Math, "let's try, by means of our magic and the charms of both of us, to bring a woman out of the flowers." He had the stature of a man then, and he was indeed the most accomplished young man that had ever been seen. They then united the flowers of the oak, those of the broom and the meadowsweet, and, by their charms, they formed the most beautiful and most perfect virgin in the world. It was baptized according to the rites of the time and named it Blodeuwedd (aspect, face of flowers). When they had slept together during the feast, Gwydyon said, “It is not easy to converse without domains.

'Well,' Math replied, 'I'll give him the best cantrev a young man can have.

- What cantrev, lord?

- That of Dinoding. (This cantrev now bears the names of Eivynydd and Ardudwy.) A courtyard was built for it at the place called Mur y Castell, in the steep part of Ardudwy. It was there that he lived and reigned. Everyone was happy and gladly accepted his domination.

One day he went to Kaer Dathyl to visit Math, son of Mathonwy. That day Blodeuwedd began to walk around the courtyard. The sound of a horn was heard, and immediately she saw pass a tired stag pursued by dogs and hunters. After the dogs and the hunters came a whole troop of people on foot. "Send a valet," she said, "to find out whose troop is this". A valet came out and asked who they were. "The troop of Gronw Pebyr, Lord of Penllynn," they replied. The valet came back to tell him. For Gronw, he continued to chase the deer, caught it on the banks of the Kynvael River and killed it. He was busy skinning him and feeding the dogs until night came to surprise him.

When he saw day depart and night approaching, he walked past the entrance to the courtyard. "It is of course," said Blodeuwedd, "that we will do badly to speak of us by this lord, if we let him, at such an hour, go to another place without inviting him."

- Certainly, princess, replied her people, it is better to invite her. Messengers went to bring him the invitation. He gladly accepted and went to court. She walked over to greet him and greet him. “Princess,” he said, “God reward you for your warm welcome. He disarmed himself and they sat down. Blodeuwedd looked at him and from that moment there was not a place in his whole being that was not filled with his love. He looked at her too and he was overcome by the same feelings. He couldn't hide from her that he loved her; he tells her so. She was very happy. The love they had conceived for each other was the only subject of their conversation that evening. They did not take long to unite: that very night they slept together. The next day he wanted to leave. "No, sure," she said, "you won't go away from me tonight." They spent the night together and agreed to see how they could live together. "There is only one way," he said, "you must find out from him how we can kill him, and that under the guise of concern for him". The next day he wanted to leave. “Really,” she said, “I don't think you're going from me today.

Since this is your opinion, I will not go away, he replied, I will only point out to you that it is to be feared that the lord of this court will return home.

Well, tomorrow I'll let you go. The next day he wanted to leave, and she didn't object. “Remember,” he said, “what I said; urge him with questions, and that, as if joking, out of tenderness; apply yourself to knowing from him how death could come to him. "

Lleu Llaw Gyffes returned home that evening. They spent the time in talks, music, feasting, and in the night they went to sleep together. He spoke to her once, then a second, without getting an answer. "What is the matter," he said to her, "are you not well?"

I was thinking, she replied, on one thing that would never occur to you about me: I am worried about your death in case you go before me.

God rewards you for your concern; but if God himself does not interfere, it is not easy to kill me. - Would you like, for the love of God and of me, to indicate to me how one could kill you? because when it comes to precautions, I have a better memory than you.

Gladly. It is not easy to kill me by hitting me: you would have to spend a year doing the javelin that you would use and working on it only during mass on Sunday.

Is it safe?

Sure. You can't kill me in a house, you can't kill me outside; I cannot be killed if I am on horseback; you can't, if I'm on foot.

Well, how can we kill you?

I'll tell you: you have to prepare a bath for me on the bank of a river, establish an arched hurdle above the tank, and then cover it tightly, bring a goat, place it next to the tank; I would have to put one foot on the goat's back and the other on the edge of the tank: whoever hit me under these conditions would kill me.

I thank God for that, that is an easy thing to avoid. No sooner had she gotten this revelation than she forwarded it to Gronw Pebyr. Gronw set about making the spear, and at the end of the year, day by day, it was ready. He let it be known that very day to Blodeuwedd. “Lord,” she said to Lleu, “I wonder how what you told me could come true. Would you like to show me how you would stand on the rim of the tub and on the goatee, if I prepare the bath myself?

I'll show it to you. He replied. She sent for Gronw and warned him to keep safe from the hill now called Brynn Kyvergyr on the banks of the Kynvael River. She had all the goats she found in the cantrev gathered and brought them across the river in front of Brynn Kyvergyr.

The next day, she said to Lleu: “Lord, I have had the hurdle and the bath prepared: they are ready.

That's good, he replied, let's see. They went to see the bath. “Do you want to go in the bath, lord?” She said.

Gladly. He replied. He went there and took his bath.

“Lord,” she said, “here are the animals you said were called goats.

Well, he replied, get one and have it brought here. They brought the goat. Lleu got out of the bath, put on his breeches and put one foot on the edge of the tub, the other on the goat's back. Gronw then arose, in the shelter of the hill called Brynn Kyvergyr, and, leaning on one knee, he struck him with the poisoned spear, and struck him so violently in the side, that the shaft jumped, and that the iron remained in the body. Lleu flew away in the form of a bird, uttering a shrill, dreadful cry, and we never saw him again.

As soon as he had disappeared, they went to court, and that very night slept together. The next day, Gronw got up and took possession of Ardudwy. After mastering it, he ruled it and became Lord of Ardudwy and Penllyn. The story reached the ears of Math, son of Mathonwy. Math understood deep pain and sorrow, and Gwydyon much more. “Lord,” said Gwydyon, “I'll never take a rest until I hear from my nephew.

Good, said Math, God help you. He left and began to roam the country; he wandered through Gwynnedd and Flowys from cover to cover. Then he went to Arvon, and came to the house of a serf who lived in the maenawr of Pennardd. He went down to his house and spent the night there. The master of the house and the people of his family returned. The swineherd was the last to arrive. The master said to him: "Valet, did your sow come home this evening?"

Yes, he replied, at this moment she came to join the pigs.

How far is this sow going? Gwydyon asked.

Every day, as soon as we open the stable, she goes out and we no longer see her; we do not know which path it took, no more than if it went underground!

Would you, Gwydyon went on, do me the pleasure of not opening the stable door until I am with you next door? Gladly. They went to bed.

At daybreak the swineherd got up and woke Gwydyon. He got up, got dressed, went with the swineherd, and stood by the stable. The swineherd opened the door; at the same time the sow sprang out and began to walk vigorously. Gwydyon followed her. She took her course going up the course of the river, headed for the valley that is now called Nant y Llew (the Llew or Lion ravine); there she stopped and began to graze. Gwydyon came under the tree and watched what the sow was eating. He saw it was rotten flesh and worms. He looked up the tree and saw an eagle on top. Every time the eagle shook itself, it dropped worms and rotting flesh that the sow ate. Gwydyon thought the eagle was none other than Llew, and sang this englyn:

Oak which grows between two glens, the air and the valley are dark and agitated: if I am not mistaken, these decomposed debris are those of Llew.

The eagle let go to the middle of the tree. Gwydyon sang a second enqlyn:

Oak which grows on this high ground, which the rain can no longer wet, has not softened, which has endured one hundred and eighty storms: at its summit is Lleu Llaw Gyffes.

The eagle let himself go to the lowest branch of the tree. Gwydyon sang a third enqlyn:

Oak growing on the slope… if I'm not mistaken, Lleu will come into my lap.

The eagle dropped to Gwydyon's lap. With a flick of his enchanted wand, Gwydyon restored him to his natural form. You had never seen someone with a sadder appearance: all he had was skin and bones.

Gwydyon went with him to Kaer Dathyl. All that could be found good doctors in Gwynedd were brought in to cure him. By the end of the year he was fully recovered. “Lord,” he then said to Math, son of Mathonwy, “it is time for me to be satisfied with the man I suffered from.

Certainly, Math replied, he cannot hold on without giving you satisfaction.

The sooner I get satisfaction, the better for me. "

They gathered all of Gwynedd's troops and marched on Ardudwy. Gwydyon, who was at their head, headed for Mur y Castell. Blodeuwedd, on hearing of their approach, took his attendants with her, and walked, across the Kynvael River, to a courtyard on the mountain. Their terror was such that they could only walk by turning their heads; they thus fell into the water without knowing it, and all drowned except for Blodeuwedd. Gwydyon then reached him, and said, "I will not kill you, I will do worse." I'll let you go in the form of a bird. To punish yourself for the shame you have done to Lleu Llaw Gyffes, you will never dare to show your face in the light of day, for fear of all the other birds. Their instinct will drive them to hit you, to treat you with contempt wherever they find you. You will not lose your name, we will always call you Blodeuwedd. The owl is indeed called Blodeuwedd, even today. This is how the owl became an object of hatred for all birds.

Gronw Pebyr, he returned to Penllynn, from where he sent an embassy to Lleu Llaw Gyffes to ask him if he wanted, as the price of his outrage, land, estates, gold or silver. “I do not accept,” he replied, “I attest to God. Here is the least I can accept from him: he will go to where I was when he gave me the spear, while I will be in the same place as him, and he will let me strike him with a throw of the spear. It is the least satisfaction that I can accept. Gronw Pebyr was informed. “Well,” he said, “I have to do it. Noble faithful, people of my family, my foster brothers, is there anyone of you who wants to receive the blow in my place?

Not. They replied. It is because of this, because they refused to suffer a blow in place of their lord, that they have not ceased to be called since, the third disloyal family. “Well, then,” he said, “then I will put up with it. They both made their way to the banks of the Kynvael River. Gronw stood where Lleu Llaw Gyffes was when he hit him, while Lleu took his place. Gronw Pebyr then said to Lleu: "Lord, as it is by the perverse tricks of a woman that I have been led to what I have done, I pray you, in the name of God, to let me put me and the blow, this flat stone that I see on the edge of the river.

I won't refuse that, sure, Lleu replied.

God give it back to you. Gronw took the stone and held it between himself and the blow. Lleu darted his spear, pierced right through the stone, and Gronw himself, so much so that he broke his back. So was killed Gronw Pebyr. There is still there, on the edge of the Kynvael river, a stone pierced with a hole; and, in memory of this fact, it is still called today Llech Gronw. Lleu Llaw Gyffes regained possession of the country, and ruled it happily. From what the account says, he then became Lord of Gwynedd. Thus ends this branch of Mabinogi.