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 they went thither; and the Eagle said, “Salmon of Llyn Llyw, I have come to thee with an embassy from Arthur, to ask thee if thou knowest aught of Mabon, the son of Modron, who was taken away at three nights old from his mother.”  “As much as I know I will tell thee.  With every tide I go along the river upward, until I come near to the walls of Gloucester, and there have I found such wrong as I never found elsewhere; and to the end that ye may give credence thereto, let one of you go thither upon each of my two shoulders.”  So Kay and Gurhyr Gwalstat went upon the two shoulders of the Salmon, and they proceeded until they came unto the wall of the prison; and they heard a great wailing and lamenting from the dungeon.  Said Gurhyr, “Who is it that laments in this house of stone?” “Alas! it is Mabon, the son of Modron, who is here imprisoned; and no imprisonment was ever so grievous as mine.”  “Hast thou hope of being released for gold or for silver, or for any gifts of wealth, or through battle and fighting?” “By fighting will what ever I may gain be obtained.”

Then they went thence, and returned to Arthur, and they told him where Mabon, the son of Modron, was imprisoned.  And Arthur summoned the warriors of the island, and they journeyed as far as Gloucester, to the place where Mabon was in prison.  Kay and Bedwyr went upon the shoulders of the fish, whilst the warriors of Arthur attacked the castle.  And Kay broke through the wall into the dungeon, and brought away the prisoner upon his back, whilst the fight was going on between the warriors.  And Arthur returned home, and Mabon with him at liberty.

On a certain day as Gurhyr Gwalstat was walking over a mountain, he heard a wailing and a grievous cry.  And when he heard it, he sprang forward and went towards it.  And when he came there, he saw a fire burning among the turf, and an ant-hill nearly surrounded with the fire.  And he drew his sword, and smote off the ant-hill close to the earth, so that it escaped being burned in the fire.  And the ants said to him, “Receive from us the blessing of Heaven, and that which no man can give, we give thee.”  Then they fetched the nine bushels of flax-seed which Yspadaden Penkawr had required of Kilwich, and they brought the full measure, without lacking any, except one flax-seed, and that the lame pismire brought in before night.

Then said Arthur, “Which of the marvels will it be best for us to seek next?” “It will be best to seek for the two cubs of the wolf Gast Rhymhi.”

“Is it known,” said Arthur, “where she is?” “She is in Aber Cleddyf,” said one.  Then Arthur went to the house of Tringad, in Aber Cleddyf, and he inquired of him whether he had heard of her there.  “She has often slain my herds, and she is there below in a cave in Aber Cleddyf.”

Ther Arthur went in his ship Prydwen by sea, and the others went by land to hunt her.  And they surrounded her and her two cubs, and took them and carried them away.

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