Kilhwch and Olwen

OR THE TWRCH TRWYTH

Kilydd the son of Prince Kelyddon desired a wife as a helpmate, andthe wife that he chose was Goleuddydd, the daughter of PrinceAnlawdd. And after their union, the people put up prayers that theymight have an heir. And they had a son through the prayers of thepeople. From the time of her pregnancy Goleuddydd became wild, andwandered about, without habitation; but when her delivery was athand, her reason came back to her. Then she went to a mountain wherethere was a swineherd, keeping a herd of swine. And through fear ofthe swine the queen was delivered. And the swineherd took the boy,and brought him to the palace; and he was christened, and they calledhim Kilhwch, because he had been found in a swine's burrow.Nevertheless the boy was of gentle lineage, and cousin unto Arthur;and they put him out to nurse.

After this the boy's mother, Goleuddydd, the daughter of PrinceAnlawdd, fell sick. Then she called her husband unto her, and saidto him, "Of this sickness I shall die, and thou wilt take anotherwife. Now wives are the gift of the Lord, but it would be wrong forthee to harm thy son. Therefore I charge thee that thou take not awife until thou see a briar with two blossoms upon my grave." Andthis he promised her. Then she besought him to dress her grave everyyear, that nothing might grow thereon. So the queen died. Now theking sent an attendant every morning to see if anything were growingupon the grave. And at the end of the seventh year the masterneglected that which he had promised to the queen.

One day the king went to hunt, and he rode to the place of burial tosee the grave, and to know if it were time that he should take awife; and the king saw the briar. And when he saw it, the king tookcounsel where he should find a wife. Said one of his counsellors, "Iknow a wife that will suit thee well, and she is the wife of KingDoged." And they resolved to go to seek her; and they slew the king,and brought away his wife and one daughter that she had along withher. And they conquered the king's lands.

On a certain day, as the lady walked abroad, she came to the house ofan old crone that dwelt in the town, and that had no tooth in herhead. And the queen said to her, "Old woman, tell me that which Ishall ask thee, for the love of Heaven. Where are the children ofthe man who has carried me away by violence?" Said the crone, "Hehas not children." Said the queen, "Woe is me, that I should havecome to one who is childless!" Then said the hag, "Thou needest notlament on account of that, for there is a prediction he shall have anheir by thee, and by none other. Moreover, be not sorrowful, for hehas one son."

The lady returned home with joy; and she asked her consort,"Wherefore hast thou concealed thy children from me?" The king said,"I will do so no longer." And he sent messengers for his son, and hewas brought to the Court. His stepmother said unto him, "It werewell for thee to have a wife, and I have a daughter who is sought ofevery man of renown in the world." "I am not yet of an age to wed,"answered the youth. Then said she unto him, "I declare to thee, thatit is thy destiny not to be suited with a wife until thou obtainOlwen, the daughter of Yspaddaden Penkawr." And the youth blushed,and the love of the maiden diffused itself through all his frame,although he had never seen her. And his father inquired of him,"What has come over thee, my son, and what aileth thee?" "Mystepmother has declared to me that I shall never have a wife until Iobtain Olwen, the daughter of Yspaddaden Penkawr." "That will beeasy for thee," answered his father. "Arthur is thy cousin. Go,therefore, unto Arthur, to cut thy hair, and ask this of him as aboon."

And the youth pricked forth upon a steed with head dappled grey, offour winters old, firm of limb, with shell-formed hoofs, having abridle of linked gold on his head, and upon him a saddle of costlygold. And in the youth's hand were two spears of silver, sharp,well-tempered, headed with steel, three ells in length, of an edge towound the wind, and cause blood to flow, and swifter than the fall ofthe dewdrop from the blade of reed-grass upon the earth when the dewof June is at the heaviest. A gold-hilted sword was upon his thigh,the blade of which was of gold, bearing a cross of inlaid gold of thehue of the lightning of heaven: his war-horn was of ivory. Beforehim were two brindled white-breasted greyhounds, having strongcollars of rubies about their necks, reaching from the shoulder tothe ear. And the one that was on the left side bounded across to theright side, and the one on the right to the left, and like two sea-swallows sported around him. And his courser cast up four sods withhis four hoofs, like four swallows in the air, about his head, nowabove, now below. About him was a four-cornered cloth of purple, andan apple of gold was at each corner, and every one of the apples wasof the value of an hundred kine. And there was precious gold of thevalue of three hundred kine upon his shoes, and upon his stirrups,from his knee to the tip of his toe. And the blade of grass bent notbeneath him, so light was his courser's tread as he journeyed towardsthe gate of Arthur's Palace.

Spoke the youth, "Is there a porter?" "There is; and if thou holdestnot thy peace, small will be thy welcome. I am Arthur's porter everyfirst day of January. And during every other part of the year butthis, the office is filled by Huandaw, and Gogigwc, and Llaeskenym,and Pennpingyon, who goes upon his head to save his feet, neithertowards the sky nor towards the earth, but like a rolling stone uponthe floor of the court." "Open the portal." "I will not open it.""Wherefore not?" "The knife is in the meat, and the drink is in thehorn, and there is revelry in Arthur's Hall, and none may entertherein but the son of a king of a privileged country, or a craftsmanbringing his craft. But there will be refreshment for thy dogs, andfor thy horses; and for thee there will be collops cooked andpeppered, and luscious wine and mirthful songs, and food for fiftymen shall be brought unto thee in the guest chamber, where thestranger and the sons of other countries eat, who come not unto theprecincts of the Palace of Arthur. Thou wilt fare no worse therethan thou wouldest with Arthur in the Court. A lady shall smooth thycouch, and shall lull thee with songs; and early to-morrow morning,when the gate is open for the multitude that come hither to-day, forthee shall it be opened first, and thou mayest sit in the place thatthou shalt choose in Arthur's Hall, from the upper end to the lower."Said the youth, "That will I not do. If thou openest the gate, it iswell. If thou dost not open it, I will bring disgrace upon thy Lord,and evil report upon thee. And I will set up three shouts at thisvery gate, than which none were ever more deadly, from the top ofPengwaed in Cornwall to the bottom of Dinsol, in the North, and toEsgair Oervel, in Ireland. And all the women in this Palace that arepregnant shall lose their offspring; and such as are not pregnant,their hearts shall be turned by illness, so that they shall neverbear children from this day forward." "What clamour soever thoumayest make," said Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr, "against the laws of Arthur'sPalace shalt thou not enter therein, until I first go and speak withArthur."

Then Glewlwyd went into the Hall. And Arthur said to him, "Hast thounews from the gate?"--"Half of my life is past, and half of thine. Iwas heretofore in Kaer Se and Asse, in Sach and Salach, in Lotor andFotor; and I have been heretofore in India the Great and India theLesser; and I was in the battle of Dau Ynyr, when the twelve hostageswere brought from Llychlyn. And I have also been in Europe, and inAfrica, and in the islands of Corsica, and in Caer Brythwch, andBrythach, and Verthach; and I was present when formerly thou didstslay the family of Clis the son of Merin, and when thou didst slayMil Du the son of Ducum, and when thou didst conquer Greece in theEast. And I have been in Caer Oeth and Annoeth, and in CaerNevenhyr; nine supreme sovereigns, handsome men, saw we there, butnever did I behold a man of equal dignity with him who is now at thedoor of the portal." Then said Arthur, "If walking thou didst enterin here, return thou running. And every one that beholds the light,and every one that opens and shuts the eye, let them shew himrespect, and serve him, some with gold-mounted drinking-horns, otherswith collops cooked and peppered, until food and drink can beprepared for him. It is unbecoming to keep such a man as thou sayesthe is, in the wind and the rain." Said Kai, "By the hand of myfriend, if thou wouldest follow my counsel, thou wouldest not breakthrough the laws of the Court because of him." "Not so, blessed Kai.It is an honour to us to be resorted to, and the greater our courtesythe greater will be our renown, and our fame, and our glory."

And Glewlwyd came to the gate, and opened the gate before him; andalthough all dismounted upon the horseblock at the gate, yet did henot dismount, but rode in upon his charger. Then said Kilhwch,"Greeting be unto thee, Sovereign Ruler of this Island; and be thisgreeting no less unto the lowest than unto the highest, and be itequally unto thy guests, and thy warriors, and thy chieftains--letall partake of it as completely as thyself. And complete be thyfavour, and thy fame, and thy glory, throughout all this Island.""Greeting unto thee also," said Arthur; "sit thou between two of mywarriors, and thou shalt have minstrels before thee, and thou shaltenjoy the privileges of a king born to a throne, as long as thouremainest here. And when I dispense my presents to the visitors andstrangers in this Court, they shall be in thy hand at my commencing."Said the youth, "I came not here to consume meat and drink; but if Iobtain the boon that I seek, I will requite it thee, and extol thee;and if I have it not, I will bear forth thy dispraise to the fourquarters of the world, as far as thy renown has extended." Then saidArthur, "Since thou wilt not remain here, chieftain, thou shaltreceive the boon whatsoever thy tongue may name, as far as the winddries, and the rain moistens, and the sun revolves, and the seaencircles, and the earth extends; save only my ship; and my mantle;and Caledvwlch, my sword; and Rhongomyant, my lance; andWynebgwrthucher, my shield; and Carnwenhau, my dagger; andGwenhwyvar, my wife. By the truth of Heaven, thou shalt have itcheerfully, name what thou wilt." "I would that thou bless my hair.""That shall be granted thee."

And Arthur took a golden comb, and scissors, whereof the loops wereof silver, and he combed his hair. And Arthur inquired of him who hewas. "For my heart warms unto thee, and I know that thou art come ofmy blood. Tell me, therefore, who thou art." "I will tell thee,"said the youth. "I am Kilhwch, the son of Kilydd, the son of PrinceKelyddon, by Goleuddydd, my mother, the daughter of Prince Anlawdd.""That is true," said Arthur; "thou art my cousin. Whatsoever boonthou mayest ask, thou shalt receive, be it what it may that thytongue shall name." "Pledge the truth of Heaven and the faith of thykingdom thereof." "I pledge it thee, gladly." "I crave of theethen, that thou obtain for me Olwen, the daughter of YspaddadenPenkawr; and this boon I likewise seek at the hands of thy warriors.I seek it from Kai, and Bedwyr, and Greidawl Galldonyd, and Gwythyrthe son of Greidawl, and Greid the son of Eri, and KynddeligKyvarwydd, and Tathal Twyll Goleu, and Maelwys the son of Baeddan,and Crychwr the son of Nes, and Cubert the son of Daere, and Percosthe son of Poch, and Lluber Beuthach, and Corvil Bervach, and Gwynnthe son of Nudd, and Edeyrn the son of Nudd, and Gadwy the son ofGeraint, and Prince Fflewddur Fflam, and Ruawn Pebyr the son ofDorath, and Bradwen the son of Moren Mynawc, and Moren Mynawchimself, and Dalldav the son of Kimin Cov, and the son of Alun Dyved,and the son of Saidi, and the son of Gwryon, and Uchtryd Ardywad Kad,and Kynwas Curvagyl, and Gwrhyr Gwarthegvras, and Isperyr Ewingath,and Gallcoyt Govynynat, and Duach, and Grathach, and Nerthach, thesons of Gwawrddur Kyrvach (these men came forth from the confines ofhell), and Kilydd Canhastyr, and Canastyr Kanllaw, and Cors Cant-Ewin, and Esgeir Gulhwch Govynkawn, and Drustwrn Hayarn, and GlewlwydGavaelvawr, and Lloch Llawwynnyawc, and Aunwas Adeiniawc, and Sinnochthe son of Seithved, and Gwennwynwyn the son of Naw, and Bedyw theson of Seithved, and Gobrwy the son of Echel Vorddwyttwll, and EchelVorddwyttwll himself, and Mael the son of Roycol, and DadweirDallpenn, and Garwyli the son of Gwythawc Gwyr, and Gwythawc Gwyrhimself, and Gormant the son of Ricca, and Menw the son ofTeirgwaedd, and Digon the son of Alar, and Selyf the son of Smoit,and Gusg the son of Atheu, and Nerth the son of Kedarn, and Drudwasthe son of Tryffin, and Twrch the son of Perif, and Twrch the son ofAnnwas, and Iona king of France, and Sel the son of Selgi, andTeregud the son of Iaen, and Sulyen the son of Iaen, and Bradwen theson of Iaen, and Moren the son of Iaen, and Siawn the son of Iaen,and Cradawc the son of Iaen. (They were men of Caerdathal, ofArthur's kindred on his father's side.) Dirmyg the son of Kaw, andJustic the son of Kaw, and Etmic the son of Kaw, and Anghawd the sonof Kaw, and Ovan the son of Kaw, and Kelin the son of Kaw, and Connynthe son of Kaw, and Mabsant the son of Kaw, and Gwyngad the son ofKaw, and Llwybyr the son of Kaw, and Coth the son of Kaw, and Meilicthe son of Kaw, and Kynwas the son of Kaw, and Ardwyad the son ofKaw, and Ergyryad the son of Kaw, and Neb the son of Kaw, and Gildathe son of Kaw, and Calcas the son of Kaw, and Hueil the son of Kaw(he never yet made a request at the hand of any Lord). And SamsonVinsych, and Taliesin the chief of the bards, and Manawyddan the sonof Llyr, and Llary the son of Prince Kasnar, and Ysperni the son ofFflergant king of Armorica, and Saranhon the son of Glythwyr, andLlawr Eilerw, and Annyanniawc the son of Menw the son of Teirgwaedd,and Gwynn the son of Nwyvre, and Fflam the son of Nwyvre, and Geraintthe son of Erbin, and Ermid the son of Erbin, and Dyvel the son ofErbin, and Gwynn the son of Ermid, and Kyndrwyn the son of Ermid, andHyveidd Unllenn, and Eiddon Vawr Vrydic, and Reidwn Arwy, and Gormantthe son of Ricca (Arthur's brother by his mother's side; the Penhynevof Cornwall was his father), and Llawnrodded Varvawc, and NodawlVaryf Twrch, and Berth the son of Kado, and Rheidwn the son of Beli,and Iscovan Hael, and Iscawin the son of Panon, and Morvran the sonof Tegid (no one struck him in the battle of Camlan by reason of hisugliness; all thought he was an auxiliary devil. Hair had he uponhim like the hair of a stag). And Sandde Bryd Angel (no one touchedhim with a spear in the battle of Camlan because of his beauty; allthought he was a ministering angel). And Kynwyl Sant (the third manthat escaped from the battle of Camlan, and he was the last whoparted from Arthur on Hengroen his horse). And Uchtryd the son ofErim, and Eus the son of Erim, and Henwas Adeinawg the son of Erim,and Henbedestyr the son of Erim, and Sgilti Yscawndroed the son ofErim. (Unto these three men belonged these three qualities,--WithHenbedestyr there was not any one who could keep pace, either onhorseback or on foot; with Henwas Adeinawg, no four-footed beastcould run the distance of an acre, much less could it go beyond it;and as to Sgilti Yscawndroed, when he intended to go upon a messagefor his Lord, he never sought to find a path, but knowing whither hewas to go, if his way lay through a wood he went along the tops ofthe trees. During his whole life, a blade of reed grass bent notbeneath his feet, much less did one ever break, so lightly did hetread.) Teithi Hen the son of Gwynhan (his dominions were swallowedup by the sea, and he himself hardly escaped, and he came to Arthur;and his knife had this peculiarity, that from the time that he camethere no haft would ever remain upon it, and owing to this a sicknesscame over him, and he pined away during the remainder of his life,and of this he died). And Carneddyr the son of Govynyon Hen, andGwenwynwyn the son of Nav Gyssevin, Arthur's champion, andLlysgadrudd Emys, and Gwrbothu Hen (uncles unto Arthur were they, hismother's brothers). Kulvanawyd the son of Goryon, and LlenlleawgWyddel from the headland of Ganion, and Dyvynwal Moel, and Dunardking of the North, Teirnon Twryf Bliant, and Tegvan Gloff, and TegyrTalgellawg, Gwrdinal the son of Ebrei, and Morgant Hael, Gwystyl theson of Rhun the son of Nwython, and Llwyddeu the son of Nwython, andGwydre the son of Llwyddeu (Gwenabwy the daughter of [Kaw] was hismother, Hueil his uncle stabbed him, and hatred was between Hueil andArthur because of the wound). Drem the son of Dremidyd (when thegnat arose in the morning with the sun, he could see it from GelliWic in Cornwall, as far off as Pen Blathaon in North Britain). AndEidyol the son of Ner, and Glwyddyn Saer (who constructed Ehangwen,Arthur's Hall). Kynyr Keinvarvawc (when he was told he had a sonborn he said to his wife, 'Damsel, if thy son be mine, his heart willbe always cold, and there will be no warmth in his hands; and he willhave another peculiarity, if he is my son he will always be stubborn;and he will have another peculiarity, when he carries a burden,whether it be large or small, no one will be able to see it, eitherbefore him or at his back; and he will have another peculiarity, noone will be able to resist fire and water so well as he will; and hewill have another peculiarity, there will never be a servant or anofficer equal to him'). Henwas, and Henwyneb (an old companion toArthur). Gwallgoyc (another; when he came to a town, though therewere three hundred houses in it, if he wanted anything, he would notlet sleep come to the eyes of any one whilst he remained there).Berwyn the son of Gerenhir, and Paris king of France, and OslaGyllellvawr (who bore a short broad dagger. When Arthur and hishosts came before a torrent, they would seek for a narrow place wherethey might pass the water, and would lay the sheathed dagger acrossthe torrent, and it would form a bridge sufficient for the armies ofthe three Islands of Britain, and of the three islands adjacent, withtheir spoil). Gwyddawg the son of Menestyr (who slew Kai, and whomArthur slew, together with his brothers, to revenge Kai). Garanwynthe son of Kai, and Amren the son of Bedwyr, and Ely Amyr,and RheuRhwyd Dyrys, and Rhun Rhudwern, and Eli, and Trachmyr (Arthur's chiefhuntsmen). And Llwyddeu the son of Kelcoed, and Hunabwy the son ofGwryon, and Gwynn Godyvron, and Gweir Datharwenniddawg, and Gweir theson of Cadell the son of Talaryant, and Gweir Gwrhyd Ennwir, andGweir Paladyr Hir (the uncles of Arthur, the brothers of his mother).The sons of Llwch Llawwynnyawg (from beyond the raging sea).Llenlleawg Wyddel, and Ardderchawg Prydain. Cas the son of Saidi,Gwrvan Gwallt Avwyn, and Gwyllennhin the king of France, and Gwittartthe son of Oedd king of Ireland. Garselit Wyddel, Panawr Pen Bagad,and Ffleudor the son of Nav, Gwynnhyvar mayor of Cornwall and Devon(the ninth man that rallied the battle of Camlan). Keli and Kueli,and Gilla Coes Hydd (he would clear three hundred acres at one bound:the chief leaper of Ireland was he). Sol, and Gwadyn Ossol, andGwadyn Odyeith. (Sol could stand all day upon one foot. GwadynOssol, if he stood upon the top of the highest mountain in the world,it would become a level plain under his feet. Gwadyn Odyeith, thesoles of his feet emitted sparks of fire when they struck upon thingshard, like the heated mass when drawn out of the forge. He clearedthe way for Arthur when he came to any stoppage.) Hirerwm andHiratrwm. (The day they went on a visit three Cantrevs provided fortheir entertainment, and they feasted until noon and drank untilnight, when they went to sleep. And then they devoured the heads ofthe vermin through hunger, as if they had never eaten anything. Whenthey made a visit they left neither the fat nor the lean, neither thehot nor the cold, the sour nor the sweet, the fresh nor the salt, theboiled nor the raw.) Huarwar the son of Aflawn (who asked Arthursuch a boon as would satisfy him. It was the third great plague ofCornwall when he received it. None could get a smile from him butwhen he was satisfied). Gware Gwallt Euryn. The two cubs of GastRhymi, Gwyddrud and Gwyddneu Astrus. Sugyn the son of Sugnedydd (whowould suck up the sea on which were three hundred ships so as toleave nothing but a dry strand. He was broad-chested). Rhacymwri,the attendant of Arthur (whatever barn he was shown, were there theproduce of thirty ploughs within it, he would strike it with an ironflail until the rafters, the beams, and the boards were no betterthan the small oats in the mow upon the floor of the barn).Dygyflwng and Anoeth Veidawg. And Hir Eiddyl, and Hir Amreu (theywere two attendants of Arthur). And Gwevyl the son of Gwestad (onthe day that he was sad, he would let one of his lips drop below hiswaist, while he turned up the other like a cap upon his head).Uchtryd Varyf Draws (who spread his red untrimmed beard over theeight-and-forty rafters which were in Arthur's Hall). ElidyrGyvarwydd. Yskyrdav and Yscudydd (two attendants of Gwenhwyvar werethey. Their feet were swift as their thoughts when bearing amessage). Brys the son of Bryssethach (from the Hill of the BlackFernbrake in North Britain). And Grudlwyn Gorr. Bwlch, and Kyfwlch,and Sefwlch, the sons of Cleddyf Kyfwlch, the grandsons of CleddyfDifwlch. (Their three shields were three gleaming glitterers; theirthree spears were three pointed piercers; their three swords werethree grinding gashers; Glas, Glessic, and Gleisad. Their threedogs, Call, Cuall, and Cavall. Their three horses, Hwyrdyddwd, andDrwgdyddwd, and Llwyrdyddwg. Their three wives, Och, and Garym, andDiaspad. Their three grandchildren, Lluched, and Neved, andEissiwed. Their three daughters, Drwg, and Gwaeth, and Gwaethav Oll.Their three hand-maids, Eheubryd the daughter of Kyfwlch, Gorascwrnthe daughter of Nerth, Ewaedan the daughter of Kynvelyn Keudawd Pwyllthe half-man.) Dwnn Diessic Unbenn, Eiladyr the son of Pen Llarcau,Kynedyr Wyllt the son of Hettwn Talaryant, Sawyl Ben Uchel, Gwalchmaithe son of Gwyar, Gwalhaved the son of Gwyar, Gwrhyr GwastawdIeithoedd (to whom all tongues were known), and Kethcrwm the Priest.Clust the son of Clustveinad (though he were buried seven cubitsbeneath the earth, he would hear the ant fifty miles off rise fromher nest in the morning). Medyr the son of Methredydd (from GelliWic he could, in a twinkling, shoot the wren through the two legsupon Esgeir Oervel in Ireland). Gwiawn Llygad Cath (who could cut ahaw from the eye of the gnat without hurting him). Ol the son ofOlwydd (seven years before he was born his father's swine werecarried off, and when he grew up a man he tracked the swine, andbrought them back in seven herds). Bedwini the Bishop (who blessedArthur's meat and drink). For the sake of the golden-chaineddaughters of this island. For the sake of Gwenhwyvar its chief lady,and Gwennhwyach her sister, and Rathtyeu the only daughter ofClemenhill, and Rhelemon the daughter of Kai, and Tannwen thedaughter of Gweir Datharweniddawg. Gwenn Alarch the daughter ofKynwyl Canbwch. Eurneid the daughter of Clydno Eiddin. Eneuawc thedaughter of Bedwyr. Enrydreg the daughter of Tudvathar. Gwennwledyrthe daughter of Gwaledyr Kyrvach. Erddudnid the daughter of Tryffin.Eurolwen the daughter of Gwdolwyn Gorr. Teleri the daughter of Peul.Indeg the daughter of Garwy Hir. Morvudd the daughter of UrienRheged. Gwenllian Deg the majestic maiden. Creiddylad the daughterof Lludd Llaw Ereint. (She was the most splendid maiden in the threeIslands of the mighty, and in the three Islands adjacent, and for herGwythyr the son of Greidawl and Gwynn the son of Nudd fight everyfirst of May until the day of doom.) Ellylw the daughter of NeolKynn-Crog (she lived three ages). Essyllt Vinwen and EssylltVingul." And all these did Kilhwch the son of Kilydd adjure toobtain his boon.

Then said Arthur, "Oh! chieftain, I have never heard of the maiden ofwhom thou speakest, nor of her kindred, but I will gladly sendmessengers in search of her. Give me time to seek her." And theyouth said, "I will willingly grant from this night to that at theend of the year to do so." Then Arthur sent messengers to every landwithin his dominions to seek for the maiden; and at the end of theyear Arthur's messengers returned without having gained any knowledgeor intelligence concerning Olwen more than on the first day. Thensaid 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 willnot part until thou dost either confess that the maiden exists not inthe world, or until we obtain her." Thereupon Kai rose up. Kai hadthis peculiarity, that his breath lasted nine nights and nine daysunder water, and he could exist nine nights and nine days withoutsleep. A wound from Kai's sword no physician could heal. Verysubtle was Kai. When it pleased him he could render himself as tallas 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 ahandbreadth below his hand; and when his companions were coldest, itwas to them as fuel with which to light their fire.

And Arthur called Bedwyr, who never shrank from any enterprise uponwhich Kai was bound. None was equal to him in swiftness throughoutthis island except Arthur and Drych Ail Kibddar. And although he wasone-handed, three warriors could not shed blood faster than he on thefield of battle. Another property he had; his lance would produce awound equal to those of nine opposing lances.

And Arthur called to Kynddelig the Guide, "Go thou upon thisexpedition with the chieftain." For as good a guide was he in a landwhich 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 homewithout achieving the adventure of which he went in quest. He wasthe best of footmen and the best of knights. He was nephew toArthur, the son of his sister, and his cousin.

And Arthur called Menw the son of Teirgwaedd, in order that if theywent into a savage country, he might cast a charm and an illusionover them, so that none might see them whilst they could see everyone.

They journeyed until they came to a vast open plain, wherein they sawa great castle, which was the fairest of the castles of the world.And they journeyed that day until the evening, and when they thoughtthey were nigh to the castle, they were no nearer to it than they hadbeen in the morning. And the second and the third day theyjourneyed, and even then scarcely could they reach so far. And whenthey came before the castle, they beheld a vast flock of sheep, whichwas boundless and without an end. And upon the top of a mound therewas a herdsman, keeping the sheep. And a rug made of skins was uponhim; and by his side was a shaggy mastiff, larger than a steed ninewinters old. Never had he lost even a lamb from his flock, much lessa large sheep. He let no occasion ever pass without doing some hurtand harm. All the dead trees and bushes in the plain he burnt withhis breath down to the very ground.

Then said Kai, "Gwrhyr Gwalstawt Ieithoedd, go thou and salute yonderman." "Kai," said he, "I engaged not to go further than thouthyself." "Let us go then together," answered Kai. Said Menw theson of Teirgwaedd, "Fear not to go thither, for I will cast a spellupon the dog, so that he shall injure no one." And they went up tothe mound whereon the herdsman was, and they said to him, "How dostthou 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 myown." [5] "Whose are the sheep that thou dost keep, and to whom doesyonder castle belong?" "Stupid are ye, truly! Through the wholeworld is it known that this is the castle of Yspaddaden Penkawr.""And who art thou?" "I am called Custennin the son of Dyfnedig, andmy brother Yspaddaden Penkawr oppressed me because of my possessions.And ye also, who are ye?" "We are an embassy from Arthur, come toseek Olwen the daughter of Yspaddaden Penkawr." "Oh men! the mercyof Heaven be upon you, do not that for all the world. None who evercame hither on this quest has returned alive." And the herdsman roseup. And as he arose, Kilhwch gave unto him a ring of gold. And hesought to put on the ring, but it was too small for him, so he placedit in the finger of his glove. And he went home, and gave the gloveto his spouse to keep. And she took the ring from the glove when itwas given her, and she said, "Whence came this ring, for thou art notwont to have good fortune?" "I went," said he, "to the sea to seekfor fish, and lo, I saw a corpse borne by the waves. And a fairercorpse than it did I never behold. And from its finger did I takethis ring." "O man! does the sea permit its dead to wear jewels?Show me then this body." "Oh wife, him to whom this ring belongedthou shalt see here in the evening." "And who is he?" asked thewoman, "Kilhwch the son of Kilydd, the son of Prince Kelyddon, byGoleuddydd the daughter of Prince Anlawdd, his mother, who is come toseek Olwen as his wife." And when she heard that, her feelings weredivided between the joy that she had that her nephew, the son of hersister, was coming to her, and sorrow because she had never known anyone depart alive who had come on that quest.

And they went forward to the gate of Custennin the herdsman'sdwelling. And when she heard their footsteps approaching, she ranout with joy to meet them. And Kai snatched a billet out of thepile. And when she met them she sought to throw her arms about theirnecks. And Kai placed the log between her two hands, and shesqueezed it so that it became a twisted coil. "Oh woman," said Kai,"if thou hadst squeezed me thus, none could ever again have set theiraffections on me. Evil love were this." They entered into thehouse, and were served; and soon after they all went forth to amusethemselves. Then the woman opened a stone chest that was before thechimney-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 nothis own crime that is thus visited upon him." "This is but aremnant," said the woman. "Three-and-twenty of my sons hasYspaddaden Penkawr slain, and I have no more hope of this one than ofthe others." Then said Kai, "Let him come and be a companion withme, and he shall not be slain unless I also am slain with him." Andthey ate. And the woman asked them, "Upon what errand come youhere?" "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 seenyou, return again whence you came." "Heaven is our witness, that wewill not return until we have seen the maiden." Said Kai, "Does sheever come hither, so that she may be seen?" "She comes here everySaturday to wash her head, and in the vessel where she washes, sheleaves all her rings, and she never either comes herself or sends anymessengers to fetch them."

"Will she come here if she is sent to?" "Heaven knows that I willnot destroy my soul, nor will I betray those that trust me; unlessyou will pledge me your faith that you will not harm her, I will notsend to her." "We pledge it," said they. So a message was sent, andshe came.

The maiden was clothed in a robe of flame-coloured silk, and abouther neck was a collar of ruddy gold, on which were precious emeraldsand 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 wereher hands and her fingers than the blossoms of the wood anemoneamidst the spray of the meadow fountain. The eye of the trainedhawk, the glance of the three-mewed falcon was not brighter thanhers. Her bosom was more snowy than the breast of the white swan,her cheek was redder than the reddest roses. Whoso beheld her wasfilled with her love. Four white trefoils sprung up wherever shetrod. And therefore was she called Olwen.

She entered the house, and sat beside Kilhwch upon the foremostbench; and as soon as he saw her he knew her. And Kilhwch said untoher, "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 lovedthee." "I cannot do this, for I have pledged my faith to my fathernot to go without his counsel, for his life will last only until thetime of my espousals. Whatever is, must be. But I will give theeadvice if thou wilt take it. Go, ask me of my father, and that whichhe shall require of thee, grant it, and thou wilt obtain me; but ifthou deny him anything, thou wilt not obtain me, and it will be wellfor thee if thou escape with thy life." "I promise all this, ifoccasion offer," said he.

She returned to her chamber, and they all rose up and followed her tothe castle. And they slew the nine porters that were at the ninegates in silence. And they slew the nine watch-dogs without one ofthem 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 thydaughter Olwen, for Kilhwch the son of Kilydd, the son of PrinceKelyddon." "Where are my pages and my servants? Raise up the forksbeneath my two eyebrows which have fallen over my eyes, that I maysee the fashion of my son-in-law." And they did so. "Come hitherto-morrow, and you shall have an answer."

They rose to go forth, and Yspaddaden Penkawr seized one of the threepoisoned darts that lay beside him, and threw it after them. AndBedwyr caught it, and flung it, and pierced Yspaddaden Penkawrgrievously with it through the knee. Then he said, "A cursedungentle son-in-law, truly. I shall ever walk the worse for hisrudeness, and shall ever be without a cure. This poisoned iron painsme like the bite of a gadfly. Cursed be the smith who forged it, andthe anvil whereon it was wrought! So sharp is it!"

That night also they took up their abode in the house of Custenninthe herdsman. The next day with the dawn they arrayed themselves inhaste and proceeded to the castle, and entered the hall, and theysaid, "Yspaddaden Penkawr, give us thy daughter in consideration ofher dower and her maiden fee, which we will pay to thee and to hertwo kinswomen likewise. And unless thou wilt do so, thou shalt meetwith thy death on her account." Then he said, "Her four great-grandmothers, and her four great-grandsires are yet alive, it isneedful that I take counsel of them." "Be it so," answered they, "wewill go to meat." As they rose up, he took the second dart that wasbeside him, and cast it after them. And Menw the son of Gwaeddcaught it, and flung it back at him, and wounded him in the centre ofthe breast, so that it came out at the small of his back. "A cursedungentle son-in-law, truly," said he, "the hard iron pains me likethe bite of a horse-leech. Cursed be the hearth whereon it washeated, 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 apain in my chest, and I shall often loathe my food." And they wentto meat.

And the third day they returned to the palace. And YspaddadenPenkawr said to them, "Shoot not at me again unless you desire death.Where are my attendants? Lift up the forks of my eyebrows which havefallen over my eyeballs, that I may see the fashion of my son-in-law." Then they arose, and, as they did so, Yspaddaden Penkawr tookthe third poisoned dart and cast it at them. And Kilhwch caught itand threw it vigorously, and wounded him through the eyeball, so thatthe 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 theworse. Whenever I go against the wind, my eyes will water; andperadventure my head will burn, and I shall have a giddiness everynew moon. Cursed be the fire in which it was forged. Like the biteof a mad dog is the stroke of this poisoned iron." And they went tomeat.

And the next day they came again to the palace, and they said, "Shootnot at us any more, unless thou desirest such hurt, and harm, andtorture as thou now hast, and even more." "Give me thy daughter, andif thou wilt not give her, thou shalt receive thy death because ofher." "Where is he that seeks my daughter? Come hither where I maysee thee." And they placed him a chair face to face with him.

Said Yspaddaden Penkawr, "Is it thou that seekest my daughter?" "Itis I," answered Kilhwch. "I must have thy pledge that thou wilt notdo towards me otherwise than is just, and when I have gotten thatwhich I shall name, my daughter thou shalt have." "I promise theethat willingly," said Kilhwch, "name what thou wilt." "I will doso," said he.

"Seest thou yonder vast hill?" "I see it." "I require that it berooted up, and that the grubbings be burned for manure on the face ofthe land, and that it be ploughed and sown in one day, and in one daythat the grain ripen. And of that wheat I intend to make food andliquor fit for the wedding of thee and my daughter. And all this Irequire done in one day."

"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest thinkthat it will not be easy."

"Though this be easy for thee, there is yet that which will not beso. 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 hisown free will, and thou wilt not be able to compel him."

"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest thinkthat 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, hewill do no work of his own good will except for a lawful king, andthou 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; thetwo dun oxen of Gwlwlyd, both yoked together, to plough the wild landyonder stoutly. He will not give them of his own free will, and thouwilt 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; theyellow 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; thetwo horned oxen, one of which is beyond, and the other this side ofthe peaked mountain, yoked together in the same plough. And theseare Nynniaw and Peibaw whom God turned into oxen on account of theirsins."

"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 flaxwere sown therein, and none has yet sprung up, neither white norblack; and I have the measure by me still. I require to have theflax to sow in the new land yonder, that when it grows up it may makea 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 thinkthat 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 thinkthat it will not be easy."

"The vessel of Llwyr the son of Llwyryon, which is of the utmostvalue. There is no other vessel in the world that can hold thisdrink. Of his free will thou wilt not get it, and thou canst notcompel him."

"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest thinkthat 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 cometogether, thrice nine men at a time, the meat that each of themdesired would be found within it. I require to eat therefrom on thenight that my daughter becomes thy bride. He will give it to no oneof his own free will, and thou canst not compel him."

"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest thinkthat 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. Hewill not give it of his own free will, and thou wilt not be able tocompel him."

"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest thinkthat 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 thatit should play, it does so of itself, and when he desires that itshould cease, it ceases. And this he will not give of his own freewill, and thou wilt not be able to compel him."

"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest thinkthat 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 ofAedd, king of Ireland, to boil the meat for thy marriage feast."

"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest thinkthat it will not be easy."

"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. Itis needful for me to wash my head, and shave my beard, and I requirethe tusk of Yskithyrwyn Penbaedd to shave myself withal, neithershall I profit by its use if it be not plucked alive out of hishead."

"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest thinkthat 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 exceptOdgar 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. Iwill not trust any one to keep the tusk except Gado of North Britain.Now the threescore Cantrevs of North Britain are under his sway, andof his own free will he will not come out of his kingdom, and thouwilt not be able to compel him."

"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest thinkthat it will not be easy."

"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. Imust spread out my hair in order to shave it, and it will never bespread out unless I have the blood of the jet-black sorceress, thedaughter of the pure white sorceress, from Pen Nant Govid, on theconfines of Hell."

"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest thinkthat it will not be easy."

"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. Iwill not have the blood unless I have it warm, and no vessels willkeep warm the liquid that is put therein except the bottles ofGwyddolwyd Gorr, which preserve the heat of the liquor that is putinto them in the east, until they arrive at the west. And he willnot give them of his own free will, and thou wilt not be able tocompel him."

"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest thinkthat 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 havefresh milk for all, unless we have the bottles of Rhinnon RhinBarnawd, wherein no liquor ever turns sour. And he will not givethem 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 thinkthat 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 canarrange my hair, on account of its rankness, except the comb andscissors that are between the two ears of Twrch Trwyth, the son ofPrince Tared. He will not give them of his own free will, and thouwilt not be able to compel him."

"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest thinkthat it will not be easy."

"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. Itwill not be possible to hunt Twrch Trwyth without Drudwyn the whelpof Greid, the son of Eri."

"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest thinkthat 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, exceptthe leash of Cwrs Cant Ewin."

"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest thinkthat 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 leashexcept the collar of Canhastyr Canllaw."

"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest thinkthat 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 thinkthat 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 thisdog, except Mabon the son of Modron. He was taken from his motherwhen three nights old, and it is not known where he now is, norwhether he is living or dead."

"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest thinkthat 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, tocarry Mabon the son of Modron to hunt the boar Trwyth. He will notgive him of his own free will, and thou wilt not be able to compelhim."

"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest thinkthat 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 thoufind Eidoel, his kinsman in blood, the son of Aer. For it would beuseless to seek for him. He is his cousin."

"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest thinkthat 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 TwrchTrwyth can never be hunted without him."

"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest thinkthat it will not be easy."

"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. Aleash made from the beard of Dillus Varvawc, for that is the only onethat can hold those two cubs. And the leash will be of no availunless it be plucked from his beard while he is alive, and twitchedout with wooden tweezers. While he lives he will not suffer this tobe 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 thinkthat 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 twowhelps except Kynedyr Wyllt, the son of Hettwn Glafyrawc; he is ninetimes more wild than the wildest beast upon the mountains. Him wiltthou never get, neither wilt thou ever get my daughter."

"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest thinkthat it will not be easy."

"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. Itis not possible to hunt the boar Trwyth without Gwynn the son ofNudd, whom God has placed over the brood of devils in Annwvyn, lestthey should destroy the present race. He will never be sparedthence."

"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest thinkthat 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 theTwrch Trwyth, except Du, the horse of Mor of Oerveddawg."

"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest thinkthat 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 Trwythcannot be hunted. It will be unseemly for him to leave his kingdomfor thy sake, and he will never come hither."

"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest thinkthat it will not be easy."

"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.The Twrch Trwyth can never be hunted without the son of Alun Dyved;he is well skilled in letting loose the dogs."

"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest thinkthat it will not be easy."

"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.The Twrch Trwyth cannot be hunted unless thou get Aned and Aethlem.They are as swift as the gale of wind, and they were never let looseupon a beast that they did not kill him."

"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest thinkthat it will not be easy."

"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get;Arthur and his companions to hunt the Twrch Trwyth. He is a mightyman, and he will not come for thee, neither wilt thou be able tocompel him."

"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest thinkthat it will not be easy."

"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.The Twrch Trwyth cannot be hunted unless thou get Bwlch, and Kyfwlch[and Sefwlch], the grandsons of Cleddyf Difwlch. Their three shieldsare three gleaming glitterers. Their three spears are three pointedpiercers. Their three swords are three griding gashers, Glas,Glessic, and Clersag. Their three dogs, Call, Cuall, and Cavall.Their three horses, Hwyrdydwg, and Drwgdydwg, and Llwyrdydwg. Theirthree wives, Och, and Garam, and Diaspad. Their three grandchildren,Lluched, and Vyned, and Eissiwed. Their three daughters, Drwg, andGwaeth, and Gwaethav Oll. Their three hand-maids [Eheubryd, thedaughter of Kyfwlch; Gorasgwrn, the daughter of Nerth; and Gwaedan,the daughter of Kynvelyn]. These three men shall sound the horn, andall the others shall shout, so that all will think that the sky isfalling to the earth."

"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest thinkthat it will not be easy."

"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.The sword of Gwrnach the Giant; he will never be slain excepttherewith. Of his own free will he will not give it, either for aprice or as a gift, and thou wilt never be able to compel him."

"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest thinkthat it will not be easy."

"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.Difficulties shalt thou meet with, and nights without sleep, inseeking this, and if thou obtain it not, neither shalt thou obtain mydaughter."

"Horses shall I have, and chivalry; and my lord and kinsman Arthurwill obtain for me all these things. And I shall gain thy daughter,and thou shalt lose thy life."

"Go forward. And thou shalt not be chargeable for food or raimentfor my daughter while thou art seeking these things; and when thouhast compassed all these marvels, thou shalt have my daughter for thywife."

All that day they journeyed until the evening, and then they beheld avast castle, which was the largest in the world. And lo, a blackman, huger than three of the men of this world, came out from thecastle. And they spoke unto him, "Whence comest thou, O man?" "Fromthe castle which you see yonder." "Whose castle is that?" askedthey. "Stupid are ye truly, O men. There is no one in the worldthat does not know to whom this castle belongs. It is the castle ofGwrnach the Giant." "What treatment is there for guests andstrangers that alight in that castle?" "Oh! Chieftain, Heavenprotect thee. No guest ever returned thence alive, and no one mayenter therein unless he brings with him his craft."

Then they proceeded towards the gate. Said Gwrhyr GwalstawtIeithoedd, "Is there a porter?" "There is. And thou, if thy tonguebe not mute in thy head, wherefore dost thou call?" "Open the gate.""I will not open it." "Wherefore wilt thou not?" "The knife is inthe meat, and the drink is in the horn, and there is revelry in thehall of Gwrnach the Giant, and except for a craftsman who brings hiscraft, the gate will not be opened to-night." "Verily, porter," thensaid Kai, "my craft bring I with me." "What is thy craft?" "Thebest burnisher of swords am I in the world." "I will go and tellthis unto Gwrnach the Giant, and I will bring thee an answer."

So the porter went in, and Gwrnach said to him, "Hast thou any newsfrom the gate?" "I have. There is a party at the door of the gatewho desire to come in." "Didst thou inquire of them if theypossessed any art?" "I did inquire," said he, "and one told me thathe was well skilled in the burnishing of swords." "We have need ofhim then. For some time have I sought for some one to polish mysword, and could find no one. Let this man enter, since he bringswith him his craft." The porter thereupon returned and opened thegate. And Kai went in by himself, and he saluted Gwrnach the Giant.And a chair was placed for him opposite to Gwrnach. And Gwrnach saidto him, "Oh man! is it true that is reported of thee, that thouknowest how to burnish swords?" "I know full well how to do so,"answered Kai. Then was the sword of Gwrnach brought to him. And Kaitook a blue whetstone from under his arm, and asked him whether hewould have it burnished white or blue. "Do with it as it seems goodto thee, and as thou wouldest if it were thine own." Then Kaipolished one half of the blade and put it in his hand. "Will thisplease thee?" asked he. "I would rather than all that is in mydominions that the whole of it were like unto this. It is a marvelto me that such a man as thou should be without a companion." "Oh!noble sir, I have a companion, albeit he is not skilled in this art.""Who may he be?" "Let the porter go forth, and I will tell himwhereby he may know him. The head of his lance will leave its shaft,and draw blood from the wind, and will descend upon its shaft again."Then the gate was opened, and Bedwyr entered. And Kai said, "Bedwyris very skilful, although he knows not this art."

And there was much discourse among those who were without, becausethat Kai and Bedwyr had gone in. And a young man who was with them,the only son of Custennin the herdsman, got in also. And he causedall his companions to keep close to him as he passed the three wards,and until he came into the midst of the castle. And his companionssaid unto the son of Custennin, "Thou hast done this! Thou art thebest of all men." And thenceforth he was called Goreu, the son ofCustennin. Then they dispersed to their lodgings, that they mightslay those who lodged therein, unknown to the Giant.

The sword was now polished, and Kai gave it unto the hand of Gwrnachthe Giant, to see if he were pleased with his work. And the Giantsaid, "The work is good, I am content therewith." Said Kai, "It isthy scabbard that hath rusted thy sword, give it to me that I maytake out the wooden sides of it and put in new ones." And he tookthe scabbard from him, and the sword in the other hand. And he cameand stood over against the Giant, as if he would have put the swordinto the scabbard; and with it he struck at the head of the Giant,and cut off his head at one blow. Then they despoiled the castle,and took from it what goods and jewels they would. And again on thesame day, at the beginning of the year, they came to Arthur's Court,bearing with them the sword of Gwrnach the Giant.

Now, when they told Arthur how they had sped, Arthur said, "Which ofthese marvels will it be best for us to seek first?" "It will bebest," said they, "to seek Mabon the son of Modron; and he will notbe found unless we first find Eidoel the son of Aer, his kinsman."Then Arthur rose up, and the warriors of the Islands of Britain withhim, to seek for Eidoel; and they proceeded until they came beforethe Castle of Glivi, where Eidoel was imprisoned. Glivi stood on thesummit of his castle, and he said, "Arthur, what requirest thou ofme, since nothing remains to me in this fortress, and I have neitherjoy nor pleasure in it; neither wheat nor oats? Seek not thereforeto do me harm." Said Arthur, "Not to injure thee came I hither, butto seek for the prisoner that is with thee." "I will give thee myprisoner, though I had not thought to give him up to any one; andtherewith shalt thou have my support and my aid."

His followers said unto Arthur, "Lord, go thou home, thou canst notproceed with thy host in quest of such small adventures as these."Then said Arthur, "It were well for thee, Gwrhyr Gwalstawt Ieithoedd,to go upon this quest, for thou knowest all languages, and artfamiliar with those of the birds and the beasts. Thou, Eidoel,oughtest likewise to go with my men in search of thy cousin. And asfor you, Kai and Bedwyr, I have hope of whatever adventure ye are inquest of, that ye will achieve it. Achieve ye this adventure forme."

They went forward until they came to the Ousel of Cilgwri. AndGwrhyr adjured her for the sake of Heaven, saying, "Tell me if thouknowest aught of Mabon the son of Modron, who was taken when threenights old from between his mother and the wall." And the Ouselanswered, "When I first came here, there was a smith's anvil in thisplace, and I was then a young bird; and from that time no work hasbeen done upon it, save the pecking of my beak every evening, and nowthere is not so much as the size of a nut remaining thereof; yet thevengeance of Heaven be upon me, if during all that time I have everheard of the man for whom you inquire. Nevertheless I will do thatwhich is right, and that which it is fitting that I should do for anembassy from Arthur. There is a race of animals who were formedbefore me, and I will be your guide to them."

So they proceeded to the place where was the Stag of Redynvre. "Stagof Redynvre, behold we are come to thee, an embassy from Arthur, forwe have not heard of any animal older than thou. Say, knowest thouaught of Mabon the son of Modron, who was taken from his mother whenthree nights old?" The Stag said, "When first I came hither, therewas a plain all around me, without any trees save one oak sapling,which grew up to be an oak with an hundred branches. And that oakhas since perished, so that now nothing remains of it but thewithered stump; and from that day to this I have been here, yet haveI never heard of the man for whom you inquire. Nevertheless, beingan embassy from Arthur, I will be your guide to the place where thereis an animal which was formed before I was."

So they proceeded to the place where was the Owl of Cwm Cawlwyd."Owl of Cwm Cawlwyd, here is an embassy from Arthur; knowest thouaught of Mabon the son of Modron, who was taken after three nightsfrom his mother?" "If I knew I would tell you. When first I camehither, the wide valley you see was a wooded glen. And a race of mencame and rooted it up. And there grew there a second wood; and thiswood is the third. My wings, are they not withered stumps? Yet allthis time, even until to-day, I have never heard of the man for whomyou inquire. Nevertheless, I will be the guide of Arthur's embassyuntil you come to the place where is the oldest animal in this world,and the one that has travelled most, the Eagle of Gwern Abwy."

Gwrhyr said, "Eagle of Gwern Abwy, we have come to thee an embassyfrom Arthur, to ask thee if thou knowest aught of Mabon the son ofModron, who was taken from his mother when he was three nights old."The Eagle said, "I have been here for a great space of time, and whenI first came hither there was a rock here, from the top of which Ipecked at the stars every evening; and now it is not so much as aspan high. From that day to this I have been here, and I have neverheard of the man for whom you inquire, except once when I went insearch of food as far as Llyn Llyw. And when I came there, I struckmy talons into a salmon, thinking he would serve me as food for along time. But he drew me into the deep, and I was scarcely able toescape from him. After that I went with my whole kindred to attackhim, and to try to destroy him, but he sent messengers, and madepeace with me; and came and besought me to take fifty fish spears outof his back. Unless he know something of him whom you seek, I cannottell who may. However, I will guide you to the place where he is."

So they went thither; and the Eagle said, "Salmon of Llyn Llyw, Ihave come to thee with an embassy from Arthur, to ask thee if thouknowest aught concerning Mabon the son of Modron, who was taken awayat three nights old from his mother." "As much as I know I will tellthee. With every tide I go along the river upwards, until I comenear to the walls of Gloucester, and there have I found such wrong asI never found elsewhere; and to the end that ye may give credencethereto, let one of you go thither upon each of my two shoulders."So Kai and Gwrhyr Gwalstawt Ieithoedd went upon the two shoulders ofthe salmon, and they proceeded until they came unto the wall of theprison, and they heard a great wailing and lamenting from thedungeon. Said Gwrhyr, "Who is it that laments in this house ofstone?" "Alas, there is reason enough for whoever is here to lament.It is Mabon the son of Modron who is here imprisoned; and noimprisonment was ever so grievous as mine, neither that of Llud LlawEreint, nor that of Greid the son of Eri." "Hast thou hope of beingreleased for gold or for silver, or for any gifts of wealth, orthrough battle and fighting?" "By fighting will whatever I may gainbe obtained."

Then they went thence, and returned to Arthur, and they told himwhere Mabon the son of Modron was imprisoned. And Arthur summonedthe warriors of the Island, and they journeyed as far as Gloucester,to the place where Mabon was in prison. Kai and Bedwyr went upon theshoulders of the fish, whilst the warriors of Arthur attacked thecastle. And Kai broke through the wall into the dungeon, and broughtaway the prisoner upon his back, whilst the fight was going onbetween the warriors. And Arthur returned home, and Mabon with himat liberty.

Said Arthur, "Which of the marvels will it be best for us now to seekfirst?" "It will be best to seek for the two cubs of Gast Rhymhi.""Is it known," asked Arthur, "where she is?" "She is in Aber DeuCleddyf," said one. Then Arthur went to the house of Tringad, inAber Cleddyf, and he inquired of him whether he had heard of herthere. "In what form may she be?" "She is in the form of a she-wolf," said he; "and with her there are two cubs." "She has oftenslain my herds, and she is there below in a cave in Aber Cleddyf."

So Arthur went in his ship Prydwen by sea, and the others went byland, to hunt her. And they surrounded her and her two cubs, and Goddid change them again for Arthur into their own form. And the hostof Arthur dispersed themselves into parties of one and two.

On a certain day, as Gwythyr the son of Greidawl was walking over amountain, he heard a wailing and a grievous cry. And when he heardit, he sprang forward, and went towards it. And when he came there,he drew his sword, and smote off an ant-hill close to the earth,whereby it escaped being burned in the fire. And the ants said tohim, "Receive from us the blessing of Heaven, and that which no mancan give we will give thee." Then they fetched the nine bushels offlax-seed which Yspaddaden Penkawr had required of Kilhwch, and theybrought the full measure without lacking any, except one flax-seed,and that the lame pismire brought in before night.

As Kai and Bedwyr sat on a beacon carn on the summit of Plinlimmon,in the highest wind that ever was in the world, they looked aroundthem, and saw a great smoke towards the south, afar off, which didnot bend with the wind. Then said Kai, "By the hand of my friend,behold, yonder is the fire of a robber!" Then they hastened towardsthe smoke, and they came so near to it, that they could see DillusVarvawc scorching a wild boar. "Behold, yonder is the greatestrobber that ever fled from Arthur," said Bedwyr unto Kai. "Dost thouknow him?" "I do know him," answered Kai, "he is Dillus Varvawc, andno leash in the world will be able to hold Drudwyn, the cub of Greidthe son of Eri, save a leash made from the beard of him thou seestyonder. And even that will be useless, unless his beard be pluckedalive with wooden tweezers; for if dead, it will be brittle." "Whatthinkest thou that we should do concerning this?" said Bedwyr. "Letus suffer him," said Kai, "to eat as much as he will of the meat, andafter that he will fall asleep." And during that time they employedthemselves in making the wooden tweezers. And when Kai knewcertainly that he was asleep, he made a pit under his feet, thelargest in the world, and he struck him a violent blow, and squeezedhim into the pit. And there they twitched out his beard completelywith the wooden tweezers; and after that they slew him altogether.

And from thence they both went to Gelli Wic, in Cornwall, and tookthe leash made of Dillus Varvawc's beard with them, and they gave itinto Arthur's hand. Then Arthur composed this Englyn -

Kai made a leashOf Dillus son of Eurei's beard.Were he alive, thy death he'd be.

And thereupon Kai was wroth, so that the warriors of the Island couldscarcely make peace between Kai and Arthur. And thenceforth, neitherin Arthur's troubles, nor for the slaying of his men, would Kai comeforward to his aid for ever after.

Said Arthur, "Which of the marvels is it best for us now to seek?""It is best for us to seek Drudwyn, the cub of Greid the son of Eri."

A little while before this, Creiddylad the daughter of Lludd LlawEreint, and Gwythyr the son of Greidawl, were betrothed. And beforeshe had become his bride, Gwyn ap Nudd came and carried her away byforce; and Gwythyr the son of Greidawl gathered his host together,and went to fight with Gwyn ap Nudd. But Gwyn overcame him, andcaptured Greid the son of Eri, and Glinneu the son of Taran, andGwrgwst Ledlwm, and Dynvarth his son. And he captured Penn the sonof Nethawg, and Nwython, and Kyledyr Wyllt his son. And they slewNwython, and took out his heart, and constrained Kyledyr to eat theheart of his father. And therefrom Kyledyr became mad. When Arthurheard of this, he went to the North, and summoned Gwyn ap Nudd beforehim, and set free the nobles whom he had put in prison, and madepeace between Gwyn ap Nudd and Gwythyr the son of Griedawl. And thiswas the peace that was made: --that the maiden should remain in herfather's house, without advantage to either of them, and that Gwyn apNudd and Gwythyr the son of Greidawl should fight for her every firstof May, from thenceforth until the day of doom, and that whichever ofthem should then be conqueror should have the maiden.

And when Arthur had thus reconciled these chieftains, he obtainedMygdwn, Gweddw's horse, and the leash of Cwrs Cant Ewin.

And after that Arthur went into Armorica, and with him Mabon the sonof Mellt, and Gware Gwallt Euryn, to seek the two dogs of GlythmyrLedewic. And when he had got them, he went to the West of Ireland,in search of Gwrgi Seven; and Odgar the son of Aedd king of Irelandwent with him. And thence went Arthur into the North, and capturedKyledyr Wyllt; and he went after Yskithyrwyn Penbaedd. And Mabon theson of Mellt came with the two dogs of Glythmyr Ledewic in his hand,and Drudwyn, the cub of Greid the son of Eri. And Arthur wenthimself to the chase, leading his own dog Cavall. And Kaw, of NorthBritain, mounted Arthur's mare Llamrei, and was first in the attack.Then Kaw, of North Britain, wielded a mighty axe, and absolutelydaring he came valiantly up to the boar, and clave his head in twain.And Kaw took away the tusk. Now the boar was not slain by the dogsthat Yspaddaden had mentioned, but by Cavall, Arthur's own dog.

And after Yskithyrwyn Penbaedd was killed, Arthur and his hostdeparted to Gelli Wic in Cornwall. And thence he sent Menw the sonof Teirgwaedd to see if the precious things were between the two earsof Twrch Trwyth, since it were useless to encounter him if they werenot there. Albeit it was certain where he was, for he had laid wastethe third part of Ireland. And Menw went to seek for him, and he metwith him in Ireland, in Esgeir Oervel. And Menw took the form of abird; and he descended upon the top of his lair, and strove to snatchaway one of the precious things from him, but he carried away nothingbut one of his bristles. And the boar rose up angrily and shookhimself so that some of his venom fell upon Menw, and he was neverwell from that day forward.

After this Arthur sent an embassy to Odgar, the son of Aedd king ofIreland, to ask for the cauldron of Diwrnach Wyddel, his purveyor.And Odgar commanded him to give it. But Diwrnach said, "Heaven is mywitness, if it would avail him anything even to look at it, he shouldnot do so." And the embassy of Arthur returned from Ireland withthis denial. And Arthur set forward with a small retinue, andentered into Prydwen, his ship, and went over to Ireland. And theyproceeded into the house of Diwrnach Wyddel. And the hosts of Odgarsaw their strength. When they had eaten and drunk as much as theydesired, Arthur demanded to have the cauldron. And he answered, "IfI would have given it to any one, I would have given it at the wordof Odgar king of Ireland."

When he had given them this denial, Bedwyr arose and seized hold ofthe cauldron, and placed it upon the back of Hygwyd, Arthur'sservant, who was brother, by the mother's side, to Arthur's servant,Cachamwri. His office was always to carry Arthur's cauldron, and toplace fire under it. And Llenlleawg Wyddel seized Caledvwlch, andbrandished it. And they slew Diwrnach Wyddel and his company. Thencame the Irish and fought with them. And when he had put them toflight, Arthur with his men went forward to the ship, carrying awaythe cauldron full of Irish money. And he disembarked at the house ofLlwydden the son of Kelcoed, at Porth Kerddin in Dyved. And there isthe measure of the cauldron.

Then Arthur summoned unto him all the warriors that were in the threeIslands of Britain, and in the three Islands adjacent, and all thatwere in France and in Armorica, in Normandy and in the SummerCountry, and all that were chosen footmen and valiant horsemen. Andwith all these he went into Ireland. And in Ireland there was greatfear and terror concerning him. And when Arthur had landed in thecountry, there came unto him the saints of Ireland and besought hisprotection. And he granted his protection unto them, and they gavehim their blessing. Then the men of Ireland came unto Arthur, andbrought him provisions. And Arthur went as far as Esgeir Oervel inIreland, to the place where the Boar Trwyth was with his seven youngpigs. And the dogs were let loose upon him from all sides. That dayuntil evening the Irish fought with him, nevertheless he laid wastethe fifth part of Ireland. And on the day following the household ofArthur fought with him, and they were worsted by him, and got noadvantage. And the third day Arthur himself encountered him, and hefought with him nine nights and nine days without so much as killingeven one little pig. The warriors inquired of Arthur what was theorigin of that swine; and he told them that he was once a king, andthat God had transformed him into a swine for his sins.

Then Arthur sent Gwrhyr Gwalstawt Ieithoedd, to endeavour to speakwith him. And Gwrhyr assumed the form of a bird, and alighted uponthe top of the lair, where he was with the seven young pigs. AndGwrhyr Gwalstawt Ieithoedd asked him, "By him who turned you intothis form, if you can speak, let some one of you, I beseech you, comeand talk with Arthur." Grugyn Gwrych Ereint made answer to him.(Now his bristles were like silver wire, and whether he went throughthe wood or through the plain, he was to be traced by the glitteringof his bristles.) And this was the answer that Grugyn made: "By himwho turned us into this form, we will not do so, and we will notspeak with Arthur. That we have been transformed thus is enough forus to suffer, without your coming here to fight with us." "I willtell you. Arthur comes but to fight for the comb, and the razor, andthe scissors which are between the two ears of Twrch Trwyth." SaidGrugyn, "Except he first take his life, he will never have thoseprecious things. And to-morrow morning we will rise up hence, and wewill go into Arthur's country, and there will we do all the mischiefthat we can."

So they set forth through the sea towards Wales. And Arthur and hishosts, and his horses and his dogs, entered Prydwen, that they mightencounter them without delay. Twrch Trwyth landed in Porth Cleis inDyved, and Arthur came to Mynyw. The next day it was told to Arthurthat they had gone by, and he overtook them as they were killing thecattle of Kynnwas Kwrr y Vagyl, having slain all that were at AberGleddyf, of man and beast, before the coming of Arthur.

Now when Arthur approached, Twrch Trwyth went on as far as Preseleu,and Arthur and his hosts followed him thither, and Arthur sent men tohunt him; Eli and Trachmyr, leading Drudwyn the whelp of Greid theson of Eri, and Gwarthegyd the son of Kaw, in another quarter, withthe two dogs of Glythmyr Ledewic, and Bedwyr leading Cavall, Arthur'sown dog. And all the warriors ranged themselves around the Nyver.And there came there the three sons of Cleddyf Divwlch, men who hadgained much fame at the slaying of Yskithyrwyn Penbaedd; and theywent on from Glyn Nyver, and came to Cwm Kerwyn.

And there Twrch Trwyth made a stand, and slew four of Arthur'schampions, Gwarthegyd the son of Kaw, and Tarawc of Allt Clwyd, andRheidwn the son of Eli Atver, and Iscovan Hael. And after he hadslain these men, he made a second stand in the same place. And therehe slew Gwydre the son of Arthur, and Garselit Wyddel, and Glew theson of Ysgawd, and Iscawyn the son of Panon; and there he himself waswounded.

And the next morning before it was day, some of the men came up withhim. And he slew Huandaw, and Gogigwr, and Penpingon, threeattendants upon Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr, so that Heaven knows he had notan attendant remaining, excepting only Llaesgevyn, a man from whom noone ever derived any good. And together with these he slew many ofthe men of that country, and Gwlydyn Saer, Arthur's chief Architect.

Then Arthur overtook him at Pelumyawc, and there he slew Madawc theson of Teithyon, and Gwyn the son of Tringad, the son of Neved, andEiryawn Penllorau. Thence he went to Aberteivi, where he madeanother stand, and where he slew Kyflas the son of Kynan, andGwilenhin king of France. Then he went as far as Glyn Ystu, andthere the men and the dogs lost him.

Then Arthur summoned unto him Gwyn ab Nudd, and he asked him if heknew aught of Twrch Trwyth. And he said that he did not.

And all the huntsmen went to hunt the swine as far as DyffrynLlychwr. And Grugyn Gwallt Ereint and Llwydawg Govynnyad closed withthem and killed all the huntsmen, so that there escaped but one manonly. And Arthur and his hosts came to the place where Grugyn andLlwydawg were. And there he let loose the whole of the dogs uponthem, and with the shout and barking that was set up, Twrch Trwythcame to their assistance.

And from the time that they came across the Irish sea, Arthur hadnever got sight of him until then. So he set men and dogs upon him,and thereupon he started off and went to Mynydd Amanw. And there oneof his young pigs was killed. Then they set upon him life for life,and Twrch Llawin was slain, and then there was slain another of theswine, Gwys was his name. After that he went on to Dyffryn Amanw,and there Banw and Bennwig were killed. Of all his pigs there wentwith him alive from that place none save Grugyn Gwallt Ereint andLlwydawg Govynnyad.

Thence he went on to Llwch Ewin, and Arthur overtook him there, andhe made a stand. And there he slew Echel Forddwytwll, and Garwylithe son of Gwyddawg Gwyr, and many men and dogs likewise. And thencethey went to Llwch Tawy. Grugyn Gwrych Ereint parted from themthere, and went to Din Tywi. And thence he proceeded to Ceredigiawn,and Eli and Trachmyr with him, and a multitude likewise. Then hecame to Garth Gregyn, and there Llwydawg Govynnyad fought in themidst of them, and slew Rhudvyw Rhys and many others with him. ThenLlwydawg went thence to Ystrad Yw, and there the men of Armorica methim, and there he slew Hirpeissawg the king of Armorica, andLlygatrudd Emys, and Gwrbothu, Arthur's uncles, his mother'sbrothers, and there was he himself slain.

Twrch Trwyth went from there to between Tawy and Euyas, and Arthursummoned all Cornwall and Devon unto him, to the estuary of theSevern, and he said to the warriors of this Island, "Twrch Trwyth hasslain many of my men, but, by the valour of warriors, while I live heshall not go into Cornwall. And I will not follow him any longer,but I will oppose him life to life. Do ye as ye will." And heresolved that he would send a body of knights, with the dogs of theIsland, as far as Euyas, who should return thence to the Severn, andthat tried warriors should traverse the Island, and force him intothe Severn. And Mabon the son of Modron came up with him at theSevern, upon Gwynn Mygdwn, the horse of Gweddw, and Goreu the son ofCustennin, and Menw the son of Teirgwaedd; this was betwixt LlynLliwan and Aber Gwy. And Arthur fell upon him together with thechampions of Britain. And Osla Kyllellvawr drew near, and Manawyddanthe son of Llyr, and Kacmwri the servant of Arthur, and Gwyngelli,and they seized hold of him, catching him first by his feet, andplunged him in the Severn, so that it overwhelmed him. On the oneside, Mabon the son of Modron spurred his steed and snatched hisrazor from him, and Kyledyr Wyllt came up with him on the other side,upon another steed, in the Severn, and took from him the scissors.But before they could obtain the comb, he had regained the groundwith his feet, and from the moment that he reached the shore, neitherdog, nor man, nor horse could overtake him until he came to Cornwall.If they had had trouble in getting the jewels from him, much more hadthey in seeking to save the two men from being drowned. Kacmwri, asthey drew him forth, was dragged by two millstones into the deep.And as Osla Kyllellvawr was running after the boar, his knife haddropped out of the sheath, and he had lost it, and after that, thesheath became full of water, and its weight drew him down into thedeep, as they were drawing him forth.

Then Arthur and his hosts proceeded until they overtook the boar inCornwall, and the trouble which they had met with before was mereplay to what they encountered in seeking the comb. But from onedifficulty to another, the comb was at length obtained. And then hewas hunted from Cornwall, and driven straight forward into the deepsea. And thenceforth it was never known whither he went; and Anedand Aethlem with him. Then went Arthur to Gelli Wic, in Cornwall, toanoint himself, and to rest from his fatigues.

Said Arthur, "Is there any one of the marvels yet unobtained?" Saidone of his men, "There is--the blood of the witch Orddu, the daughterof the witch Orwen, of Pen Nant Govid, on the confines of Hell."Arthur set forth towards the North, and came to the place where wasthe witch's cave. And Gwyn ab Nudd, and Gwythyr the son of Greidawl,counselled him to send Kacmwri, and Hygwyd his brother, to fight withthe witch. And as they entered the cave, the witch seized upon them,and she caught Hygwyd by the hair of his head, and threw him on thefloor beneath her. And Kacmwri caught her by the hair of her head,and dragged her to the earth from off Hygwyd, but she turned againupon them both, and drove them both out with kicks and with cuffs.

And Arthur was wroth at seeing his two attendants almost slain, andhe sought to enter the cave; but Gwyn and Gwythyr said unto him, "Itwould not be fitting or seemly for us to see thee squabbling with ahag. Let Hiramreu and Hireidil go to the cave." So they went. Butif great was the trouble of the first two that went, much greater wasthat of these two. And Heaven knows that not one of the four couldmove from the spot, until they placed them all upon Llamrei, Arthur'smare. And then Arthur rushed to the door of the cave, and at thedoor he struck at the witch, with Carnwennan his dagger, and cloveher in twain, so that she fell in two parts. And Kaw, of NorthBritain, took the blood of the witch and kept it.

Then Kilhwch set forward, and Goreu the son of Custennin with him,and as many as wished ill to Yspaddaden Penkawr. And they took themarvels with them to his court. And Kaw of North Britain came andshaved his beard, skin, and flesh clean off to the very bone from earto ear. "Art thou shaved, man?" said Kilhwch. "I am shaved,"answered he. "Is thy daughter mine now?" "She is thine," said he,"but therefore needest thou not thank me, but Arthur who hathaccomplished this for thee. By my free will thou shouldest neverhave had her, for with her I lose my life." Then Goreu the son ofCustennin seized him by the hair of his head, and dragged him afterhim to the keep, and cut off his head and placed it on a stake on thecitadel. Then they took possession of his castle, and of histreasures.

And that night Olwen became Kilhwch's bride, and she continued to behis wife as long as she lived. And the hosts of Arthur dispersedthemselves, each man to his own country. And thus did Kilhwch obtainOlwen, the daughter of Yspaddaden Penkawr.

[5] This dialogue consists of a series of repartees with a play uponwords, which it is impossible to follow in the translation.