And as he was placing the crossbeam upon the two forks, behold a priest came towards him upon a horse covered with trappings. "Good-day to thee, lord," said he.
"Heaven prosper thee!" said Manawyddan; "thy blessing."
"The blessing of Heaven be upon thee! And what, lord, art thou doing?"
"I am hanging a thief that I caught robbing me," said he.
"What manner of thief, lord?" asked he.
"A creature," he answered, "in form of a mouse. It has been robbing me, and I am inflicting upon it the doom of a thief."
"Lord," said he, "rather than see thee touch this reptile, I would purchase its freedom."
"By my confession to Heaven, neither will I sell it nor set it free."
"It is true, lord, that it is worth nothing to buy. But rather than see thee defile thyself by touching such a reptile as this, I will give thee three pounds to let it go."
"I will not, by Heaven," said he, "take any price for it. As it ought, so shall it be hanged."