And thenceforward Owain dwelt at Arthur's court, greatly beloved, as the head of his household, until he went away with his followers; and those were the army of three hundred ravens[9] which Kenverchyn had left him. And wherever Owain went with these he was victorious.

And this is the tale of The Lady of the Fountain.

KILHWCH[10] AND OLWEN; OR, THE TWRCH TRWYTH.

[Kilhwch, having grown to be a youth in the palace of his father, was one day sent for by his stepmother, who said to him], "I declare to thee that it is thy destiny not to be suited with a wife until thou obtain Olwen, 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?"

"My stepmother has declared to me that I shall never have a wife until I obtain Olwen, the daughter of Yspaddaden Penkawr."

"That will be easy for thee," answered his father. "Arthur is thy cousin. Go, therefore, unto Arthur to cut thy hair, and ask this of him as a boon."

And the youth pricked forth upon a steed with head dappled-gray, of four winters old, firm of limb, with shell-formed hoofs, having a bridle of linked gold on his head, and upon him a saddle of costly gold.[11] And in the youth's hand were two spears of silver, sharp, well-tempered, headed with steel, three ells in length, of an edge to wound the wind and cause blood to flow, and swifter than the fall of the dewdrop from the blade of reed-grass upon the earth when the dew of 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 the hue of the lightning of heaven. His war-horn was of ivory. Before him were two brindled white-breasted greyhounds, having strong collars of rubies about their necks reaching from the shoulder to the ear. And the one that was on the left side bounded across to the right 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 with his four hoofs, like four swallows in the air, about his head, now above, now below. About him was a four-cornered cloth of purple; and an apple of gold was at each corner, and every one of the apples was of the value of an hundred kine. And there was precious gold of the value 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 not beneath him, so light was his courser's tread, as he journeyed towards the gate of Arthur's palace.

Spoke the youth, "Is there a porter?"

"There is; and, if thou holdest not thy peace, small will be thy welcome. I am Arthur's porter every first day of January. And, during every other part of the year but this, the office is filled by Huandaw, and Gogigwc, and Llaeskenym, and Pennpingyon, who goes upon his head to save his feet, like a rolling stone upon the 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 the horn, and there is revelry in Arthur's hall; and none may enter therein, but the son of a king of a privileged country, or a craftsman bringing his craft."

Said the youth, "That will I not do. If thou openest the gate, it is well. 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 this very gate, than which none were ever more deadly, from the top of Pengwaed in Cornwall, to the bottom of Dinsol in the north, and to Esgair Oervel in Ireland."

"What clamor soever thou mayest make," said Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr, "against the laws of Arthur's palace, shalt thou not enter therein, until I first go and speak with Arthur."

Then Glewlwyd went into the hall. And Arthur said to him, "Hast thou news from the gate?"

"Half of my life is past, and half of thine. I was heretofore in Kaer Se and Asse, in Sach and Salach, in Lotor and Fotor; and I have been heretofore in India the Great and India the Lesser; and I was in the battle of Dau Ynyr, when the twelve hostages were brought from Llychlyn; and I have also been in Europe, and in Africa, and in the islands of Corsica, and in Caer Brythwch and Brythach and Verthach; and I was present when formerly thou didst slay the family of Clis the son of Merin, and when thou didst slay Mil Du the son of Ducum, and when thou didst conquer Greece in the East; and I have been in Caer Oeth and Annoeth, and in Caer Nevenhyr; nine supreme sovereigns, handsome men, saw we there, but never did I behold a man of equal dignity with him who is now at the door of the portal."

Then said Arthur, "If walking thou didst enter in here, return thou running. And every one that beholds the light, and every one that opens and shuts the eye, let them show him respect, and serve him; some with gold-mounted drinking-horns, others with collops cooked and peppered, until food and drink can be prepared for him. It is unbecoming to keep such a man as thou sayest he is in the wind and the rain."

Said Kai, "By the hand of my friend, if thou would'st follow my counsel, thou would'st not break through the laws of the court because of him."

"Not so, blessed Kai. It is an honor to us to be resorted to; and the greater our courtesy the greater will be our renown, and our fame, and our glory."

And Glewlwyd came to the gate, and opened the gate before him; and, although all dismounted upon the horseblock at the gate, yet did he not dismount, but rode in upon his charger. Then said Kilhwch, "Greeting be unto thee, sovereign ruler of this island; and be this greeting no less unto the lowest than unto the highest."

"I crave of thee, then, that thou obtain for me Olwen, the daughter of Yspaddaden Penkawr; and this boon I likewise seek at the hands of thy warriors. I seek it from Kai, and Geraint the son of Erbin, and Osla Gylleillvawr (who bore a short, broad dagger: when Arthur and his hosts came before a torrent, they would seek for a narrow place where they might pass the water, and would lay the sheathed dagger across the torrent, and it would form a bridge sufficient for the armies of the three islands of Britain, and of the three islands adjacent, with their spoil); and Gilla Coes Hydd (he would clear three hundred acres at one bound: the chief leaper of Ireland was he); Sol, and Gwadyn Ossol, and Gwadyn Odyeith (Sol could stand all day upon one foot; Gwadyn Ossol, if he stood upon the top of the highest mountain in the world, it would become a level plain under his feet; Gwadyn Odyeith, the soles of his feet emitted sparks of fire when they struck upon things hard, like the heated mass when drawn out of the forge: he cleared the way for Arthur when he came to any stoppage); and Gwevyl, the son of Gwestad (on the day that he was sad, he would let one of his lips drop below his waist, while he turned up the other like a cap upon his head); Uchtryd Varyf Draws (who spread his red untrimmed beard over the eight and forty rafters which were in Arthur's hall); Brys, the son of Bryssethach (from the Hill of the Black Fernbrake in North Britain); Clust, the son of Clustveinad (though he were buried seven cubits beneath the earth, he would hear the ant fifty miles off rise from her nest in the morning), Medyr, the son of Methredydd (from Gelli Wic he could, in a twinkling, shoot the wren through the two legs upon Esgeir Oervel in Ireland); and Henwas Adeinawg, the son of Erim; and Henbedestyr, the son of Erim; and Sgilti Yscawndroed, the son of Erim (unto these three men belonged these three qualities: with Henbedestyr there was not any one who could keep pace, either on horseback or on foot; with Henwas Adeinawg, no four-footed beast could run the distance of an acre, much less could go beyond it; and as to Sgilti Yscawndroed, when he intended to go upon a message for his lord, he never sought to find a path, but knowing whither he was to go, if his way lay through a wood, he went along the tops of the trees); and Hueil, the son of Kaw (he never yet made a request at the hand of any lord); and Taliesin, the chief of the bards; and Manawyddan, the son of Llyr; Bwlch and Kyfwlch and Sefwlch, the sons of Cleddyf Kyfwlch (their three shields were three gleaming glitterers; their three spears were three pointed piercers; their three swords were three griding gashers,—Glas, Glessic, and Gleisad; their three dogs, Call, Cuall, and Cavall; their three horses, Hwyrdyddwd and Drwgdyddwd and Llwyrdyddwg; their three wives, Och and Garym and Diaspad; their three grandchildren, Lluched and Neved and Eissiwed; their three daughters, Drwg and Gwaeth and Gwaethav Oll; their three handmaids, Eheubryd the daughter of Kyfwlch, Gorascwrn the daughter of Nerth, Ewaedan the daughter of Kynvelyn Keudawd Pwyll the half-man); and Morvran, the son of Tegid (no one struck him in the battle of Camlan by reason of his ugliness; all thought he was an auxiliary devil; hair had he upon him like the hair of a stag); and Sandde Bryd Angel (no one touched him with a spear in the battle of Camlan, because of his beauty; all thought he was a ministering angel); and Glwyddyn Saer (who constructed Ehangwen, Arthur's hall); for the sake of the golden-chained daughters of this island—for the sake of Gwenhwyvar, its chief lady, and Gwennhwyach, her sister, and Rathtyeu, the only daughter of Clemenhill, and Rhelemon, the daughter of Kai; Morvudd, the daughter of Urien Rheged; Gwenllian Deg, the majestic maiden; Creiddylad,[12] the daughter of Lludd Llaw Ereint (she was the most splendid maiden in the three islands of the mighty, and in the three islands adjacent; and for her, Gwythyr the son of Greidawl, and Gwynn the son of Nudd, fight every first of May until the day of doom)."

And all these[13] did Kilhwch, son of Kilydd, adjure to obtain his boon.

Then said Arthur, "O 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 honor with me."

Then said Kai, "Rash chieftain! dost thou reproach Arthur? Go with us, and we will not part until thou dost 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 farther 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, "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."

"O 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."

"O 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.

"O 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-colored 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 any thing, 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 in 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,—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 Peibiaw,[14] 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 caldron 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 Benbaedd 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 Gwyddolwyn 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 Dissull 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 Annwn, 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 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 think that 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 loose upon a beast, that they did not kill 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,—Arthur and his companions to hunt the Twrch Trwyth. He is a mighty man, and he will not come for thee, neither wilt thou 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 Twrch Trwyth cannot be hunted, unless thou get Bwlch and Kyfwlch [and Sefwlch], the grandsons of Cleddyf Difwlch. Their three shields are three gleaming glitterers. Their three spears are three pointed piercers. 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. Their three wives, Och and Garam and Diaspad. Their three grandchildren, Lluched and Vyned and Eissiwed. Their three daughters, Drwg and Gwaeth and Gwaethav Oli. Their three handmaids [Eheubryd, the daughter of Kyfwlch; Gorasgwrn, the daughter of Nerth; and Gwaedan, the daughter of Kynvelyn]. These three men shall sound the horn, and all the others shall shout, so that all will think that the sky is falling to the earth."

"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 sword of Gwrnach the Giant: he will never be slain except therewith. Of his own free will he will not give it, either for a price 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 think that 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, in seeking this, and, if thou obtain it not, neither shalt thou obtain my daughter."

"Horses shall I have, and chivalry; and my lord and kinsman Arthur will 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 raiment for my daughter while thou art seeking these things; and, when thou hast compassed all these marvels, thou shalt have my daughter for thy wife."

All that day they journeyed until the evening, and then they beheld a vast castle, which was the largest in the world. And lo, a black man, huger than three of the men of this world, came out from the castle. And they spoke unto him: "Whence comest thou, O man?"

"From the castle which you see yonder."

"Whose castle is that?" asked they.

"Stupid are ye, truly, O men! There is no one in the world that does not know to whom this castle belongs. It is the castle of Gwrnach the Giant."

"What treatment is there for guests and strangers that alight in that castle?"

"O chieftain, Heaven protect thee! No guest ever returned thence alive, and no one may enter therein, unless he brings with him his craft."

Then they proceeded towards the gate. Said Gwrhyr Gwalstawd Ieithoedd, "Is there a porter?"

"There is. And thou, if thy tongue be not mute in thy head, wherefore dost thou call?"

"Open the gate."

"I will not open it."

"Wherefore wilt thou not?"

"The knife is in the meat, and the drink is in the horn, and there is revelry in the hall of Gwrnach the Giant, and except for a craftsman who brings his craft the gate will not be opened to-night."

"Verily, porter," then said Kai, "my craft bring I with me."

"What is thy craft?"

"The best burnisher of swords am I in the world."

"I will go and tell this unto Gwrnach the Giant, and I will bring thee an answer."

So the porter went in; and Gwrnach said to him, "Hast thou any news from the gate?"

"I have. There is a party at the door of the gate who desire to come in."

"Didst thou inquire of them if they possessed any art?"

"I did inquire," said he; "and one told me that he was well skilled in the burnishing of swords."

"We have need of him, then. For some time have I sought for some one to polish my sword, and could find no one. Let this man enter, since he brings with him his craft."

The porter thereupon returned, and opened the gate. And Kai went in by himself, and he saluted Gwrnach the Giant. And a chair was placed for him opposite to Gwrnach. And Gwrnach said to him, "O man! is it true that is reported of thee,—that thou knowest how to burnish swords?"

"I know full well how to do so," answered Kai.

Then was the sword of Gwrnach brought to him. And Kai took a blue whetstone from under his arm, and asked him whether he would have it burnished white or blue.

"Do with it as it seems good to thee, and as thou would'st if it were thine own."

Then Kai polished one-half of the blade, and put it in his hand. "Will this please thee?" asked he.

"I would rather than all that is in my dominions that the whole of it were like unto this. It is a marvel to me that such a man as thou should be without a companion."

"O 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 him whereby 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, "Bedwyr is very skilful, although he knows not this art."

And there was much discourse among those who were without, because that 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 caused all 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 companions said unto the son of Custennin, "Thou hast done this: thou art the best of all men." And thenceforth he was called Goreu, the son of Custennin. Then they dispersed to their lodgings, that they might slay those who lodged therein, unknown to the Giant.

The sword was now polished, and Kai gave it unto the hand of Gwrnach the Giant, to see if he were pleased with his work. And the Giant said, "The work is good: I am content therewith."

Said Kai, "It is thy scabbard that hath rusted thy sword. Give it to me, that I may take out the wooden sides of it, and put in new ones." And he took the scabbard from him, and the sword in the other hand. And he came and stood over against the Giant, as if he would have put the sword into 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 the same 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 of these marvels will it be best for us to seek first?"

"It will be best," said they, "to seek Mabon, the son of Modron; and he will not be found, unless we first find Eidoel, the son of Aer, his kinsman."

Then Arthur rose up, and the warriors of the islands of Britain with him, to seek for Eidoel; and they proceeded until they came before the Castle of Glivi, where Eidoel was imprisoned. Glivi stood on the summit of his castle, and he said, "Arthur, what requirest thou of me, since nothing remains to me in this fortress, and I have neither joy nor pleasure in it, neither wheat nor oats? Seek not therefore to do me harm."

Said Arthur, "Not to injure thee came I hither, but to seek for the prisoner that is with thee."

"I will give thee my prisoner, though I had not thought to give him up to any one, and therewith shalt thou have my support and my aid."

His followers said unto Arthur, "Lord, go thou home: thou canst not proceed with thy host in quest of such small adventures as these."

Then said Arthur, "It were well for thee, Gwrhyr Gwalstawd Ieithoedd, to go upon this quest; for thou knowest all languages, and art familiar with those of the birds and the beasts. Thou, Eidoel, oughtest likewise to go with my men in search of thy cousin. And as for you, Kai and Bedwyr, I have hope of whatever adventure ye are in quest of, that ye will achieve it. Achieve ye this adventure for me."

They went forward until they came to the Ousel of Cilgwri. And Gwrhyr adjured her for the sake of Heaven, saying, "Tell me if thou knowest aught of Mabon, the son of Modron, who was taken, when three nights old, from between his mother and the wall."

And the Ousel answered, "When I first came here, there was a smith's anvil in this place, and I was then a young bird. And from that time no work has been done upon it, save the pecking of my beak every evening; and now there is not so much as the size of a nut remaining thereof; yet the vengeance of Heaven be upon me, if, during all that time, I have ever heard of the man for whom you inquire. Nevertheless I will do that which is right, and that which it is fitting that I should do for an embassy from Arthur. There is a race of animals who were formed before me, and I will be your guide to them."

So they proceeded to the place where was the Stag of Redynvre. "Stag of Redynvre, behold, we are come to thee, an embassy from Arthur; for we have not heard of any animal older than thou. Say, knowest thou aught of Mabon, the son of Modron, who was taken from his mother when three nights old?"

The Stag said, "When first I came hither, there was 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 oak has since perished; so that now nothing remains of it but the withered stump. And from that day to this I have been here; yet have I never heard of the man for whom you inquire. Nevertheless, being an embassy from Arthur, I will be your guide to the place where there is 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 thou aught of Mabon, the son of Modron, who was taken, after three nights, from his mother?"

"If I knew, I would tell you. When first I came hither, the wide valley you see was a wooded glen. And a race of men came and rooted it up. And there grew there a second wood; and this wood is the third. My wings, are they not withered stumps? Yet all this time, even until to-day, I have never heard of the man for whom you inquire. Nevertheless, I will be the guide of Arthur's embassy until 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 embassy from Arthur, to ask thee if thou knowest aught of Mabon, the son of Modron, 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 when I first came hither there was a rock here, from the top of which I pecked at the stars every evening; and now it is not so much as a span high. From that day to this I have been here, and I have never heard of the man for whom you inquire, except once, when I went in search of food as far as Llyn Llyw. And when I came there, I struck my talons into a salmon, thinking he would serve me as food for a long time. But he drew me into the deep, and I was scarcely able to escape from him. After that, I went with my whole kindred to attack him, and to try to destroy him; but he sent messengers, and made peace with me, and came and besought me to take fifty fish spears out of his back. Unless he know something of him whom you seek, I cannot tell 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, I have come to thee with an embassy from Arthur, to ask thee if thou knowest aught concerning Mabon, the son of Modron, who was taken away at three nights old from his mother."

"As much as I know I will tell thee. With every tide I go along the river upwards until I come near to the walls of Gloucester, and there have I found such wrong as I never found elsewhere. And to the end that ye may give credence thereto let one of you go thither upon each of my two shoulders."

So Kai and Gwrhyr Gwalstawd Ieithoedd went upon the two shoulders of the salmon, and they proceeded until they came unto the wall of the prison, and they heard a great wailing and lamenting from the dungeon. Said Gwrhyr, "Who is it that laments in this house of stone?"

"Alas! there is reason enough for whoever is here to lament. It is Mabon, the son of Modron, who is here imprisoned; and no imprisonment was ever so grievous as mine,—neither that of Lludd Llaw Ereint, nor that of Greid, the son of Eri."

"Hast thou hope of being released for gold, or for silver, or for any gifts of wealth, or through battle and fighting?"

"By fighting will whatever I may gain be obtained."

Then they went thence, and returned to Arthur, and they told him where Mabon, the son of Modron, was imprisoned. And Arthur summoned the warriors of the island, and they journeyed as far as Gloucester, to the place where Mabon was in prison. Kai and Bedwyr went upon the shoulders of the fish, whilst the warriors of Arthur attacked the castle. And Kai broke through the wall into the dungeon, and brought away the prisoner upon his back whilst the fight was going on between the warriors. And Arthur returned home, and Mabon with him at liberty.

Said Arthur, "Which of the marvels will it be best for us now to seek first?"

"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 Deu Cleddyf," said one.

Then Arthur went to the house of Tringad in Aber Cleddyf, and he inquired of him whether he had heard of her there.

"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 often slain 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 by land, to hunt her. And they surrounded her and her two cubs, and God did change them again for Arthur into their own form. And the host of Arthur dispersed themselves into parties of one and two.

On a certain day, as Gwythyr, the son of Greidawl, was walking over a mountain, he heard a wailing and a grievous cry. And when he heard it 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 to him, "Receive from us the blessing of Heaven, and that which no man can give we will give thee."

Then they fetched the nine bushels of flaxseed which Yspaddaden Penkawr had required of Kilhwch, and they brought the full measure without lacking any, except one flaxseed, and that the lame pismire brought in before night.

As Kai and Bedwyr sat on a beacon cairn on the summit of Plinlimmon, in the highest wind that ever was in the world, they looked around them, and saw a great smoke towards the south afar off which did not bend with the wind. Then said Kai, "By the hand of my friend, behold, yonder is the fire of a robber!"

Then they hastened towards the smoke, and they came so near to it that they could see Dillus Varvawc scorching a wild boar.

"Behold, yonder is the greatest robber that ever fled from Arthur," said Bedwyr unto Kai. "Dost thou know him?"

"I do know him," answered Kai. "He is Dillus Varvawc; and no leash in the world will be able to hold Drudwyn, the cub of Greid, the son of Eri, save a leash made from the beard of him thou seest yonder. And even that will be useless, unless his beard be plucked alive with wooden tweezers; for if dead it will be brittle."

"What thinkest thou that we should do concerning this?" said Bedwyr.

"Let us suffer him," said Kai, "to eat as much as he will of the meat, and after that he will fall asleep."

And during that time they employed themselves in making the wooden tweezers. And when Kai knew certainly that he was asleep he made a pit under his feet, the largest in the world, and he struck him a violent blow, and squeezed him into the pit. And there they twitched out his beard completely with the wooden tweezers; and after that they slew him altogether.