Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race - Knowledge Rush

322 Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race[373]and one of them which looked to Cornwall and to Aber Henvelynwas closed, but the other two were open. At the end of the time,Heilyn son of Gwyn said, “Evil betide me if I do not open thedoor to see if what was said is true.” And he opened it, and atonce remembrance and sorrow fell upon them, and they set forthat once for London and buried the Head in the White Mount,where it remained until Arthur dug it up, for he would not havethe land defended but by the strong arm. And this was “the ThirdFatal Disclosure” in Britain.So ends this wild tale, which is evidently full of mythologicalelements, the key to which has long been lost. The touchesof Northern ferocity which occur in it have made some criticssuspect the influence of Norse or Icelandic literature in givingit its present form. The character of Evnissyen would certainlylend countenance to this conjecture. The typical mischief-makerof course occurs in purely Celtic sagas, but not commonly incombination with the heroic strain shown in Evnissyen's end, nordoes the Irish “poison-tongue” ascend to anything like the sameheight of daimonic malignity.The Tale of Pryderi and ManawyddanAfter the events of the previous tales Pryderi and Manawyddanretired to the dominions of the former, and Manawyddan took towife Rhiannon, the mother of his friend. There they lived happilyand prosperously till one day, while they were at the Gorsedd, orMound, near Narberth, a peal of thunder was heard and a thickmist fell so that nothing could be seen all round. When the mistcleared away, behold, the land was bare before them—neitherhouses nor people nor cattle nor crops were to be seen, but allwas desert and uninhabited. The palace of Narberth was stillstanding, but it was empty and desolate—none remained exceptPryderi and Manawyddan and their wives, Kicva and Rhiannon.Two years they lived on the provisions they had, and on theprey they killed, and on wild honey; and then they began to