Chapter 27 - Page 2

resolved to bestow Branwen upon Matholch. Now she was one of the three
chief ladies of this island, and she was the fairest damsel in the
world. * The Island of the Mighty is one of the many names bestowed upon
Britain by the Welsh. And they fixed upon Aberfraw as the place where she should become
his bride. And they went thence, and towards Aberfraw the hosts
proceeded, Matholch and his host in their ships, Bendigeid Vran and
his host by land, until they came to Aberfraw. And at Aberfraw they
began the feast, and sat down. And thus sat they: the king of the
Island of the Mighty and Manawyddan, the son of Llyr, on one side, and
Matholch on the other side, and Branwen, the daughter of Llyr,
beside him. And they were not within a house, but under tents. No
house could ever contain Bendigeid Vran. And they began the banquet,
and caroused and discoursed. And when it was more pleasing to them
to sleep than to carouse, they went to rest, and Branwen became
Matholch's bride.
And the next day they arose, and all they of the court, and the
officers began to equip, and to range the horses and the attendants,
and they ranged them in order as far as the sea.
And, behold, one day Evnissyen, the quarrelsome man, of whom it is
spoken above, came by chance into the place where the horses of
Matholch were, and asked whose horses they might be. "They are the
horses of Matholch, king of Ireland, who is married to Branwen, thy
sister; his horses are they." "And is it thus they have done with a
maiden such as she, and moreover my sister, bestowing her, without
my consent? They could have offered me no greater insult than this,"
said he. And thereupon he rushed under the horses, and cut off their
lips at the teeth, and their ears close to their heads, and their
tails close to their backs; and he disfigured the horses, and rendered
them useless.
And they came with these tidings unto Matholch, saying that the
horses were disfigured and injured, so that not one of them could ever
be of any use again. "Verily, lord," said one, "it was an insult
unto thee, and as such was it meant." "Of a truth, it is a marvel to
me that, if they desire to insult me, they should have given me a
maiden of such high rank, and so much beloved by their kindred, as
they have done." "Lord," said another, "thou seest that thus it is,
and there is nothing for thee to do but to go to thy ships." And
thereupon towards his ships he set out.
And tidings came to Bendigeid Vran that Matholch was quitting the
court without asking leave, and messengers were sent to him to inquire
wherefore he did so. And the messengers that went were Iddic, the
son of Anarawd, and Heveyd Hir. And these overtook him, and asked of
him what he designed to do, and wherefore he