CHAPTER VII

Triumphs of the Water-world 401

The sea encroaching on the coast of Glamorgan 402 The Kenfig tale of crime and vengeance 403 The Crymlyn story and its touch of fascination 404 Nennius' description of Oper Linn Liguan compared 406 The vengeance legend of Bala Lake 408 Legends about the Llynclys Pool 410 The fate of Tyno Helig 414 The belief in cities submerged intact 415 The phantom city and the bells of Aberdovey 418 The ethics of the foregoing legends discussed 419 The limits of the delay of punishment 420 Why the fairies delay their vengeance 423 Non-ethical legends of the eruption of water 425 Cutting the green sward a probable violation of ancient tabu avenged by water divinities 427 The lake afanc's rôle in this connexion 428 The pigmies of the water-world 432 The Conwy afanc and the Highland water-horse 433 The equine features of March and Labraid Lore 435 Mider and the Mac Óc's well horses 436 The Gilla Decair's horse and Du March Moro 437 March ab Meirchion associated with Mona 439 The Welsh deluge Triads 440 Names of the Dee and other rivers in North Wales 441 The Lydney god Nudons, Nuada, and Llud 445 The fairies associated in various ways with water 449 The cyhiraeth and the Welsh banshee 452 Ancestress rather than ancestor 454