The Mabinogion (Oxford World's Classics) by Sioned Davies Read Free Book Online Page B

about it.’
    ‘Well,’ said the other, ‘when you yourself return to your country you will see what I have done for you.’
    ‘What you have done for me,’ he said, ‘may God repay you for it.’
    Then Arawn gave to Pwyll, prince of Dyfed, his proper form and features, and he himself took back his own. And Arawn set off to his court in Annwfn, and he was happy to see his men and his retinue for he had not seen them for a year. They, however, had not missed him, and his arrival was no more of a novelty than before. He spent that day pleasurably and happily, sitting and conversing with his wife and his noblemen. When it was more appropriate to sleep than carouse, they went to sleep. He went to his bed, and his wife went to him. The first thing he did was to converse with his wife, and indulge in affectionate play and make love to her. And she had not been accustomed to that for a year, and reflected on that.
    ‘Dear God,’ she said, ‘why is his mood different tonight from what it has been for the past year?’
    And she deliberated for a long time. And after that he woke up, and spoke to her, and a second time and a third; but she did not answer him.
    ‘Why won’t you answer me?’ he said.
    ‘I tell you’, she said, ‘that I have not spoken as much as this for a year in this bed.’
    ‘How can that be?’ he said. ‘We have always talked.’
    ‘Shame on me,’ she said, ‘if there has been between us for the past year, from the time we were wrapped up in the bedclothes, either pleasure or conversation, or have you turned your face to me, let alone anything more than that!’
    And then he thought, ‘Dear Lord God,’ he said, ‘I had a friend whose loyalty was steadfast and secure.’ And then he said to his wife, ‘Lady,’ he said, ‘do not blame me. Between me and God,’ he said, ‘I have neither slept nor lain down with you for the past year.’
    And then he told her the whole story.
    ‘I confess to God,’ she said, ‘you struck a firm bargain for your friend to have fought off the temptations of the flesh and kept his word to you.’
    ‘Lady,’ he said, ‘those were my very thoughts while I was silent just now.’
    ‘No wonder!’ she said.
    Then Pwyll, prince of Dyfed, came to his realm and his land. And he began to question the noblemen of the land as to how he hadruled over them during the past year compared with how he had ruled before that.
    ‘Lord,’ they said, ‘never have you been so perceptive; never have you been such a kind young man; never have you been so ready to distribute your wealth; never have you ruled better than during this year.’
    ‘Between me and God,’ he said, ‘it is right for you to thank the man who was with you. This is the story, how it happened.’
    Pwyll told them everything.
    ‘Well, lord,’ they said, ‘thank God you had that friendship. And the rule we have had this year, surely you will not take it from us?’
    ‘I will not, between me and God,’ said Pwyll.
    From that time on Pwyll and Arawn began to build up their friendship, and sent each other horses and hunting-dogs and hawks, and whatever treasure they thought would please the other. And because he had stayed that year in Annwfn, and had ruled there so successfully, and united the two realms through his courage and prowess, the name Pwyll, prince of Dyfed, fell into disuse, and he was called Pwyll Pen Annwfn * from then on.
    Once upon a time Pwyll was at Arberth, one of his chief courts, * where a feast had been prepared for him, and there was a large retinue of men with him. After the first sitting Pwyll got up to take a walk, and he made for the top of a mound that was above the court, called Gorsedd Arberth. *
    ‘Lord,’ said one of the court, ‘the strange thing about the mound is that whatever nobleman sits on it will not leave there without one of two things happening: either he will be wounded or injured, or else he will see something wonderful.’
    ‘I am not afraid to be