Chapter 28

CHAPTER XXVIII.
MANAWYDDAN. PWYLL and Rhiannon had a son, whom they named Pryderi. And when he
was grown up, Pwyll, his father, died. And Pryderi married Kicva,
the daughter of Gwynn Gloy.
Now Manawyddan returned from the war in Ireland, and he found that
his cousin had seized all his possessions, and much grief and
heaviness came upon him. "Alas! woe is me!" he exclaimed; "there is
none save myself without a home and a resting-place." "Lord," said
Pryderi, "be not so sorrowful. Thy cousin is king of the Island of the
Mighty, and though he has done thee wrong, thou hast never been a
claimant of land or possessions." "Yea," answered he, "but although
this man is my cousin, it grieveth me to see any one in the place of
my brother, Bendigeid Vran; neither can I be happy in the same
dwelling with him." "Wilt thou follow the counsel of another?" said
Pryderi. "I stand in need of counsel," he answered, "and what may that
counsel be?" "Seven cantrevs belong unto me," said Pryderi, "wherein
Rhiannon, my mother, dwells. I will bestow her upon thee, and the
seven cantrevs with her; and though thou hadst no possessions but
those cantrevs only, thou couldst not have any fairer than they. Do
thou and Rhiannon enjoy them; and if thou desire any possessions
thou wilt not despise these." "I do not, chieftain," said he.
"Heaven reward thee for thy friendship! I will go with thee to seek
Rhiannon, and to look at thy possessions." "Thou wilt do well," he
answered; "and I believe thou didst never hear a lady discourse better
than she, and when she was in her prime, none was ever fairer. Even
now her aspect is not uncomely."
They set forth, and, however long the journey, they came at last
to Dyved; and a feast was prepared for them by Rhiannon and Kicva.
Then began Manawyddan and Rhiannon to sit and talk together; and his
mind and his thoughts became warmed towards her, and he thought in his
heart he had never beheld any lady more fulfilled of grace and
beauty than she. "Pryderi," said he, "I will that it be as thou
didst say." "What saying was that?" asked Rhiannon. "Lady," said
Pryderi, "I did offer thee as a wife to Manawyddan, the son of
Llyr." "By that will I gladly abide," said Rhiannon. "Right glad am
I also," said Manawyddan; "may Heaven reward him who hath shown unto
me friendship so perfect as this."
And before the feast was over she became his bride. Said Pryderi,
"Tarry ye here the rest of the feast, and I will go into England to
tender my homage unto Caswallawn, the son of Beli." "Lord," said
Rhiannon, "Caswallawn is in Kent; thou mayest therefore tarry at the
feast, and wait until he shall be nearer." "We will wait," he
answered. So they finished the feast. And they began to make the
circuit of