Now after they had put into his hands the swords of Gurnach the Giant, Arthur said to them: “Which of the marvels will it be best for us to seek now?” “It will be best,” said they, “to seek for Mabon, the son of Modron. But, Lord, stay thou here, thou canst not proceed with thy host in quest of such small adventures as these.” The King said: “Kai and Bedour, I have hope of whatever adventure ye are in quest of, that ye will achieve it. Achieve ye this adventure for me.”
So they went on until they came to where the Blackbird of Kilgurry nested. Then Arthur’s messenger who went with them and who knew all the languages, even the language of birds and beasts and fishes, said to the Blackbird: “Tell me if thou knowest aught of Mabon, the son of Modron, who was taken when three nights old from between his mother and the wall.” And the Blackbird answered: “When I first came here, there was a smith’s anvil in this place, and I was then a young bird; and from that time no work has been done upon it, save the pecking of my beak every evening, and now there is not so much as the size of a nut remaining thereof; yet the vengeance of Heaven be upon me, if during all that time I have heard of the man for whom you inquire. Nevertheless, I will do that which is right, and that which is fitting that I should do for an embassy from King Arthur. There is a race of animals who were formed before me, and I will be your guide to them.”
The Blackbird flew before them, and he brought them to a place where there was a great stag standing. “Stag of Redinvre,” said they, “behold we are come to thee, an embassy from Arthur, for we have not heard of any animal older than thou. Say, knowest thou aught of Mabon, the son of Modron, who was taken from his mother when three nights old?” The Stag said: “When first I came hither, there was a plain all around me, without any trees save one oak sapling, which grew up to be an oak with a hundred branches. And that oak has since perished, so that now nothing remains of it but the withered stump; but from that day to this I have been here, yet have I never heard of the man for whom you inquire. Nevertheless, being an embassy from King Arthur, I will be your guide to the place where there is an animal which was formed before I was.”
The Stag went before them and led them to the place where was the Owl of Coom Cawlud. “Owl of Coom Cawlud, here is an embassy from King Arthur; knowest thou aught of Mabon, the son of Modron, who was taken after three nights from his mother?” “If I knew I would tell you,” the Owl answered. “When first I came hither, the wide valley you see was a wooded glen. And a race of men came and rooted it up. And there grew there a second wood; and this wood is the third. My wings, are they not withered stumps? Yet all this time, even until to-day, I have never heard of the man for whom you inquire. Nevertheless, I will be the guide of Arthur’s embassy until you come to the place where is the oldest animal in this world, and the one that has traveled most, the Eagle of Gwern Aby.”
So to the Eagle of Gwern Aby the Owl led them. Then Arthur’s messenger said: “Eagle of Gwern Aby, we have come to thee on an embassy from Arthur, to ask thee if thou knowest aught of Mabon, the son of Modron, who was taken from his mother when he was three nights old.” The Eagle said: “I have been here for a great space of time, and when I first came hither there was a rock here, from the top of which I pecked at the stars every evening; and now it is not so much as a span high. From that day to this I have been here, and I have never heard of the man for whom you inquire, except once when I went in search of food as far as Lyn Liu. And when I came there, I struck my talons into a salmon, thinking he would serve me as food for a long time. But he drew me into the deep, and I was scarcely able to escape from him. After that I went with my whole kindred to attack him, and to destroy him, but he sent messengers, and made peace with me; and came and besought me to take fifty fish spears out of his back. Unless he know something of him whom you seek, I cannot tell who may. However, I will guide you to the place where he is.”
So the Eagle guided them to the river where the Salmon was. And the Eagle said: “Salmon of Lyn Liu, I have come to thee with an embassy from Arthur, to ask thee if thou knowest aught concerning Mabon, the son of Modron, who was taken away at three nights old from his mother.” “As much as I know I will tell thee,” said the Salmon. “With every tide I go along the river upward, until I come near to the walls of Gloucester, and there have I found such wrong as I never found elsewhere; and to the end that ye may give credence thereto, let one of you go thither upon each of my two shoulders.” So Kai and Bedour went upon the two shoulders of the Salmon, and they proceeded until they came unto the wall of the prison, and they heard a great wailing and lamenting from the dungeon. Said Arthur’s messenger: “Who is it that laments in this house of stone?” “Alas, there is reason enough for whoever is here to lament. It is Mabon, the son of Modron, who is here imprisoned; and no imprisonment was ever so grievous as mine.” “Hast thou hopes of being released for gold or silver, or for any gifts of wealth, or through battle and fighting?” “By fighting will whatever I may gain be obtained.”
Then Kai and Bedour went thence, and returned to Arthur, and told him where Mabon, the son of Modron, was imprisoned. And Arthur summoned the warriors of the Island of the Mighty, and they journeyed as far as Gloucester, to the place where Mabon was in prison. Kai and Bedour went upon the shoulders of the fish, whilst the warriors of Arthur attacked the castle. And Kai broke through the wall into the dungeon, and brought away the prisoner upon his back, whilst the fight was going on between the warriors. Then Arthur brought Mabon, the son of Modron, to his castle.
Then at the feast that was given in his honor Mabon told unto Arthur and his court this story of the ancient times in Britain.