The Mabinogion (Oxford World's Classics)

by Sioned Davies

  And after that the boy’s mother, Goleuddydd daughter of Anlawdd Wledig, became ill. She summoned her husband to her, and said to him, ‘I shall die of this sickness, and you will want another wife. And nowadays it’s the wives who dispense the gifts. But you would be wrong to harm your son. This is what I ask of you: not to seek a wife until you see a two-headed briar on my grave.’

  He promised her that. She summoned her chaplain and asked him to clean the grave every year so that nothing would grow on it. The queen died. The king sent a servant every morning to see if anything was growing on the grave. At the end of seven years the chaplain neglected what he had promised the queen.

  One day the king was hunting; he made for the graveyard; he wanted to see the grave whereby he might seek a wife. He saw the briar. And as he saw it he took counsel as to where he could get a wife. One of the counsellors said, ‘I know of a woman who would suit you well. She is the wife of King Doged.’ They decided to seek her out. And they killed the king and brought his wife back home with them, together with her only daughter. And they took possession of the king’s land.

  One day the lady went out for a walk. She came to the house of a toothless old hag who lived in the town.

  The queen said, ‘Hag, for God’s sake will you answer my question? Where are the children of the man who violently abducted me?’

  The hag said, ‘He has no children.’

  The queen said, ‘Woe is me that I have come to a childless man.’

  The hag said, ‘You need not worry about that. It is prophesied that he shall have an heir; he may have one by you, since he hasn’t had one by anyone else. Don’t be sad either—he does have one son.’

  The lady went home happy, and she said to her husband, ‘Why do you hide your child from me?’

  The king said, ‘I will not hide him any longer.’

  The boy was sent for, and he came to the court. His stepmother said to him, ‘It is time for you to get married, lad. And I have a daughter worthy of every nobleman in the world.’

  The boy said, ‘I am not old enough to get married yet.’

  And then she said, ‘I swear a destiny on you, that your side shall never strike against a woman until you get Olwen daughter of Ysbaddaden Bencawr.’*

  The boy blushed, and love for the maiden filled every limb in his body, although he had never seen her. And then his father said to him, ‘Son, why are you blushing? What’s the matter?’

  ‘My stepmother has sworn that I may never have a wife until I get Olwen daughter of Ysbaddaden Bencawr.’

  ‘It is easy for you to get that, son,’ said his father to him. ‘Arthur is your cousin. Go to Arthur to have your hair trimmed,* and ask him for that as your gift.’*

  The boy went off on a steed with a gleaming grey head, four winters old, well-jointed stride, shell-like hoofs, and a tubular gold bridle-bit in its mouth, with a precious gold saddle beneath him, and two sharp spears of silver in his hand. He had a battle-axe in his hand, the length of the forearm of a full-grown man from ridge to edge. It would draw blood from the wind; it would be swifter than the swiftest dewdrop from the stalk to the ground when the dew is heaviest in the month of June. He had a gold-hilted sword on his thigh and its blade of gold, with a gold-chased shield, the colour of heaven’s lightning, and its rim of ivory. And there were two spotted, white-breasted greyhounds in front of him, with a collar of red gold around the neck of each from shoulder-swell to ear. The one on the left side would run to the right side, and the one on the right side would run to the left side, like two sea-swallows swooping around him. His steed’s four hoofs would cut out four clods, like four swallows in the air above him, sometimes in front of him, sometimes behind him. He had a purple, four-cornered cloak about him, with a ruby-gold ball at each corner. Each ball was worth a hundred cows. The precious gold in his buskins and stirrups, from the top of his thigh to the tip of his toe, was worth three hundred cows. Not even the tip of a hair on him stirred, so light was his steed’s canter beneath him on his way to the gate of Arthur’s court.*

  The boy said, ‘Is there a gatekeeper?’

  ‘There is. And as for you, may you lose your head for asking. I am gatekeeper to Arthur each first day of January, but I have deputies for the rest of the year, namely Huandaw and Gogigwr and Llaesgymyn, and Penpingion who goes about on his head to save his feet, neither looking to heaven nor to the ground, but like a rolling stone on a court floor.’

  ‘Open the gate.’

  ‘No, I won’t.’

  ‘Why won’t you open it?’

  ‘Knife has gone into meat and drink into horn, and a thronging in the hall of Arthur. Apart from the son of the lawful king of a country, or a craftsman who brings his craft, none will be allowed to enter. You shall have food for your dogs and corn for your horse, and hot peppered chops for yourself, and wine brimming over, and songs to entertain you. Food for fifty shall be brought to you in the hostel. There travellers from afar do eat, together with the sons of other lands who do not offer a craft in the court of Arthur. It will be no worse for you there than for Arthur in the court. A woman to sleep with you and songs to entertain you. Tomorrow, in the morning, when the gate is opened for the crowd that has come here today, for you shall the gate be opened first. And you may sit wherever you choose in Arthur’s hall, from its upper end to its lower.’

  The boy said, ‘I will do none of that. If you open the gate, well and good. If not, I will bring dishonour on your lord and give you a bad name. And I will raise three shouts at the entrance of this gate that will be no less audible on the top of Pen Pengwaedd in Cornwall as at the bottom of Dinsol in the North, and in Esgair Oerfel in Ireland.* And all the women in this court that are pregnant shall miscarry, and those that are not, their wombs shall become heavy within them so that they shall never be with child from this day forth.’

  Glewlwyd Gafaelfawr* said, ‘However much you shout against the laws of Arthur’s court, you shall not be allowed in until I go and speak with Arthur first.’ And Glewlwyd came into the hall.

  Arthur said to him, ‘You have news from the gate?’

  ‘I do—

  Two thirds of my life have gone

  and two thirds of your own.

  I was once in Caer Se and Asse,

  in Sach and Salach,

  in Lotor and Ffotor.

  I was once in India the Great

  and India the Lesser.

  I was once in the battle of the two Ynyrs

  when the twelve hostages were taken from Norway.

  And I was once in Europe,

  I was in Africa,

  and the islands of Corsica,

  and in Caer Brythwch and Brythach and Nerthach.

  I was once there when you killed the warband of Gleis son of

  Merin,

  when you killed Mil Du son of Dugum.

  I was once there when you conquered Greece in the east.

  I was once in Caer Oeth and Anoeth,

  and in Caer Nefenhyr Nawdant:

  fair kingly men did we see there—

  but I never in my life saw a man as handsome as the one who is at the entrance to the gate this very moment.’*

  Arthur said, ‘If you came in walking, then go out running. And he who looks at the light and who opens his eye and then closes it, an injunction upon him. And let some serve with golden drinking-horns and others with hot peppered chops until he has plenty of food and drink. It is a shameful thing to leave in the wind and the rain such a man as you describe.’

  Cai said, ‘By the hand of my friend,* if you were to take my advice, the laws of court would not be broken on his account.’

  ‘Not so, fair Cai. We are noblemen as long as others seek us out. The greater the gifts we bestow, the greater will be our nobility and our fame and our honour.’

  And Glewlwyd came to the gate, and opened the gate for him. And whereas everyone else would dismount by the gate at the mounting-block, he did not, but rode in on the steed.

  Culhwc
h said, ‘Hail, chief of the kings of this island. May it be no worse to the lower end of the house than to the upper. May this greeting apply equally to your nobles and your retinue and your battle-chiefs. May no one be without a share of it. As my greeting to you is all-encompassing, may your grace and your word and your honour in this island be all-encompassing.’

  ‘God’s truth on that, chieftain. Greetings to you, too. Sit between two of the warriors, with songs to entertain you and the privileges of a prince, heir-apparent to the kingdom,* for as long as you are here. And when I divide my bounty between guests and travellers from afar, it shall be with you that I begin in this court.’

  The boy said, ‘I have not come here to sponge food and drink. But if I get my gift, I shall be worthy of it and acclaim it. If I do not get it, I shall dishonour you as far as the furthest corners of the world that your fame has reached.’

  Arthur said, ‘Though you do not reside here, chieftain, you shall have the gift your mouth and tongue shall name, as far as the wind dries, as far as the rain soaks, as far as the sun reaches, as far as the sea stretches, as far as the earth extends, except my ship and my mantle, and Caledfwlch my sword, and Rhongomyniad my spear, and Wynebgwrthucher my shield, and Carnwennan my dagger, and Gwenhwyfar my wife.’*

  ‘God’s truth on it?’

  ‘You shall have it gladly. Name what you want.’

  ‘I will. I want to have my hair trimmed.’

  ‘You shall have that.’

  Arthur took a golden comb, and shears with loops of silver, and combed his hair,* and asked who he was.

  Arthur said, ‘My heart warms towards you. I know you are of my blood. Tell me who you are.’

  ‘I will. Culhwch son of Cilydd son of Celyddon Wledig by Goleuddydd daughter of Anlawdd Wledig, my mother.’

  Arthur said, ‘That is true. You are my cousin then. Name what you will, and you shall have it, whatever your mouth and tongue may name.’

  ‘Have I God’s truth on that, and the truth of your kingdom?’

  ‘Yes, gladly.’

  ‘I ask you to get me Olwen daughter of Ysbaddaden Bencawr. And I invoke her in the name of your warriors.’

  He invoked his gift* in the name of Cai and Bedwyr, and Greidol Gallddofydd, and Gwythyr son of Greidol, and Graid son of Eri, and Cynddylig Gyfarwydd, and Tathal Twyll Golau, and Maelwys son of Baeddan, and Cnychwr son of Nes, and Cubert son of Daere, and Ffercos son of Poch, and Lluber Beuthach, and Corfil Berfach, and Gwyn son of Esni, and Gwyn son of Nwyfre, and Gwyn son of Nudd, and Edern son of Nudd, and Cadwy son of Geraint, and Fflewddwr Fflam Wledig, and Rhuawn Bebyr son of Dorath, and Bradwen son of Moren Mynog, and Moren Mynog himself, and Dalldaf son of Cimin Cof, and the son of Alun Dyfed, and the son of Saidi, and the son of Gwryon, and Uchdryd Ardwyad Cad, and Cynwas Cwryfagl, and Gwrhyr Gwarthegfras, and Isberyr Ewingath, and Gallgoid Gofyniad, and Duach and Brathach and Nerthach, sons of Gwawrddydd Cyrfach (from the uplands of hell did those men come), and Cilydd Canhastyr, and Canhastyr Can Llaw, and Cors Cant Ewin, and Esgair Gulhwch Gofyncawn, and Drwstwrn Haearn, and Glewlwyd Gafaelfawr, and Lloch Llaw-wyniog, and Anwas Edeiniog, and Sinnoch son of Seithfed, and Wadu son of Seithfed, and Naw son of Seithfed, and Gwenwynwyn son of Naw son of Seithfed, and Bedyw son of Seithfed, and Gobrwy son of Echel Forddwyd Twll, and Echel Forddwyd Twll himself, and Mael son of Roycol, and Dadwair Dallben, and Garwyli son of Gwythog Gwyr, and Gwythog Gwyr himself, and Gormant son of Rica, and Menw son of Teirgwaedd, and Digon son of Alar, and Selyf son of Sinoid, and Gusg son of Achen, and Nerth son of Cadarn, and Drudwas son of Tryffin, and Twrch son of Perif, and Twrch son of Anwas, and Iona, king of France, and Sel son of Selgi, and Teregud son of Iaen, and Sulien son of Iaen, and Bradwen son of Iaen, and Moren son of Iaen, and Siawn son of Iaen, and Caradog son of Iaen—they were men of Caer Dathyl, Arthur’s family on his father’s side. Dirmyg son of Caw, and Iustig son of Caw, and Edmyg son of Caw, and Angawdd son of Caw, and Gofan son of Caw, and Celyn son of Caw, and Conyn son of Caw, and Mabsant son of Caw, and Gwyngad son of Caw, and Llwybyr son of Caw, and Coch son of Caw, and Meilyg son of Caw, and Cynwal son of Caw, and Ardwyad son of Caw, and Ergyriad son of Caw, and Neb son of Caw, and Gildas son of Caw, and Calcas son of Caw, and Huail son of Caw (he never submitted to a lord’s control), and Samson Finsych, and Taliesin Ben Beirdd, and Manawydan son of Llŷr, and Llary son of Casnar Wledig, and Sberin son of Fflergant, king of Brittany, and Saranhon son of Glythfyr, and Llawr son of Erw, and Anynnog son of Menw Teirgwaedd, and Gwyn son of Nwyfre, and Fflam son of Nwyfre, and Geraint son of Erbin, and Ermid son of Erbin, and Dywel son of Erbin, and Gwyn son of Ermid, and Cyndrwyn son of Ermid, and Hyfaidd Unllen, and Eiddon Fawrfrydig, and Rheiddwn Arwy, and Gormant son of Rica (Arthur’s brother on his mother’s side, his father the chief elder of Cornwall). And Llawnrodded Farfog, and Nodawl Farf Trwch, and Berth son of Cado, and Rheiddwn son of Beli, and Isgofan Hael, and Ysgawyn son of Banon, and Morfran son of Tegid (no man laid his weapon in him at Camlan because he was so ugly, everyone thought he was an attendant demon; he had hair on him like a stag). And Sandde Pryd Angel (no one laid his spear in him at Camlan because he was so beautiful, everyone thought he was an attendant angel). And Cynwyl Sant, one of the Three Who Escaped from Camlan; he was the last to part from Arthur, on Hengroen his horse.

  And Uchdryd son of Erim, and Eus son of Erim, and Henwas Edeiniog son of Erim, and Henbeddestyr son of Erim, and Sgilti Sgafndroed son of Erim. There were three magical qualities about these last three men. Henbeddestyr, he never found any man who could keep up with him, either on horseback or on foot; Henwas Edeiniog, no four-legged animal could ever keep up with him over one acre, let alone any farther than that; Sgilti Sgafndroed, whenever he wanted to go on an errand for his lord, he would never seek a road as long as he knew where he was going, but while there were trees, he would travel along the top of the trees, and while there was a mountain, he would travel on the tips of the reeds, and throughout his life no reed ever bent beneath his feet, let alone broke, because he was so light.

  Teithi Hen son of Gwynnan, whose kingdom the sea overran, and he only just escaped and came to Arthur—and his knife had a magical attribute: ever since he came here no handle would ever stay on it, and because of that he became sick and weary during his lifetime, and of that he died. And Carnedyr son of Gofynion Hen, and Gwenwynwyn son of Naf, Arthur’s foremost champion, and Llygadrudd Emys and Gwrfoddw Hen, they were Arthur’s uncles, his mother’s brothers. Culfanawyd son of Goryon, and Llenlleog Wyddel from the headland of Gamon, and Dyfnwal Moel, and Dunarth, king of the North, Teyrnon Twrf Liant, and Tegfan Gloff, and Tegyr Talgellog. Gwrddywal son of Efrei, and Morgant Hael, Gwystyl son of Nwython, and Rhun son of Nwython, and Llwydeu son of Nwython, and Gwydre son of Llwydeu by Gwenabwy daughter of Caw, his mother—Huail his uncle stabbed him, and because of that there was hatred between Arthur and Huail, because of the injury.

  Drem son of Dremidydd, who from Celli Wig in Cornwall could see a fly rise in the morning with the sun as far away as Pen Blathaon in Pictland. And Eidoel son of Ner and Glwyddyn Saer who built Ehangwen, Arthur’s hall. Cynyr Ceinfarfog—Cai was said to be his son. He said to his wife, ‘If there is any part of me in your son, maiden, his heart will always be cold, and there will be no warmth in his hands. Another of his magical attributes: if he be a son of mine, he will be stubborn. Another attribute: when he carries a load, be it large or small, it will never be visible, neither in front of him nor behind him. Another attribute: no one will withstand water or fire as well as he. Another attribute: there will be no servant or officer like him.’

  Henwas, and Hen Wyneb, and Hengydymaith, Gallgoig another— whatever town he would come to, though there were three hundred houses in it, if he wanted anything he would let no man sleep while he was there. Berwyn son of Cyrenyr, and Peris, king of France—and that’s why it is called the citadel of Paris. Osla Gyllellfawr who would carry Bronllafn Ferllydan; when Arthur and his hosts would come to the edge of a torrent, a narrow place o
ver the water would be sought, and the dagger would be placed in its sheath across the torrent—it would be bridge enough for the men of the Three Islands of Britain and her Three Adjacent Islands, and their booty. Gwyddog son of Menestyr, who killed Cai, and Arthur killed him and his brothers to avenge Cai. Garanwyn son of Cai, and Amren son of Bedwyr, and Eli, and Myr, and Rheu Rhwyddyrys, and Rhun Rhuddwern, and Eli, and Trachmyr, Arthur’s chief huntsmen. And Llwydeu son of Cilcoed, and Huabwy son of Gwryon, and Gwyn Godyfron, and Gwair Dathar Weinidog, and Gwair son of Cadellin Tal Arian, and Gwair Gwrhyd Enwir, and Gwair Gwyn Baladr—Arthur’s uncles, his mother’s brothers; the sons of Llwch Llaw-wyniog from beyond the Tyrrhenian Sea, Llenlleog Wyddel, and Ardderchog Prydain, Cas son of Saidi, Gwrfan Gwallt Afwyn, Gwilenhin, king of France, Gwitardd son of Aedd, king of Ireland, Garselyd Wyddel, Panawr Penbagad, Atlendor son of Naf, Gwyn Hyfar, overseer of Cornwall and Devon—one of the nine who plotted the battle of Camlan. Celli, and Cuelli, and Gilla Goeshydd—he would clear three hundred acres in a single leap, chief leaper of Ireland.

  Sol, and Gwadn Osol, and Gwadn Oddaith—Sol, who could stand all day on one leg; Gwadn Osol, if he were to stand on top of the largest mountain in the world, it would become a level plain beneath his feet; Gwadn Oddaith, like hot metal when drawn from the forge were the flashing sparks from his soles when he encountered strife—he would clear the way for Arthur and his hosts. Hir Erwm and Hir Atrwm, on the day they came to a feast, they would seize three cantrefs for their needs; they would feast till noon and drink till night. When they would go to sleep they would devour the heads of insects through hunger, as if they had never eaten food. When they went to a feast they left neither fat nor lean, neither hot nor cold, neither sour nor sweet, neither fresh nor salt, neither cooked nor raw.