BRANWEN DAUGHTER OF LLYR
(Branwen verch Llyr) Branch Two of the Mabinogion
Translation by Lady Charlotte Guest
BENDIGEID VRAN, the son of Llyr, was the crowned
king of this island, and he was exalted from the crown of London.
And one afternoon he was at Harlech in Ardudwy, at his Court,
and he sat upon the rock of Harlech, looking over the sea. And
with him were his brother Manawyddan the son of Llyr, and his
brothers by the mother's side, Nissyen and Evnissyen, and many
nobles likewise, as was fitting to see around a king. His two
brothers by the mother's side were the sons of Eurosswydd, by
his mother, Penardun, the daughter of Beli son of Manogan. And
one of these youths was a good youth and of gentle nature, and
would make peace between his kindred, and cause his family to
be friends when their wrath was at the highest; and this one
was Nissyen; but the other would cause strife between his two
brothers when they were most at peace.
And as they sat thus, they beheld thirteen ships coming from
the south of Ireland, and making towards them, and they came
with a swift motion, the wind being behind them, and they neared
them rapidly.
"I see ships afar," said the king, "coming swiftly
towards the land. Command the men of the Court that they equip
themselves, and go and learn their intent."
So the men equipped themselves and went down towards them. And
when they saw the ships near, certain were they that they had
never seen ships better furnished. Beautiful flags of satin
were upon them. And behold one of the ships outstripped the
others, and they saw a shield lifted up above the side of the
ship, and the point of the shield was upwards, in token of peace.
And the men drew near that they might hold converse. Then they
put out boats and came towards the land. And they saluted the
king. Now the king could hear them from the place where he was,
upon the rock above their heads.
" Heaven prosper you," said he, "and be ye welcome. To whom
do these ships belong, and who is the chief amongst you?"
"Lord," said they, "Matholwch, king of Ireland, is here, and
these ships belong to him."
"Wherefore comes he?" asked the king, "and will he come to the
land?"
"He is a suitor unto thee, lord," said they, "and he wilI not
land unless he have his boon."
"And what may that be?" inquired the king.
"He desires to ally himself with thee, lord," said they, "and
he comes to ask Branwen the daughter of Llyr, that, if it seem
well to thee, the Island of the Mighty may be leagued with Ireland,
and both become more powerful."
"Verily," said he, "let him come to land, and we will take counsel
thereupon."
And this answer was brought to Matholwch. "I will go willingly,"
said he. So he landed, and they received him joyfully; and great
was the throng in the palace that night, between his hosts and
those of the Court; and next day they took counsel, and they
resolved to bestow Branwen upon Matholwch. Now she was one of
the three chief ladies of this island, and she was the fairest
damsel in the world.
And they fixed upon Aberffraw as the place where she should become his bride. And they went thence, and towards Aberffraw the hosts proceeded; Matholwch and his host in their ships; Bendigeid Vran and his host by land, until they came to Aberffraw. And at Aberffraw they began the feast and sat down. And thus sat they. The King of the Island of the Mighty and Manawyddan the son of Llyr, on one side, and Matholwch on the other side, and Branwen the daughter of Llyr beside him. And they were not within a house, but under tents. No house could ever contain Bendigeid Vran. And they began the banquet and caroused and discoursed. And when it was more pleasing to them to sleep than to carouse, they went to rest, and that night Branwen became Matholwch's bride.
And next day they arose, and all they of the Court, and the officers began to equip and to range the horses and the attendants, and they ranged them in order as far as the sea.
And behold one day, Evnissyen, the quarrelsome
man of whom it is spoken above, came by chance into the place,
where the horses of Matholwch were, and asked whose horses they
might be. "They are the horses of Matholwch king of Ireland,
who is married to Branwen, thy sister; his horses are they."
"And is it thus the have done with a maiden such as she, and
moreover my sister, bestowing her without my consent? They could
have offered no greater insult to me than this," said he. And
thereupon he rushed under the horses and cut off their lips
at the teeth, and their ears close to their heads, and their
tails close to their backs, and wherever he could clutch their
eyelids, he cut them to the very bone, and he disfigured the
horses and rendered them useless.
And they came with these tidings unto Matholwch,
saying that the horses were disfigured, and injured so that
not one of them could ever be of any use again.
"Verily, lord," said one, "it was an insult unto thee, and as
such was it meant."
"Of a truth, it is a marvel to me, that if they desire to insult
me, they should have given me a maiden of such high rank and
so much beloved of her kindred, as they have done." "Lord,"
said another, "thou seest that thus it is, and there is nothing
for thee to do but to go to thy ships." And thereupon towards
his ships he set out.
And tidings came to Bendigeid Vran that Matholwch
was quitting the Court without asking leave, and messengers
were sent to inquire of him wherefore he did so. And the messengers
that went were lddic the son of Anarawd, and Heveydd Hir. And
these overtook him and asked of him what he designed to do,
and wherefore he went forth. " Of a truth," said he, "if I had
known I had not come hither. I have been altogether insulted,
no one had ever worse treatment than I have had here. But one
thing surprises me above all."
"What is that?" asked they. "That Branwen the daughter of Llyr,
one of the three chief ladies of this island, and the daughter
of the King of the Island of the Mighty, should have been given
me as my bride, and that after that I should have been insulted;
and I marvel that the insult was not done me before they had
bestowed upon me a maiden so exalted as she."
"Truly, lord, it was not the will of any that are of the Court,"
said they, "nor of any that are of the council, that thou shouldest
have received this insult and as thou hast been insulted, the
dishonour is greater unto Bendigeid Vran than unto thee."
"Verily," said he, "I think so. Nevertheless he cannot recall
the insult." These men returned with that answer to the place
where Bendigeid Vran was, and they told him, what reply Matholwch
had given them.
"Truly," said he, "there are no means by which we may prevent
his going away at enmity with us, that we will not take."
"Well, lord," said they, "send after him another embassy."
"I will do so," said he. "Arise, Manawyddan son of Llyr, and
Heveydd Hir, and Unic Glew Ysgwyd, and go after him, and tell
him that he shall have a sound horse for every one that has
been injured. And beside that, as an atonement for the insult,
he shall have a staff of silver, as large and as tall as himself,
and a plate of gold of the breadth of his face. And show unto
him who it was that did this, and that it was done against my
will; but that he who did it is my brother, by the mother's
side, and therefore it would be hard for me to put him to death.
And let him come and meet me," said he, "and we will make peace
in any way he may desire."
The embassy went after Matholwch and told him all these sayings in a friendly manner, and he listened there unto. "Men," said he, "I will take counsel." So to the council he went. And in the council they considered that if they should refuse this, they were likely to have more shame rather than to obtain so great an atonement. They resolved therefore to accept it, and they returned to the Court in peace.
Then the pavilions and the tents were set in order
after the fashion of a hall ; and they went to meat, and as
they had sat at the beginning of the feast, so sat they there.
And Matholwch and Bendigeid Vran began to discourse; and behold
it seemed to Bendigeid Vran, while they talked, that Matholwch
was not so cheerful as he had been before. And he thought that
the chieftain might be sad, because of the smallness of the
atonement which he had, for the wrong that had been done him.
"Oh, man," said Bendigeid Vran, "thou dost not discourse to-night
so cheerfully as thou wast wont. And if it be because of the
smallness of the atonement, thou shalt add thereunto whatsoever
thou mayest choose, and to-morrow I will pay thee the horses."
"Lord," said he, "Heaven reward thee."
"And I will enhance the atonement," said Bendigeid Vran, "for
I will give unto thee a cauldron, the property of which is,
that if one of thy men be slain to-day, and be cast therein,
to-morrow he will be as well as ever he was at the best, except
that he will not regain his speech." And thereupon he gave him
great thanks, and very joyful was he for that cause.
And the next morning they paid Matholwch the horses as long as the trained horses lasted. And then they journeyed into another commot, where they paid him with colts until the whole had been paid, and from thenceforth that commot was called Talebolion.
And a second night sat they together. "My lord,"
said Matholwch, "whence hadst thou the cauldron which thou hast
given me?" "I had it of a man who had been in thy land," said
he, "and I would not give it except to one from there." "Who
was it?" asked he. "Llassar Llaesgyvnewid; he came here from
Ireland with Kymideu Kymeinvoll, his wife, who escaped from
the Iron House in Ireland, when it was made red hot around them,
and fled hither. And it is a marvel to me that thou shouldst
know nothing concerning the matter." "Something I do know,"
said he, "and as much as I know I will tell thee. One day I
was hunting in Ireland, and I came to the mound at the head
of the lake, which is called the Lake of the Cauldron.
And I beheld a huge yellow-haired man coming from the lake with
a cauldron upon his back. And he was a man of vast size, and
of horrid aspect, and a woman followed after him. And if the
man was tall, twice as large as he was the woman and they came
towards me and greeted me. 'Verily,' asked I, 'wherefore are
you journeying?' 'Behold, this,' said he to me, 'is the cause
that we journey. At the end of a month and a fortnight this
woman will have a son; and the child that will be born at the
end of the month and the fortnight will be a warrior fully armed.'
So I took them with me and maintained them. And they were with
me for a year. And that year I had them with me not grudgingly.
But thenceforth was there murmuring, because that they were
with me. For, from the beginning of the fourth month they had
began to make themselves hated and to be disorderly in the land;
committing outrages, and molesting and harassing the nobles
and ladies; and thenceforward my people rose up and besought
me to part with them, and they bade me to choose between them
and my dominions. And I applied to the council of my country
to know what should be done concerning them; for of their own
free will they would not go, neither could they be compelled
against their will, through fighting. And [the people of the
country] being in this strait, they caused a chamber to be made
all of iron. Now when the chamber was ready, there came there
every smith that was in Ireland, and every one who owned tongs
and hammer. And they caused coals to be piled up as high as
the top of the chamber. And they had the man, and the woman,
and the children, served with plenty of meat and drink; but
when it was known that they were drunk, they began to put fire
to the coals about the chamber, and they blew it with bellows
until the house was red hot all around them.
Then was there a council held in the centre of the floor of
the chamber. And the man tarried until the plates of iron were
all of a white heat; and then, by reason of the great heat,
the man dashed against the plates with his shoulder and struck
them out, and his wife followed him; but except him and his
wife none escaped thence. And then I suppose, lord," said Matholwch
unto Bendigeid Vran, "that he came over unto thee."
"Doubtless he came here," said he, "and gave unto me the cauldron."
"In what manner didst thou receive them?" "I dispersed them
through every part of my dominions, and they have become numerous
and are prospering everywhere, and they fortify the places where
they are with men and arms, of the best that were ever seen."
That night they continued to discourse as much
as they would, and had minstrelsy and carousing, and when it
was more pleasant to them to sleep than to sit longer, they
went to rest. And thus was the banquet carried on with joyousness;
and when it was finished, Matholwch journeyed towards Ireland,
and Branwen with him, and they went from Aber Menei with thirteen
ships, and came to Ireland. And in Ireland was there great joy
because of their coming. And not one great man or noble lady
visited Branwen unto whom she gave not either a clasp, or a
ring, or a royal jewel to keep, such as it was honourable to
be seen departing with. And in these things she spent that year
in much renown, and she passed her
time pleasantly, enjoying honour and friendship. And in the
meanwhile it chanced that she became pregnant, and in due time
a son was born unto her, and the name that they gave him was
Gwern the son of Matholwch and, they put the boy out to be foster-nursed,
in a place where were the best men of Ireland.
And behold in the second year a tumult arose in Ireland, on account of the insult which Matholwch had received in Cambria, and the payment made him for his horses. And his foster-brothers, and such as were nearest unto him, blamed him openly for that matter. And he might have no peace by reason of the tumult until they should revenge upon him this disgrace. And the vengeance which they took was to drive away Branwen from the same chamber with him, and to make her cook for the Court; and they caused the butcher after he had cut up the meat to come to her and give her every day a blow on the ear, and such they made her punishment.
"Verily, lord," said his men to Matholwch, "forbid now the ships and the ferry boats and the coracles, that they go not into Cambria, and such as come over from Cambria hither, imprison them that they go not back for this thing to be known there." And he did so; and it was thus for no less than three years.
And Branwen reared a starling in the cover of the kneading trough, and she taught it to speak, and she taught the bird what manner of man her brother was. And she wrote a letter of her woes, and the despite with which she was treated, and she bound the letter to the root of the bird's wing, and sent it towards Britain. And the bird came to this island, and one day it found Bendigeid Vran at Caer Seiont in Arvon, conferring there, and it alighted upon his shoulder and ruffled its feathers, so that the letter was seen, and they knew that the bird had been reared in a domestic manner.
Then Bendigeid Vran took the letter and looked upon it. And when he had read the letter he grieved exceedingly at the tidings of Branwen's woes. And immediately he began sending messengers to summon the island together. And he caused sevenscore and four countries to come unto him, and he complained to them himself of the grief that his sister endured. So they took counsel. And in the council they resolved to go to Ireland, and to leave seven men as princes here, and Caradawc the son of Bran, as the chief of them, and their seven knights. In Edeyrnion were these men left. And for this reason were the seven knights placed in the town. Now the names of these seven were, Caradawc the son of Bran, and Heveydd Hir, and Unic Glew Ysgwyd, and Iddic the son of Anarawc Gwalltgrwn, and Fodor the son of Ervyll, and Gwlch Minascwrn, and Llassar the son of Llaesar Llaesgygwyd, and Pendaran Dyved as a young page with them. And these abode as seven ministers to take charge of this island; and Caradawc the son of Bran was the chief amongst them.
Bendigeid Vran, with the host of which we spoke, sailed towards Ireland, and it was not far across the sea, and he came to shoal water. It was but by two rivers; the Lli and the Archan were they called; and the nations covered the sea. Then he proceeded with what provisions he had on his own back, and approached the shore of Ireland.
Now the swineherds of Matholwch were upon the sea-shore, and they came to Matholwch. "Lord," said they, "greeting be unto thee." "Heaven protect you," said he, "have you any news?" "Lord," said they, "we have marvellous news, a wood have we seen upon the sea, in a place where we never yet saw a single tree." "This is indeed a marvel," said he; "saw you aught else? "We saw, lord," said they, "a vast mountain beside the wood, which moved, and there was a lofty ridge on the top of the mountain, and a lake on each side of the ridge. And the wood, and the mountain, and all these things moved." "Verily," said he, "there is none who can know aught concerning this, unless it be Branwen."
Messengers then went unto Branwen. "Lady," said
they, what thinkest thou that this is?"
"The men of the Island of the Mighty, who have come hither on
hearing of my ill treatment and my woes."
"What is the forest that is seen upon the sea?" asked they.
"The yards and the masts of ships," she answered. "Alas," said
they, "what is the mountain that is seen by the side of the
ships?"
"Bendigeid Vran, my brother," she replied, "coming to shoal
water; there is no ship that can contain him in it." "What is
the lofty ridge with the lake on each side thereof?"
"On looking towards this island he is wroth, and his two eyes,
one on each side of his nose, are the two lakes beside the ridge."
The warriors and the chief men of Ireland were brought together in haste, and they took counsel. "Lord," said the nobles unto Matholwch, "there is no other counsel than to retreat over the Linon (a river which is in Ireland), and to keep the river between thee and him, and to break down the bridge that is across the river, for there is a loadstone at the bottom of the river that neither ship nor vessel can pass over. So they retreated across the river, and broke down the bridge.
Bendigeid Vran came to land, and the fleet with
him by the bank of the river. "Lord," said his chieftains, "knowest
thou the nature of this river, that nothing can go across it,
and there is no bridge over it?"
"What," said they, "is thy counsel concerning a bridge?"
"There is none," said he, "except that he who will be chief,
let him be a bridge. I will be so," said he. And then was that
saying first uttered, and it is still used as a proverb.
And when he had lain down across the river, hurdles were placed
upon him, and the host passed over thereby.
And as he rose up, behold the messengers of Matholwch
came to him, and saluted him, and gave him greeting in the name
of Matholwch, his kinsman, and showed how that of his goodwill
he had merited of him nothing but good. "For Matholwch has given
the kingdom of Ireland to Gwern the son of Matholwch, thy nephew
and thy sister's son. And this he places before thee, as a compensation
for the wrong and despite that has been done unto Branwen. And
Matholwch shall be maintained wheresoever thou wilt, either
here or in the Island of the Mighty."
Said Bendigeid Vran, "Shall not I myself have the kingdom? Then
peradventure I may take counsel concerning your message. From
this time until then no other answer will you get from me."
"Verily," said they, "the best message that we receive for thee,
we will convey it unto thee, and do thou await our message unto
him."
"I will wait," answered he, " and do you return quickly."
The messengers set forth and came to Matholweh.
"Lord," said they, "prepare a better message for Bendigeid Vran.
He would not listen at all to the message that we bore him."
"My friends," said Matholwch, "what may be your counsel?"
"Lord," said they, "there is no other counsel than this alone.
He was never known to be within a house, make therefore a house
that will contain him and the men of the Island of the Mighty
on the one side, and thyself and thy host on the other; and
give over thy kingdom to his will, and do him homage. So by
reason of the honour thou doest him in making him a house, whereas
he never before had a house to contain him, he will make peace
with thee." So the messengers went back to Bendigeid Vran, bearing
him this message.
And he took counsel, and in the council it was resolved that
he should accept this, and this was all done by the advice of
Branwen, and lest the country should be destroyed. And this
peace was made, and the house was built both vast and strong.
But the Irish planned a crafty device, and the craft was that
they should put brackets on each side of the hundred pillars
that were in the house, and should place a leathern bag on each
bracket, and an armed man in every one of them. Then Evnissyen
came in before the host of the Island of the Mighty, and scanned
the house with fierce and savage looks, and descried the leathern
bags which were around the pillars. "What is in this bag?" asked
he of one of the Irish.
"Meal, good soul," said he. And Evnissyen felt about it until
he came to the man's head, and he squeezed the head until he
felt his fingers meet together in the brain through the bone.
And he left that one and put his hand upon another, and asked
what was therein. "Meal," said the Irishman. So he did the like
unto every one of them, until he had not left alive, of all
the two hundred men, save one only; and when he came to him,
he asked what was there. "Meal, good soul," said the Irishman.
And he felt about until he felt the head, and he squeezed that
head as he had done the others. And, albeit he found that the
head of this one was armed, he left him not until he had killed
him. And then he sang an Englyn:-
"There is in this bag a different sort of meal,
The ready combatant, when the assault is made
By his fellow-warriors, prepared for battle."
When the peace was concluded, Bendigeid Vran called the boy unto him, and from Bendigeid Vran the boy went unto Manawyddan, and he was beloved by all that beheld him. And from Manawyddan the boy was called by Nissyen the son of Eurosswydd, and the boy went unto him lovingly.
"Wherefore," said Evnissyen "comes not my nephew the son of my sister unto me? Though he were not king of Ireland, yet willingly would I fondle the boy."
"Cheerfully let him go to thee," said Bendigeid Vran, and the boy went unto him cheerfully.
"By my confession to Heaven," said Evnissyen in his heart, "unthought of by the household is the slaughter that I will this instant commit."
Then he arose and took up the boy by the feet, and before any one in the house could seize hold of him, he thrust the boy headlong into the blazing fire. And when Branwen saw her son burning in the fire, she strove to leap into the fire also, from the place where she sat between her two brothers. But Bendigeid Vran grasped her with one hand, and his shield with the other. Then they all hurried about the house, and never was there made so great a tumult by any host in one house as was made by them, as each man armed himself. Then said Morddwydtyllyon, "The gadflies of Morddwydtyllyon's Cow!" And while they all sought their arms, Bendigeid Vran supported Branwen between his shield and his shoulder.
Then the Irish kindled a fire under the cauldron of renovation, and they cast the dead bodies into the cauldron until it was full, and the next day they came forth fighting-men as good as before, except that they were not able to speak. Then when Evnissyen saw the dead bodies of the men of the Island of the Mighty nowhere resuscitated, he said in his heart, "Alas! woe is me, that I should have been the cause of bringing the men of the Island of the Mighty into so great a strait. Evil betide me if I find not a deliverance there-from." And he cast himself among the dead bodies of the Irish, and two unshod Irishmen came to him, and, taking him to be one of the Irish, flung him into the cauldron. And he stretched himself out in the cauldron, so that he rent the cauldron into four pieces, and burst his own heart also.
In consequence of that the men of the Island of the Mighty obtained such success as they had; but they were not victorious, for only seven men of them all escaped, and Bendigeid Vran himself was wounded in the foot with a poisoned dart.
Now the seven men that escaped were Pryderi, Manawyddan, Gluneu Eil Taran, Taliesin, Ynawc, Grudyen the son of Muryel, and Heilyn the son of Gwynn Hen.
And Bendigeid Vran commanded them that they should
cut off his head. "And take you my head," said he, "and bear
it even unto the White Mount, in London, and bury it there,
with the face towards France. And a long time will you be upon
the road. In Harlech you will be feasting seven years, the birds
of Rhiannon singing unto you the while. And all that time the
head will be to you as pleasant company as it ever was when
on my body. And at Gwales in Penvro you will be fourscore years,
and you may remain there, and the head with you uncorrupted,
until you open the door that looks towards Aber Henvelen, and
towards Cornwall. And after you have opened that door, there
you may no longer tarry, set forth then
to London to bury the head, and go straight forward."
So they cut off his head, and these seven went
forward therewith. And Branwen was the eighth with them, and
they came to land at Aber Alaw, in Talebolyon, and they sat
down to rest. And Branwen looked towards Ireland and towards
the Island of the Mighty, to see if she could descry them. "Alas,"
said she, "woe is me that I was ever born; two islands have
been destroyed because of me!"
Then she uttered a loud groan, and there broke her heart. And
they made her a foursided grave, and buried her upon the banks
Of the Alaw.
Then the seven men journeyed forward towards Harlech,
bearing the head with them; and as they went behold there met
them a multitude of men and of women. "Have you any tidings?"
asked Manawyddan.
"We have none," said they, "save that Caswallawn the son of
Beli, has conquered the Island of the Mighty, and is crowned
king in London."
"What has become," said they, "of Caradawc the son of Bran,
and the seven men who were left with him in this island?"
"Caswallawn came upon them, and slew six of the men, and Caradawc's
heart broke for grief thereof; for he could see the sword that
slew the men, but knew not who it was that wielded it. Caswallawn
had flung upon him the Veil of Illusion, so that no one could
see him slay the men, but the sword only could they see. And
it liked him not to slay Caradawc, because he was his nephew,
the son of his cousin. And now he was the third whose heart
had broke through grief. Pendaran Dyved, who had remained as
a young page with these men, escaped into the wood," said they.
Then they went on to Harlech, and there stopped to rest, and they provided meat and liquor, and sat down to eat and to drink. And there came three birds, and began singing unto them a certain song, and all the songs they had ever heard were unpleasant compared thereto and the birds seemed to them to be at a great distance from them over the sea, yet they appeared as distinct as if they were close by, and at this repast they continued seven years.
And at the close of the seventh year they went
forth to Gwales in Penvro. And there they found a fair and regal
spot overlooking the ocean; and a spacious hall was therein.
And they went into the hall, and two of its doors were open,
but the third door was closed, that which looked towards Cornwall.
"See, yonder," said Manawyddan, "is the door that we may not
open." And that night they regaled themselves and were joyful.
And of all they had seen of food laid before them, and of all
they had heard of, they remembered nothing; neither of that,
nor of any sorrow whatsoever.
And there they remained fourscore years, unconscious of having
ever spent a time more joyous and mirthful. And they were not
more weary than when first they came, neither did they, any
of them, know the time they had been there. And it was not more
irksome to them having the head with them, than if Bendigeid
Vran had been with them himself. And because of these fourscore
years, it was called the entertaining of the noble head.
The entertaining of Branwen and Matholwch was in the time that
they went to Ireland.
One day said Heilyn the son of Gwynn, "Evil betide
me, if I do not open the door to know if that is true which
is said concerning it."
So he opened the door and looked towards Cornwall and Aber Henvelen.
And when they had looked, they were as conscious of all the
evils they had ever sustained, and of all the friends and companions
they had lost, and of all the misery that had befallen them,
as if all had happened in that very spot; and especially of
the fate of their lord. And because of their perturbation they
could not rest, but journeyed forth with the head towards London.
And they buried the head in the White Mount, and when it was
buried, this was the third goodly concealment; and it was the
third ill-fated disclosure when it was disinterred, inasmuch
as no invasion from across the sea came to this island while
the head was in that concealment.
And thus is the story related of those who journeyed over from Ireland.
In Ireland none were left alive, except five pregnant women in a cave in the Irish wilderness; and to these five women in the same night were born five sons, whom they nursed until they became grown-up youths. And they thought about wives, and they at the same time desired to possess them, and each took a wife of the mothers of their companions, and they governed the country and peopled it.
And these five divided it amongst them, and because of this partition are the five divisions of Ireland still so termed. And they examined the land where the battles had taken place, and they found gold and silver until they became wealthy.
And thus ends this portion of the Mabinogion.