Welsh Mythology
The Mabinogion: Manawydan son of Llyr
14th century, Middle Welsh, National Library of Wales.
'I will give you twenty-five pounds for this mouse,' says the bishop.
Manawydan is building a gallows for a mouse that he has caught stealing his crops and seems curiously intent upon carrying out a bizarre execution. Possibly, he knows something about the creature he has not yet divulged. A poor travelling scholar comes up the road and offers to buy the mouse from him in order to stop this unseemly hanging. Manawydan refuses to accept any money. When the scholar has gone, a priest appears and offers three pounds for the mouse (a lot of money in the twelfth century). When he, too, has gone on his way without saving the mouse, a bishop suddenly arrives with all his retinue.
'I will give you twenty-five pounds for this mouse,' says the bishop.
'It will die,' replied Manawydan.
'Fifty,' said the bishop. 'One hundred. Name your price!'
'First tell me who the mouse is.'
'It is my wife.'