| ACT FOUR A year later, in the fort's great hall, the PENTEULU and RHAGNELL |
|
| Penteulu |
On your own again Rhagnell? |
| Rhagnell |
On my own. My lady's not up yet. |
| Penteulu |
In Llew's day she was the first to get up. Isn't Gronw back from hunting? |
| Rhagnell |
No. |
| Penteulu |
Some of his men are back. I saw them in the courtyard. |
| Rhagnell |
Perhaps they lost their appetite for the hunt. |
| Penteulu |
They've still got an appetite for gossip. |
| Rhagnell |
Well, if they have gossip let them keep it for the banquet. |
| Penteulu |
What banquet? |
| Rhagnell |
What banquet! Where have you been? |
| Penteulu |
Reconnoitring in Arfon. Searching the Vale of Nantlle. I didn't hear even a mention there of any banquet. |
| Rhagnell |
A year ago today Gronw came to Ardudwy. I opened the gates for you and your guard. |
| Penteulu |
And will you be the gatekeeper today? |
| Rhagnell |
You and your stupid questions. |
| Penteulu |
You'd be surprised at the guests who'll come to your banquet. |
| Rhagnell |
Do you have to pester me? What wrong have I done you? |
| Penteulu |
You've opened too many doors in your time. |
| Rhagnell |
And you and your master passed through them all. |
| Penteulu |
I won't this afternoon. |
| Rhagnell |
That's a bad sign. The men of Penllyn Shy away from battles, but not from banquets. |
| Penteulu |
Who do you expect to welcome here from Caer Dathal? Is Gwydion invited? |
| Rhagnell |
I shouldn't think so. |
| Penteulu |
I heard in Nantlle that he is on his way. |
| Rhagnell |
And perhaps you heard that Llew Llaw Gyffes too was on his way. |
| Penteulu |
Yes. I heard that too. |
| Rhagnell |
You lying fool. |
| Penteulu |
A fool perhaps. But why call me a liar? |
| Rhagnell |
You yourself buried Llew's body. |
| Penteulu |
So I've been told, many times. |
| Rhagnell |
You told us that. Nobody else. |
| Penteulu |
Did you hear me say that? |
| Rhagnell |
When the lord and lady came from that slaying He instructed you and two of your soldiers To bury the body by the goat's water trough. We were at the nuptial table, feasting For an hour or more before you returned And told us that your work was done. |
| Penteulu |
And did Gronw or anyone else ask what that work was? |
| Rhagnell |
Wasn't it burying Llew Llaw Gyffes? |
| Penteulu |
Have you seen the grave? |
| Rhagnell |
No. |
| Penteulu |
Has your mistress? |
| Rhagnell |
I don't know. |
| Penteulu |
Isn't it strange that no one enquired about the grave? |
| Rhagnell |
Taming Ardudwy and securing its allegiance Was more important than placing a headstone on a grave. |
| Penteulu |
There's comfort in a grave. It signifies a death. Headstones on enemies' graves give the living a sounder sleep. |
| Rhagnell |
You needn't worry. Gronw's a sound enough sleeper. |
| Penteulu |
Is his sleep as sound as Llew's by the goat trough? |
| Rhagnell |
What do you mean? |
| Penteulu |
Didn't you say That's where Llew Llaw Gyffes lay dead? |
| Rhagnell |
It was ordained that he should die like that. |
| Penteulu |
No. It was ordained that he couldn't be killed In any other way. |
| Rhagnell |
Two and two make four. He was killed. He died. |
| Penteulu |
If you know that, good luck to you. |
| Rhagnell |
Me know it? It's you who buried him. |
| Penteulu |
You keep saying that. I don't know why. |
| Rhagnell |
Don't you. Didn't you bury him? |
| Penteulu |
There's a year since Llew Llaw Gyffes was felled Yet no one here asked me this before. |
| Rhagnell |
Why need we ask? We all knew it for a fact. |
| Penteulu |
But I didn't. |
| Rhagnell |
Why didn't you know? |
| Penteulu |
If he was buried, it wasn't by me. |
| Rhagnell |
Your soldiers then, at your instruction. |
| Penteulu |
Go and ask them. They're in the courtyard. |
| Rhagnell |
Llew Llaw Gyffes was killed on the goat trough. |
| Penteulu |
That's what I understood. I went there. There was no corpse, no man nor goat near the spot. I searched the woods, the river's edge – And nothing. |
| Rhagnell |
Why didn't you report this to Gronw Pebr? |
| Penteulu |
Now there's a man who's never volunteered truth. To anyone. It wouldn't pay to give him The truth unprompted either, unless need arose. |
| Rhagnell |
Perhaps one of his retainers stole the body? |
| Penteulu |
Strange that Gwydion never came from Caer Dathal Nor one of Arfon's bards to mourn above the grave. I heard no elegies in Nantlle, No crowing in triumph from his mother. |
| Rhagnell |
You suspect that Llew Llaw Gyffes is alive? |
| Penteulu |
That's what I suspected. I went to Arfon; For a year Gwydion and Math's physicians Fought against the poison for Llew's life. He's alive today, and well again. He'll be here today. He has a score to settle with Gronw Pebr. |
| Rhagnell |
I'm sure he does. Does he come alone? |
| Penteulu |
He brings his uncle, Gwydion. And three hundred armed guards. |
| BLODEUWEDD enters. |
|
| Rhagnell |
There's news, mistress. |
| Blodeuwedd |
Happy or sad. |
| Rhagnell |
Is it happy or sad that Llew Llaw Gyffes lives? |
| Blodeuwedd |
Lives? Who says that? |
| Penteulu |
I saw him yesterday. |
| Blodeuwedd |
Ha! The day's come. I've been expecting this. |
| Penteulu |
You've been expecting it, lady? Since when? |
| Blodeuwedd |
Since a year ago this day. Since I saw you Frown as you hesitated by the gate. The day that Penllyn and Ardudwy were united; Your expression mocked the celebrations. |
| Penteulu |
I never did you wrong, lady. |
| Blodeuwedd |
You stayed silent – that silence was a lie And a malice against me, a plot To fell and smash my fragile joy – You didn't bury Llew. |
| Penteulu |
I did not. |
| Blodeuwedd |
Gwydion took him. |
| Penteulu |
How do you know that? |
| Blodeuwedd |
I know that wizard's ways. Who but he Could snatch beasts and men From the Underworld's jaws, and save Their souls. He'll come here today? |
| Penteulu |
Gwydion, the Llew and three hundred soldiers. |
| Blodeuwedd |
Let them come. I've had my day. |
| Penteulu |
What do you advise lady? Time is short. |
| Blodeuwedd |
Should I advise someone who's happy to betray me? |
| Penteulu |
I'll swear – |
| Blodeuwedd |
– That your escape is already planned. |
| Penteulu |
A mere forty retainers can't defend this fort. |
| Blodeuwedd |
Saddles strapped on the horses, sunlight glinting on shields. Jangling armour, clattering hooves... An avenger stalks the woods. Ready to spring, to reclaim his land. |
| Penteulu |
I've placed guards on watch. |
| Blodeuwedd |
You've arranged to escape before he comes. |
| Penteulu |
Gronw must make his escape, yourself too. Our soldiers won't tarry here in Ardudwy to be slain. Back in Penllyn we are rooted and strong. |
| Blodeuwedd |
Are the soldiers to decide for their lord? |
| Penteulu |
What's worse? To follow soldiers' wisdom Or be a woman's slave? |
| Blodeuwedd |
It's easy to get you to voice your traitorous Feelings and spit your poison, Penteulu. |
| Penteulu |
It's not worth arguing – our enemies are almost upon us. |
| Rhagnell |
Gronw Pebr's here now lady. |
| GRONW comes in. |
|
| Blodeuwedd |
Did you hear Gronw? |
| Gronw |
I heard everything. |
| Blodeuwedd |
Your captain urges us to flee to Penllyn. |
| Gronw |
What does the enemy number? |
| Penteulu |
Three hundred fighting men. |
| Gronw |
And ours? |
| Penteulu |
Less than forty. Some of those Were pressed into our service here in Ardudwy. I wouldn't trust them with our lives. |
| Gronw |
It was wise to get the guards and horses ready. We can't defend the fort. |
| Penteulu |
That's a soldier talking Not a female's clucking in the face of the foe. |
| Gronw |
Are the men gathered? |
| Penteulu |
The men and the horses. There's a steed for yourself and for your lady. |
| Gronw |
When will the enemy arrive? |
| Penteulu |
I've placed watchmen. We'll know When their force reaches the valley's pass. |
| Gronw |
You've always had wisdom and fortitude. I'll give you the rights to the lands of Penllyn And its inheritance to your children after you. I place in your trust this lady, her well-being, And her maid, Rhagnell. Give them safe shelter From Gwydion's wrath, from the Llew's claws. Send messengers to Caer Dathal To King Math. Offer him recompense To stave off his destruction of your lands. Rule the kingdom in a wiser way than I. I'll stay here to wait, and brave Llew Llaw Gyffes. He'll want retribution For the shame I brought him. You three however, Should be allowed to flee to safety. |
| Penteulu |
Lord, you needn't sacrifice yourself. In Penllyn there's an army, Your castle and your proper rights and riches. |
| Gronw |
Do as I say. I'm staying here To face the Llew when he returns to his lair. |
| Blodeuwedd |
Gronw, why need you? |
| Gronw |
Go, Rhagnell, hurry To collect your mistress's things for the journey. |
| RHAGNELL exits. |
|
| Blodeuwedd |
You'll come too Gronw? |
| Gronw |
No, I shan't come. I've lived with this madness for too long. No longer. Neither will I drag revenge On my innocent subjects, nor ruin On my inheritance. |
| Blodeuwedd |
Let's escape to Dyfed then. Math's enemies will welcome us there. They'll offer sustenance and security. |
| Gronw |
If we did that, Math would spit His venom on Penllyn's virgin acres Whilst I was fleeing, for fear, in a woman's arms. |
| Penteulu |
Isn't it too late for you to think of Penllyn now My lord? But not too late to head for home. Your subjects will still support you. |
| Gronw |
You're right to chide me And your proposition's fair. It's fair too for me to refuse. I owe a debt To Ardudwy's Llew. I'll repay it today. Here, alone, without anyone's support. |
| Penteulu |
I urge you now as a fellow soldier, sir. There's only a little time to save our guard We have to choose, to battle here or escape Before the enemy closes in on us. I hear distant horsemen. |
| Gronw |
Don't tarry – go. |
| Blodeuwedd |
Gronw, my Gronw – |
| Gronw |
Don't touch me woman. The hour's come. We must part. You have a journey ahead of you. |
| Blodeuwedd |
I won't leave here without you. I won't leave you alone in Gwydion's hands. |
| Gronw |
Your husband lives. He'll be here now. You cannot stay. |
| Blodeuwedd |
I can't go to total strangers. They'll kill me without you. |
| Gronw |
Brave captain. I've given you my estates. Give me your word that this fine woman Will enjoy respect in Penllyn under your protection. |
| A bugle sounds. A SOLDIER rushes in. |
|
| Soldier |
Sirs, the enemy's out-runners are at the valley's pass. |
| Penteulu |
To your horses! Come now my lord. |
| Gronw |
Hurry, Blodeuwedd. Where's your maid. Rhagnell? |
| Blodeuwedd |
Rhagnell left the fort a while ago. |
| Gronw |
Left? To go where? |
| Blodeuwedd |
I'm not sure. Towards the river. |
| Penteulu |
This isn't the time for anyone to seek a grave. |
| Gronw |
You can't wait for her. |
| Blodeuwedd |
I must wait. Don't ask me to leave without you. Blood has united us – we can't be parted. I stood with you by the goat's watering trough. I watched you aim the spear. I saw the killing. I'll stay to face him again. |
| Gronw |
And why not? You came to me across his corpse He'll reclaim you, like Helen, Across my corpse. Go, Penteulu, Take your men and flee. You'll see tonight The lapping waves of Meloch and Tryweryn And the smoke rising from Llanfor, and me there, a lad... Yes. Go now. Hurry. |
| Penteulu |
I'll leave two horses for you in the courtyard. |
| The PENTEULU and the SOLDIER exit. The sounds of horses moving out of the yard. Then silence. |
|
| Blodeuwedd |
They've gone Gronw. |
| Gronw |
And turned this fort into a prison. |
| Blodeuwedd |
There's no one staying behind, but us. |
| Gronw |
We won't be alone for long. We'll soon have company. |
| Blodeuwedd |
I wish Rhagnell would return. |
| Gronw |
I wouldn't be too surprised To see her arrive with Gwydion. |
| Blodeuwedd |
I'm frightened. She was never devious. She was our go-between, remember? |
| Gronw |
Remember? Too well. There's no pain Like failing to cast out a waking nightmare. |
| Blodeuwedd |
Why do we have to stay here? Why Gronw? |
| Gronw |
You needn't. I must. It's my fate. |
| Blodeuwedd |
You don't even have your weapons, Shall I fetch A sword, a shield? Don't you want to fight? |
| Gronw |
It's not my turn to strike. Not this time. |
| Blodeuwedd |
And you'll fall to your knees in front of him? He can't forgive. I know my Llew. |
| Gronw |
I can forego his mercy. I'll settle for The stab of his spear. |
| Blodeuwedd |
Do you want to die? |
| Gronw |
How long it's taken you to read my mind. |
| Blodeuwedd |
What do you think you'll achieve by your death? |
| Gronw |
A final hour of freedom. |
| Blodeuwedd |
I don't understand you. Over there are horses, ready, saddled to go, And freedom in their stirrups. Why don't we go? |
| Gronw |
Freedom's here. Here with you. |
| Blodeuwedd |
I understand, or my heart does, that "with you" I feared earlier Gronw, but no, I see now... Your freedom is us dying in each other's arms And we crown a short life's love with this last defiance. |
| Gronw |
My freedom doesn't lie in your arms. It's in having you here when my end comes And in choosing death, your sister, before you. |
| Blodeuwedd |
Reject me, would you? Blame me For making you a murderer? Plead before Llew That a woman's wiles were to blame for what you did? Is that how you'll gain your freedom? |
| Gronw |
You needn't worry. I don't expect your death Will save my life. I've only minutes Left to live. Your husband, woman, Is coming and so is my death. I choose that. It's in that choice that I find my freedom. |
| Blodeuwedd |
Now your freedom is to escape from me? |
| Gronw |
I can't escape from you except through death. The poison of your kisses circulates in my blood. Why should I live on? To taste for a lifetime That which I've already experienced, Sating the body till surfeit sets in. And the staleness, the shame, that follows indulgence? Your love is a grave, not a future. No child Will laugh in those arms; there's no cradle in our keep. But in the deep of night there's the sound Of a lunatic crying, howling on the breasts Of darkness and chewing on dirt, urged on By the mocking screech of an owl. I lost the paths of humankind, to follow Torches to a quagmire, and I sank. I sought To grasp at a star; a clawing bat clung to my face. Today a bolt has struck me, and I woke up. I see Penllyn again. I see my childhood there. Then I see myself as I am now. Oh, filthy! And your stare spearing me. I'd rather His sword than your kisses. |
| TWO SOLDIERS rush in and pounce on GRONW. With them are LLEW and GWYDION and TWO OTHER SOLDIERS carrying a bier draped with a sheet. |
|
| Soldier |
Here they are, both of them... Get him... He's caught. |
| They tie GRONW's hands behind his back. |
|
| Gwydion |
Walking through an open door as if to a banquet And the young couple awaiting us with their welcome. |
| Llew |
Where are your men, traitor? |
| Gronw |
All dispersed. I alone struck you. You needn't seek others On whom to vent your wrath. |
| Llew |
Is this a trick? Search every corner of this fort. |
| Two of the SOLDIERS go. |
|
| Gwydion |
And here's the handsome heir, a son of Gronw Hir, But now without followers, a captive, no spear to hand. |
| Gronw |
Lord, your men don't need to tie me; I stayed To do your will. I'm ready for your revenge standing. As free as you yourself stood on the goat trough. |
| Gwydion |
That's true nephew. I knew his father, And the fortress at the lake's edge. Untie him, We must respect the wishes of a man condemned to die. |
| Two SOLDIERS untie GRONW. |
|
| Llew |
A cord of flax binds his arms; He bound me with the tethers of a wife's lies. |
| Gronw |
What do you want lord? |
| Llew |
Your life. |
| Gronw |
You have a right to that. I'll yield it gladly. |
| Llew |
You spent a whole year plotting my death Another full year you took possession of my bed My fortress, my princedom and this half-human harpy Who once passed as wife. It's not for that either That I want your blood, rather because you heard The greatest secret of my soul, and laughed. You mocked at my misfortune – you ridiculed The confession of a man ensnared by love Your treachery cut you from mankind; With that foul deed you cast your humanity to the swine. The mark of the forest is on you. You cannot live. |
| Gronw |
Comrade, how will you want to kill me? |
| Llew |
Uncle Gwydion, what shall we do with him? |
| Gwydion |
This afternoon, we'll go together, the three of us To the river Cynfael, to the goat's watering place. He shall stand where you stood At the front of the trough – and you where he was. You'll strike him in his back, as he struck you But this time there'll be no laughter, and no physician. |
| Gronw |
No tears either, but a welcome to death. I'll come back among mankind by passing through Those common gates that claim all mortals. Thank you, Sir. |
| Llew |
Take him. Hold him until this afternoon. |
| Exeunt GRONW and the SOLDIERS. Silence. |
|
| Blodeuwedd |
My man of magic, you've travelled far today, May I fetch some food and drink for your both? |
| Gwydion |
Your husband's already tasted your poison. |
| Blodeuwedd |
You needn't fear. Rhagnell will be back soon. She'll prepare the food – I'll serve it. |
| Gwydion |
Rhagnell is back already. There she is. |
| BLODEUWEDD lifts the drape from the bier. |
|
| Blodeuwedd |
Is this your work? Did you drown her? |
| Gwydion |
We found her body in the river near the goat trough. |
| Blodeuwedd |
She was a sister to me- the only one Who didn't want to use me. She reached out a hand And forgave. She goes to her grave Without reproach. Do you want to drown me now? |
| Gwydion |
I told you. We didn't drown her. |
| Blodeuwedd |
She was always the quiet one. Now she's gone without a sound. |
| Gwydion |
As befits a wise servant, she pre-empted Her punishment. |
| Blodeuwedd |
And what I have I done to deserve punishment? |
| Gwydion |
Poison, treachery, mayhem, luring a husband to his death. Some such little details that are not to everyone's taste. |
| Blodeuwedd |
Am I the first unfaithful wife? |
| Gwydion |
I'm not saying that. Your sort is one of many, |
| Blodeuwedd |
You're a sorcerer Gwydion, steeped in learning, Strong and bold enough to challenge nature To toy with it and battle with the power Hidden in the rocks. Why? To satisfy your lust? You had a nephew Whom you loved more than your own offspring. I understand that. You chose him as your heir And sought to make him worthy Of Math's own throne, a future king of Gwynedd, And father to a line of princes. Bt his life was weighed down by conditions, The chains of fate made him an outcast. There are such men, exiled men, Cut off from every generation. But you, The oak wizard, master of creation's code, You couldn't accept your heir's derisory condition. You had to bend fate's course, to challenge Nature, to satisfy your pride and standing. Defying fate you put a spell upon the sea And raped the woodland to flesh him a wife So I became your captive and his slave-girl Given this form to breed, to give him children, To soothe away his cares, help him forget his birth-lot. Tell me Gwydion, wasn't that your grand design? |
| Gwydion |
Is it a violation to ask a wife To bear her husband a son? |
| Blodeuwedd |
Thank you, wizard. It was fated that Arianrhod's son Should never have a wife of woman born Nor sire a son. He wouldn't submit to his fate, Not him, nor you. I was caught, a weapon, A tool in your tinkering, to trick his fate. Is it wrong of me at least to be true To my instinct? I begged of him, This youth not meant for love, to look at me And take me once for what I was. But he struck a song of jubilation for his son And told his last story to his heir and hope; He wouldn't leave his dream of tomorrow To share the today of my empty heart. |
| Llew |
Gwydion, it's true. She has been wronged. She doesn't deserve today as that other does. |
| Gwydion |
Do you say that? I don't believe it! |
| Blodeuwedd |
Gronw has chosen to die. Rhagnell is dead. Why should I live? |
| Llew |
I came here bitter intending for you A savage punishment. I see now That you've always been a creature to pity. |
| Blodeuwedd |
You fought against your fate, I against mine; We've both battled against what must be. |
| Llew |
There are musts in every human marriage. |
| Blodeuwedd |
Different imperatives lie at the root of my passion. |
| Llew |
That's why I can forgive you. No rational soul could love like you. |
| Blodeuwedd |
One tried. I gave him to you as your heir. |
| Llew |
And he chose death to escape from you. |
| Blodeuwedd |
And your jealousy needs to claim his life. Because he could love, and set my love alight. What will you do without me, poor husband, Since you'll have no other wife of woman born? |
| Llew |
I'll accept my destiny And make a nest of my sorrows. |
| Blodeuwedd |
I hear your mother's triumphant laugh. |
| Llew |
You don't hear her sobbing in the night. |
| Blodeuwedd |
You hearth will be arid, your bed ever cold. |
| Llew |
We're all exiles. The world's a cold hearth. I'll join the army of bitter souls. |
| Blodeuwedd |
It's your destiny that you'll never know love. |
| Llew |
The love I could achieve, I gave to you. |
| Blodeuwedd |
A small residue of your copious self pity. |
| Llew |
I put my life in your hands. You betrayed it. |
| Blodeuwedd |
So I could gain a life myself. Take your revenge. |
| Llew |
I can't. You may walk from here, freely. |
| Blodeuwedd |
How gracious is my lord. I may go freely – To my family? To my loved ones? To my lover? And where will you go? To your mother? ; |
| Llew |
This afternoon I'll go to the goat trough. Myself with Gwydion and Gronw Pebr of Penllyn. Will you come with us to laugh as before? |
| Blodeuwedd |
Gladly, my heart. I didn't know you could be so frivolous. I'll go to the woods till then. Fare you well. Good day uncle. |
| Gwydion |
Yes, my niece. But listen before you go. In the woodland There's a bird which is fearsome, like you. And like you, loves the night. Its shriek Like your laughter, is an omen of death. Between it and the other birds there is hatred. Your sojourn among men was not happy. Go to the darkness, to the company of owls, To the rites of the moon and the hollow trees. Now as you cross this threshold, And blink from the sun, your mocking laugh Shall become an owl's shriek, and never again In daylight will you show your face. |
| Blodeuwedd |
I'll fly to Arianrhod's fort. From your sister I'll receive a rare welcome for a daughter in law. |
| BLODEUWEDD goes out still laughing. Then the laughing stops and the long shriek of an owl is heard. THE END |