But with it he struck a blow at the head of the giant , and it rolled from his body . After that they despoiled the castle of its gold and jewels , and returned , bearing the sword of the giant , to Arthur 's court . They told Arthur how they had sped , and they all took counsel together , and agreed that they must set out on the quest for Mabon the son of Modron , and Gwrhyr , who knew the languages of beasts and of birds , went with them . SO they journeyed until they came to the nest of an ousel , and Gwrhyr spoke to her . ` 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 ousel answered : ` When I first came here I was a young bird , and there was a smith 's anvil in this place . But from that time no work has been done upon it , save that every evening I have pecked at it , till now there is not so much as the size of a nut remaining thereof . Yet all that time I have never once heard of the man you name . Still , there is a race of beasts older than I , and I will guide you to them . ' So the ousel flew before them , till she reached the stag of Redynvre ; but when they inquired of the stag whether he knew aught of Mabon he shook his head . ` When first I came hither , ' said he , ` the plain was bare save for one oak sapling , which grew up to be an oak with a hundred branches . All that is left of that oak is a withered stump , but never once have I heard of the man you name . Nevertheless , as you are Arthur 's men , I will guide you to the place where there is an animal older than I ' ; and the stag ran before them till he reached the owl of Cwm Cawlwyd . But when they inquired of the owl if he knew aught of Mabon he shook his head . ` When first I came hither , ' said he , ` the valley was a wooded glen ; then a race of men came and rooted it up . After that there grew a second wood , and then a third , which you see . Look at my wings also -- are they not withered stumps ? Yet until to-day I have never heard of the man you name . Still , I will guide you to the oldest animal in the world , and the one that has travelled most , the eagle of Gwern Abbey . ' And he flew before them , as fast as his old wings would carry him , till he reached the eagle of Gwern Abbey , but when they inquired of the eagle whether he knew aught of Mabon he shook his head .
` When I first came hither , ' said the eagle , ` there was a rock here , and every evening I pecked at the stars from the top XXXXX it .
So before in of on than that till to whether