Page:Celtic Stories by Edward Thomas.djvu/86



King of the Island of the Mighty, Bran the son of Lear, had his court at Harlech, and one day he sat upon the rock of Harlech, looking over the sea. With him were his brothers, Manawythan, and Nissyen the peaceful and Evnissyen the quarrelsome, and a company of nobles worthy of a king. While they sat, they saw ships coming over the sea from Ireland. They were thirteen ships, and the wind carried them rapidly towards Harlech. As they drew near the first of them showed a signal of peace, a shield lifted up with the point upwards above the side of the ship, and they sent men to the land. They saluted Bran from the shore, and he saluted them back again. Sitting on the rock he asked them the name of their lord, and why he came, and whether he would land.

'We are from Matholwch the King of Ireland,' they said; 'He comes to ask Bronwen the daughter of Lear to be his wife.'

Matholwch landed and Bran received him with honour and joy. Next day they held a council and it was decided that Bronwen should marry the King of Ireland. They went for the marriage feast to Aberfrow, Matholwch and the Irish sailing round the coast, Bran and his court riding on the cliffs above. Bran and Bronwen and the other children of Lear, and Matholwch and the nobles of the two kings, feasted at Aberfrow. No house was roomy enough for Bran, so they feasted in a tent with a roof like the sky; and when it seemed pleasanter to sleep than to carouse they went to rest.