Arthur:

What man is porter?

Glewlwyd:

Glewlwyd Mighty-grasp.

What man asks it?

Arthur:

Arthur and worthy Cei [or Cei the Fair].

Glewlwyd:

Who travels with you?

5

Arthur:

The best men in the world are mine.

Glewlwyd:

Into my house they shall not come

Unless you vouch for them.

Arthur:

I shall vouch for them,

And you will see them:

10

Wythneint, Elei  [or the vultures of Ely],

And Sywon [possibly wizards], these three;

Mabon son of Modron,

Uther Pendragon’s man,

Cystaint son of Banon,

15

And Gwyn Godyfrion.

My servants were harsh

In asserting their rights.

Manawydan son of Llyr,

Profound in counsel:

20

Manawyd brought home

A pierced shield [or spear] from Tryfrwyd;

And Mabon son of Mellt

Who stained the grass with gore;

And Anwas the Winged,

25

And Llwych of the Striking [or Windy] Hand,

Who were accustomed to defend

Eidyn on the borders.

Its lord would shelter them,

Where he [or my nephew] destroyed them.

30

Cei pleaded with them

While he slew them three by three.

When Celli was lost

There was savagery.

Cei pleaded with them

35

While he hewed them down.

[Cei:]

Though Arthur was but playing [or laughing],

He caused blood to flow

In the hall of Wrnach [or Afarnach]

Fighting with a witch.

40

He slew Pen-palach [Cudgel-Head]

In the hall of Dissethach.

On the heights of Eidyn

He fought with champions [or dog-heads].

By the hundreds they fell

45

To Bedwyr’s four-pronged spear [or Bedwyr the Perfect],

On the shores of Tryfrwyd,

Combating with Garwlwyd

Furious was his nature

Both with sword and shield.

50

Arthur:

An army was but vanity

Compared with Cei in battle.

His sword in battle was

Not to be averted.

He was the resolute lord

55

Of a legion for the kingdom’s good.

Bedwyr and Bridlaw,

Nine hundred to watch,

Six hundred to attack

Was their attack worth.

60

The young men I had,

It was better when they were alive.

Before the lords of Emrys [i.e., Gwynedd]

I have seen Cei in haste.

Prince of the plunder,

65

The unrelenting warrior to his enemy;

Heavy was he in his vengeance;

Terrible was his fighting.

When he would drink from a horn,

He would drink as much as four;

70

When into battle he came

He slew as would a hundred.

Unless God should accomplish it,

Cei’s death would be unattainable.

Worthy Cei and Llachau

75

Used to fight battles,

Before the pain of livid spears [ended the conflict].

On the top of Ystarfingun

Cei slew nine witches.

Worthy Cei went to Ynys Mon

80

To destroy lions.

Little protection did his shield offer

Against Palug’s Cat.

When people shall ask,

“Who slew Palug’s Cat?”

85

(Nine score fierce ones

Used to fall for her food,

Nine score chieftains

Used to . . .