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.In the shape of a bird Menwspied upon Trwyth in his lair, and saw that the comb and the shears didindeed still lie between the ears of the giant boar.At the sight of them,Menw boldly flew down and swooped upon the boar and tried to seizeone of the treasures in his beak.But all he succeeded in snatching was asingle bristle.The plucking out of his bristle made Trwyth so angry thathe rose and shook himself, glaring about him.As he shook himself,some drops of his sweat and his spittle splashed upon Menw, whonever had his full health from that day on.Having leamt that the comb and the shears were still there for thetaking, Arthur gathered together his army and all the men who wereto hunt Trwyth, with the marvels they needed for the hunt, and hesailed tcrlreland.The Irish were not sorry to see him come, for theyhoped that he might deliver their land from the ravages of the giant63CELTIC TALESboar.But first Arthur won the cauldron ofDiumach the Irishman, inwhich to boil the meat for Olwen's wedding feast; and then he and hismen sought out the boar Trwyth.Arthur's men fought with the boarand his seven young pigs all one day, but gained no advantage.Thenext day it was the same; and then, on the third day, Arthur himselfattacked the boar.For nine days and nine nights Arthur fought him;and yet at the end of that time, he had not killed even a single one of theseven young pigs.Then Arthur bade Gwrhyr the Interpreter go to speak with Trwyth.Like Menw, Gwrhyr changed himself into a bird and flew to the lair ofthe boar, and alighting above the opening, he called out, 'Let one ofyour sons come out to parley with Arthur.'One of the young pigs, Grugyn of the Silver Bristles, answered him.'Why should we speak to Arthur? And why should he come to molestus?'Arthur has come to take the comb and the shears which are betweenthe ears of Trwyth.'*He shall never have them while Trwyth lives,' replied Silver Bristles.'And moreover, tell Arthur that tomorrow we shall rise up and go intohis own land, and lay it waste, even as we have laid waste Ireland.'It was indeed as he had said; for the next day the boar Trwyth andhis seven young pigs swam across the sea to Wales.After them sailedArthur and his men.In Wales Trwyth slew men and cattle; and Arthur,with his army and his huntsmen, and with the hounds Drudwyn andAned and Acthlem, and the two whelps of the bitch Rhymi, and withCaval his own hound, also, who was in the charge ofBedwyr with allthese and more Arthur began the great hunt across all Wales.Theboar and the young pigs went before them, every here and thereturning at bay, each time slaying many famed warriors.And then, for atime, Trwyth evaded his pursuers, and no man knew where he was hidden.Certain huntsmen followed the tracks of the seven young pigs,while Arthur and the army came after them, keeping a look-out forTrwyth.But, in a wild place, the two mightiest of the young pigs,Grugyn of the Silver Bristles and Llwydawg the Hewer, broke coverand rushed at the huntsmen, killing all but one who escaped to tellArthur.64THE BRIDE-PRICE FOR OLW£NCELTIC TALESWhen Arthur heard what had happened, he hurried onwards and setall the hounds on the triumphant pigs.What with the shouts of themen, the baying of the hounds and the grunts and squeals of SilverBristles and the Hewer, the clamour reached to Trwyth, and he came tothe help of his sons.At once every man and hound turned to attack him,but he fought his way through them and led his seven young pigs tosafety, as far as Mynydd Amanw.And there the first of the young pigswas slain.With the great host after him, Trwyth made for DyffrynAmanw, and on the way two more young pigs were slain.At DyffrynAmanw died two more; and when Trwyth left Dyffryn Amanw, of hisseven young pigs he had but Silver Bristles and the Hewer left.Fartheron he made another stand against his pursuers, slaying many men andhounds
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