oar Trwyth was with his seven young pigs. And the dogs were let loose
upon him from all sides. That day until evening, the Irish fought with
him, nevertheless he laid waste the fifth part of Ireland. And on the
day following the household of Arthur fought with him, and they were
worsted by him, and got no advantage. And the third day Arthur himself
encountered him, and he fought with him nine nights and nine days without
so much as killing even one little pig. {109} The warriors enquired of
Arthur, what was the origin of that swine; and he told them that he was
once a king, and that God had transformed him into a swine for his sins.

Then Arthur sent Gwrhyr Gwalstawt Ieithoedd, to endeavour to speak with
him. And Gwrhyr assumed the form of a bird, and alighted upon the top of
the lair, where he was with the seven young pigs. And Gwrhyr Gwalstawt
Ieithoedd asked him, "By him who turned you into this form, if you can
speak, let some one of you, I beseech you, come and talk with Arthur."
Grugyn Gwrych Ereint made answer to him. (Now his bristles were like
silver wire, and whether he went through the wood or through the plain,
he was to be traced by the glittering of his bristles.) And this was the
answer that Grugyn made, "By him who turned us into this form we will not
do so, and we will not speak with Arthur. That we have been transformed
thus is enough for us to suffer, without your coming here to fight with
us." "I will tell you. Arthur comes but to fight for the comb, and the
razor, and the scissors, which are between the two ears of Twrch Trwyth."
Said Grugyn, "Except he first take his life, he will never have those
precious things. And to-morrow morning we will rise up hence, and we
will go into Arthur's country, and there will we do all the mischief that
we can."

So they set forth through the sea towards Wales. And Arthur and his
hosts, and his horses and his dogs, entered Prydwen, that they might
encounter them without delay. Twrch Trwyth landed in Porth Cleis in
Dyved, and the {110} came to Mynyw. The next day it was told to Arthur,
that they had gone by, and he overtook them, as they were killing the
cattle of Kynnwas Kwrr y Vagyl, having slain all that were at Aber
Gleddyf, of man and beast, before the coming of Arthur.

Now when Arthur approached, Twrch Trwyth went on as far as Preseleu, and
Arthur and his hosts followed him thither, and Arthur sent men to hunt
him; Eli and Trachmyr, leading