t did this, and
that it was done against my will; but that he who did it is my brother,
by the mother's side, and therefore it would be hard for me to put him to
death. And let him come and meet me," said he, "and we will make peace
in any way he may desire."

The embassy went after Matholwch, and told him all these sayings in a
friendly manner, and he listened thereunto. "Men," said he, "I will take
counsel." So to the council he went. And in the council they considered
that if they should refuse this, they were likely to have more shame
rather than to obtain so great an atonement. They resolved therefore to
accept it, and they returned to the court in peace.

Then the pavilions and the tents were set in order after the fashion of a
hall; and they went to meat, and as they had sat at the beginning of the
feast, so sat they there. And Matholwch and Bendigeid Vran began to
discourse; and behold it seemed to Bendigeid Vran, while they talked,
that Matholwch was not so cheerful as he had been before. And he thought
that the chieftain might be sad because of the smallness of the atonement
which he had, for the wrong that had been done him. "Oh man," said
Bendigeid Vran, "thou dost not discourse to-night so cheerfully as thou
wert wont. And if it be because of the smallness of the atonement, thou
shalt add thereunto whatsoever thou mayest choose, and to-morrow I will
pay thee the horses." "Lord," said he, "Heaven reward thee." "And I
will enhance the atonement," said Bendigeid Vran, "for I will give unto
thee a cauldron, the property of which is, that if one of thy men be
slain to-day, and be cast therein, to-morrow he will be as well as ever
he was at the best, except that he will not regain his speech." And
thereupon he gave him great thanks, and very joyful was he for that
cause.

And the next morning they paid Matholwch the horses as long as the
trained horses lasted. And then they journeyed into another commot,
where they paid him with colts until the whole had been paid, and from
thenceforth that commot was called Talebolion.

{Picture: p46.jpg}

And a second night sat they together. "My lord," said Matholwch, "whence
hadst thou the cauldron which thou hast given me?" "I had it of a man
who had been in thy land," said he, "and I would not give it except to
one from there." {45} "Who was it?" asked he. "Llassar Llaesgyvnewid;
he came here from Ireland, with Kymideu Kymeinvoll, his wife, who escaped