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 of it . Now , behold , it is not even a span high ! But only once have I heard of the man you name , and that was when I went in search of food as far as Llyn Llyw . I swooped down upon a salmon , and struck my claws into him , but he drew me down under water till scarcely could I escape him . Then I summoned all my kindred to destroy him , but he made peace with me , and I took fifty fish spears from his back .
Unless he may know something XXXXX the man whom you seek I can not tell who may .
After So as at if in of till to whether