"I could not," he replied; "but now I shall be able."
Thereupon behold a wren stood upon the deck of the boat; and the boy shot at it, and hit it in the leg between the sinew and the bone. Then she smiled. "Verily," said she, "with a steady hand did the lion aim at it."
"Heaven reward thee not; but now has he got a name. And a good enough name it is. Llew Llaw Gyffes be he called henceforth."
Then the work disappeared in seaweed and sedges, and he went on with it no further. And for that reason was he called the third Gold-shoemaker.
"Of a truth," said she, "thou wilt not thrive the better for doing evil unto me."
"I have done thee no evil yet," said he. Then he restored the boy to his own form.
"Well," said she, "I will lay a destiny upon this boy, that he shall never have arms and armor until I invest him with them."
"By Heaven," said he, "let thy malice be what it may, he shall have arms."
Then they went towards Dinas Dinllev, and there he brought up Llew Llaw Gyffes until he could manage any horse, and he was perfect in features and strength and stature. And then Gwydion saw that he languished through the want of horses and arms. And he called him unto him. "Ah, youth," said he, "we will go to-morrow on an errand together. Be therefore more cheerful than thou art."
"That I will," said the youth.