vast mountain beside the
wood, which moved, and there was a lofty ridge on the top of the
mountain, and a lake on each side of the ridge. And the wood, and the
mountain, and all these things moved." "Verily," said he, "there is none
who can know aught concerning this, unless it be Branwen."

Messengers then went unto Branwen. "Lady," said they, "What thinkest
thou that this is?" "The men of the Island of the Mighty, who have come
hither on hearing of my ill treatment and my woes." "What is the forest
that is seen upon the sea?" asked they. "The yards and the masts of
ships," she answered. "Alas," said they, "what is the mountain that is
seen by the side of the ships?" "Bendigeid Vran, my brother," she
replied, "coming to shoal water; there is no ship that can contain him in
it." "What is the lofty ridge with the lake on each side thereof?" "On
looking towards this Island he is wroth, and his two eyes on each side of
his nose are the two lakes on each side of the ridge."

The warriors and chief men of Ireland were brought together in haste, and
they took counsel. "Lord," said the nobles unto Matholwch, "there is no
other counsel than to retreat over the Linon, (a river which is {52a} in
Ireland,) and to keep the river between thee and him, and to break down
the bridge that is across the river, for there is a load-stone at the
bottom of the river that neither ship nor vessel can pass over." So they
retreated across the river, and broke down the bridge.

Bendigeid Vran came to land, and the fleet with him by the bank of the
river. "Lord," said his chieftains, "knowest thou the nature of this
river, that nothing can go across it, and there is no bridge over it?"
"What," said they, "is thy counsel concerning a bridge?" "There is
none," said he, "except that he who will be chief let him be a bridge. I
will be so," said he. And then was that saying first uttered, and it is
still used as a proverb. And when he had lain down across the river,
hurdles were placed upon him, and the host passed over thereby.

And as he rose up, behold the messengers of Matholwch came to him, and
saluted him, and gave him greeting in the name of Matholwch, his kinsman,
and showed how that of his good will he had merited of him nothing but
good. "For Matholwch has given the kingdom of Ireland to Gwern the son
of Matholwch, thy nephew and thy sister's son. And this he places before
thee, as a compensation for the wrong and despite