Celtic Mythology: Captivating Celtic Myths of Celtic Gods, Goddesses, Heroes and Legendary Creatures

by Matt Clayton

  When the meal was finished, the shepherd's wife asked, "Tell me, now: why have you come here, and what is it you seek?"

  "We come to seek the hand of Olwen for our friend Culhwch," said Kai.

  "That is most unwise," said the woman. "If you value your lives, leave now, before anyone from the castle can see you."

  "We will not," said Kai, "at least, not until we have seen the maiden."

  "Is there a place she goes where we might see her without being seen?" said Gwrhyr.

  "Yes," said the woman. "She comes here every Saturday to wash her hair. When she does, she puts one of her rings into a dish. She always forgets to take them back afterwards, and no one from the castle ever comes to get them, either. She comes tomorrow on this errand, and I will let you see her without yourselves being seen, but only if you promise to do her no harm."

  Culhwch and his companions agreed that this was a good plan, and they made solemn promises not to harm the maiden.

  The next morning, Olwen came to wash her hair. She wore a gown of silk, red as flame, and around her neck was a torc of red gold, studded with many gems. Her hair was shining gold, her skin whiter than milk, and her eyes brighter than those of the swiftest falcon. Wherever she trod upon the grass, white clover flowers would spring up, and it is for this reason she was called Olwen, which means "White Track."

  As soon as Culhwch saw her, he stepped forward and said, "Lady, I greet you well, for I have always loved you. Come with me, for I would have you as my bride."

  "I must not wed you," said Olwen, "not without my father's consent, because the moment I am wed, he will die. Instead I ask you to go to his castle and beg an audience with him. Whatever he asks you to do, agree to it without hesitation, for if you do what he asks then maybe he will allow us to marry. But do not hesitate, whatever he asks, otherwise he will kill you instantly."

  "This I shall do," said Culhwch.

  The next day, Culhwch and his companions set out for the castle where they had to go through nine gates. At each gate was a gatekeeper with a giant mastiff. Culhwch and his companions slew each gatekeeper with his dog, marched through each gate, and soon found themselves in the hall of Ysbyddaden Pencawr, king of the giants.

  "Who are you, and what do you want?" roared Ysbyddaden.

  "We are here to ask the hand of your daughter Olwen in marriage to our companion, Culhwch son of Cilydd," said Kai.

  "Where are my servants?" said Ysbyddaden. "Bring me the forks that hold up my eyelids, so that I can see this young fool who thinks to wed my daughter."

  The servants brought the forks and placed them under the giant's eyelids. He looked Culhwch up and down. "So, you think to marry my Olwen, eh?" he said. "Come back tomorrow. You will have my answer then."

  The companions turned to go, but as they did so, Ysbyddaden grasped one of the three poisoned spears that he kept behind his throne, and hurled it at Culhwch. But before the spear could find its mark, Bedwyr caught it in midair and flung it back at the giant. The spear struck Ysbyddaden in the knee, and he howled with pain. "I shall never be able to walk properly again!" he cried.

  The companions returned to Custennin's house, where they feasted and rejoiced that they had survived their first encounter with the giant. The next day, they rose early and dressed and groomed themselves with care, so that they would look their very best when next they spoke to Ysbyddaden.

  Again they went into the hall of the king of the giants. This time Gwrhyr spoke for the company.

  "Give us Olwen to be the bride of Culhwch, and in exchange we will give you the usual dowry, plus gifts for you and for her kinswomen. But if you do not give her to us, you will die."

  "You must wait for my answer," said Ysbyddaden, "for all of her great-grandparents are still alive, and I must ask their advice first."

  "Very well," said Gwrhyr. "We shall go and eat while you speak with them."

  Again the companions turned to go, and again Ysbyddaden threw a poisoned spear at Culhwch. This time Menw it was who caught the spear and hurled it back. So fierce and strong was Menw's cast that the spear went straight through the giant, at the middle of his breast. "Alas!" cried the giant, "now I shall always have chest pains and indigestion!"

  The companions returned to Custennin's house, where they ate and spent the night. In the morning, they returned to the giant's hall.

  "Throw not another spear at us, O Giant," said Kai, "else you risk being killed by us!"

  At this Ysbyddaden called for the servants to put the forks under his eyelids so that he could see, and when this was done he grabbed the last spear and hurled it at Culhwch. This time it was Culhwch himself who caught the spear and flung it back, and it went straight into the giant's eye and came out the back of his neck. "Alas!" cried the giant, "now I shall have headaches forever, and my eye will always weep when I have to walk outside on a windy day!"

  The companions again returned to the shepherd's house, and on the morrow went back to the giant's hall.

  "Do not turn us away, O Giant," said Kai, "and do not throw any more spears at us, or we will surely kill you! Give us your daughter, to be the bride of Culhwch."

  "Which one of you is Culhwch?" said Ysbyddaden.

  Culhwch stepped forward. "I am Culhwch," he said.

  "Come here and sit with me, so that we may discuss this matter," said the giant.

  Culhwch went and sat with him.

  "So, you are come to ask the hand of my daughter in marriage, yes?" said Ysbyddaden.

  "Yes, I am," said Culhwch.

  "First you must promise that you will always be entirely honest with me," said Ysbyddaden.

  "I pledge honesty to you gladly," said Culhwch.

  "Then I will give you my daughter, if you can do the deeds I command of you."

  "You have but to ask," said Culhwch.

  At this the giant named one task after another, each of them difficult and dangerous. Culhwch was to clear and plow a field that could not be plowed; he had to obtain a magic drinking-horn and a magic harp; he had to make a magic leash from the hairs of a beard of a fearsome warrior, because that was the only thing that would hold the hound Culhwch was to find; he had to get the sword of Wrnach the giant, and many other tasks besides. But the most difficult, dangerous, and important task was to get the comb, shears, and razor that rested between the ears of the giant boar Twrch Trwyth.

  After each task Culhwch said, "It will be no trouble for me to do that." And after the very last task was named he said, "It will be no trouble to do any of that, for my kinsman Arthur will give me all the help I need."

  Culhwch and his companions returned to the court of King Arthur. Not only did Arthur pledge his warriors to help accomplish everything Ysbyddaden had commanded, he himself went on the quest, as did the golden-haired son of Custennin the Shepherd, whose name was Goreu.

  Up and down the country went Arthur and his warriors, easily achieving everything Ysbaddaden had commanded, and they returned to Celli Weg in Cornwall, from where they would begin the task of getting the comb, shears, and razor from between the ears of Twrch Trwyth. Arthur called for Menw son of Teirgwaedd and said to him, "Go and look for Twrch Trwyth, and see whether the treasures are indeed between his ears. For I would not have us waste time and effort looking for him, if what we seek is not there."

  Menw learned that the boar was in Ireland, so he went there to look for him. Soon enough, he found the boar's lair, and Menw caught a glimpse of the three treasures as the boar went inside. Menw turned himself in to a bird and waited. When the boar came out, Menw swooped down and tried to snatch one of the treasures, but he only managed to grasp a clawful of bristles. This enraged Twrch Trwyth, and he shook himself, sending poison flying from his hide. Some of the poison landed on Menw, and he was marked by it ever after.

  Upon learning where the boar was, and that he did indeed have the three treasures, Arthur gathered a great company of warriors from as far away as Brittany. He also called to him all the finest hunting steeds a
nd the finest coursing hounds, and soon he had such a mighty army that when he landed, the Irish were in great fear of him, and sent their holy men to treat with him and ask his protection upon them. Arthur agreed to this gladly, and the holy men provided him and his army with food.

  Arthur and his army went to Esgair Oerfel, which is where the boar had his home, along with his seven young pigs. They loosed the hounds upon the boar and his brood. The Irish fought with them for the whole day, but to no avail, and a fifth of the country of Ireland was laid waste in the battle. The next day Arthur's army went with his army to fight the boar, and they fared little better. The day after that, Arthur himself went to fight with Twrch Trwyth. They fought for nine days and nine nights, and at the end of that battle only a single young pig had been killed.

  When Arthur returned to camp after his fight, his men asked him, "Who is Twrch Trwyth?"

  "He used to be a king," said Arthur, "but God changed him into a boar, as punishment for his sins."

  Arthur called to him Gwrhyr Gwstad Ieithoedd and and told him to go and try to talk to the boar. Gwrhyr turned himself into a bird. He flew over to the place where Twrch Trwyth lived with is brood, and he perched on a nearby branch.

  "In the name of God," said Gwrhyr, "if any of you can speak, I ask you to come out and talk to Arthur."

  The young boar Grugyn Gwrych Eraint came forward. All of his bristles were like silver, and indeed the sparkle of them could be seen from far away. Grugyn said, "By the name of the One who put us into this form, we will not speak with Arthur, nor will we give him any help. Can you not see that we suffer enough as it is, without also being beset by Arthur and his warriors?"

  Gwrhyr replied, "I must tell you that Arthur means to have the comb and shears and razor that are between the ears of Twrch Trwyth, and that he will fight for them."

  "Then Arthur must come and fight," said Grugyn, "for Twrch Trwyth will never willingly part with his treasures while he is alive. But know this: tomorrow we leave for Arthur's lands, and wherever we go shall be laid waste."

  Twrch Trwyth and his brood then set out across the sea for Wales, and came ashore at Porth Clais in Dyfed. Arthur followed along in his ship, Prydwen, and however he and his warriors chased the family of boars, they could come no closer to them, until finally they held him at bay in Cwm Cerwyn. There was a great fight, and Twrch Trwyth killed four of Arthur's finest warriors. Then another four came to fight with him, and the boar himself was wounded, although in the end those four warriors perished also at the tusks of Twrch Trwyth.

  The next day, Arthur's men pursued Twrch Trwyth, and wherever they managed to hold him at bay, he slew them all. Twrch Trwyth ran all the way to Glyn Ystun, and it was there that Arthur's men lost him.

  Arthur then called to him Gwyn son of Nudd. He asked whether Gwyn knew anything that might help them hunt and kill Twrch Trwyth, but Gwyn said that he did not. The men finally picked up the trail of the great boar and his brood. They hunted them up and down the country, setting the hounds on them and turning them to bay, only to have the boar and the young pigs kill the hunters and get away. Finally all but Twrch Trwyth and two of his sons were killed. They separated, and the hunters pursued them in different directions. One young pig went to Ceredigion, where he slew many of the hunters but finally was brought down. Another young pig went to Ystrad Yw, and the same thing happened there.

  The track of Twrch Trwyth himself was leading towards Cornwall.

  "By God," said Arthur, "I'll not let that boar get into Cornwall. This chase has gone on long enough. Let us but find him and will fight him myself."

  So a band of picked men went to block the path of Twrch Trwyth and turn him back to where Arthur was waiting. They caught up with the great boar, and forced him into the River Hafren. Many warriors pursued the boar into the water on their horses. The men grabbed Twrch Trwyth by the feet and held him so that he was under the water. Mabon son of Modron drew alongside the boar and grabbed the razor from him. Cyledyr Wyllt drew along the other side and snatched the shears. But before anyone could get the comb, Twrch Trwyth managed to get purchase on the bed of the river and kick his way free. He surged out of the water, and then ran so fast that neither horse nor hound could draw close to him, and in this way he reached Cornwall.

  Arthur and his men pursued Twrch Trwyth throughout Cornwall. When they finally cornered the beast, there was a terrific fight the likes of which had never been seen before, and which was fiercer than any they had had with the boar since they first started chasing him. But after this fight, Arthur finally managed to snatch the comb. Twrch Trwyth turned tail and ran. He came to the shore, where he did not stop but instead ran straight into the sea, and he was never seen nor heard from again after that.

  Arthur returned to where Culhwch was waiting, having won all the treasures that Ysbyddaden required. Then they set out for the giant's court. Goreu son of Custennin the Shepherd went with them, for he had cause to hate Ysbyddaden for killing all his brothers and making him live a prisoner's life.

  They reached the court of Ysbyddaden, and showed him all the things they had achieved. Then Caw of Prydyn took the comb and shears and razor of Twrch Trwyth and shaved Ysbyddaden. He shaved the giant's beard, and his flesh straight down to the bone, and his ears as well.

  And Culhwch said, "Have you been thoroughly shaven?"

  Ysbyddaden replied, "That I have."

  "And is your daughter now free to be my bride?" said Culhwch.

  "That she is," said the giant. "But do not thank me for it, but rather Arthur, for it is by his deeds that you have her at all. If it had been left to me, you never would have had her. And now it is time to put an end to me."

  At that Goreu son of Custennin took the giant by the hair and struck off his head. Then he fixed the head to a post at the gate of the castle, and took for himself all the giant's lands and possessions. Arthur and all his warriors returned to their own lands. Culhwch wed Olwen, and they were happily married to the end of their days.

  And that is the tale of how Culhwch won Olwen.

  PART III

  Cornwall and Brittany

  The Drowned City of Ys

  This story from Brittany places ancient Celtic elements, such as druidesses and Otherworldly creatures, within the struggle of the old Celtic faith against the spread of Christianity. We have already seen this conflict in the Irish tale of the Children of Lir, which casts the children first as tragic victims of Christianization and then later converts to that religion. In the present tale, however, the character of Dahut, who is the product of the union between a human king and an Otherworldly sea maiden, is drawn as wicked, murderous, and willfully opposed to Christianity. Whereas the Children of Lir ultimately are saved through the actions of Christians, Dahut brings about her own downfall and that of the City of Ys when she consorts with a stranger who likely represents the Christian Devil.

  Once, long ago, there was a great city in Brittany called Ys. No one today knows exactly where it was, for it was lost beneath the sea. Some say that the ruins of Ys lie in the Baie de Trepasses. Some say that they lie in the Baie de Douarnenez. But wherever the city may lie, on some nights those who live on the coast of Brittany hear the bells of Ys ringing out ghostly across the waters of the sea. And when the people hear those bells, they shiver, and think of the tale of how the city was built, and how it was lost, all those many years ago.

  The tale begins in the kingdom of Cornouaille, which was ruled by King Gradlon. Gradlon was a wise and generous king. He always tried to rule justly, and he worshiped the old gods, for Christianity had not yet come to that part of France. Gradlon had but one daughter, whose name was Dahut. She had skin as pale as ivory, eyes as dark as coals, and long black hair that flowed like a river. Dahut's mother had come from the sea, having fallen in love with the handsome, kingly Gradlon from afar. The sea-maiden enchanted the king one day, so that he took her to wife, but then he displeased her, and so she returned to the sea and was never seen again. But before she l
eft, she bore Gradlon a daughter, and Gradlon loved Dahut more than anything else in the world, for she reminded him of her mother, his lost queen.

  One day, Gradlon and some of his courtiers went hunting in the forest of Menez-Hom where the hounds flushed out a great wild boar. Gradlon and his courtiers spurred their mounts to the chase. They raced through stands of trees and across streams. They pushed through thickets and bounded over fallen logs. But no matter how hard the hunters rode, and no matter how swiftly the hounds coursed after the boar, they could not catch it.

  Finally, Gradlon called a halt to the chase. The hounds and the horses were spent, and so were the hunters. As they paused to catch their breath, the men looked about them and realized they had no idea where they were. They had been so intent on following the boar that they had paid no attention to the path they had taken. They were utterly lost, in a part of the forest none of them had ever seen before, and the sun was beginning to set.

  "Let us head in that direction," said one of the courtiers, pointing towards the west. "I am certain we crossed a stream there, and at the very least we can water the animals while we decide what to do next."

  Gradlon agreed that this was wise advice, so the king and his companions turned towards the west and went slowly towards the place where the courtier thought the stream had been. They rode for some minutes with no sign of a stream, but then they came upon a clearing in which was a small hut, with a well nearby. One of the courtiers dismounted and went to the hut. In answer to his knock, a man in a monk's habit came to the door.

  "Welcome to my hermitage," said the monk. "My name is Corentin. How may I serve you?"

  "Greetings," said the courtier. "We are a party of hunters who have become lost in the forest. We saw your hut, and have come to ask whether you might direct us back to the city of Quimper. For the leader of our party is Gradlon, king of Cornouaille."

  "Certainly," said Corentin. "I will be pleased to help His Majesty and all of you get home safely. But I see that you have had a long and tiring hunt, and your animals are spent. May I offer you hospitality, so that you might refresh yourselves and your animals before you travel on?"