n, and still they keep that name, half
hog, half pig." "Verily," asked he, "and by what means may they be
obtained from him?" "I will go, lord, as one of twelve in the guise of
bards, to seek the swine." "But it may be that he will refuse you," said
he. "My journey will not be evil, lord," said he, "I will not come back
without the swine." "Gladly," said he, "go thou forward."

So he and Gilvaethwy went, and ten other men with them. And they came
into Ceredigiawn, to the place that is now called Rhuddlan Teivi, where
the palace of Pryderi was. In the guise of bards they came in, and they
were received joyfully, and Gwydion was placed beside Pryderi that night.

"Of a truth," said Pryderi, "gladly would I have a tale from some of your
men yonder." "Lord," said Gwydion, "we have a custom that the first
night that we come to the court of a great man, the chief of song
recites. Gladly will I relate a tale." Now Gwydion was the best teller
of tales in the world, and he diverted all the court that night with
pleasant discourse and with tales, so that he charmed every one in the
court, and it pleased Pryderi to talk with him.

And after this, "Lord," said he unto Pryderi, "were it more pleasing to
thee, that another should discharge my errand unto thee, than that I
should tell thee myself what it is?" "No," he answered, "ample speech
hast thou." "Behold, then, lord," said he, "my errand. It is to crave
from thee the animals that were sent thee from Annwn." "Verily," he
replied, "that were the easiest thing in the world to grant, were there
not a covenant between me and my land concerning them. And the covenant
is that they shall not go from me, until they have produced double their
number in the land." "Lord," said he, "I can set thee free from these
words, and this is the way I can do so; give me not the swine to-night,
neither refuse them unto me, and to-morrow I will show thee an exchange
for them."

And that night he and his fellows went unto their lodging, and they took
counsel. "Ah, my men," said he, "we shall not have the swine for the
asking." "Well," said they, "how may they be obtained?" "I will cause
them to be obtained," said Gwydion.

Then he betook himself to his arts, and began to work a charm. And he
caused twelve chargers to appear, and twelve black greyhounds, each of
them white breasted, and having upon them twelve collars and twelve
leashes, such as no one that saw them could know to