Books: The Mabinogion
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Then said Arthur, "Oh! chieftain, I have never heard of the maiden of
whom thou speakest, nor of her kindred, but I will gladly send
messengers in search of her. Give me time to seek her." And the
youth said, "I will willingly grant from this night to that at the
end of the year to do so." Then Arthur sent messengers to every land
within his dominions to seek for the maiden; and at the end of the
year Arthur's messengers returned without having gained any knowledge
or intelligence concerning Olwen more than on the first day. Then
said Kilhwch, "Every one has received his boon, and I yet lack mine.
I will depart and bear away thy honour with me." Then said Kai,
"Rash chieftain! dost thou reproach Arthur? Go with us, and we will
not part until thou dost either confess that the maiden exists not in
the world, or until we obtain her." Thereupon Kai rose up. Kai had
this peculiarity, that his breath lasted nine nights and nine days
under water, and he could exist nine nights and nine days without
sleep. A wound from Kai's sword no physician could heal. Very
subtle was Kai. When it pleased him he could render himself as tall
as the highest tree in the forest. And he had another peculiarity,--
so great was the heat of his nature, that, when it rained hardest,
whatever he carried remained dry for a handbreadth above and a
handbreadth below his hand; and when his companions were coldest, it
was to them as fuel with which to light their fire.
And Arthur called Bedwyr, who never shrank from any enterprise upon
which Kai was bound. None was equal to him in swiftness throughout
this island except Arthur and Drych Ail Kibddar. And although he was
one-handed, three warriors could not shed blood faster than he on the
field of battle. Another property he had; his lance would produce a
wound equal to those of nine opposing lances.
And Arthur called to Kynddelig the Guide, "Go thou upon this
expedition with the chieftain." For as good a guide was he in a land
which he had never seen as he was in his own.
He called Gwrhyr Gwalstawt Ieithoedd, because he knew all tongues.
He called Gwalchmai the son of Gwyar, because he never returned home
without achieving the adventure of which he went in quest. He was
the best of footmen and the best of knights. He was nephew to
Arthur, the son of his sister, and his cousin.
And Arthur called Menw the son of Teirgwaedd, in order that if they
went into a savage country, he might cast a charm and an illusion
over them, so that none might see them whilst they could see every
one.
They journeyed until they came to a vast open plain, wherein they saw
a great castle, which was the fairest of the castles of the world.
And they journeyed that day until the evening, and when they thought
they were nigh to the castle, they were no nearer to it than they had
been in the morning. And the second and the third day they
journeyed, and even then scarcely could they reach so far. And when
they came before the castle, they beheld a vast flock of sheep, which
was boundless and without an end. And upon the top of a mound there
was a herdsman, keeping the sheep. And a rug made of skins was upon
him; and by his side was a shaggy mastiff, larger than a steed nine
winters old. Never had he lost even a lamb from his flock, much less
a large sheep. He let no occasion ever pass without doing some hurt
and harm. All the dead trees and bushes in the plain he burnt with
his breath down to the very ground.
Then said Kai, "Gwrhyr Gwalstawt Ieithoedd, go thou and salute yonder
man." "Kai," said he, "I engaged not to go further than thou
thyself." "Let us go then together," answered Kai. Said Menw the
son of Teirgwaedd, "Fear not to go thither, for I will cast a spell
upon the dog, so that he shall injure no one." And they went up to
the mound whereon the herdsman was, and they said to him, "How dost
thou fare, O herdsman?" "No less fair be it to you than to me."
"Truly, art thou the chief?" "There is no hurt to injure me but my
own." {5} "Whose are the sheep that thou dost keep, and to whom does
yonder castle belong?" "Stupid are ye, truly! Through the whole
world is it known that this is the castle of Yspaddaden Penkawr."
"And who art thou?" "I am called Custennin the son of Dyfnedig, and
my brother Yspaddaden Penkawr oppressed me because of my possessions.
And ye also, who are ye?" "We are an embassy from Arthur, come to
seek Olwen the daughter of Yspaddaden Penkawr." "Oh men! the mercy
of Heaven be upon you, do not that for all the world. None who ever
came hither on this quest has returned alive." And the herdsman rose
up. And as he arose, Kilhwch gave unto him a ring of gold. And he
sought to put on the ring, but it was too small for him, so he placed
it in the finger of his glove. And he went home, and gave the glove
to his spouse to keep. And she took the ring from the glove when it
was given her, and she said, "Whence came this ring, for thou art not
wont to have good fortune?" "I went," said he, "to the sea to seek
for fish, and lo, I saw a corpse borne by the waves. And a fairer
corpse than it did I never behold. And from its finger did I take
this ring." "O man! does the sea permit its dead to wear jewels?
Show me then this body." "Oh wife, him to whom this ring belonged
thou shalt see here in the evening." "And who is he?" asked the
woman, "Kilhwch the son of Kilydd, the son of Prince Kelyddon, by
Goleuddydd the daughter of Prince Anlawdd, his mother, who is come to
seek Olwen as his wife." And when she heard that, her feelings were
divided between the joy that she had that her nephew, the son of her
sister, was coming to her, and sorrow because she had never known any
one depart alive who had come on that quest.
And they went forward to the gate of Custennin the herdsman's
dwelling. And when she heard their footsteps approaching, she ran
out with joy to meet them. And Kai snatched a billet out of the
pile. And when she met them she sought to throw her arms about their
necks. And Kai placed the log between her two hands, and she
squeezed it so that it became a twisted coil. "Oh woman," said Kai,
"if thou hadst squeezed me thus, none could ever again have set their
affections on me. Evil love were this." They entered into the
house, and were served; and soon after they all went forth to amuse
themselves. Then the woman opened a stone chest that was before the
chimney-corner, and out of it arose a youth with yellow curling hair.
Said Gwrhyr, "It is a pity to hide this youth. I know that it is not
his own crime that is thus visited upon him." "This is but a
remnant," said the woman. "Three-and-twenty of my sons has
Yspaddaden Penkawr slain, and I have no more hope of this one than of
the others." Then said Kai, "Let him come and be a companion with
me, and he shall not be slain unless I also am slain with him." And
they ate. And the woman asked them, "Upon what errand come you
here?" "We come to seek Olwen for this youth." Then said the woman,
"In the name of Heaven, since no one from the castle hath yet seen
you, return again whence you came." "Heaven is our witness, that we
will not return until we have seen the maiden." Said Kai, "Does she
ever come hither, so that she may be seen?" "She comes here every
Saturday to wash her head, and in the vessel where she washes, she
leaves all her rings, and she never either comes herself or sends any
messengers to fetch them."
"Will she come here if she is sent to?" "Heaven knows that I will
not destroy my soul, nor will I betray those that trust me; unless
you will pledge me your faith that you will not harm her, I will not
send to her." "We pledge it," said they. So a message was sent, and
she came.
The maiden was clothed in a robe of flame-coloured silk, and about
her neck was a collar of ruddy gold, on which were precious emeralds
and rubies. More yellow was her head than the flower of the broom,
and her skin was whiter than the foam of the wave, and fairer were
her hands and her fingers than the blossoms of the wood anemone
amidst the spray of the meadow fountain. The eye of the trained
hawk, the glance of the three-mewed falcon was not brighter than
hers. Her bosom was more snowy than the breast of the white swan,
her cheek was redder than the reddest roses. Whoso beheld her was
filled with her love. Four white trefoils sprung up wherever she
trod. And therefore was she called Olwen.
She entered the house, and sat beside Kilhwch upon the foremost
bench; and as soon as he saw her he knew her. And Kilhwch said unto
her, "Ah! maiden, thou art she whom I have loved; come away with me,
lest they speak evil of thee and of me. Many a day have I loved
thee." "I cannot do this, for I have pledged my faith to my father
not to go without his counsel, for his life will last only until the
time of my espousals. Whatever is, must be. But I will give thee
advice if thou wilt take it. Go, ask me of my father, and that which
he shall require of thee, grant it, and thou wilt obtain me; but if
thou deny him anything, thou wilt not obtain me, and it will be well
for thee if thou escape with thy life." "I promise all this, if
occasion offer," said he.
She returned to her chamber, and they all rose up and followed her to
the castle. And they slew the nine porters that were at the nine
gates in silence. And they slew the nine watch-dogs without one of
them barking. And they went forward to the hall.
"The greeting of Heaven and of man be unto thee, Yspaddaden Penkawr,"
said they. "And you, wherefore come you?" "We come to ask thy
daughter Olwen, for Kilhwch the son of Kilydd, the son of Prince
Kelyddon." "Where are my pages and my servants? Raise up the forks
beneath my two eyebrows which have fallen over my eyes, that I may
see the fashion of my son-in-law." And they did so. "Come hither
to-morrow, and you shall have an answer."
They rose to go forth, and Yspaddaden Penkawr seized one of the three
poisoned darts that lay beside him, and threw it after them. And
Bedwyr caught it, and flung it, and pierced Yspaddaden Penkawr
grievously with it through the knee. Then he said, "A cursed
ungentle son-in-law, truly. I shall ever walk the worse for his
rudeness, and shall ever be without a cure. This poisoned iron pains
me like the bite of a gadfly. Cursed be the smith who forged it, and
the anvil whereon it was wrought! So sharp is it!"
That night also they took up their abode in the house of Custennin
the herdsman. The next day with the dawn they arrayed themselves in
haste and proceeded to the castle, and entered the hall, and they
said, "Yspaddaden Penkawr, give us thy daughter in consideration of
her dower and her maiden fee, which we will pay to thee and to her
two kinswomen likewise. And unless thou wilt do so, thou shalt meet
with thy death on her account." Then he said, "Her four great-
grandmothers, and her four great-grandsires are yet alive, it is
needful that I take counsel of them." "Be it so," answered they, "we
will go to meat." As they rose up, he took the second dart that was
beside him, and cast it after them. And Menw the son of Gwaedd
caught it, and flung it back at him, and wounded him in the centre of
the breast, so that it came out at the small of his back. "A cursed
ungentle son-in-law, truly," said he, "the hard iron pains me like
the bite of a horse-leech. Cursed be the hearth whereon it was
heated, and the smith who formed it! So sharp is it! Henceforth,
whenever I go up a hill, I shall have a scant in my breath, and a
pain in my chest, and I shall often loathe my food." And they went
to meat.
And the third day they returned to the palace. And Yspaddaden
Penkawr said to them, "Shoot not at me again unless you desire death.
Where are my attendants? Lift up the forks of my eyebrows which have
fallen over my eyeballs, that I may see the fashion of my son-in-
law." Then they arose, and, as they did so, Yspaddaden Penkawr took
the third poisoned dart and cast it at them. And Kilhwch caught it
and threw it vigorously, and wounded him through the eyeball, so that
the dart came out at the back of his head. "A cursed ungentle son-
in-law, truly! As long as I remain alive, my eyesight will be the
worse. Whenever I go against the wind, my eyes will water; and
peradventure my head will burn, and I shall have a giddiness every
new moon. Cursed be the fire in which it was forged. Like the bite
of a mad dog is the stroke of this poisoned iron." And they went to
meat.
And the next day they came again to the palace, and they said, "Shoot
not at us any more, unless thou desirest such hurt, and harm, and
torture as thou now hast, and even more." "Give me thy daughter, and
if thou wilt not give her, thou shalt receive thy death because of
her." "Where is he that seeks my daughter? Come hither where I may
see thee." And they placed him a chair face to face with him.
Said Yspaddaden Penkawr, "Is it thou that seekest my daughter?" "It
is I," answered Kilhwch. "I must have thy pledge that thou wilt not
do towards me otherwise than is just, and when I have gotten that
which I shall name, my daughter thou shalt have." "I promise thee
that willingly," said Kilhwch, "name what thou wilt." "I will do
so," said he.
"Seest thou yonder vast hill?" "I see it." "I require that it be
rooted up, and that the grubbings be burned for manure on the face of
the land, and that it be ploughed and sown in one day, and in one day
that the grain ripen. And of that wheat I intend to make food and
liquor fit for the wedding of thee and my daughter. And all this I
require done in one day."
"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
that it will not be easy."
"Though this be easy for thee, there is yet that which will not be
so. No husbandman can till or prepare this land, so wild is it,
except Amaethon the son of Don, and he will not come with thee by his
own free will, and thou wilt not be able to compel him."
"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
that it will not be easy."
"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
Govannon the son of Don to come to the headland to rid the iron, he
will do no work of his own good will except for a lawful king, and
thou wilt not be able to compel him."
"It will be easy for me to compass this."
"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get; the
two dun oxen of Gwlwlyd, both yoked together, to plough the wild land
yonder stoutly. He will not give them of his own free will, and thou
wilt not be able to compel him."
"It will be easy for me to compass this."
"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get; the
yellow and the brindled bull yoked together do I require."
"It will be easy for me to compass this."
"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get; the
two horned oxen, one of which is beyond, and the other this side of
the peaked mountain, yoked together in the same plough. And these
are Nynniaw and Peibaw whom God turned into oxen on account of their
sins."
"It will be easy for me to compass this."
"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
Seest thou yonder red tilled ground?"
"I see it."
"When first I met the mother of this maiden, nine bushels of flax
were sown therein, and none has yet sprung up, neither white nor
black; and I have the measure by me still. I require to have the
flax to sow in the new land yonder, that when it grows up it may make
a white wimple for my daughter's head, on the day of thy wedding."
"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
that it will not be easy."
"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
Honey that is nine times sweeter than the honey of the virgin swarm,
without scum and bees, do I require to make bragget for the feast."
"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
that it will not be easy."
"The vessel of Llwyr the son of Llwyryon, which is of the utmost
value. There is no other vessel in the world that can hold this
drink. Of his free will thou wilt not get it, and thou canst not
compel him."
"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
that it will not be easy."
"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
The basket of Gwyddneu Garanhir, if the whole world should come
together, thrice nine men at a time, the meat that each of them
desired would be found within it. I require to eat therefrom on the
night that my daughter becomes thy bride. He will give it to no one
of his own free will, and thou canst not compel him."
"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
that it will not be easy."
"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
The horn of Gwlgawd Gododin to serve us with liquor that night. He
will not give it of his own free will, and thou wilt not be able to
compel him."
"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
that it will not be easy."
"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
The harp of Teirtu to play to us that night. When a man desires that
it should play, it does so of itself, and when he desires that it
should cease, it ceases. And this he will not give of his own free
will, and thou wilt not be able to compel him."
"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
that it will not be easy."
"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
The cauldron of Diwrnach Wyddel, the steward of Odgar the son of
Aedd, king of Ireland, to boil the meat for thy marriage feast."
"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
that it will not be easy."
"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. It
is needful for me to wash my head, and shave my beard, and I require
the tusk of Yskithyrwyn Penbaedd to shave myself withal, neither
shall I profit by its use if it be not plucked alive out of his
head."
"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
that it will not be easy."
"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
There is no one in the world that can pluck it out of his head except
Odgar the son of Aedd, king of Ireland."
"It will be easy for me to compass this."
"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. I
will not trust any one to keep the tusk except Gado of North Britain.
Now the threescore Cantrevs of North Britain are under his sway, and
of his own free will he will not come out of his kingdom, and thou
wilt not be able to compel him."
"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
that it will not be easy."
"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. I
must spread out my hair in order to shave it, and it will never be
spread out unless I have the blood of the jet-black sorceress, the
daughter of the pure white sorceress, from Pen Nant Govid, on the
confines of Hell."
"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
that it will not be easy."
"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. I
will not have the blood unless I have it warm, and no vessels will
keep warm the liquid that is put therein except the bottles of
Gwyddolwyd Gorr, which preserve the heat of the liquor that is put
into them in the east, until they arrive at the west. And he will
not give them of his own free will, and thou wilt not be able to
compel him."
"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
that it will not be easy."
"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
Some will desire fresh milk, and it will not be possible to have
fresh milk for all, unless we have the bottles of Rhinnon Rhin
Barnawd, wherein no liquor ever turns sour. And he will not give
them of his own free will, and thou wilt not be able to compel him."
"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
that it will not be easy."
"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
Throughout the world there is not a comb or scissors with which I can
arrange my hair, on account of its rankness, except the comb and
scissors that are between the two ears of Twrch Trwyth, the son of
Prince Tared. He will not give them of his own free will, and thou
wilt not be able to compel him."
"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
that it will not be easy."
"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. It
will not be possible to hunt Twrch Trwyth without Drudwyn the whelp
of Greid, the son of Eri."
"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
that it will not be easy."
"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
Throughout the world there is not a leash that can hold him, except
the leash of Cwrs Cant Ewin."
"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
that it will not be easy."
"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
Throughout the world there is no collar that will hold the leash
except the collar of Canhastyr Canllaw."
"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
that it will not be easy."
"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
The chain of Kilydd Canhastyr to fasten the collar to the leash."
"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
that it will not be easy."
"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
Throughout the world there is not a huntsman who can hunt with this
dog, except Mabon the son of Modron. He was taken from his mother
when three nights old, and it is not known where he now is, nor
whether he is living or dead."
"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
that it will not be easy."
"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
Gwynn Mygdwn, the horse of Gweddw, that is as swift as the wave, to
carry Mabon the son of Modron to hunt the boar Trwyth. He will not
give him of his own free will, and thou wilt not be able to compel
him."
"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
that it will not be easy."
"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
Thou wilt not get Mabon, for it is not known where he is, unless thou
find Eidoel, his kinsman in blood, the son of Aer. For it would be
useless to seek for him. He is his cousin."
"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
that it will not be easy."
"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
Garselit the Gwyddelian is the chief huntsman of Ireland; the Twrch
Trwyth can never be hunted without him."
"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
that it will not be easy."
"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. A
leash made from the beard of Dillus Varvawc, for that is the only one
that can hold those two cubs. And the leash will be of no avail
unless it be plucked from his beard while he is alive, and twitched
out with wooden tweezers. While he lives he will not suffer this to
be done to him, and the leash will be of no use should he be dead,
because it will be brittle."
"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
that it will not be easy."
"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
Throughout the world there is no huntsman that can hold those two
whelps except Kynedyr Wyllt, the son of Hettwn Glafyrawc; he is nine
times more wild than the wildest beast upon the mountains. Him wilt
thou never get, neither wilt thou ever get my daughter."
"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
that it will not be easy."
"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. It
is not possible to hunt the boar Trwyth without Gwynn the son of
Nudd, whom God has placed over the brood of devils in Annwvyn, lest
they should destroy the present race. He will never be spared
thence."
"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
that it will not be easy."
"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
There is not a horse in the world that can carry Gwynn to hunt the
Twrch Trwyth, except Du, the horse of Mor of Oerveddawg."
"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
that it will not be easy."
"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
Until Gilennhin the king of France shall come, the Twrch Trwyth
cannot be hunted. It will be unseemly for him to leave his kingdom
for thy sake, and he will never come hither."
"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
that it will not be easy."
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