Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race - Knowledge Rush

308 Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race[357]were entitled the “Four Branches of the Mabinogi,” and whichform a connected whole. They are among the oldest relics ofWelsh mythological saga.Pwyll, Head of HadesThe first of them is the story of Pwyll, Prince of Dyfed, andrelates how that prince got his title of Pen Annwn, or “Headof Hades”—Annwn being the term under which we identify inWelsh literature the Celtic Land of the Dead, or Fairyland. It is astory with a mythological basis, but breathing the purest spirit ofchivalric honour and nobility.Pwyll, it is said, was hunting one day in the woods of GlynCuch when he saw a pack of hounds, not his own, runningdown a stag. These hounds were snow-white in colour, with redears. If Pwyll had had any experience in these matters he wouldhave known at once what kind of hunt was up, for these are thecolours of Faëry—the red-haired man, the red-eared hound arealways associated with magic. 228 Pwyll, however, drove off thestrange hounds, and was setting his own on the quarry when ahorseman of noble appearance came up and reproached him forhis discourtesy. Pwyll offered to make amends, and the storynow develops into the familiar theme of the Rescue of Fairyland.The stranger's name is Arawn, a king in Annwn. He is beingharried and dispossessed by a rival, Havgan, and he seeks the aidof Pwyll, whom he begs to meet Havgan in single combat a yearhence. Meanwhile he will put his own shape on Pwyll, who is torule in his kingdom till the eventful day, while Arawn will go inPwyll's shape to govern Dyfed. He instructs Pwyll how to dealwith the foe. Havgan must be laid low with a single stroke—ifanother is given to him he immediately revives again as strongas ever.Pwyll agreed to follow up the adventure, and accordingly wentin Arawn's shape to the kingdom of Annwn. Here he was placed228 See, e.g., pp. 111, 272.