Chapter 27

CHAPTER XXVII.
BRANWEN, THE DAUGHTER OF LLYR. BENDIGEID VRAN, the son of Llyr, was the crowned king of this
island, and he was exalted from the crown of London. And one afternoon
be was at Harlech, in Ardudwy, at his court; and he sat upon the
rock of Harlech, looking over the sea. And with him were his
brother, Manawyddan, the son of Llyr, and his brothers by his mother's
side, Nissyen and Evnissyen, and many nobles likewise, as was
fitting to see around a king. His two brothers by the mother's side
were sons of Euroswydd, and one of these youths was a good youth,
and of gentle nature, and would make peace between his kindred, and
cause his family to be friends when their wrath was at the highest,
and this one was Nissyen; but the other would cause strife between his
two brothers when they were most at peace. And as they sat thus they
beheld thirteen ships coming from the south of Ireland, and making
towards them; and they came with a swift motion, the wind being behind
them; and they neared them rapidly. "I see ships afar," said the king,
"coming swiftly towards the land. Command the men of the court that
they equip themselves, and go and learn their intent." So the men
equipped themselves, and went down towards them. And when they saw the
ships near, certain were they that they had never seen ships better
furnished. Beautiful flags of satin were upon them. And, behold, one
of the ships outstripped the others, and they saw a shield lifted up
above the side of the ship, and the point of the shield was upwards,
in token of peace. And the men drew near, that they might hold
converse. Then they put out boats, and came toward the land. And
they saluted the king. Now the king could hear them from the place
where he was upon the rock above their heads. "Heaven prosper you,"
said he, "and be ye welcome! To whom do those ships belong, and who is
the chief amongst you?" "Lord," said they, "Matholch, king of Ireland,
is here, and these ships belong to him." "Wherefore comes he?" asked
the king, "and will he come to the land?" "He is a suitor unto thee,
lord," said they, "and he will not land unless he have his boon." "And
what may that be?" inquired the king. "He desires to ally himself,
lord, with thee," said they, "and he comes to ask Branwen, the
daughter of Llyr, that, if it seem well to thee, the Island of the
Mighty* may be leagued with Ireland, and both become more powerful."
"Verily," said he, "let him come to land, and we will take counsel
thereupon." And this answer was brought to Matholch. "I will go
willingly," said he. So he landed, and they received him joyfully; and
great was the throng in the palace that night between his hosts and
those of the court; and next day they took counsel, and they