rthur's
court.

They told Arthur how they had sped, and they all took counsel together,
and agreed that they must set out on the quest for Mabon the son of
Modron, and Gwrhyr, who knew the languages of beasts and of birds, went
with them. SO they journeyed until they came to the nest of an ousel,
and Gwrhyr spoke to her.

'Tell me if thou knowest aught of Mabon the son of Modron, who was taken
when three nights old from between his mother and the wall.'

And the ousel answered:

'When I first came here I was a young bird, and there was a smith's
anvil in this place. But from that time no work has been done upon it,
save that every evening I have pecked at it, till now there is not so
much as the size of a nut remaining thereof. Yet all that time I have
never once heard of the man you name. Still, there is a race of beasts
older than I, and I will guide you to them.'

So the ousel flew before them, till she reached the stag of Redynvre;
but when they inquired of the stag whether he knew aught of Mabon he
shook his head.

'When first I came hither,' said he, 'the plain was bare save for one
oak sapling, which grew up to be an oak with a hundred branches. All
that is left of that oak is a withered stump, but never once have I
heard of the man you name. Nevertheless, as you are Arthur's men, I will
guide you to the place where there is an animal older than I'; and the
stag ran before them till he reached the owl of Cwm Cawlwyd. But when
they inquired of the owl if he knew aught of Mabon he shook his head.

'When first I came hither,' said he, 'the valley was a wooded glen;
then a race of men came and rooted it up. After that there grew a second
wood, and then a third, which you see. Look at my wings also--are they
not withered stumps? Yet until to-day I have never heard of the man you
name. Still, I will guide you to the oldest animal in the world, and
the one that has travelled most, the eagle of Gwern Abbey.' And he flew
before them, as fast as his old wings would carry him, till he reached
the eagle of Gwern Abbey, but when they inquired of the eagle whether he
knew aught of Mabon he shook his head.

'When I first came hither,' said the eagle, 'there was a rock here, and
every evening I pecked at the stars from the top of it. Now, behold, it
is not even a span high! But only once have I heard of the man you
name, and that was when I went in search of food as far as Llyn Llyw. I
swooped down upon a salmon, and s