Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race - Knowledge Rush

318 Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race[369]birth to a son, who was a warrior fully armed. We are apparentlyto understand that this happened every six weeks, for by theend of the year the strange pair, who seem to be a war-god andgoddess, had several children, whose continual bickering and theoutrages they committed throughout the land made them hated.At last, to get rid of them, Matholwch had a house of iron made,and enticed them into it. He then barred the door and heapedcoals about the chamber, and blew them into a white heat, hopingto roast the whole family to death. As soon, however, as the ironwalls had grown white-hot and soft the man and his wife burstthrough them and got away, but the children remained behindand were destroyed. Bran then took up the story. The man,who was called Llassar Llaesgyvnewid, and his wife KymideuKymeinvoll, come across to Britain, where Bran took them in,and in return for his kindness they gave him the cauldron. Andsince then they had filled the land with their descendants, whoprospered everywhere and dwelt in strong fortified burgs and hadthe best weapons that ever were seen.So Matholwch received the cauldron along with his bride, andsailed back to Ireland, where Branwen entertained the lords andladies of the land, and gave to each, as he or she took leave,“either a clasp or a ring or a royal jewel to keep, such as it washonourable to be seen departing with.” And when the year wasout Branwen bore a son to Matholwch, whose name was calledGwern.The Punishment of BranwenThere occurs now an unintelligible place in the story. In thesecond year, it appears, and not till then, the men of Ireland grewindignant over the insult to their king committed by Evnissyen,and took revenge for it by having Branwen degraded to theposition of a cook, and they caused the butcher every day togive her a blow on the ears. They also forbade all ships andferry-boats to cross to Cambria, and any who came thence intoIreland were imprisoned so that news of Branwen's ill-treatment