The Mabinogion Vol. 3 | Page 7

"May Heaven reward thee, I have an errand unto thee."
"Welcome be thine errand, and if thou ask of me that which is just, thou
shalt have it gladly." "It is fitting," answered he. {26} "I crave but from
want, and the boon that I ask is to have this small bag that thou seest
filled with meat." "A request within reason is this," said he, "and gladly
shalt thou have it. Bring him food." A great number of attendants arose

and begun to fill the bag, but for all that they put into it, it was no fuller
than at first. "My soul," said Gwawl, "will thy bag be ever full?" "It
will not, I declare to Heaven," said he, "for all that may be put into it,
unless one possessed of lands, and domains, and treasure, shall arise
and tread down with both his feet the food that is within the bag, and
shall say, 'Enough has been put herein.'" Then said Rhiannon unto
Gwawl the son of Clud, "Rise up quickly." "I will willingly arise," said
he. So he rose up, and put his two feet into the bag. And Pwyll turned
up the sides of the bag, so that Gwawl was over his head in it. And he
shut it up quickly and slipped a knot upon the thongs, and blew his
horn. And thereupon behold his household came down upon the palace.
And they seized all the host that had come with Gwawl, and cast them
into his own prison. And Pwyll threw off his rags, and his old shoes,
and his tattered array; and as they came in, every one of Pwyll's knights
struck a blow upon the bag, and asked, "What is here?" "A Badger,"
said they. And in this manner they played, each of them striking the
bag, either with his foot or with a staff. And thus played they with the
bag. Every one as he came in asked, "What game are you playing at
thus?" "The game of Badger in the Bag," said they. And then was the
game of Badger in the Bag first played.
"Lord," said the man in the bag, "If thou wouldest but hear me, I merit
not to be slain in a bag." Said Heveydd Hen, "Lord, he speaks truth. It
were fitting that thou listen to him, for he deserves not this." "Verily,"
said Pwyll, "I will do thy counsel concerning him." "Behold this is my
counsel then," said Rhiannon; "Thou art now in a position in which it
behoves thee to satisfy suitors and minstrels, let him give unto them in
thy stead, and take a pledge from him that he will never seek to revenge
that which has been done to him. And this will be punishment enough."
"I will do this gladly," said the man in the bag. "And gladly will I
accept it," said Pwyll, "since it is the counsel of Heveydd and
Rhiannon." "Such then is our counsel," answered they. "I accept it,"
said Pwyll. "Seek thyself sureties." "We will be for him," said Heveydd,
"until his men be free to answer for him." And upon this he was let out
of the bag, and his liegemen were liberated. "Demand now of Gwawl
his sureties," said Heveydd, "we know which should be taken for him."
And Heveydd numbered the sureties. Said Gwawl, "Do thou thyself

draw up the covenant." "It will suffice me that it be as Rhiannon said,"
answered Pwyll. So unto that covenant were the sureties pledged.
"Verily, Lord," said Gwawl, "I am greatly hurt, and I have many
bruises. I have need to be anointed, with thy leave I will go forth. I will
leave nobles in my stead, to answer for me in all that thou shall
require." "Willingly," said Pwyll, "mayest thou do thus." So Gwawl
went towards his own possessions.
And the hall was set in order for Pwyll and the men of his host, and for
them also of the palace, and they went to the tables and sat down. And
as they had sat that time twelvemonth, so sat they that night. And they
eat, and feasted, and spent the night in mirth and tranquillity. And the
time came that they should sleep, and Pwyll and Rhiannon went to their
chamber.
And next morning at the break of day, "My Lord," said Rhiannon,
"arise and begin to give thy gifts unto the minstrels. Refuse no one
to-day that may claim thy bounty." "Thus shall it be gladly," said Pwyll,
"both to-day and every day while the feast shall last." So Pwyll arose,
and he caused silence to be proclaimed, and desired all the suitors and
the minstrels to show and to point out what gifts were to their wish and
desire. {28} And