Page:Celtic Stories by Edward Thomas.djvu/90

 know.' Messengers were sent to her, telling her what they had seen. 'What is the forest upon the sea?' they asked. 'It is the ships of the Island of the Mighty,' she said. 'And what is that hill amongst them?' they asked. 'It is Bran, my brother,' she answered; 'he is walking in the shallow water where no ship could carry him.'

Matholwch and the warriors and chief men of Ireland took hasty counsel. They fled over a river, breaking down the bridge behind them. The invaders could not follow until Bran himself lay across the river for them to go over. 'He who will be chief,' he said, 'let him be a bridge also.' When they saw this, the enemy knew that it was useless to fly from Bran. They sent messengers to him, pleading, 'Matholwch has given the Kingdom of Ireland to Gwern, thy sister's son. Let this atone for the insult to Bronwen. As to Matholwch, he will dwell wherever thou choosest, here or in the Island of the Mighty.' Bran said, 'Shall I not have the kingdom myself?' The messengers hurried back to Matholwch, and implored him to send a more agreeable message to Bran.

Matholwch consulted his friends.

'My friends,' said Matholwch, 'what may be your counsel? ' 'Lord.' said they, 'there is no other counsel than this alone. Bran was never known to be within a house; make, therefore, a house that will hold 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 hold him, he will make peace with thee.' So the messengers went back to Bran, bearing this message.