The Wooing of Olwen · page 21 2101Now, when they told Arthur how they had sped, Arthur said, "Which of these marvels will it be best for us to seek first?"102"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."103Then 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.104Glivi stood on the summit of his castle, and 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?"105Said Arthur, "Not to injure thee came I hither, but to seek for the prisoner that is with thee."106"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."107His followers then said unto Arthur, "Lord, go thou home, thou canst not proceed with thy host in quest of such small adventures as these."108Then said Arthur, "It were well for thee, Gwrhyr Gwalstawt Ieithoedd, to go upon this quest, for thou knowest all languages, and art familiar with those of the birds and the beasts.109Go, Eidoel, likewise with my men in search of thy cousin.110And as for you, Kay and Bedwyr, I have hope of whatever adventure ye are in quest of, that ye will achieve it.111Achieve ye this adventure for me."112These 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."113And 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.114Nevertheless, there is a race of animals who were formed before me, and I will be your guide to them."115So they proceeded to the place where was the Stag of Redynvre.116"Stag of Redynvre, behold we are come to thee, an embassy from Arthur, for we have not heard of any animal older than thou.117Say, knowest thou aught of Mabon?"118The 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.119And 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.120Nevertheless, I will be your guide to the place where there is an animal which was formed before I was."121So they proceeded to the place where was the Owl of Cwm Cawlwyd, to inquire of him concerning Mabon.122And the owl said, "If I knew I would tell you.123When first I came hither, the wide valley you see was a wooded glen.124And a race of men came and rooted it up.125And there grew there a second wood, and this wood is the third.126My wings, are they not withered stumps?127Yet all this time, even until to-day, I have never heard of the man for whom you inquire.128Nevertheless, 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 who has travelled most, the eagle of Gwern Abwy."129When they came to the eagle, Gwrhyr asked it the same question; but it replied, "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.130From 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.131And when I came there, I struck my talons into a salmon, thinking he would serve me as food for a long time.132But he drew me into the deep, and I was scarcely able to escape from him.133After 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.134Unless he know something of him whom you seek, I cannot tell you who may.135However, I will guide you to the place where he is."136So 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 between his mother and the wall."137And the salmon answered, "As much as I know I will tell thee.138With 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."139So Kay and Gwrhyr went upon his shoulders, and they proceeded till they came to the wall of the prison, and they heard a great wailing and lamenting from the dungeon.140Said Gwrhyr, "Who is it that laments in this house of stone?"141And the voice replied, "Alas, it is Mabon, the son of Modron, who is here imprisoned!"142Then they returned and told Arthur, who, summoning his warriors, attacked the castle.143And whilst the fight was going on, Kay and Bedwyr, mounting on the shoulders of the fish, broke into the dungeon, and brought away with them Mabon, the son of Modron.144Then Arthur summoned unto him all the warriors that were in the three islands of Britain and in the three islands adjacent; and he went as far as Esgeir Ocrvel in Ireland where the Boar Truith was with his seven young pigs.145And the dogs were let loose upon him from all sides.146But he wasted the fifth part of Ireland, and then set forth through the sea to Wales.147Arthur and his hosts, and his horses, and his dogs followed hard after him.148But ever and awhile the boar made a stand, and many a champion of Arthur's did he slay.149Throughout all Wales did Arthur follow him, and one by one the young pigs were killed.150At length, when he would fain have crossed the Severn and escaped into Cornwall, Mabon the son of Modron came up with him, and Arthur fell upon him together with the champions of Britain.151On the one side Mabon the son of Modron spurred his steed and snatched his razor from him, whilst Kay came up with him on the other side and took from him the scissors.152But before they could obtain the comb he had regained the ground with his feet, and from the moment that he reached the shore, neither dog nor man nor horse could overtake him until he came to Cornwall.153There Arthur and his hosts followed in his track until they overtook him in Cornwall.154Hard had been their trouble before, but it was child's play to what they met in seeking the comb.155Win it they did, and the Boar Truith they hunted into the deep sea, and it was never known whither he went.156Then Kilhuch set forward, and as many as wished ill to Yspathaden Penkawr.157And they took the marvels with them to his court.158And Kaw of North Britain came and shaved his beard, skin and flesh clean off to the very bone from ear to ear.159"Art thou shaved, man?" said Kilhuch.160"I am shaved," answered he.161"Is thy daughter mine now?"162"She is thine, but therefore needst thou not thank me, but Arthur who hath accomplished this for thee.163By my free will thou shouldst never have had her, for with her I lose my life."164Then Goreu the son of Custennin seized him by the hair of his head and dragged him after him to the keep, and cut off his head and placed it on a stake on the citadel.165Thereafter the hosts of Arthur dispersed themselves each man to his own country.166Thus did Kilhuch son of Kelython win to wife Olwen, the daughter of Yspathaden Penkawr.1 2← previousKing O'toole and His Goosenext →Jack and His Comrades↑ back to Celtic Fairy TalesThis page in Markdown → https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7885/17/page/2/