Page:Celtic Stories by Edward Thomas.djvu/89

 At the end of the days of feasting, Matholwch went back to Ireland with Bronwen and the silver staff and the cauldron. Men in Ireland were glad of their coming, and Bronwen gave them many great gifts. But the story of the insult to Matholwch rankled in men's hearts. Bronwen bore him a son who was called Gwern, but they would not let Matholwch forget the story. At last they drove Bronwen into the kitchen to be a cook, and made the butcher give her every day a blow on the ear for punishment. For three years also, by their persuasion, Matholwch forbade all trade with Wales and ordered all who came over from Wales to be imprisoned.

In her kitchen Bronwen reared a starling secretly. She taught the starling to speak; she taught it what Bran her brother was like. Then she wrote a letter telling her woes and fastened it under the bird's wing, and sent it towards the Island of the Mighty.

One day, as Bran was at council, the starling lighted upon his shoulder and ruffled its feathers so that the letter was seen, and men knew that the bird had been trained. Bran read the letter with great sorrow at the pitiful news of Bronwen. He sent messengers to all parts of the island to summon a full council. He told them the story of Bronwen's suffering and they resolved to go to Ireland, leaving in charge of the land Caradoc the son of Bran, and six other chief men and their seven knights, and the young page Pendaran.

When the fleet came to shallow water Bran stepped overboard and strode among the ships towards Ireland. The swineherds of Matholwch saw him. 'Lord,' said they, hurrying to their master, 'we have marvellous news. We have seen a forest upon the sea, and a hill beside it, and these things are moving.' Matholwch knew nothing of this, and, 'Verily,' he said. 'only Bronwen might