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Thereliesavirtueinmytongue.
WhileIcontinuethyprotector
Thouhastnotmuchtofear.˝
ThenElphinaskedhim,˝Artthoumanorspirit?˝Andinanswerthe
boysangtohimthistaleofhisflightfromthewoman:–
˝Ihavefledwithvigor,Ihavefledasafrog,
Ihavefledinthesemblanceofacrowscarcelyfindingrest;
Ihavefledvehemently,Ihavefledasachainoflightning,
Ihavefledasaroeintoanentangledthicket;
Ihavefledasawolf-cub,Ihavefledasawolfinthewilderness,
Ihavefledasafoxusedtomanyswiftboundsandquirks;
Ihavefledasamartin,whichdidnotavail;
Ihavefledasasquirrelthatvainlyhides,
Ihavefledasastag'santler,ofruddycourse,
Ihavefledasanironinaglowingfire,
Ihavefledasaspear-head,ofwoetosuchashaveawishforit;
Ihavefledasafiercebullbitterlyfighting,
Ihavefledasabristlyboarseeninaravine,
Ihavefledasawhitegrainofpurewheat;
IntoadarkleathernbagIwasthrown,
AndonaboundlessseaIwassentadrift;
Whichwastomeanomenofbeingtenderlynursed,
AndtheLordGodthensetmeatliberty.˝
ThenElphincamewithTaliessintothehouseofhisfather,and
Gwyddnoaskedhimifhehadagoodhaulatthefish-weir.˝Ihave
somethingbetterthanfish.˝˝Whatisthat?˝askedthefather.˝Ihave
abard,˝saidElphin.˝Alas,whatwillheprofitthee?˝saidGwyddno,
towhichTaliessinreplied,˝Hewillprofithimmorethantheweirever
profitedthee.˝SaidGwyddno,˝Artthouabletospeak,andthou
solittle?˝ThenTaliessinsaid,˝Iambetterabletospeakthanthou
toquestionme.˝
FromthistimeElphinalwaysprospered,andheandhiswifecared
forTaliessintenderlyandlovingly,andtheboydweltwithhimuntil
hewasthirteenyearsold,whenElphinwenttomakeaChristmasvisit
tohisuncleMaelgwyn,whowasagreatkingandheldopencourt.
Therewerefourandtwentybardsthere,andallproclaimedthat
nokinghadawifesobeautifulasthequeen,orabardsowiseasthe
twenty-four,whoallagreeduponthisdecision.Elphinsaid,onthe
contrary,thatitwashehimselfwhohadthemostbeautifulwifeand
thewisestbard,andforthishewasthrownintoprison.Taliessin
