Trystan and Esyllt

In the interim Trystan ap Tallwch and Esyllt the wife of March y Meirchion, fled into the forest of Celyddon, Golwg Hafddydd, her handmaiden, and Back Bychan his page, carrying pasties and wine with them. A couch of leaves was made for them.

And then March y Meirchion went to complain to Arthur against Trystan, and to entreat him to avenge upon Trystan the insult offered him, because he was nearer of kindred to Arthur than Trystan was, for March y Meirchion was first cousin to Arthur and Trystan was but the nephew-son of a first cousin to Arthur. "I will go, I and my family," said Arthur, "to seek either satistaction or bloodshed. And then they surrounded the wood of Celyddon.

Fair Esyllt, be not fearful:
While I am protecting thee,
Three hundred knights will not succeed in carrying thee off.
Nor three hundred armed men.

Blessed Esyllt, loving seagull
Speaking in conversation, I say that
Trystan has escaped

Blessed Kai, if it is true what thou sayest,
In conversation with me,
Thou wilt obtain a precious mistress.

A golden mistress I desire not
Because of what I have said
Golwg Hafddydd I seek.

If it is true the tale
Thou has just told my with thy mouth
Golwg Hafddydd will be thine.

And then March y Meirchion went a second time to Arthur and lamented to him because he obtained neither satisfaction nor blood for his wife. Arthur said, 'I know no counsel to give thee except to send instrumental musicians to sound toward him from afar, and after that to send vocal musicians with englynion (epigrams) of praise." So they did. Thereupon Trystan called to him the artists and gave them handfuls of gold and silver. After that someone was sent to him concerning peace: namely, Gwalchmei. And Gwalchmei sang this englyn:

Tumultuous is the nature of the wave,
When the sea is at its hight.
Who art though, mysterious warrior?

Trystan:

Tumultuous are the waves and the thunder.
In their bursting forth let them be tumultous
In the day of conflict I am Trystan

Gwalchmei:

Trystan of the faultless speech,
Who in the day of battle, would not retreat,
A companion of thine was Gwalchmei.

Trystan:

I would do for Gwalchmei in that day,
In the which the worlk of slaughter is let loose,
That which one brother would would not do for another

Gwalchmei:

Trystan, endowed with brilliant qualities,
Whose spear has oft been shivered in the toil of war
I am Gwalchmei the nephew of Arthur.

Trystan:

Gwalchmei, there swifter than Myrddin,
Shouldst thou be in danger,
I would cause blood to flow till it reached the knees

Gwalchmei:

Trystan, for thy sake would I strive
Until my wrist should fail me;
Also for thee I would do my utmost

Trystan:

I ask it in defiance,
I ask it not through fear--
Who are the warriors before me?

Gwalchmei:

Trystan, of distinguished qualities
Are they not known to thee?
It is the household of Arthur that comes.

Trystan: 

Arthur will I not shun,
To nine hundred combats will I dare him--
If I am slain, I will also slay.

Gwalchmei:

Trystan, the friend of damsels,
Before commencing the work of strife,
The best of all things is peace.

Trystan:

Let me but have my sword upon my thigh,
And my right hand to defend me,
And I myself will be more formidable than they all

Gwalchmei:

Trystan of brilliant qualities,
Before exciting the tumult of conflict--
Reject not Arthur as a friend.

Trystan:

Gwalchmei, for thy sake will I deliberate,
And with my mouth I utter it--
As I am loved, so will I love.

Gwalchmei:

Trystan, of aspiring mind,
The shower wets a hundred oaks.
Come to an interview with thy kinsman.

Trystan:

Gwalchmei of persuasive answers,
The shower wets a hundred furrows.
I will go where're thou wilt.

Then Trystan went with Gwalchmei to Arthur, and Gwalchmei sang this englyn:

Arthur, of courteous replies,
The shower wets a hundred heads.
Here is Trystan, be thou joyful.

Then Arthur sang:

Gwalchmei, of faultless answers,
The shower wets a hudnred dwellings.
A welcome to Trystan, my nephew.

Notwithstanding that, Trystan said nothing, and Arthur sang the second englyn:

Worthy Trystan, chief of the host,
Love thy race, remember the past;
Am I not the Chief of the Tribe?

Still Trystan said nothing, and Arthur sang:

Trystan, leader of onsets,
Take equal with the best,
But leave the sovereignty to me.

Yet again Trystan said nothing, and Arthur sang this englyn:

Trystan, wise and mighty chieftain,
Love they kindred, none shall harm thee,
Let there be no coldness between friend and friend.

Finally, Trystan responded, and sang this englyn to Arthur, his uncle:

Arthur, to thee will I attend,
To thy command will I submit,
And that thou wishest will I do.

And then peace was made by Arthur between Trystan and March y Meirchion and Arthur conversed with the two of them in turn, and neither of them was willing to be without Esyllt. Then Arthur adjudged her to one while the leaves should be on the wood, and to the other during the time that the leaves should not be on the wood, the husband to have the choice. And the latter chose the time when the leaves should not be on the wood, because the night is longest bring that season. And Arthur announced that to Esyllt, and she said. "Blessed be the judgment and he who gave it!" And Esyllt sang this englyn;

Three trees are good in nature:
the holly, the ivy, and the yew, 
which keep their leaves throughout their lives:
I am Trystan's as long as he lives!

And in this way March y Meirchion lost his wife forever. And so ends the story.

Originally appeared as "Welsh Trystan Episode" by T. P. Cross. Studies in Philology. Vol. 17 (1912)

Lhuyd's Legends of Wales

Trustan stole Essyllt, the wife of March not against her consent and fled with her to the wood; and he came not within the grasp of those who were endeavouring to reconcile the two parties, saying, "It is easier to arbitrate from a wood than from a castle." But after long entreating him, he consented to abide by Arthur's decision, who gave judgment that one should have her as long as the leaves remained on the trees, and the other have her whilst the trees were without leaves, and that her husband should have the first choice, who chose to have her whilst there were no leaves on the trees. She joyfully answered,

"Blessed is Arthur's judgment, holly, ivy, and yew,
Will never lose their leaves so long as they live."

And March sang thus ;— 

"I had supposed, fair Essyllt, of benevolent mien,
Impetuous stream, ruddy dawn, fresh and wild, 
Worthy gift, that thou, comely lady,
Like a drift of snow, with thy fresh person,
Subject of song, worthy of great praise, 
Wouldst not have proved so savage."