|
|
|
|
(1, 0) 5 |
Ho – one of you! |
|
|
(1, 0) 7 |
Are the horses ready? |
|
(Servant) The horses and the men are ready. |
|
|
|
(Servant) And your gifts – the weapons of gold, the embroidered silk. |
(1, 0) 10 |
And where is she? |
|
(Servant) In her chamber with her maids. |
|
|
|
(Servant) Embroidering and listening to the bard's harp. |
(1, 0) 13 |
Go to her, and tell her this: |
(1, 0) 14 |
We'll set out now while three hours of daylight still remain. |
(1, 0) 15 |
Gwydion and all the soldiers shall accompany me. |
(1, 0) 16 |
She must hurry if she wants to say goodbye. |
|
(Servant) I will. |
|
|
|
(Servant) {He goes} |
(1, 0) 19 |
Oh my uncle and foster father |
(1, 0) 20 |
You won't find a man more wretched than me |
(1, 0) 21 |
In the whole of Gwynedd. |
|
(Gwydion) Quiet with your prattle and self pity. |
|
|
|
(Gwydion) Quiet with your prattle and self pity. |
(1, 0) 23 |
You won't find a man more wretched in the whole world. |
(1, 0) 24 |
With my mother's hatred and her curse a plague upon me |
(1, 0) 25 |
From the day of my birth to this. |
(1, 0) 26 |
Her hate and her wrath have snarled my destiny. |
|
(Gwydion) You dare say that – you who have been granted the greatest friendship of all. |
|
|
|
(Gwydion) Shame on you! |
(1, 0) 34 |
No one could have wished for a better friend than you, Gwydion. |
|
(Gwydion) No. |
|
|
|
(Gwydion) You whose own mother would have destroyed you had I not intervened. |
(1, 0) 42 |
A mother's loathing outweighs an uncle's love. |
|
(Gwydion) How is that? |
|
|
|
(Gwydion) She destined that you may never find a wife born of man, I spun for you from wild flowers a maiden better than an eye has seen. |
(1, 0) 49 |
But I still haven't escaped my mother's vengeance. |
(1, 0) 50 |
Blodeuwedd is not like other women. |
|
(Gwydion) Indeed. |
|
|
|
(Gwydion) In all my great span of spell making I've loved many a girl and beast – and never yet did I find one woman to be like another. |
(1, 0) 53 |
Listen, Gwydion, she has no children. |
|
(Gwydion) You're lucky. The last child I had... was a wolf. |
|
|
|
(Gwydion) You're lucky. The last child I had... was a wolf. |
(1, 0) 55 |
How can I ever forget that shimmering morning |
(1, 0) 56 |
When I first saw her. You and Math crossing the lawn |
(1, 0) 57 |
And between you, naked as that dawn itself, |
(1, 0) 58 |
The dew still glistening on her white breasts, |
(1, 0) 59 |
Breasts as pure as a snowdrop's petals |
(1, 0) 60 |
When the night furls their swell, she walked. |
(1, 0) 61 |
The soul of that virgin spring in a flawless mould of flesh. |
(1, 0) 62 |
I looked at her, and she at me. |
(1, 0) 63 |
I clothed her nakedness with kisses |
(1, 0) 64 |
And these arms, these lusting arms, |
(1, 0) 65 |
Which had been empty for so long, |
(1, 0) 66 |
Encircled her like stays of steel. |
|
(Gwydion) The same old story. |
|
|
|
(Gwydion) In these arms I've held a range of females, and believe me lad, on a warm spring morning it's the same feel to the softest girl's skin and a hog's hide. |
(1, 0) 69 |
But Gwydion, she was cold, so cold. |
(1, 0) 70 |
This heart that beat against her breast seeking warmth, |
(1, 0) 71 |
Shattered like glass on flint. I've never seen |
(1, 0) 72 |
A trace of a blush upon her cheeks, only a pallid glow, like that |
(1, 0) 73 |
Of the moon casting its random light |
(1, 0) 74 |
On the world below. |
(1, 0) 75 |
Her very blood is alien, strange... one foul night |
(1, 0) 76 |
Of gales and sleeting rain, she ran |
(1, 0) 77 |
From my bed and into the storm's rage. |
(1, 0) 78 |
I followed - full of suspicion and anger |
(1, 0) 79 |
Beneath my cloak a sword. But no one came to her. |
(1, 0) 80 |
Not even the wolves were out on such a night |
(1, 0) 81 |
Yet there she was, dancing to the tempest's fury. |
|
(Gwydion) You can't cleave a creature from its kindred. |
|
|
|
(Gwydion) You can't cleave a creature from its kindred. |
(1, 0) 83 |
I was frightened and called out. |
(1, 0) 84 |
But she didn't hear. |
(1, 0) 85 |
And with the wind lashing trees and splintering boughs |
(1, 0) 86 |
I was lost in a fearful world |
(1, 0) 87 |
Where the only things that held their own |
(1, 0) 88 |
Were rock and rain, the stormy dark, |
(1, 0) 89 |
And her, Blodeuwedd. I ran after her, |
(1, 0) 90 |
Shouted louder, grasped her arm... |
(1, 0) 91 |
"You've caught me" she said, suddenly sad |
(1, 0) 92 |
Like a child woken from some distant dream |
(1, 0) 93 |
"You've caught me. Let's go home." |
(1, 0) 94 |
And I saw, in that night's storm |
(1, 0) 95 |
That I had no place in her life. |
|
(Gwydion) Here's Blodeuwedd |
|
|
|
(Gwydion) Here's Blodeuwedd |
(1, 0) 98 |
Why does a heart of ice |
(1, 0) 99 |
Lie beneath a breast |
(1, 0) 100 |
That excites desire like the first sun of summer. |
|
(Blodeuwedd) Lord, I received your message. |
|
|
|
(Blodeuwedd) Lord, I received your message. |
(1, 0) 102 |
Yes lady, we must go. |
|
(Blodeuwedd) And Gwydion too? |
|
|
|
(Blodeuwedd) And Gwydion too? |
(1, 0) 104 |
Gwydion too. |
|
(Blodeuwedd) The day is short, and soon it will be night. |
|
|
|
(Blodeuwedd) To spend tonight without you. |
(1, 0) 108 |
You won't be alone. |
(1, 0) 109 |
You have maids, and many servants. |
|
(Blodeuwedd) I've never parted from you before; |
|
|
|
(Blodeuwedd) Being left here frightens me. |
(1, 0) 112 |
Since when? |
|
(Blodeuwedd) My spirit is restless. Nothing good will come |
|
|
|
(Blodeuwedd) The sun will speed your journey to Caer Dathal. |
(1, 0) 116 |
No. Everyone is ready, we must go, |
(1, 0) 117 |
For Math the king expects us. |
|
(Blodeuwedd) {Turning to GWYDION} |
|
|
|
(Servant) Mounted in readiness. |
(1, 0) 155 |
Good. |
(1, 0) 156 |
Come friend, it's time to leave. |
|
(Gwydion) Farewell lady. I am an old man. |
|
|
|
(Blodeuwedd) In my bones I feel that this portends some ill. |
(1, 0) 171 |
My life can't be ruled on a girl's whim. |
|
(Blodeuwedd) I know the seasons better than you. |
|
|
|
(Blodeuwedd) Why shouldn't I also read the seasons of a man? |
(1, 0) 175 |
Don't be afraid. I am destined |
(1, 0) 176 |
That no harm will easily befall me. |
(1, 0) 177 |
And you be wise. |
(1, 0) 178 |
Don't stray too far from home. |
(1, 0) 179 |
Don't let the woodlands tempt you out at dusk, |
(1, 0) 180 |
But stay among my people here, |
(1, 0) 181 |
With your maids. |
(1, 0) 182 |
Be your best Blodeuwedd |
(1, 0) 183 |
I'll only be three days. |
(1, 0) 184 |
Farewell, farewell. |
|
(Rhagnell) Blodeuwedd, my lady, why this despair? |
|
|
|
(Rhagnell) Here's the Master. |
(2, 0) 708 |
I've arrived sooner than expected? |
|
(Rhagnell) No. My Lord. |
|
|
|
(Rhagnell) And I ran to give my mistress the good news. |
(2, 0) 712 |
I sped on ahead of my soldiers |
(2, 0) 713 |
To see Blodeuwedd first. |
|
(Blodeuwedd) {Going to him} |
|
|
|
(Blodeuwedd) Here I am. |
(2, 0) 716 |
My fair, my flawless wife. |
|
(Blodeuwedd) You journeyed safely? |
|
|
|
(Blodeuwedd) You journeyed safely? |
(2, 0) 718 |
Today the wonder of your beauty is the same |
(2, 0) 719 |
As on that first morning, when the dew |
(2, 0) 720 |
Glistened in your footsteps. Fair wife |
(2, 0) 721 |
I didn't know the power of your spell |
(2, 0) 722 |
Until I felt the loss. |
|
(Blodeuwedd) You never been away from me before. |
|
|
|
(Blodeuwedd) You never been away from me before. |
(2, 0) 724 |
Nor will I again until I die. |
|
(Blodeuwedd) Pray that be true. |
|
|
|
(Blodeuwedd) Pray that be true. |
(2, 0) 726 |
What did you do while I was away? |
|
(Blodeuwedd) Ask Rhagnell. Tell him, woman. |
|
|
|
(Rhagnell) To all my questions was "My Lord has left". |
(2, 0) 739 |
Oh, wife, why wasn't I |
(2, 0) 740 |
Allowed to come to know you before. |
|
(Blodeuwedd) Put aside past doubts. Let this reunion |
|
|
|
(Blodeuwedd) Seal a new marriage between us. |
(2, 0) 744 |
I believed you cold, uncaring. |
(2, 0) 745 |
I didn't know you could weep |
(2, 0) 746 |
And blur those bright eyes with tears of longing. |
(2, 0) 747 |
Why did you keep from me till now this tenderness? |
|
(Blodeuwedd) I was given to you my Lord as bounty, |
|
|
|
(Blodeuwedd) Nor the marks of battle beneath this breast. |
(2, 0) 761 |
You are my wife. I hope through you |
(2, 0) 762 |
To found a race to rule Ardudwy. I wanted |
(2, 0) 763 |
To love you as a father loves the mother of his sons. |
(2, 0) 764 |
What greater love than that could a man dream of? |
|
(Blodeuwedd) I was a wife to you before I was a girl. |
|
|
|
(Blodeuwedd) But I am the woman of flowers, Blodeuwedd. |
(2, 0) 768 |
Woman of flowers, teach me then |
(2, 0) 769 |
How to fight my way past the petals |
(2, 0) 770 |
And bury myself like a bee in your core. |
(2, 0) 771 |
I too, my love, am alone in this world. |
(2, 0) 772 |
I was a stranger to my own mother's arms. |
(2, 0) 773 |
She cast me from her womb before my time |
(2, 0) 774 |
Then persecuted me. In my life |
(2, 0) 775 |
I'd never tasted a kiss, before yours, |
(2, 0) 776 |
Nor a girl's arms around my neck. |
(2, 0) 777 |
I never knew a brother or sister's tenderness. |
(2, 0) 778 |
I have such longing for your love, girl. |
(2, 0) 779 |
Teach me how to love you in your way |
(2, 0) 780 |
For shouldn't love attract love |
(2, 0) 781 |
And one heart fire another? My wife, my world, |
(2, 0) 782 |
Why do you keep yourself from me? |
|
(Blodeuwedd) I don't my love, I have never |
|
|
|
(Blodeuwedd) Kept any part of me from you. |
(2, 0) 785 |
You gave our body, but kept your soul. |
|
(Blodeuwedd) I gave you my trust. You're the only one |
|
|
|
(Blodeuwedd) If you were killed, leaving me without a mate? |
(2, 0) 789 |
Was it true what Rhagnell said about you weeping? |
|
|
(2, 0) 791 |
Blodeuwedd, look at me. Answer me. |
(2, 0) 792 |
Why don't you answer? Tell me, are you well? |
|
(Blodeuwedd) The day you left me |
|
|
|
(Blodeuwedd) That never again would I see you alive. |
(2, 0) 796 |
Was your love for me so great? |
|
(Blodeuwedd) I have no family but you. |
|
|
|
(Blodeuwedd) I have no family but you. |
(2, 0) 798 |
Half my soul, now I know your love, |
(2, 0) 799 |
Henceforth life will sing to me sweetly. |
(2, 0) 800 |
Your company will be contentment. We two |
(2, 0) 801 |
Shall raise a race in Ardudwy. |
(2, 0) 802 |
Fertility will gird our future |
(2, 0) 803 |
And young saplings will grow |
(2, 0) 804 |
In this oak's shadow. |
(2, 0) 805 |
We'll be like a sheltered orchard |
(2, 0) 806 |
Our love a palisade between us |
(2, 0) 807 |
And the chill winds of loneliness. |
(2, 0) 808 |
My wife, you'll be an exile no longer. |
(2, 0) 809 |
I'll be your kith and kin. And unless I'm killed... |
|
(Blodeuwedd) If you were killed? |
|
|
|
(Blodeuwedd) If you were killed? |
(2, 0) 811 |
My sweetest, don't be sad. |
(2, 0) 812 |
Don't be afraid. Killing me isn't easy. |
(2, 0) 813 |
I'm fated that my death |
(2, 0) 814 |
Is unlikely by the hand of any man. |
|
(Blodeuwedd) You're reckless and neglectful. |
|
|
|
(Blodeuwedd) Need never again be weighed with worry. |
(2, 0) 820 |
I'll tell you gladly. A full year must be spent |
(2, 0) 821 |
Making the spear which is to strike me. |
(2, 0) 822 |
It may only be fashioned at the time |
(2, 0) 823 |
Of Sacrifice at Sunday Mass. |
|
(Blodeuwedd) You're certain of this? |
|
|
|
(Blodeuwedd) You're certain of this? |
(2, 0) 825 |
Quite certain. |
(2, 0) 826 |
Neither can I be killed inside a house |
(2, 0) 827 |
Nor on my horse. Nor with a foot upon the ground. |
(2, 0) 828 |
I have to stand on a water trough |
(2, 0) 829 |
That is set beside a river. Positioned so, |
(2, 0) 830 |
And struck in the back with the poisoned spear, |
(2, 0) 831 |
I could be killed. |
|
(Blodeuwedd) Let God be praised. Such a fate |
|
|
|
(Blodeuwedd) Should be easy to avoid. |
(2, 0) 834 |
Many a time, Blodeuwedd, |
(2, 0) 835 |
I wished my own death. But now |
(2, 0) 836 |
I've a taste for life, as fresh |
(2, 0) 837 |
As the first bite of an apple to a tooth. |
(2, 0) 838 |
Your love is the throne in Caer Siddi |
(2, 0) 839 |
Where no pain nor pestilence come to plague us. |
(2, 0) 840 |
There I am truly king. |
(2, 0) 841 |
No one and nothing dares dethrone me – |
(2, 0) 842 |
Not fear, nor remorse, nor even death itself. |
(2, 0) 843 |
For love's rule is unassailable. |
|
(Blodeuwedd) Is there anything of Man |
|
|
|
(Blodeuwedd) That can't be changed or challenged? |
(2, 0) 846 |
Passion wanes, because it is fragile |
(2, 0) 847 |
And flighty like youth itself. But love |
(2, 0) 848 |
Grows, like an oak, strengthened by life's storms. |
(2, 0) 849 |
Beneath its great branches flourishes |
(2, 0) 850 |
Family, home, estates and kingdom. |
(2, 0) 851 |
Our love, fair lady, will provide Ardudwy |
(2, 0) 852 |
With security and strength |
(2, 0) 853 |
We'll give commoners learning, |
(2, 0) 854 |
We'll give our community wealth, |
(2, 0) 855 |
We'll stand proud among princedoms |
(2, 0) 856 |
Because of this hour's bold new bond. |
|
(Rhagnell) Master, the water and towels are ready |
|
|
|
(Rhagnell) Soon it will be time to eat. |
(2, 0) 861 |
I'll come. Let's feast today |
(2, 0) 862 |
As if at a wedding. I left here |
(2, 0) 863 |
Three days ago with a heavy heart. |
(2, 0) 864 |
I return today to a new found joy, |
(2, 0) 865 |
Greater than any I've known. This day |
(2, 0) 866 |
Has unfurled like a flag above my fortress, for |
(2, 0) 867 |
I've found at last the meaning of a wife's loyalty. |
|
(Blodeuwedd) Rhagnell, I tried to kill you. |
|
|
|
(Blodeuwedd) And afterwards we'll laugh, and live as we like. |
(3, 0) 1019 |
You're up early, lady. |
|
(Blodeuwedd) The sunrise shimmered white this morning. |
|
|
|
(Blodeuwedd) Like a rabbit to lap at the dew. |
(3, 0) 1023 |
And like a rabbit you ventured out barefoot. |
|
(Blodeuwedd) A husband notices such things. And would you |
|
|
|
(Blodeuwedd) Make me a shoe, as you did for your mother? |
(3, 0) 1026 |
My mother wouldn't brave the outdoors barefoot. |
(3, 0) 1027 |
She sent servants with her foot measurements. |
|
(Blodeuwedd) Is that the time you killed the wren |
|
|
|
(Blodeuwedd) With a spear? |
(3, 0) 1030 |
Not a spear. No one could transfix |
(3, 0) 1031 |
A wren with a spear. But a cobbler's needle, |
(3, 0) 1032 |
With that I did. |
|
(Blodeuwedd) A needle of course. How stupid of me. |
|
|
|
(Blodeuwedd) Tell me how you killed the wren. Tell me. |
(3, 0) 1035 |
Gladly. But first, shouldn't you tell me |
(3, 0) 1036 |
Why you summoned me so early from my bed? |
|
(Blodeuwedd) The wren's story first. |
|
|
|
(Blodeuwedd) The wren's story first. |
(3, 0) 1038 |
No. Your story first. |
(3, 0) 1039 |
Why did you call me here from the fort? |
|
(Blodeuwedd) And then the tale of killing the wren? |
|
|
|
(Blodeuwedd) And then the tale of killing the wren? |
(3, 0) 1041 |
I promise. So what is your secret then? |
|
(Blodeuwedd) You're so impatient. Didn't I tell you last night? |
|
|
|
(Blodeuwedd) You're so impatient. Didn't I tell you last night? |
(3, 0) 1043 |
You told me that you'd keep some joyous news |
(3, 0) 1044 |
Until today, to celebrate the anniversary |
(3, 0) 1045 |
Of my return from Math's court. |
|
(Blodeuwedd) Your imagination is slow to wake this morning. |
|
|
|
(Blodeuwedd) Have you been happy this last year lord? |
(3, 0) 1048 |
How could I not have been? Your trust |
(3, 0) 1049 |
Was a nest to me. You've been civil and sweet, |
(3, 0) 1050 |
No longer a wild bird trapped in a cage. |
|
(Blodeuwedd) You still fear wild things, my Llew? |
|
|
|
(Blodeuwedd) You still fear wild things, my Llew? |
(3, 0) 1052 |
My mother was wild. She persecuted me. |
(3, 0) 1053 |
She taught me fear. I grew up |
(3, 0) 1054 |
Not knowing who my own father was. |
(3, 0) 1055 |
I hated all things wild. They're cowardly |
(3, 0) 1056 |
And base. They stalk and strike from behind. |
(3, 0) 1057 |
But you've been my walled and cultured garden, |
(3, 0) 1058 |
That makes me safe. This is the first year |
(3, 0) 1059 |
I've not feared a traitor's dagger in my back. |
|
(Blodeuwedd) Now you've confounded all your mother's curses. |
|
|
|
(Blodeuwedd) Now you've confounded all your mother's curses. |
(3, 0) 1061 |
Each one she named. There was another. |
|
(Blodeuwedd) What was that, my friend? You've had a name; |
|
|
|
(Blodeuwedd) Despite her you've had weapons; you've had a wife. |
(3, 0) 1064 |
When my mother decreed that I |
(3, 0) 1065 |
Should never have a wife from womankind – |
(3, 0) 1066 |
Though we deflected her curse and made a woman |
(3, 0) 1067 |
Of flowers, the fairest seen by man, |
(3, 0) 1068 |
And though wherever you stand is my sunlight |
(3, 0) 1069 |
And having you in my arms is my night's delight |
(3, 0) 1070 |
And for that I give praise, Blodeuwedd – |
(3, 0) 1071 |
I still know that I'm not free from my mother's wrath. |
|
(Blodeuwedd) I understand. But tell me, when will you |
|
|
|
(Blodeuwedd) Be free of that curse? |
(3, 0) 1074 |
When you give me the best news of my life. |
|
(Blodeuwedd) And that news? |
|
|
|
(Blodeuwedd) And that news? |
(3, 0) 1076 |
The glorious news |
(3, 0) 1077 |
That through you I have a son and heir. |
|
(Blodeuwedd) And that would break your mother's hold on you? |
|
|
|
(Blodeuwedd) And that would break your mother's hold on you? |
(3, 0) 1079 |
My mother tried to kill me. In that she failed. |
(3, 0) 1080 |
My birth sullied her. I personified |
(3, 0) 1081 |
Her degradation, and was the focus |
(3, 0) 1082 |
For all her hatred towards the world. |
(3, 0) 1083 |
She cut me off from mankind, sundered me |
(3, 0) 1084 |
From the carefree days of boyhood; |
(3, 0) 1085 |
I was forbidden the very trappings |
(3, 0) 1086 |
Of young manhood; a name, arms, a woman. |
(3, 0) 1087 |
I had to fight against her for my sense of self. |
(3, 0) 1088 |
Gwydion was a father to me. You now a wife. |
(3, 0) 1089 |
King Math gave me lands for my princedom. |
(3, 0) 1090 |
I've known the cares common to men; through you |
(3, 0) 1091 |
This year, I've known caring. Love. The nightmare |
(3, 0) 1092 |
Has receded and is often forgotten. But Blodeuwedd, |
(3, 0) 1093 |
If I once saw, cradled against your breast |
(3, 0) 1094 |
A boy, my heir, the last link in that cruel chain |
(3, 0) 1095 |
Would fall away and I would glory |
(3, 0) 1096 |
In being a life-giver. In fathering a future. |
|
(Blodeuwedd) Without that you won't be happy with me? |
|
|
|
(Blodeuwedd) Without that you won't be happy with me? |
(3, 0) 1098 |
Without that, I'll be content. With that |
(3, 0) 1099 |
My love and gratitude would ring a serenade around you. |
|
(Blodeuwedd) But that wouldn't be a song in my honour. |
|
|
|
(Blodeuwedd) If you said that – |
(3, 0) 1105 |
I'll say it when a boy rests in your arms. |
|
(Blodeuwedd) What fateful words! Listen to my secret. |
|
|
|
(Blodeuwedd) I have an heir for you, here. |
(3, 0) 1108 |
You know for certain? |
|
(Blodeuwedd) As every woman knows. |
|
|
|
(Blodeuwedd) As every woman knows. |
(3, 0) 1110 |
Oh, my queen! Let the fates make it a son. |
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(Blodeuwedd) He is a lad, I swear it. |
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(Blodeuwedd) He is a lad, I swear it. |
(3, 0) 1112 |
I never dared to think |
(3, 0) 1113 |
Your words last night hinted at this. |
(3, 0) 1114 |
My cup is brimful. If death itself should strike now |
(3, 0) 1115 |
I'd not begrudge it! |
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(Blodeuwedd) Death strike now? Aren't you charmed against |
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(Blodeuwedd) Any attempt your mother might make to kill you? |
(3, 0) 1118 |
My mother's wrath counts for nothing if I have an heir. |
(3, 0) 1119 |
What will he be like? Imagine it my love. |
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(Blodeuwedd) Keen in his kissing. I can see him now, |
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(Blodeuwedd) And Ardudwy's halls will echo with his dancing. |
(3, 0) 1124 |
I'll teach him his father's skill at games. |
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(Blodeuwedd) Will you teach him to throw a spear, and a needle? |
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|
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(Blodeuwedd) Will you teach him to throw a spear, and a needle? |
(3, 0) 1126 |
And how to row and how to make a shoe for his mother |
(3, 0) 1127 |
So she doesn't have to go barefoot in the dew. |
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(Blodeuwedd) And will you tell him the story of shooting the wren? |
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|
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(Blodeuwedd) And will you tell him the story of shooting the wren? |
(3, 0) 1129 |
I can picture him now, a three year old |
(3, 0) 1130 |
In your lap listening to Gwydion's tales. |
(3, 0) 1131 |
How the old wizard will make the boy smile |
(3, 0) 1132 |
With his story of our boat outside Arianrhod's keep. |
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(Blodeuwedd) Tell me that story, as if I were your heir. |
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|
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(Blodeuwedd) Where did Gwydion stand? |
(3, 0) 1136 |
Here, mid-deck, |
(3, 0) 1137 |
Peering down at my mother's foot. |
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(Blodeuwedd) And you, the nameless youth |
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(Blodeuwedd) Stitching the shoe leather, where were you? |
(3, 0) 1140 |
There in the stern. |
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(Blodeuwedd) Did your mother look at you? |
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|
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(Blodeuwedd) Did your mother look at you? |
(3, 0) 1142 |
Yes. Long and hard with lips pursed. |
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(Blodeuwedd) But without recognising you? |
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|
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(Blodeuwedd) But without recognising you? |
(3, 0) 1144 |
Gwydion had woven a spell. |
(3, 0) 1145 |
She was beautiful, standing, her foot on the boat's rail. |
(3, 0) 1146 |
Upright, and proud, a princess. |
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(Blodeuwedd) Like this? Facing out to sea? And then? |
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(Blodeuwedd) Like this? Facing out to sea? And then? |
(3, 0) 1148 |
It was spring. Ten yards offshore |
(3, 0) 1149 |
Stood on a stone sea-wall. In one of its crannies |
(3, 0) 1150 |
The wren appeared, skipping and darting |
(3, 0) 1151 |
In and out of the crevice. It flitted |
(3, 0) 1152 |
Then came to rest on the boat's prow. |
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(Blodeuwedd) Here? Show me how it stood. |
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(Blodeuwedd) Here? Show me how it stood. |
(3, 0) 1155 |
Look, like this... |
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|
(3, 0) 1158 |
There stand Gwydion and my mother |
(3, 0) 1159 |
Myself back there. A moment of stillness. |
(3, 0) 1160 |
The water's surface shimmering, not a sound... |
(3, 0) 1161 |
The wren perches. He raises one wing |
(3, 0) 1162 |
Like this... his head downwards. That second, |
(3, 0) 1163 |
The needle weighted in my fingers... |
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(Blodeuwedd) A needle, not a spear... |
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|
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(Blodeuwedd) A needle, not a spear... |
(3, 0) 1165 |
I aimed at him... |
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(Gronw) Like this. |
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(Gwydion) And the young couple awaiting us with their welcome. |
(4, 0) 1544 |
Where are your men, traitor? |
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(Gronw) All dispersed. |
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(Gronw) On whom to vent your wrath. |
(4, 0) 1548 |
Is this a trick? Search every corner of this fort. |
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(Gwydion) And here's the handsome heir, a son of Gronw Hir, |
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(Gwydion) We must respect the wishes of a man condemned to die. |
(4, 0) 1559 |
A cord of flax binds his arms; |
(4, 0) 1560 |
He bound me with the tethers of a wife's lies. |
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(Gronw) What do you want lord? |
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(Gronw) What do you want lord? |
(4, 0) 1562 |
Your life. |
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(Gronw) You have a right to that. I'll yield it gladly. |
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(Gronw) You have a right to that. I'll yield it gladly. |
(4, 0) 1564 |
You spent a whole year plotting my death |
(4, 0) 1565 |
Another full year you took possession of my bed |
(4, 0) 1566 |
My fortress, my princedom and this half-human harpy |
(4, 0) 1567 |
Who once passed as wife. It's not for that either |
(4, 0) 1568 |
That I want your blood, rather because you heard |
(4, 0) 1569 |
The greatest secret of my soul, and laughed. |
(4, 0) 1570 |
You mocked at my misfortune – you ridiculed |
(4, 0) 1571 |
The confession of a man ensnared by love |
(4, 0) 1572 |
Your treachery cut you from mankind; |
(4, 0) 1573 |
With that foul deed you cast your humanity to the swine. |
(4, 0) 1574 |
The mark of the forest is on you. You cannot live. |
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(Gronw) Comrade, how will you want to kill me? |
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|
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(Gronw) Comrade, how will you want to kill me? |
(4, 0) 1576 |
Uncle Gwydion, what shall we do with him? |
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(Gwydion) This afternoon, we'll go together, the three of us |
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(Gronw) Thank you, Sir. |
(4, 0) 1587 |
Take him. Hold him until this afternoon. |
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(Blodeuwedd) My man of magic, you've travelled far today, |
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(Blodeuwedd) To share the today of my empty heart. |
(4, 0) 1652 |
Gwydion, it's true. She has been wronged. |
(4, 0) 1653 |
She doesn't deserve today as that other does. |
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(Gwydion) Do you say that? I don't believe it! |
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(Blodeuwedd) Why should I live? |
(4, 0) 1657 |
I came here bitter intending for you |
(4, 0) 1658 |
A savage punishment. I see now |
(4, 0) 1659 |
That you've always been a creature to pity. |
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(Blodeuwedd) You fought against your fate, I against mine; |
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(Blodeuwedd) We've both battled against what must be. |
(4, 0) 1662 |
There are musts in every human marriage. |
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(Blodeuwedd) Different imperatives lie at the root of my passion. |
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|
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(Blodeuwedd) Different imperatives lie at the root of my passion. |
(4, 0) 1664 |
That's why I can forgive you. |
(4, 0) 1665 |
No rational soul could love like you. |
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(Blodeuwedd) One tried. I gave him to you as your heir. |
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(Blodeuwedd) One tried. I gave him to you as your heir. |
(4, 0) 1667 |
And he chose death to escape from you. |
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(Blodeuwedd) And your jealousy needs to claim his life. |
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(Blodeuwedd) Since you'll have no other wife of woman born? |
(4, 0) 1672 |
I'll accept my destiny |
(4, 0) 1673 |
And make a nest of my sorrows. |
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(Blodeuwedd) I hear your mother's triumphant laugh. |
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|
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(Blodeuwedd) I hear your mother's triumphant laugh. |
(4, 0) 1675 |
You don't hear her sobbing in the night. |
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(Blodeuwedd) You hearth will be arid, your bed ever cold. |
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(Blodeuwedd) You hearth will be arid, your bed ever cold. |
(4, 0) 1677 |
We're all exiles. The world's a cold hearth. |
(4, 0) 1678 |
I'll join the army of bitter souls. |
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(Blodeuwedd) It's your destiny that you'll never know love. |
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|
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(Blodeuwedd) It's your destiny that you'll never know love. |
(4, 0) 1680 |
The love I could achieve, I gave to you. |
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(Blodeuwedd) A small residue of your copious self pity. |
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(Blodeuwedd) A small residue of your copious self pity. |
(4, 0) 1682 |
I put my life in your hands. You betrayed it. |
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(Blodeuwedd) So I could gain a life myself. |
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(Blodeuwedd) Take your revenge. |
(4, 0) 1685 |
I can't. You may walk from here, freely. |
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(Blodeuwedd) How gracious is my lord. I may go freely – |
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(Blodeuwedd) ; |
(4, 0) 1690 |
This afternoon I'll go to the goat trough. |
(4, 0) 1691 |
Myself with Gwydion and Gronw Pebr of Penllyn. |
(4, 0) 1692 |
Will you come with us to laugh as before? |