Page:My people stories of the peasantry of West Wales.djvu/191

 to me this night. Seven times did Joshua Llanwen beat my face. Puah, look you at me now. Touch my hand and speak to them how it trembles.”

Puah showed kindness to him and did as he had asked her.

“Iss, indeed,” she said, “there’s blood on your cheeks, Adam bach.”

“What foolish man Josh is! Has he not opened the gash I did with the razor?” Lamech chided from his chair: “Brother Adam, heard you never of the speech of the Man of Terror, saying, ‘Vengeance is mine’?” “Little Lamech, did not Joshua strike me seven times on my nice chin?” “Adam, the son of Bern-Davydd, listen you to me, man. Is it not written, ‘Hard is the way of the transgressor’?”

The Respected Bern-Davydd said: “Let me speak to the Big Man.” A period of twelve years divided these two sons of Bern-Davydd, the years of