Page:Celtic Stories by Edward Thomas.djvu/87

 But Evnissyen was angry because Bronwen had been given to Matholwch without his consent. 'There could be no greater insult,' he said, and in his anger he hacked and hewed with his sword among the horses of the Irish. When Matholwch heard that his horses had been mutilated he took it as an insult. His attendants said: 'It was an insult and it was meant for an insult.' To him it was marvellous that they should insult him after giving him Bronwen for a wife, but he went down towards his fleet with indignation. Bran, hearing of his going, sent after him, and the messengers asked Matholwch the cause of this haste. When they heard it, they said: 'This was not done with the knowledge of the king. The dishonour is greater to Bran than to thee.' Matholwch replied: 'But he cannot recall the insult.'

The messengers hastened back to tell Bran. In a little time he sent others to offer a sound horse for each mutilated one, a staff of silver as large and tall as Matholwch himself, and an unbounded apology. Matholwch and his council accepted this and returned to the court.

They sat down again to feast, Bran and Matholwch and their companies. Matholwch seemed not so cheerful as before to Bran, who thought this might be because of the small atonement for the insult. 'O man,' said Bran, '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 mayst choose, and to-morrow I will pay thee the horses.'

'Lord,' said he, 'Heaven reward thee.'

'And I will increase the atonement,' said Bran, 'for I will give unto thee a cauldron, the property of which