Math, son of Mathonwy
part 7
So she went down to the boat, and when she came there, he was shaping shoes and the boy stitching them.
"Ah lady," said he, "good day to thee."
"Heaven prosper thee," said she. "I marvel that then canst not manage to make shoes according to a measure."
"I could not," he replied, "but now I shall be able."
Thereupon behold a wren stood upon the deck of the boat, and the boy shot at it, and hit it in the leg between the sinew and the bone. Then she smiled.
"Verily," said she, "with a steady hand did the lion aim at it."
"Heaven reward thee not, but now has he got a name. And a good enough name it is. Llew Llaw Gyffes be he called henceforth."
Then the work disappeared in sea weed and sedges, and he went on with it no further. And for that reason was he called the third Gold-shoemaker.
"Of a truth," said she, thou wilt not thrive the better for doing evil unto me."
"I have done thee no evil yet," said he. Then he restored the boy to his own form.
"Well," said she, "I will lay a destiny upon this boy, that he shall never have arms and armour until I invest him with them."
"By Heaven," said he, "Iet thy malice be what it may, he shall have arms."
Then they went towards Dinas Dinllev, and there he brought up Llew Llaw Gyffes, until he could manage any horse, and he was perfect in features, and strength, and stature. And then Gwydion saw that he languished through the want of horses, and arms. And he called him unto him.
"Ah, youth," said he, "we will go to-morrow on an errand together. Be therefore more cheerful than thou art."
"That I will," said the youth.
Next morning, at the dawn of day, they arose. And they took way along the sea coast, up towards Bryn Aryen. And at the top of Cevn Clydno they equipped themselves with horses, and went towards the Castle of Arianrod. And they changed their form, and pricked towards the gate in the semblance of two youths, but the aspect of Gwydion was more staid than that of the other.
"Porter," said he, "go thou in and say that there are here bards from Glamorgan." And the porter went in. "The welcome of Heaven be unto them, let them in," said Arianrod.
With great joy were they greeted. And the hall was arranged, and they went to meat. When meat was ended, Arianrod discoursed with Gwydion of tales and stories. Now Gwydion was an excellent teller of tales. And when it was time to leave off feasting, a chamber was prepared for them, and they went to rest.
In the early twilight Gwydion arose, and he called unto him his magic and his power. And by the time that the day dawned, there resounded through the land uproar, and trumpets, and shouts. When it was now day, they heard a knocking at the door of the chamber, and therewith Arianrod asking that it might be opened. Up rose the youth and opened unto her, and she entered and a maiden with her.
"Ah, good men," she said, "in evil plight are we."
"Yes, truly," said Gwydion, "we have heard trumpets, and shouts; what thinkest thou that they may mean?"
"Verily," said she, "we cannot see the colour of the ocean by reason of all the ships, side by side. And they are making for the land with all the speed they can. And what can we do?" said she.
"Lady," said Gwydion, "there is none other counsel than to close the castle upon us, and to defend it as best we may."
"Truly," said she, "may Heaven reward you. And do you defend it. And here may you have plenty of arms."
And thereupon went she forth for the arms, and behold she returned, and two maidens, and suits of armour for two men, with her.
"Lady," said he, "do thou accoutre this stripling, and I will arm myself with the help of thy maidens. Lo, I hear the tumult of the men approaching."
"I will do so, gladly." So she armed him fully, and that right cheerfully.
"Hast thou finished arming the youth?" said he.
"I have finished," she answered.
"I likewise have finished," said Gwydion.
"Let us now take off our arms, we have no need of them."
"Wherefore?" said she. "Here is the army around the house."
"Oh, lady, there is here no army."
"Oh," cried she, "whence then was this tumult?"
"The tumult was but to break thy prophecy and to obtain arms for thy son. And now has he got arms without any thanks unto thee."
"By Heaven," said Arianrod, "thou art a wicked man. Many a youth might have lost his life through the uproar thou hast caused in this Cantrev to-day. Now will I lay a destiny upon this youth," she said, "that he shall never have a wife of the race that now inhabits this earth."
"Verily," said he, "thou wast ever a malicious woman, and no one ought to support thee. A wife shall he have notwithstanding."
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Pwyll