Ciw-restr

Woman of Flowers

Llinellau gan Llew (Cyfanswm: 282)

 
(1, 1) 77 Rhagnell. Rhagnell!
 
(1, 1) 79 Rhagnell!
 
(1, 1) 82 Where's Blodeuwedd? In her chamber?
 
(1, 1) 85 Go to her, and tell her this: my gifts for Math are ready.
(1, 1) 86 We'll set out now while three hours of daylight still remain.
(1, 1) 87 Gwydion and all the soldiers shall accompany me.
 
(1, 1) 89 Yes. She'd better hurry if she wants to say goodbye.
 
(1, 1) 107 Gwydion. Where have you been? We're ready.
 
(1, 1) 111 No one could have wished for a better friend than you, Gwydion.
 
(1, 1) 120 A mother's loathing outweighs an uncle's love.
 
(1, 1) 128 But I still haven't escaped my mother's vengeance.
(1, 1) 129 Blodeuwedd isn't like other women.
 
(1, 1) 133 She won't bear my children. Isn't that so Gwydion?
 
(1, 1) 135 I can. "He won't have a wife of woman born,
(1, 1) 136 And won't have children of his own".
(1, 1) 137 Those words are chiselled in my memory.
(1, 1) 138 Is it a fate you can't circumvent? Will you fail?
 
(1, 1) 142 I'll never forget that shimmering morning
(1, 1) 143 When I first saw her, naked as that dawn itself,
(1, 1) 144 The dew still glistening on her white breasts,
(1, 1) 145 Breasts as pure as a snowdrop's petals
(1, 1) 146 When the night furls their swell. She walked,
(1, 1) 147 The soul of that virgin spring in a flawless mould of flesh.
(1, 1) 148 I looked at her, and she at me.
(1, 1) 149 I clothed her nakedness with kisses
(1, 1) 150 And these arms, these awkward arms,
(1, 1) 151 Which had been empty so long, encircled her.
(1, 1) 152 But she was cold, so cold. I've never seen
(1, 1) 153 A trace of a blush upon her cheeks, only a pallid glow,
(1, 1) 154 Like that of the moon casting its random light
(1, 1) 155 On the world below. Her very blood is alien.
(1, 1) 156 She won't ever belong. To anyone.
(1, 1) 157 She's closer to the wild animals in the forest
(1, 1) 158 Than she is to me. That's her world. You know that.
 
(1, 1) 162 One foul night of howling gales and sleeting rain,
(1, 1) 163 She ran from my bed and into the storm's rage.
(1, 1) 164 I followed - full of suspicion and anger
(1, 1) 165 Beneath my cloak a sword. But no one came to her.
(1, 1) 166 Not even the wolves were out on such a night.
(1, 1) 167 Yet there she was, dancing to the tempest's fury.
 
(1, 1) 169 I was frightened and called out. But she didn't hear.
(1, 1) 170 And with the wind lashing trees and splintering boughs
(1, 1) 171 I was lost in a fearful world
(1, 1) 172 Where the only things that held their own
(1, 1) 173 Were rock and rain, the stormy dark,
(1, 1) 174 And her, Blodeuwedd... I ran after her,
(1, 1) 175 Shouted louder, grasped her arm...
(1, 1) 176 "You've caught me" she said, suddenly sad
(1, 1) 177 Like a child woken from some distant dream
(1, 1) 178 "You've caught me. Let's go home."
(1, 1) 179 And I saw, in that night's storm
(1, 1) 180 That I had no place in her life.
(1, 1) 181 Why does a heart of ice lie beneath a breast
(1, 1) 182 That excites desire like the first sun of summer.
 
(1, 1) 185 Yes lady, we must go.
 
(1, 1) 187 Gwydion too.
 
(1, 1) 191 You won't be alone.
(1, 1) 192 You have your maid, and many servants.
 
(1, 1) 195 Since when?
 
(1, 1) 198 No. Everyone's ready. We must go,
(1, 1) 199 Math the king expects us.
 
(1, 1) 217 Come uncle, it's time to leave.
 
(1, 1) 228 My life can't be ruled on a girl's whim.
 
(1, 1) 232 Don't be afraid. I'm destined
(1, 1) 233 That no harm will easily befall me.
(1, 1) 234 And you be wise. Don't stray too far from home.
(1, 1) 235 Don't let the woodlands tempt you out at dusk,
(1, 1) 236 But stay among my people here,
(1, 1) 237 Be your best Blodeuwedd. I'll only be three days.
(1, 1) 238 Farewell, farewell.
 
(2, 2) 741 I've arrived sooner than expected?
(2, 2) 742 I sped on ahead of my soldiers
(2, 2) 743 To see Blodeuwedd first.
 
(2, 2) 745 My fair, my flawless wife.
 
(2, 2) 747 Today the wonder of your beauty is the same
(2, 2) 748 As on that first morning, when the dew
(2, 2) 749 Glistened in your footsteps. Fair wife
(2, 2) 750 I didn't know the power of your spell
(2, 2) 751 Until I felt its loss.
 
(2, 2) 753 Nor will I again until I die.
 
(2, 2) 755 What did you do while I was away?
 
(2, 2) 769 Oh, wife, why wasn't I
(2, 2) 770 Allowed to come to know you before.
 
(2, 2) 773 I believed you cold, uncaring.
(2, 2) 774 I didn't know you could weep
(2, 2) 775 And blur those bright eyes with tears of longing.
(2, 2) 776 Why did you keep from me till now this tenderness?
 
(2, 2) 790 You are my wife. I hope through you
(2, 2) 791 To found a race to rule Ardudwy. I wanted
(2, 2) 792 To love you as a father loves the mother of his sons.
(2, 2) 793 What greater love than that could a man dream of?
 
(2, 2) 797 Woman of flowers, teach me then
(2, 2) 798 How to fight my way past the petals
(2, 2) 799 And bury myself like a bee in your core.
(2, 2) 800 I too, my love, am alone in this world.
(2, 2) 801 I was a stranger to my own mother's arms.
(2, 2) 802 She cast me from her womb before my time
(2, 2) 803 Then persecuted me. In my young life
(2, 2) 804 I'd never tasted a kiss before yours,
(2, 2) 805 Nor a girl's arms around my neck.
(2, 2) 806 I never knew a brother or sister's tenderness.
(2, 2) 807 I have such longing for your love, girl.
(2, 2) 808 Teach me how to love you in your way
(2, 2) 809 For shouldn't love attract love
(2, 2) 810 And one heart fire another? My wife, my world,
(2, 2) 811 Why do you keep yourself from me?
 
(2, 2) 814 You gave your body, but kept your soul.
 
(2, 2) 818 Was it true what Rhagnell said about you weeping?
 
(2, 2) 820 Blodeuwedd, look at me. Answer me.
(2, 2) 821 Why don't you answer?
 
(2, 2) 825 Was your love for me so great?
 
(2, 2) 827 Half my soul, now I know your love,
(2, 2) 828 From now on life will sing to me sweetly.
(2, 2) 829 We'll make a family and a future in Ardudwy.
(2, 2) 830 Young saplings will grow in this oak's shadow.
(2, 2) 831 We'll be like a sheltered orchard
(2, 2) 832 Our love a palisade around us
(2, 2) 833 Keeping out the chill winds of loneliness.
(2, 2) 834 My wife, you'll be an exile no longer.
(2, 2) 835 I'll be your kith and kin. And unless I'm killed...
 
(2, 2) 837 Don't be afraid. Killing me isn't easy.
(2, 2) 838 I'm fated that my death
(2, 2) 839 Is unlikely by the hand of any man.
 
(2, 2) 845 It's a secret that I shouldn't share with anyone.
 
(2, 2) 847 I love you. Even more now than when I left.
(2, 2) 848 When I was with Math I asked him
(2, 2) 849 How he and my uncle Gwydion created you.
(2, 2) 850 He instructed, Gwydion foraged and fretted,
(2, 2) 851 Beaded sap and dew, collected scents,
(2, 2) 852 Wreathed together leaves and light
(2, 2) 853 And called on untried spells to turn that essence
(2, 2) 854 Of things wild and beautiful and primal
(2, 2) 855 Into woman. Into you.
 
(2, 2) 857 Hearing Math's tale I was in awe of you
(2, 2) 858 And realised I'd been given the greatest gift of all.
(2, 2) 859 Oh yes, I love you, Blodeuwedd. Doubly so
(2, 2) 860 Now that I know the secret of your making.
(2, 2) 861 And I'll gladly tell you my secret too.
 
(2, 2) 863 A full year must be spent
(2, 2) 864 Making the spear which is to strike me.
(2, 2) 865 It may only be fashioned at the time
(2, 2) 866 Of Sacrifice at Sunday Mass.
 
(2, 2) 868 Quite certain.
(2, 2) 869 Neither can I be killed inside a house
(2, 2) 870 Nor on my horse. Nor with a foot upon the ground.
(2, 2) 871 I have to stand on a water trough
(2, 2) 872 That is set beside a river. Positioned so,
(2, 2) 873 And struck in the back with the poisoned spear,
(2, 2) 874 I could be killed.
 
(2, 2) 876 Many a time, Blodeuwedd, I wished my own death.
(2, 2) 877 But now I've a new taste for life. Love grows,
(2, 2) 878 Like an oak, strengthened by life's storms.
(2, 2) 879 Beneath its great branches flourishes
(2, 2) 880 Family, home, estates and kingdom.
(2, 2) 881 Our love, fair lady, will provide Ardudwy
(2, 2) 882 With security and strength
 
(2, 2) 885 I'll come. Let's feast today
(2, 2) 886 As if at a wedding. I left here
(2, 2) 887 Three days ago with a heavy heart.
(2, 2) 888 I return today to a new found joy,
(2, 2) 889 Greater than any I've known. This day
(2, 2) 890 Has unfurled like a flag above my fortress, for
(2, 2) 891 I've found at last the meaning of a wife's loyalty.
 
(3, 2) 1103 You're up early, lady.
 
(3, 2) 1106 And like a rabbit you ventured out barefoot.
 
(3, 2) 1109 My mother wouldn't brave the outdoors barefoot.
(3, 2) 1110 She sent servants with her foot measurements.
 
(3, 2) 1113 Not a spear. No one could transfix
(3, 2) 1114 A wren with a spear. But a cobbler's needle,
(3, 2) 1115 On an arrow. With that I did.
 
(3, 2) 1118 Gladly. But first, shouldn't you tell me
(3, 2) 1119 Why you summoned me so early from my bed?
 
(3, 2) 1121 No. Your story first.
(3, 2) 1122 Why did you call me here from the fort?
 
(3, 2) 1124 I promise. So what is your secret then?
 
(3, 2) 1126 You told me that you'd keep some joyous news
(3, 2) 1127 Until today, to celebrate the anniversary
(3, 2) 1128 Of my return from Math's court.
 
(3, 2) 1130 How could I not have been? Your trust
(3, 2) 1131 Was a nest to me. You've been civil and sweet,
(3, 2) 1132 No longer a wild bird trapped in a cage.
 
(3, 2) 1134 My mother was wild. She persecuted me.
(3, 2) 1135 She taught me fear. I grew up
(3, 2) 1136 Not knowing who my own father was.
(3, 2) 1137 I hated all things wild. They're cowardly
(3, 2) 1138 And base. They stalk and strike from behind.
(3, 2) 1139 But you've been my walled and cultured garden,
(3, 2) 1140 That makes me safe. This is the first year
(3, 2) 1141 I've not feared a traitor's dagger in my back.
 
(3, 2) 1143 Each one she named. There was another.
 
(3, 2) 1147 Only when you give me the best news of my life.
 
(3, 2) 1149 Dare I hope? The glorious news
(3, 2) 1150 That through you I have a son and heir.
 
(3, 2) 1152 My mother tried to kill me. In that she failed.
(3, 2) 1153 My birth sullied her. I personified
(3, 2) 1154 Her degradation, and was the focus
(3, 2) 1155 For all her hatred towards the world.
(3, 2) 1156 She cut me off from mankind, sundered me
(3, 2) 1157 From the carefree days of boyhood;
(3, 2) 1158 I was forbidden the very trappings
(3, 2) 1159 Of young manhood; a name, arms, a woman.
(3, 2) 1160 I had to fight against her for my sense of self.
(3, 2) 1161 Gwydion was like a father to me. You're now my wife.
(3, 2) 1162 King Math gave me lands for my princedom.
(3, 2) 1163 I've known the cares common to men; through you
(3, 2) 1164 This year, I've known caring. Love. The nightmare
(3, 2) 1165 Has receded and is often forgotten. But Blodeuwedd
(3, 2) 1166 If I once saw, cradled against your breast
(3, 2) 1167 A boy, my heir, the last link in that cruel chain
(3, 2) 1168 Would fall away and I would glory
(3, 2) 1169 In being a life-giver. In fathering a future.
 
(3, 2) 1171 Without that, I'll be content. With that my love
(3, 2) 1172 And gratitude would serenade you endlessly.
 
(3, 2) 1178 I'll say it when a boy rests in your arms.
 
(3, 2) 1181 You know for certain?
 
(3, 2) 1183 Oh, my queen! Let the fates make it a son.
 
(3, 2) 1185 I never dared to think
(3, 2) 1186 Your words last night hinted at this.
(3, 2) 1187 My cup is brimful. If death itself should strike now
(3, 2) 1188 I'd not begrudge it!
 
(3, 2) 1191 My mother's wrath counts for nothing if I have an heir.
(3, 2) 1192 What will he be like? Imagine it my love.
 
(3, 2) 1197 I'll teach him his father's skill at games.
 
(3, 2) 1199 And how to row and how to make a shoe for his mother
(3, 2) 1200 So she doesn't have to go barefoot in the dew.
 
(3, 2) 1202 I can picture him now, a three year old
(3, 2) 1203 In your lap listening to Gwydion's tales.
(3, 2) 1204 How the old wizard will make the boy smile
(3, 2) 1205 With his story of our boat outside Arianrhod's keep.
 
(3, 2) 1209 Here, mid-deck,
(3, 2) 1210 Peering down at my mother's foot.
 
(3, 2) 1213 There in the stern.
 
(3, 2) 1215 Yes. Long and hard with lips pursed.
 
(3, 2) 1217 Gwydion had woven a spell.
(3, 2) 1218 She was beautiful, standing, her foot on the boat's rail.
(3, 2) 1219 Upright, and proud, a princess.
 
(3, 2) 1221 It was spring. Ten yards offshore
(3, 2) 1222 Stood a stone sea-wall. From one of its crannies
(3, 2) 1223 The wren appeared, skipping and darting
(3, 2) 1224 In and out of the crevice. It flitted
(3, 2) 1225 Then came to rest on the boat's prow.
 
(3, 2) 1227 Look, like this...
 
(3, 2) 1229 There stand Gwydion and my mother
(3, 2) 1230 Myself here. A moment of stillness.
(3, 2) 1231 The water's surface shimmering, not a sound...
(3, 2) 1232 The wren perches. He raises one wing
(3, 2) 1233 Like this... his head downwards. That second,
(3, 2) 1234 The needle weighted in my fingers...
 
(3, 2) 1236 I aimed at him...
 
(3, 2) 1265 I'm dying. Gwydion. Where are you? Gwydion!
(3, 2) 1266 I'm dying. Uncle! Help me!
 
(4, 2) 1489 Where are your men, traitor?
 
(4, 2) 1502 I won't let him escape. Only a cord of flax binds his arms;
(4, 2) 1503 He bound me with the tethers of a wife's lies.
 
(4, 2) 1505 Your life.
 
(4, 2) 1507 You spent a whole year plotting my death
(4, 2) 1508 Another full year you took possession of my bed,
(4, 2) 1509 My fortress, my princedom and this half-human harpy
(4, 2) 1510 Who once passed as a wife. It's not for that either
(4, 2) 1511 That I want your blood, rather because you heard
(4, 2) 1512 The greatest secret of my soul, and laughed.
(4, 2) 1513 You mocked at my misfortune – you ridiculed
(4, 2) 1514 The confession of a man ensnared by love
(4, 2) 1515 Your treachery cut you from mankind;
(4, 2) 1516 The mark of the forest is on you. You can't live.
 
(4, 2) 1518 Uncle Gwydion, what shall we do with him?
 
(4, 2) 1595 Gwydion, it's true. She has been wronged.
(4, 2) 1596 She doesn't deserve to die as that other does.
 
(4, 2) 1600 I came here bitter, intending for you
(4, 2) 1601 A savage punishment. I see now
(4, 2) 1602 That you've always been a creature to pity.
 
(4, 2) 1605 That's why I can forgive you.
(4, 2) 1606 No rational soul could love like you.
 
(4, 2) 1608 And he's chosen death to escape from you.
 
(4, 2) 1613 I'll accept my destiny
(4, 2) 1614 And make a nest of my sorrows.
 
(4, 2) 1618 We're all exiles. The world's a cold hearth.
(4, 2) 1619 I'll join the army of bitter souls.
 
(4, 2) 1622 The love I could achieve, I gave to you.
(4, 2) 1623 I put my life in your hands. You betrayed it.
 
(4, 2) 1626 I can't. You may walk from here, freely.
 
(4, 2) 1645 Am I? With everything around me dead or dying.