Chapter 28 - Page 2

Dyved, and to hunt, and to take their pleasure. And as they
went through the country, they had never seen lands more pleasant to
live in, nor better hunting-grounds, nor greater plenty of honey and
fish. And such was the friendship between these four, that they
would not be parted from each other by night nor by day.
And in the midst of all this be went to Caswallawn at Oxford, and
tendered his homage; and honorable was his reception there, and highly
was he praised for offering his homage.
And after his return Pryderi and Manawyddan feasted and took their
ease and pleasure. And they began a feast at Narberth, for it was
the chief palace. And when they had ended the first meal, while
those who served them ate, they arose and went forth, and proceeded to
the Gorsedd, that is, the Mound of Narberth, and their retinue with
them. And as they sat thus, behold a peal of thunder, and with the
violence of the thunder-storm, lo! there came a fall of mist, so thick
that not one of them could see the other. And after the mist it became
light all around. And when they looked towards the place where they
were wont to see cattle and herds and dwellings, they saw nothing now,
neither house, nor beast, nor smoke, nor fire, nor man, nor
dwelling, but the buildings of the court empty, and desert, and
uninhabited, without either man or beast within them. And truly all
their companions were lost to them, without their knowing aught of
what had befallen them, save those four only.
"In the name of Heaven," said Manawyddan, "where are they of the
court, and all my host beside? Let us go and see."
So they came to the castle, and saw no man, and into the hall, and
to the sleeping-place, and there was none; and in the mead-cellar
and in the kitchen there was naught but desolation. Then they began to
go through the land, and all the possessions that they had; and they
visited the houses and dwellings, and found nothing but wild beasts.
And when they had consumed their feast and all their provisions,
they fed upon the prey they killed in hunting, and the honey of the
wild swarms.
And one morning Pryderi and Manawyddan rose up to hunt, and they
ranged their dogs and went forth. And some of the dogs ran before
them, and came to a bush which was near at hand; but as soon as they
were come to the bush, they hastily drew back, and returned to the
men, their hair bristling up greatly. "Let us go near to the bush,"
said Pryderi, "and see what is in it." And as they came near,
behold, a wild boar of a pure white color rose up from the bush.
Then the dogs, being set on by the men, rushed towards him; but he
left the bush, and fell back a little way from the men, and made a
stand against the dogs, without retreating from them, until the