Page:The Mabinogion.djvu/376

 and right glad am I to see thee." "My greeting be unto thee," said he.  Then he thought that the beauty of all the maidens, and all the ladies that he had ever seen, was as nothing compared to her beauty.  "Lady," he said, "wilt thou tell me aught concerning thy purpose?" "I will tell thee," said she.  "My chief quest was to seek thee."  "Behold," said Pwyll, "this is to me the most pleasing quest on which thou couldst have come; and wilt thou tell me who thou art?" "I will tell thee, Lord," said she. "I am Rhiannon, the daughter of Heveydd Hen, and they sought to give me to a husband against my will. But no husband would I have, and that because of my love for thee, neither will I yet have one unless thou reject me. And hither have I come to hear thy answer." "By Heaven," said Pwyll, "behold this is my answer. If I might choose among all the ladies and damsels in the world, thee would I choose." "Verily," said she, "if thou art thus minded, make a pledge to meet me ere I am given to another." "The sooner I may do so, the more pleasing will it be unto me," said Pwyll, "and wheresoever thou wilt, there will I meet with thee." "I will that thou meet me this day twelvemonth at the palace of Heveydd. And I will cause a feast to be prepared, so that it be ready against thou come." "Gladly," said he, "will I keep this tryst."  "Lord," said she, "remain in health, and be mindful that thou keep thy promise; and now I will go hence." So they parted, and he went back to his hosts and to them of his household.  And whatsoever questions they asked him respecting the damsel, he always turned the discourse upon other matters.  And when a year from that time was gone, he caused a hundred knights to equip themselves and to go with him to the palace of Heveydd Hen.  And he came to the palace, and there was great joy concerning him, with much concourse of people and great rejoicing, and vast preparations for his coming.  And the whole Court was placed under his orders.

And the hall was garnished and they went to meat, and thus did they sit; Heveydd Hen was on one side of Pwyll, and Rhiannon