Lludd And Llefelys
BELI the Great, the son of Manogan, had three sons, Lludd,
and Caswallawn, and Nynyaw; and according to the story he had a fourth son
called Llefelys. And after the death of Beli, the kingdom of the Island of
Britain fell into the hands of Lludd his eldest son; and Lludd ruled
prosperously, and rebuilt the walls of London, and encompassed it about with
numberless towers. And after that he bade the citizens build houses therein,
such as no houses in the kingdoms could equal. And moreover he was a mighty
warrior, and generous and liberal in giving meat and drink to all that sought
them. And though he had many castles and cities this one loved he more than any.
And he dwelt therein most part of the year, and therefore was it called Caer
Lludd, and at last Caer London. And after the stranger-race came there, it was
called London, or Lwndrys.
Lludd loved Llefelys best of all his brothers, because he
was a wise and discreet man. Having heard that the king of France had died,
leaving no heir except a daughter, and that he had left all his possessions in
her hands, he came to Lludd his brother, to beseech his counsel and aid. And
that not so much for his own welfare, as to seek to add to the glory and honour
and dignity of his kindred, if he might go to France to woo the maiden for his
wife. And forthwith his brother conferred with him, and this counsel was
pleasing unto him.
So he prepared ships and filled them with armed knights,
and set forth towards France. And as soon as they had landed, they sent
messengers to show the nobles of France the cause of the embassy. And by the
joint counsel of the nobles of France and of the princes, the maiden was given
to Llefelys, and the crown of the kingdom with her. And thenceforth he ruled the
land discreetly, and wisely and happily, as long as his life lasted.
After a space of time had passed, three plagues fell on
the Island of Britain, such as none in the islands had ever seen the like of.
The first was a certain race that came, and was called the Coranians; and so
great was their knowledge, that there was no discourse upon the face of the
Island, however low it might be spoken, but what, if the wind met it, it was
known to them. And through this they could not be injured
The second plague was a shriek which came on every
May-eve, over every hearth in the Island of Britain. And this went through
people's hearts, and so seared them, that the men lost their hue and their
strength, and the women their children, and the young men and the maidens lost
their senses, and all the animals and trees and the earth and the waters, were
left barren.
The third plague was, that however much of provisions and
food might be prepared in the king's courts, were there even so much as a year's
provision of meat and drink, none of it could ever be found, except what was
consumed in the first night. And two of these plagues, no one ever knew their
cause, therefore was there better hope of being freed from the first than from
the second and third.
And thereupon King Lludd felt great sorrow and care,
because that he knew not how he might be freed from these plagues. And he called
to him all the nobles of his kingdom, and asked counsel of them what they should
do against these afflictions. And by the common counsel of the nobles, Lludd the
son of Beli, went to Llefelys his brother, king of France, for he was a man
great of counsel and wisdom, to seek his advice.
And they made ready a fleet, and that in secret and in
silence, lest that race should know the cause of their errand, or any besides
the king and his counsellors. And when they were made ready, they went into
their ships, Lludd and those whom he chose with him. And they began to cleave
the seas towards France.
And when these tidings came to Llefelys, seeing that he
knew not the cause of his brother's ships, he came on the other side to meet
him, and with him was a fleet vast of size. And when Lludd saw this, he left all
the ships out upon the sea except one only; and in that one he came to meet his
brother, and he likewise with a single ship came to meet him. And when they were
come together, each put his arms about the other's neck, and they welcomed each
other with brotherly love.
After that Lludd had shown his brother the cause of his
errand, Llefelys said that he himself knew the cause of the coming to those
lands. And they took counsel together to discourse on the matter otherwise than
thus, in order that the wind might not catch their words, nor the Coranians know
what they might say. Then Llefelys caused a long horn to be made of brass, and
through this horn they discoursed. But whatsoever words they spoke through this
horn, one to the other, neither of them could hear any other but harsh and
hostile words. And when Llefelys saw this, and that there was a demon thwarting
them and disturbing through this horn, he caused wine to be put therein to wash
it. And through the virtue of the wine the demon was driven out of the horn. And
when their discourse was unobstructed, Llefelys told his brother that he would
give him some insects whereof he should keep some to breed, lest by chance the
like affliction might come a second time. And other of these insects he should
take and braise in water. And he assured him that it would have power to destroy
the race of the Coranians. That is to say, that when he came home to his kingdom
he should call together all the people both of his own race and of the race of
the Coranians for a conference, as though with the intent of making peace
between them; and that when they were all together, he should take this charmed
water, and cast it over all alike. And he assured him that the water would
poison the race of the Coranians, but that it would not slay or harm those of
his own race.
And the second plague," said he, " that is in
thy dominion, behold it is a dragon. And another dragon of a foreign race is
fighting with it, and striving to overcome it. And therefore does your dragon
make a fearful outcry. And on this wise mayest thou come to know this. After
thou hast returned home, cause the Island to be measured in its length and
breadth, and in the place where thou dost find the exact central point, there
cause a pit to be dug, and cause a cauldron full of the best mead that can be
made to be put in the pit, with a covering of satin over the face of the
cauldron. And then, in thine own person do thou remain there watching, and thou
wilt see the dragons fighting in the form of terrific animals. And at length
they will take the form of dragons in the air. And last of all, after wearying
themselves with fierce and furious fighting, they will fall in the form of two
pigs upon the covering, and they will sink in, and the covering with them, and
they will draw it down to the very bottom of the cauldron. And they will drink
up the whole of the mead; and after that they will sleep. Thereupon do thou
immediately fold the covering around them, and bury them in a kistvaen, in the
strongest place thou hast in thy dominions, and hide them in the earth. And as
long as they shall bide in that strong place no plague shall come to the Island
of Britain from elsewhere."
"The cause of the third plague," said he,
"is a mighty man of magic, who takes thy meat and thy drink and thy store.
And he through illusions and charms causes every one to sleep. Therefore it is
needful for thee in thy own person to watch thy food and thy provisions. And
lest he should overcome thee with sleep, be there a cauldron of cold water by
thy side, and when thou art oppressed with sleep, plunge into the
cauldron."
Then Lludd returned back unto his land. And immediately
he summoned to him the whole of his own race and of the Coranians. And as
Llefelys had taught him, he bruised the insects in water, the which he cast over
them all together, and forthwith it destroyed the whole tribe of the Coranians,
without hurt to any of the Britons.
And some time after this, Lludd caused the Island to be
measured in its length and in its breadth. And in Oxford he found the central
point, and in that place he caused the earth to be dug, and in that pit a
cauldron to be set, full of the best mead that could be made, and a covering of
satin over the face of it. And he himself watched that night. And while he was
there, he beheld the dragons fighting. And when they were weary they fell, and
came down upon the top of the satin, and drew it with them to the bottom of the
cauldron. And when they had drunk the mead they slept. And in their sleep, Lludd
folded the covering around them, and in the securest place he had in Snowdon, he
hid them in a kistraen. Now after that this spot was called Dinas Emreis, but
before that, Dinas Ffaraon. And thus the fierce outcry ceased in his dominions.
And when this was ended, King Lludd caused an exceeding
great banquet to be prepared. And when it was ready, he placed a vessel of cold
water by his side, and he in his own proper person watched it. And as he abode
thus clad with arms, about the third watch of the night, lo, he heard many
surpassing fascinations and various songs. And drowsiness urged him to sleep.
Upon this, lest he should be hindered from his purpose and be overcome by sleep,
he went often into the water. And at last, behold, a man of vast size, clad in
strong, heavy armour, came in, bearing a hamper. And, as he was wont, he put all
the food and provisions of meat and drink into the hamper, and proceeded to go
with it forth. And nothing was ever more wonderful to Lludd, than that the
hamper should hold so much.
And thereupon King Lludd went after him and spoke unto
him thus. "Stop, stop," said he, "though thou hast done many
insults and much spoil erewhile, thou shalt not do so any more, unless thy skill
in arms and thy prowess be greater than mine."
Then he instantly put down the hamper on the floor, and
awaited him. And a fierce encounter was between them, so that the glittering
fire flew out from their arms. And at the last Lludd grappled with him, and fate
bestowed the victory on Lludd. And he threw the plague to the earth. And after
he had overcome him by strength and might, he besought his mercy. "How can
I grant thee mercy," said the king, "after all the many injuries and
wrongs that thou hast done me?"
All the losses that ever I have caused thee," said
he, "I will make thee atonement for, equal to what I have taken. And I will
never do the like from this time forth. But thy faithful vassal will I be."
And the king accepted this from him.
And thus Lludd freed the Island of Britain from the three
plagues. And from thenceforth until the end of his life, in prosperous peace did
Lludd the son of Beli rule the Island of Britain.
And this Tale is called the Story of Lludd and Llefelys
LLUDD AND LLEFELYS.
BELI the Great, the son of Manogan, had three sons, Lludd,
and Caswallawn, and Nynyaw; and according to the story he had a fourth son
called Llefelys. And after the death of Beli, the kingdom of the Island of
Britain fell into the hands of Lludd his eldest son; and Lludd ruled
prosperously, and rebuilt the walls of London, and encompassed it about with
numberless towers. And after that he bade the citizens build houses therein,
such as no houses in the kingdoms could equal. And moreover he was a mighty
warrior, and generous and liberal in giving meat and drink to all that sought
them. And though he had many castles and cities this one loved he more than any.
And he dwelt therein most part of the year, and therefore was it called Caer
Lludd, and at last Caer London. And after the stranger-race came there, it was
called London, or Lwndrys.
Lludd loved Llefelys best of all his brothers, because he
was a wise and discreet man. Having heard that the king of France had died,
leaving no heir except a daughter, and that he had left all his possessions in
her hands, he came to Lludd his brother, to beseech his counsel and aid. And
that not so much for his own welfare, as to seek to add to the glory and honour
and dignity of his kindred, if he might go to France to woo the maiden for his
wife. And forthwith his brother conferred with him, and this counsel was
pleasing unto him.
So he prepared ships and filled them with armed knights,
and set forth towards France. And as soon as they had landed, they sent
messengers to show the nobles of France the cause of the embassy. And by the
joint counsel of the nobles of France and of the princes, the maiden was given
to Llefelys, and the crown of the kingdom with her. And thenceforth he ruled the
land discreetly, and wisely and happily, as long as his life lasted.
After a space of time had passed, three plagues fell on
the Island of Britain, such as none in the islands had ever seen the like of.
The first was a certain race that came, and was called the Coranians; and so
great was their knowledge, that there was no discourse upon the face of the
Island, however low it might be spoken, but what, if the wind met it, it was
known to them. And through this they could not be injured
The second plague was a shriek which came on every
May-eve, over every hearth in the Island of Britain. And this went through
people's hearts, and so seared them, that the men lost their hue and their
strength, and the women their children, and the young men and the maidens lost
their senses, and all the animals and trees and the earth and the waters, were
left barren.
The third plague was, that however much of provisions and
food might be prepared in the king's courts, were there even so much as a year's
provision of meat and drink, none of it could ever be found, except what was
consumed in the first night. And two of these plagues, no one ever knew their
cause, therefore was there better hope of being freed from the first than from
the second and third.
And thereupon King Lludd felt great sorrow and care,
because that he knew not how he might be freed from these plagues. And he called
to him all the nobles of his kingdom, and asked counsel of them what they should
do against these afflictions. And by the common counsel of the nobles, Lludd the
son of Beli, went to Llefelys his brother, king of France, for he was a man
great of counsel and wisdom, to seek his advice.
And they made ready a fleet, and that in secret and in
silence, lest that race should know the cause of their errand, or any besides
the king and his counsellors. And when they were made ready, they went into
their ships, Lludd and those whom he chose with him. And they began to cleave
the seas towards France.
And when these tidings came to Llefelys, seeing that he
knew not the cause of his brother's ships, he came on the other side to meet
him, and with him was a fleet vast of size. And when Lludd saw this, he left all
the ships out upon the sea except one only; and in that one he came to meet his
brother, and he likewise with a single ship came to meet him. And when they were
come together, each put his arms about the other's neck, and they welcomed each
other with brotherly love.
After that Lludd had shown his brother the cause of his
errand, Llefelys said that he himself knew the cause of the coming to those
lands. And they took counsel together to discourse on the matter otherwise than
thus, in order that the wind might not catch their words, nor the Coranians know
what they might say. Then Llefelys caused a long horn to be made of brass, and
through this horn they discoursed. But whatsoever words they spoke through this
horn, one to the other, neither of them could hear any other but harsh and
hostile words. And when Llefelys saw this, and that there was a demon thwarting
them and disturbing through this horn, he caused wine to be put therein to wash
it. And through the virtue of the wine the demon was driven out of the horn. And
when their discourse was unobstructed, Llefelys told his brother that he would
give him some insects whereof he should keep some to breed, lest by chance the
like affliction might come a second time. And other of these insects he should
take and braise in water. And he assured him that it would have power to destroy
the race of the Coranians. That is to say, that when he came home to his kingdom
he should call together all the people both of his own race and of the race of
the Coranians for a conference, as though with the intent of making peace
between them; and that when they were all together, he should take this charmed
water, and cast it over all alike. And he assured him that the water would
poison the race of the Coranians, but that it would not slay or harm those of
his own race.
And the second plague," said he, " that is in
thy dominion, behold it is a dragon. And another dragon of a foreign race is
fighting with it, and striving to overcome it. And therefore does your dragon
make a fearful outcry. And on this wise mayest thou come to know this. After
thou hast returned home, cause the Island to be measured in its length and
breadth, and in the place where thou dost find the exact central point, there
cause a pit to be dug, and cause a cauldron full of the best mead that can be
made to be put in the pit, with a covering of satin over the face of the
cauldron. And then, in thine own person do thou remain there watching, and thou
wilt see the dragons fighting in the form of terrific animals. And at length
they will take the form of dragons in the air. And last of all, after wearying
themselves with fierce and furious fighting, they will fall in the form of two
pigs upon the covering, and they will sink in, and the covering with them, and
they will draw it down to the very bottom of the cauldron. And they will drink
up the whole of the mead; and after that they will sleep. Thereupon do thou
immediately fold the covering around them, and bury them in a kistvaen, in the
strongest place thou hast in thy dominions, and hide them in the earth. And as
long as they shall bide in that strong place no plague shall come to the Island
of Britain from elsewhere."
"The cause of the third plague," said he,
"is a mighty man of magic, who takes thy meat and thy drink and thy store.
And he through illusions and charms causes every one to sleep. Therefore it is
needful for thee in thy own person to watch thy food and thy provisions. And
lest he should overcome thee with sleep, be there a cauldron of cold water by
thy side, and when thou art oppressed with sleep, plunge into the
cauldron."
Then Lludd returned back unto his land. And immediately
he summoned to him the whole of his own race and of the Coranians. And as
Llefelys had taught him, he bruised the insects in water, the which he cast over
them all together, and forthwith it destroyed the whole tribe of the Coranians,
without hurt to any of the Britons.
And some time after this, Lludd caused the Island to be
measured in its length and in its breadth. And in Oxford he found the central
point, and in that place he caused the earth to be dug, and in that pit a
cauldron to be set, full of the best mead that could be made, and a covering of
satin over the face of it. And he himself watched that night. And while he was
there, he beheld the dragons fighting. And when they were weary they fell, and
came down upon the top of the satin, and drew it with them to the bottom of the
cauldron. And when they had drunk the mead they slept. And in their sleep, Lludd
folded the covering around them, and in the securest place he had in Snowdon, he
hid them in a kistraen. Now after that this spot was called Dinas Emreis, but
before that, Dinas Ffaraon. And thus the fierce outcry ceased in his dominions.
And when this was ended, King Lludd caused an exceeding
great banquet to be prepared. And when it was ready, he placed a vessel of cold
water by his side, and he in his own proper person watched it. And as he abode
thus clad with arms, about the third watch of the night, lo, he heard many
surpassing fascinations and various songs. And drowsiness urged him to sleep.
Upon this, lest he should be hindered from his purpose and be overcome by sleep,
he went often into the water. And at last, behold, a man of vast size, clad in
strong, heavy armour, came in, bearing a hamper. And, as he was wont, he put all
the food and provisions of meat and drink into the hamper, and proceeded to go
with it forth. And nothing was ever more wonderful to Lludd, than that the
hamper should hold so much.
And thereupon King Lludd went after him and spoke unto
him thus. "Stop, stop," said he, "though thou hast done many
insults and much spoil erewhile, thou shalt not do so any more, unless thy skill
in arms and thy prowess be greater than mine."
Then he instantly put down the hamper on the floor, and
awaited him. And a fierce encounter was between them, so that the glittering
fire flew out from their arms. And at the last Lludd grappled with him, and fate
bestowed the victory on Lludd. And he threw the plague to the earth. And after
he had overcome him by strength and might, he besought his mercy. "How can
I grant thee mercy," said the king, "after all the many injuries and
wrongs that thou hast done me?"
All the losses that ever I have caused thee," said
he, "I will make thee atonement for, equal to what I have taken. And I will
never do the like from this time forth. But thy faithful vassal will I be."
And the king accepted this from him.
And thus Lludd freed the Island of Britain from the three
plagues. And from thenceforth until the end of his life, in prosperous peace did
Lludd the son of Beli rule the Island of Britain.
And this Tale is called the Story of Lludd and Llefelys