Wednesday 18 December 2013

"Melltith Lleu - Lleu's Curse"


Lleu Llaw Gyffes was brought up by Gwydion. He was Aranrhod's son but she disowned him and resented him for proving she was no longer a virgin. All through Lleu's life, Aranrhod put obstacles in his path, even cursing him to a lonely existence without a wife. Gwydion and Lleu went to Math, son of Mathowy to ask for help. 

"Fine," Math said to Gwydion, "Let you and I try through our magic and enchantment to charm a wife for him out of flowers."

"Then they took the flowers of oak, and the flowers of the broom, and the flowers of the meadowsweet, and from those they conjured up the fairest and most beautiful maiden anyone had ever seen....and named her Blodeuwedd."

They married and lived in the Cantref of Dinoding, given to him by Math. One day, Lleu left their home to visit Math. While he was away, Blodeuwedd met a man called Gronw Pebr. They fell in love instantly. 

Discussing how they might stay together, Gronw made a decision. 

"There is only one thing to do, find out from him how death may come about, and do that by pretending to be concerned about him." 

Blodeuwedd finds out the strange and obscure circumstance in which Lleu may be killed and they plan his death. Blodeuwedd makes a bath for Lleu on the riverbed and contructs an arched roof above it. She brings a billy-goat and convinces Lleu to show her how he can be killed. He stands with one foot on the billy-goat and from a distance, Gronw delivers the final blow. 

"...and on one knee he aimed at Lleu with the poisoned spear, and struck him in his side...Lleu flew up in the air in the form of an eagle and gave a horrible scream..." 


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