Lludd loved Llevelys best of all his brothers, because he was a wise and discreet5 man. Having heard that the king of France had died, leaving no heir except a daughter, and that he had left all his possessions in her hands, he came to Lludd his brother, to beseech6 his counsel and aid. And that not so much for his own welfare, as to seek to add to the glory and honour and dignity of his kindred, if he might go to France to woo the maiden7 for his wife. And forthwith his brother conferred with him, and this counsel was pleasing unto him.
So he prepared ships and filled them with armed knights9, and set forth8 towards France. And as soon as they had landed, they sent messengers to show the nobles of France the cause of the embassy. And by the joint10 counsel of the nobles of France and of the princes, the maiden was given to Llevelys, and the crown of the kingdom with her. And thenceforth he ruled the land discreetly11, and wisely, and happily, as long as his life lasted.
After a space of time had passed, three plagues fell on the Island of Britain, such as none in the islands had ever seen the like of. The first was a certain race that came, and was called the Coranians; and so great was their knowledge, that there was no discourse12 upon the face of the Island, however low it might be spoken, but what, if the wind met it, it was known to them. And through this they could not be injured. [4]
The second plague was a shriek14 which came on every May-eve, over every hearth15 in the Island of Britain. And this went through people’s hearts, and so scared them, that the men lost their hue16 and their strength, and the women their children, and the young men and the maidens17 lost their senses, and all the animals and trees and the earth and the waters, were left barren.
The third plague was, that however much of provisions and food might be prepared in the king’s courts, were there even so much as a year’s provision of meat and drink, none of it could ever be found, except what was consumed in the first night. And two of these plagues, no one ever knew their cause, therefore was there better hope of being freed from the first than from the second and third.
And thereupon King Lludd felt great sorrow and care, because that he knew not how he might be freed from these plagues. And he called to him all the nobles of his kingdom, and asked counsel of them what they should do against these afflictions. And by the common counsel of the nobles, Lludd the son of Beli went to Llevelys his brother, king of France, for he was a man great of counsel and wisdom, to seek his advice.
And they made ready a fleet, and that in secret and in silence, lest that race should know the cause of their errand, or any besides the king and his counsellors. And when they were made ready, they went into their ships, Lludd and those whom he chose with him. And they began to cleave18 the seas towards France.
And when these tidings came to Llevelys, seeing that he knew not the cause of his brother’s ships, he came on the other side to meet him, and with him was a fleet vast of size. And when Lludd saw this, he left all the ships out upon the sea except one only; and in that one he came to meet his brother, and he likewise with a single ship came to meet him. And when they were come together, each put his arms about the other’s neck, and they welcomed each other with brotherly love.
After that Lludd had shown his brother the cause of his errand, Llevelys said that he himself knew the cause of the coming to those lands. And they took counsel together to discourse on the matter otherwise than thus, in order that the wind might not catch their words, nor the Coranians know what they might say. Then Llevelys caused a long horn to be made of brass19, and through this horn they discoursed20. But whatsoever21 words they spoke13 through this horn, one to the other, neither of them could hear any other but harsh and hostile words. And when Llevelys saw this, and that there was a demon22 thwarting23 them and disturbing through this horn, he caused wine to be put therein to wash it. And through the virtue24 of the wine the demon was driven out of the horn. And when their discourse was unobstructed, Llevelys told his brother that he would give him some insects whereof he should keep some to breed, lest by chance the like affliction might come a second time. And other of these insects he should take and bruise25 in water. And he assured him that it would have power to destroy the race of the Coranians. That is to say, that when he came home to his kingdom he should call together all the people both of his own race and of the race of the Coranians for a conference, as though with the intent of making peace between them; and that when they were all together, he should take this charmed water, and cast it over all alike. And he assured him that the water would poison the race of the Coranians, but that it would not slay26 or harm those of his own race.
“And the second plague,” said he, “that is in thy dominion27, behold28 it is a dragon. And another dragon of a foreign race is fighting with it, and striving to overcome it. And therefore does your dragon make a fearful outcry. And on this wise mayest thou come to know this. After thou hast returned home, cause the Island to be measured in its length and breadth, and in the place where thou dost find the exact central point, there cause a pit to be dug, and cause a cauldron full of the best mead29 that can be made to be put in the pit, with a covering of satin over the face of the cauldron. And then, in thine own person do thou remain there watching, and thou wilt30 see the dragon fighting in the form of terrific animals. And at length they will take the form of dragons in the air. And last of all, after wearying themselves with fierce and furious fighting, they will fall in the form of two pigs upon the covering, and they will sink in, and the covering with them, and they will draw it down to the very bottom of the cauldron. And they will drink up the whole of the mead; and after that they will sleep. Thereupon do thou immediately fold the covering around them, and bury them in a kistvaen, in the strongest place thou hast in thy dominions31, and hide them in the earth. And as long as they shall bide32 in that strong place no plague shall come to the Island of Britain from elsewhere.
“The cause of the third plague,” said he, “is a mighty man of magic, who take thy meat and thy drink and thy store. And he through illusions and charms causes every one to sleep. Therefore it is needful for thee in thy own person to watch thy food and thy provisions. And lest he should overcome thee with sleep, be there a cauldron of cold water by thy side, and when thou art oppressed with sleep, plunge33 into the cauldron.”
Then Lludd returned back unto his land. And immediately he summoned to him the whole of his own race and of the Coranians. And as Llevelys had taught him, he bruised34 the insects in water, the which he cast over them all together, and forthwith it destroyed the whole tribe of the Coranians, without hurt to any of the Britons.
And some time after this, Lludd caused the Island to be measured in its length and in its breadth. And in Oxford35 he found the central point, and in that place he caused the earth to be dug, and in that pit a cauldron to be set, full of the best mead that could be made, and a covering of satin over the face of it. And he himself watched that night. And while he was there, he beheld36 the dragons fighting. And when they were weary they fell, and came down upon the top of the satin, and drew it with them to the bottom of the cauldron. And when they had drunk the mead they slept. And in their sleep, Lludd folded the covering around them, and in the securest place he had in Snowdon, he hid them in a kistvaen. Now after that this spot was called Dinas Emreis, but before that, Dinas Ffaraon. And thus the fierce outcry ceased in his dominions.
And when this was ended, King Lludd caused an exceeding great banquet to be prepared. And when it was ready, he placed a vessel37 of cold water by his side, and he in his own proper person watched it. And as he abode38 thus clad with arms, about the third watch of the night, lo, he heard many surpassing fascinations39 and various songs. And drowsiness40 urged him to sleep. Upon this, lest he should be hindered from his purpose and be overcome by sleep, he went often into the water. And at last, behold, a man of vast size, clad in strong, heavy armour41, came in, bearing a hamper42. And, as he was wont43, he put all the food and provisions of meat and drink into the hamper, and proceeded to go with it forth. And nothing was ever more wonderful to Lludd, than that the hamper should hold so much.
And thereupon King Lludd went after him and spoke unto him thus. “Stop, stop,” said he, “though thou hast done many insults and much spoil erewhile, thou shalt not do so any more, unless thy skill in arms and thy prowess be greater than mine.”
Then he instantly put down the hamper on the floor, and awaited him. And a fierce encounter was between them, so that the glittering fire flew out from their arms. And at the last Lludd grappled with him, and fate bestowed44 the victory on Lludd. And he threw the plague to the earth. And after he had overcome him by strength and might, he besought45 his mercy. “How can I grant thee mercy,” said the king, “after all the many injuries and wrongs that thou hast done me?” “All the losses that ever I have caused thee,” said he, “I will make thee atonement for, equal to what I have taken. And I will never do the like from this time forth. But thy faithful vassal46 will I be.” And the king accepted this from him.
And thus Lludd freed the Island of Britain from the three plagues. And from thenceforth until the end of his life, in prosperous peace did Lludd the son of Beli rule the Island of Britain. And this Tale is called the Story of Lludd and Llevelys. And thus it ends.
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1
eldest
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| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
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2
encompassed
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| v.围绕( encompass的过去式和过去分词 )；包围；包含；包括 | |
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3
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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5
discreet
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| adj.(言行)谨慎的；慎重的；有判断力的 | |
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6
beseech
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| v.祈求，恳求 | |
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7
maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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8
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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9
knights
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| 骑士； （中古时代的）武士( knight的名词复数 )； 骑士； 爵士； （国际象棋中）马 | |
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10
joint
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| adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合 | |
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11
discreetly
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| ad.(言行)审慎地，慎重地 | |
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12
discourse
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| n.论文，演说；谈话；话语；vi.讲述，著述 | |
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13
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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14
shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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15
hearth
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| n.壁炉炉床，壁炉地面 | |
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16
hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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17
maidens
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| 处女( maiden的名词复数 )； 少女； 未婚女子； （板球运动）未得分的一轮投球 | |
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18
cleave
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| v．(clave；cleaved)粘着，粘住；坚持；依恋 | |
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19
brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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20
discoursed
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| 演说（discourse的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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21
whatsoever
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| adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么 | |
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22
demon
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| n.魔鬼，恶魔 | |
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23
thwarting
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| 阻挠( thwart的现在分词 )； 使受挫折； 挫败； 横过 | |
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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25
bruise
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| n.青肿，挫伤；伤痕；vt.打青；挫伤 | |
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26
slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
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27
dominion
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| n.统治，管辖，支配权；领土，版图 | |
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28
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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mead
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| n.蜂蜜酒 | |
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30
wilt
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| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
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31
dominions
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| 统治权( dominion的名词复数 )； 领土； 疆土； 版图 | |
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32
bide
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| v.忍耐；等候；住 | |
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33
plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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34
bruised
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| [医]青肿的，瘀紫的 | |
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35
Oxford
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| n.牛津（英国城市） | |
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36
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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37
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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38
abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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39
fascinations
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| n.魅力( fascination的名词复数 )；有魅力的东西；迷恋；陶醉 | |
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40
drowsiness
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| n.睡意；嗜睡 | |
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41
armour
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| （=armor）n.盔甲；装甲部队 | |
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42
hamper
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| vt.妨碍，束缚，限制；n.(有盖的)大篮子 | |
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43
wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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44
bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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45
besought
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| v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的过去式和过去分词 )；(beseech的过去式与过去分词) | |
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46
vassal
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| n.附庸的；属下；adj.奴仆的 | |
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