The Story of King Arthur and Other Celtic Heroes

by Padraic Colum

  So the men of Rome made a new Emperor. And this one wrote a letter of threat to Maxen in Britain. There was nought in the letter but only this: “If thou comest, and if thou ever comest to Rome.” Then sent Maxen a letter to the man who styled himself Emperor in Rome. There was nought in the letter but only this: “If I come to Rome, and if I come.”

  Thereupon Maxen set forth towards Rome with his soldiers. He conquered all lands that were on his way, and he came before the city and he was sure that he could take Rome from the one who styled himself Emperor.

  But for a year he stayed before the city, and he was no nearer taking it than on the first day. And then there came to join him Helen’s brothers from the Island of Britain. A small army was with them, but better warriors were in that small army than twice as many Romans. Helen went to see the armies that were encamped, and she knew the standards of her brothers. And she brought them, Kynan and Adeon, the sons of Eudav, to Maxen. And the Emperor was glad because of their coming, and he embraced them.

  Then Helen’s brothers watched Maxen’s Roman army attack the city. And after they had watched the attack Kynan said to his brother: “We will try to attack the city more expertly than this.” So they measured by night the height of the wall, and they sent their carpenters to the wood, and they had ladders made for every four men of their army. Now every day, at mid-day, the Emperor in the camp and the Emperor in the city went to eat, and they ceased to fight on both sides till all had finished eating. In the morning the men of Britain were wont to take their food. Now, while the two Emperors were at meat, Kynan and Adeon and their army came to the city, and placed ladders against the wall, and forthwith they came in through the city.

  The new Emperor had no time to arm himself when they fell upon him, and slew him, and many others with him. And three days and three nights were they subduing the men that were in the city. While some of the men of Britain fought, others kept the walls, lest any of the host of Maxen should come therein, until they had subjected the whole of Rome to their will.

  Maxen the Emperor said to Helen: “I marvel, Lady, that thy brothers with their army have been able to do so little for me.” “Lord,” answered Helen, “the wisest youths in the world are my brothers. Go thou to them and ask them to take the city for thee.” So the Emperor and Helen went forward. And then they saw that the gates of the city of Rome were opened, and they were told that none had taken the city, and that none could give it to Maxen, but the men of the Island of Britain.

  Then Maxen sat on his throne with Helen beside him, and all the men of Rome submitted themselves unto them. Then the Emperor said to Kynan and Adeon: “Lords, I have now possession of the whole of my empire. And the army that is here I give unto ye to vanquish whatever region ye may desire in the world.”

  So Kynan and Adeon set forth and they conquered lands, and castles, and cities. And thus they continued until the young men that had come with them were grown grey-headed, from the length of time they were upon this conquest. Then Kynan said unto Adeon, his brother: “Whether wilt thou rather tarry in this far land, or go back to the land whence thou didst come forth?” Adeon chose to go back to his own land, and many went with him. And Mabon, the son of Modron, was one who was with Kynan in that time far back, and who remembers what it was that brought the men of Britain out from their own land, and brought certain of them back again.

  VI

  HOW KING ARTHUR MET THE JET BLACK SORCERESS

  The story was no more than finished when messengers came to Arthur to tell him that the boar Truith was nigh with his seven pigs. Arthur arose; with his household and his hounds he went to the chase.

  All wasted was the country that Truith and his seven pigs had gone through. They came upon the seven pigs. Two of the huntsmen went against them and they were killed by the pigs. Then Arthur came up to where two of the pigs were, and he let loose the whole pack of his dogs upon them. The shouting of the men, and the barking of the dogs, and the grunting of the pigs brought the boar Truith to the help of the pigs.

  From the time that Truith had crossed the Irish Sea, Arthur had not looked upon the boar until then. He set his men and his dogs upon the great-tusked, fiery-eyed boar. Thereupon Truith started off, his seven pigs with him. They went on, with the great company of men and dogs keeping them in chase. At the next place where they made a stand one of the pigs was killed. Again the chase went on. Where they made a stand next, Lawin and Gwis, two of the pigs, were killed. Again the chase went on. They made a stand at another place, and there two pigs more, Banu and Benwig, were killed by the dogs and the men. And the two pigs that were left parted from Truith there.

  And of these two pigs, one went to Garth Gregin, and there he slew many men. And the other went on until he was met by the men of Armorica. In that encounter the pig slew the King of Armorica, and slew King Arthur’s two uncles, and there the pig was slain.

  But the boar Truith kept southward, and southward, too, went Arthur and his men in pursuit of him. The King summoned all Cornwall and Devon to meet him. To the estuary of the River Severn they came, and Arthur, looking on the warriors of the Island of the Mighty, said, “The boar Truith has slain many of my men, but, by the valour of warriors, while I live he shall not go into Cornwall. I will not follow him any longer; I will bring him to bay, and oppose him life to life.” Then the warriors of the Island of the Mighty said that all of them would oppose their lives to the boar.

  Arthur then sent a body of men with dogs to a certain place, instructing them to return thence to the Severn, and he sent tried warriors to traverse the Island, and force the boar into the River Severn.

  Kilhuch was with the men who went to do this. Mabon, the son of Modron, was there, mounted on the horse that was swift as the wave. Kilhuch with four others, all mighty warriors, dashed upon the great-tusked, fiery-eyed boar; they seized hold of him; catching him by the feet they plunged him into the Severn. Its waters overwhelmed him. On one side Mabon, the son of Modron, spurred up his steed, and snatched the razor from between the boar’s ears. Kilhuch snatched the scissors. But before they could obtain the comb, Truith had regained the ground. From the moment that he reached the shore, neither dog, nor man, nor horse could overtake him until he entered Cornwall.

  Then Arthur and his men went through Cornwall seeking the boar that still had the comb between his ears. And then Kilhuch came upon him. And Kilhuch was holding Drudwin, the Little Dog of Greit, by the leash that had been made out of the beard of Dillus the Robber. He unloosed the dog. The boar flung off the comb that was between his ears. The Little Dog of Greit rushed at him and drove him straight forward and into the deep sea. All the warriors watched Truith plunge into the sea. Thenceforward it was never known where he went. But wherever he went, Drudwin, the Little Dog of Greit, went too.

  So Kilhuch gained the comb, the last of the precious things that was between Truith’s ears; he had the scissors, and the razor that Mabon, the son of Modron, had taken was given him. He had, too, the tusk of the lesser boar. Then with Arthur and his companions, and Goreu, the son of Custennin the Herdsman, he went to the castle of Yspaddaden, Chief of Giants.

  Olwen was in the hall when the porter let them in. She was there and Kilhuch looked upon her, but her father drove her out of the hall. “Have you brought all that is needful for the washing of my head and the shaving of my beard?” he asked roughly, when he saw them before him.

  Then Kilhuch showed him the tusk of Yskithyrwyn; he showed him the comb, and the razor, and the scissors that had been between the ears of the boar Truith. Yspaddaden looked on all of them. “To-morrow,” he said, “we will examine all of these things and see if it is fitting that you should have my daughter for your wife.” And then he said, “To-night I would have you join in revelry in my hall.” So Yspaddaden feasted King Arthur and his companions and feasted Kilhuch, the youth who had come to claim his daughter for wife. After they had feasted they all went to rest.

  The next morning when they came together again Yspad
daden said, “The tusk of Yskithyrwyn you have brought me, and the comb and scissors and razor that were between the ears of the boar Truith. But I must spread out my hair in order to have it shaved, 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 the Source of the Stream of Sorrow at the confines of Hell. This you have not brought me. And I declare before all of you that I will not let myself be cheated in this way.”

  Then it seemed to Kilhuch that in spite of all the labours that had been done he would not gain Olwen for his wife. But King Arthur rose up, and he declared by his confession to Heaven, that he would bring the blood of the Jet Black Sorceress to them, and that he would force Yspaddaden, Chief of Giants, to give Olwen to Kilhuch for his wife.

  King Arthur went without. And there was Gwyn ab Nudd who had come with Arthur’s companions. He asked Gwyn to give him counsel as to how he might come to where the Jet Black Sorceress, the daughter of the Pure White Sorceress, was. And Gwyn advised the King to mount his mare Lamrei and to ride to the cave that he would guide him to, the cave that opened to where was the Source of the Stream of Sorrow. When they came to that cave, Gwyn advised Arthur to send his two servants in, “For it would not be fitting or seemly,” he said, “to have you, King Arthur, struggle with a sorceress.”

  The two servants went within the cave. But no sooner did they go within than they became rooted to the ground. “What has happened to my servants?” said Arthur. “I know now,” said Gwyn, “that your servants cannot move backward or forward, and neither can anyone else unless he is mounted on your mare Lamrei.” Arthur, hearing this, rode into the cave. He lifted up his servants on Lamrei, his mare. As he did, the Sorceress dashed at him. With his dagger he struck at her, and she fell in two halves. Then Gwyn ab Nudd took the blood of the Sorceress and kept it.

  Arthur with Gwyn came into the castle of Yspaddaden. The hair of the Chief of the Giants was spread out, and Goreu, Custennin’s son, went to him. And Goreu shaved his beard, and cut him from ear to ear. “Art thou shaved, man?” said Goreu. But the Chief of Giants did not answer; terror at seeing Goreu whose brothers he had slain, at seeing Goreu come to him with the sharp things in his hands, made Yspaddaden die.

  Then Arthur and those who were with him took possession of that vast castle and all the treasures that were in it. Goreu, the son of Custennin the Herdsman, lived in it henceforth. Olwen became the bride of Kilhuch, and she and he were happy together for as long as they lived. Those who were with Arthur left the castle then, each man going to his own place. And thus did Kilhuch obtain Olwen, the daughter of Yspaddaden, Chief of Giants.

  THE COMPANIONS OF ARTHUR

  THE KNIGHT OWEN AND THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN

  I

  One day King Arthur spoke to those who were around him, saying: “If I thought you would not disparage me while I was not listening to you, I would sleep for a little. And as for the rest of you, you can obtain a flagon of mead and some meat from Kai, and entertain one another with relating tales.” And when he had said this, King Arthur went to sleep.

  Arthur was in a chamber of his palace in Caerleon, and Owen, the son of Urien, and Kynon, and Kai were with him, and Queen Gwenhuivar and her maidens were there also. In the centre of the chamber King Arthur sat upon a seat of green rushes, over which was spread a covering of flame-coloured satin, and a cushion of red satin was under his elbow. And when he turned to sleep, Kai went to the kitchen and to the mead-cellar, and returned bearing a flagon of mead and a golden goblet, and broiled collops of meat. They ate, and they began to drink the mead out of the golden goblet.

  Then said Kai: “It is time I should get paid by being told a story.” “Kynon,” said Owen to the other knight who was there, “do thou pay Kai the tale that is his due.” “Truly,” said Kynon, “thou art older, Owen, and art a better teller of tales than I, and hast seen more marvellous things; do thou, therefore, pay Kai his tale.” “Begin thyself,” said Owen, “with the best tale thou knowest.” “I will do so,” said Kynon. Then he began:

  “I was the oldest son of my mother and father, and I was exceedingly aspiring, and my daring was very great. I thought there was no enterprise in the world too mighty for me, and after I had achieved all the adventures that were to achieve in my own country, I equipped myself, and set forth to journey through deserts and distant regions. And at length it chanced that I came to the fairest valley in the world.

  “In that valley there were trees of equal growth, and a river ran through it, and a path was by the side of the river. I followed the path until mid-day, and continued my journey along the remainder of the valley until the evening; and at the end of the plain I came to a great castle, at the foot of which was a torrent. I approached the castle, and there I beheld two youths with yellow curling hair, each with a frontlet of gold upon his head, and clad in a garment of yellow satin, and they had gold clasps upon their insteps. In the hand of each of them was an ivory bow, strung with the sinews of the stag; and their arrows had shafts of the bone of the whale, and were winged with peacock’s feathers; their shafts also had golden heads. And they had daggers with blades of gold, and with hilts of the bone of the whale. The two youths were throwing their daggers.

  “And a little way from them I saw a man clad in a robe and mantle of yellow satin; and round the top of his mantle was a band of gold lace. On his feet were shoes of variegated leather, fastened by two bosses of gold. When I saw this man, I went towards him and saluted him, and such was his courtesy that he no sooner received my greeting than he returned it. And he went with me towards the castle.

  “In the hall of the castle I saw four and twenty maidens embroidering satin at a window. And this I tell thee, Kai, that the least fair of them was fairer than the fairest maid that thou hast ever beheld in the Island of Britain, and the least lovely of them was more lovely than Gwenhuivar when she appears at the Offering on the day of the Nativity, or at the feast of Easter. The maidens rose up at my coming, and six of them took my horse and divested me of my armour; and six others took my arms, and washed them in a vessel until they were perfectly bright. And the third six spread cloths upon the tables and prepared meat. And the fourth six took off my soiled garments, and placed others upon me; namely, an under-vest and doublet of fine linen, and a robe, and a surcoat, and a mantle of yellow satin with a broad gold band upon the mantle. They placed cushions both beneath and around me, with coverings of red linen; and I sat down.

  “Now the six maidens who had taken my horse unharnessed him, as well as if they had been the best squires in the Island of Britain. Then, behold, they brought bowls of silver wherein was water to wash, and towels of linen, and I washed. Then, in a little while, the man who had brought me into the hall sat down to the table. I sat next to him, and below me sat all the maidens, except those who waited on us. And the table was of silver, and the cloths upon the table were of linen; and no vessel was served upon the table that was not either of gold or of silver, or of buffalo-horn. And verily, Kai, I saw there every sort of meat and every sort of liquor that I have ever seen elsewhere; but the meat and liquor were better served there than I have ever seen them in any other place.

  “Until the repast was half over, neither the man nor any one of the maidens spoke a single word to me; but when the man perceived it would be more agreeable to me to converse than to eat any more, he began to inquire of me who I was and where I had come from. I said I was glad to find that there was some one who would discourse with me. ‘Chieftain,’ said the man, ‘we would have talked with thee sooner, but we feared to disturb thee during thy repast; now, however, we will discourse.’

  “Then I told the man who I was, and what was the cause of my journey; and said that I was seeking whether anyone was superior to me, or whether I could gain the mastery over all. The man looked upon me, and he smiled and said, ‘If I did not fear to distress thee too much, I would show thee that which thou seekest.’ Upon this I became anxious and sorrowful, an
d when the man perceived it, he said, ‘If thou wouldst rather that I should show thee thy disadvantage than thine advantage, I will do so. Sleep here to-night, and in the morning arise early, and take the road upwards through the valley until thou reachest the wood through which thou camest hither. A little way within the wood thou wilt meet with a road branching off to the right, by which thou must proceed, until thou comest to a large sheltered glade with a mound in the centre. And thou wilt see a Black Man of great stature on the top of the mound. He is not smaller in size than two men of this world. And he has a club of iron, and it is certain that there are no two men in the world who would not find their burden in that club. He has but one foot, and there is but one eye in the middle of his forehead. He is the guardian of the wood. And thou wilt see a thousand wild animals grazing around him. Inquire of him the way out of the glade, and he will reply to thee briefly, and will point out the road by which thou shalt find that which thou art in quest of.’

  “The next morning I arose and equipped myself, and mounted my horse, and proceeded straight through the valley to the wood; and I followed the crossroad which the man had pointed out to me, till at length I arrived at the glade. And there I was three times more astonished at the number of wild animals I beheld than the man had said I should be. And the Black Man was there, sitting on the top of the mound. Huge of stature as the man had told me he was, I found him to exceed by far the description he had given me of him. As for the iron club which the man had told me was a burden for two men, I am certain, Kai, that it would be a heavy weight for four warriors to lift; and this was in the Black Man’s hand.

  “He only spoke to me in answer to my questions. I asked him what power he held over the wild animals that were around. ‘I will show thee, little man,’ said he. And he took his club in his hand, and with it he struck a stag a great blow so that he brayed vehemently, and at his braying the animals came together, as numerous as the stars in the sky, so that it was difficult for me to find room in the glade to stand among them. There were serpents, and dragons, and divers sorts of animals. And the Black Man looked at them, and bade them go and feed; and they bowed their heads, and did him homage as vassals to their lord.