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 on the other.
And all the rest according to their rank. And they ate and feasted
and talked one with another, and at the beginning of the carousal
after the meat, there entered a tall auburn-haired youth, of royal
bearing, clothed in a garment of satin. And when he came into the
hall, he saluted Pwyll and his companions. "The greeting of Heaven
be unto thee, my soul," said Pwyll, "come thou and sit down." "Nay,"
said he, "a suitor am I, and I will do mine errand." "Do so
willingly," said Pwyll. "Lord," said he, "my errand is unto thee,
and it is to crave a boon of thee that I come." "What boon soever
thou mayest ask of me, as far as I am able, thou shalt have." "Ah,"
said Rhiannon, "wherefore didst thou give that answer?" "Has he not
given it before the presence of these nobles?" asked the youth. "My
soul," said Pwyll, "what is the boon thou askest?" "The lady whom
best I love is to be thy bride this night; I come to ask her of thee,
with the feast and the banquet that are in this place." And Pwyll
was silent because of the answer which he had given. "Be silent as