The Age of Fable eBook

Thomas Bulfinch
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 1,207 pages of information about The Age of Fable.

The Age of Fable eBook

Thomas Bulfinch
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 1,207 pages of information about The Age of Fable.

So Gawl went forth to his possessions, and Pwyll went also back to Dyved.  And they both spent that year until it was the time for the feast at the palace of Heveydd.  Then Gawl, the son of Clud, set out to the feast that was prepared for him; and he came to the palace, and was received there with rejoicing.  Pwyll, also, the chief of Dyved, came to the orchard with a hundred knights, as Rhiannon had commanded him.  And Pwyll was clad in coarse and ragged garments, and wore large, clumsy old shoes upon his feet.  And when he knew that the carousal after the meat had begun, he went toward the hall; and when he came into the hall he saluted Gawl, the son of Clud, and his company, both men and women.  “Heaven prosper thee,” said Gawl, “and friendly greeting be unto thee!” “Lord,” said he, “may Heaven reward thee!  I have an errand unto thee.”  “Welcome be thine errand, and if thou ask of me that which is right, thou shalt have it gladly.”  “It is fitting,” answered he; “I crave but from want, and the boon I ask is to have this small bag that thou seest filled with meat.”  “A request within reason is this,” said he, “and gladly shalt thou have it.  Bring him food.”  A great number of attendants arose and began to fill the bag; but for all they put into it, it was no fuller than at first.  “My soul,” said Gawl, “will thy bag ever be full?” “It will not, I declare to Heaven,” said he, “for all that may be put into it, unless one possessed of lands, and domains, and treasure, shall arise and tread down with both his feet the food that is within the bag, and shall say, ‘Enough has been put therein.’” Then said Rhiannon unto Gawl, the son of Clud, “Rise up quickly.”  “I will willingly arise,” said he.  So he rose up, and put his two feet into the bag.  And Pwyll turned up the sides of the bag, so that Gawl was over his head in it.  And he shut it up quickly, and slipped a knot upon the thongs, and blew his horn.  And thereupon, behold, his knights came down upon the palace.  And they seized all the host that had come with Gawl, and cast them into his own prison.  And Pwyll threw off his rags, and his old shoes, and his tattered array.  And as they came in, every one of Pwyll’s knights struck a blow upon the bag, and asked, “What is here?” “A badger,” said they.  And in this manner they played, each of them striking the bag, either with his foot or with a staff.  And thus played they with the bag.  And then was the game of Badger in the Bag first played.

“Lord,” said the man in the bag, “if thou wouldst but hear me, I merit not to be slain in a bag.”  Said Heveydd, “Lord, he speaks truth; it were fitting that thou listen to him, for he deserves not this.”  “Verily,” said Pwyll, “I will do thy counsel concerning him.”  “Behold, this is my counsel then,” said Rhiannon.  “Thou art now in a position in which it behooves thee to satisfy suitors and minstrels.  Let him give unto them in thy stead, and take a pledge from him that he will never seek to revenge that which has been done to

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Project Gutenberg
The Age of Fable from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.