The Winning of Olwen

by Andrew Lang · from The Lilac Fairy Book

fairy tale quest epic Ages 8-14 5641 words 25 min read
Cover: The Winning of Olwen
Original Story 5641 words · 25 min read

THE WINNING OF OLWEN

THERE was once a king and queen who had a little boy, and they called

his name Kilwch. The queen, his mother, fell ill soon after his birth,

and as she could not take care of him herself she sent him to a woman

she knew up in the mountains, so that he might learn to go out in all

weathers, and bear heat and cold, and grow tall and strong. Kilwch was

quite happy with his nurse, and ran races and climbed hills with the

children who were his playfellows, and in the winter, when the snow lay

on the ground, sometimes a man with a harp would stop and beg for

shelter, and in return would sing them songs of strange things that had

happened in the years gone by.

But long before this, changes had taken place in the court of Kilwch's

father. Soon after she had sent her baby away the queen became much

worse, and at length, seeing that she was going to die, she called her

husband to her and said:

'Never again shall I rise from this bed, and by and bye thou wilt take

another wife. But lest she should make thee forget thy son, I charge

thee that thou take not a wife until thou see a briar with two blossoms

upon my grave.' And this he promised her. Then she further bade him to

see to her grave that nothing might grow thereon. This likewise he

promised her, and soon she died, and for seven years the king sent a man

every morning to see that nothing was growing on the queen's grave, but

at the end of seven years he forgot.

One day when the king was out hunting he rode past the place where the

queen lay buried, and there he saw a briar growing with two blossoms on

it.

'It is time that I took a wife,' said he, and after long looking he

found one. But he did not tell her about his son; indeed he hardly

remembered that he had one till she heard it at last from an old woman

whom she had gone to visit. And the new queen was very pleased, and sent

messengers to fetch the boy, and in his father's court he stayed, while

the years went by till one day the queen told him that a prophecy had

foretold that he was to win for his wife Olwen the daughter of

Yspaddaden Penkawr.

When he heard this Kilwch felt proud and happy. Surely he must be a man

now, he thought, or there would be no talk of a wife for him, and his

mind dwelt all day upon his promised bride, and what she would be like

when he beheld her.

'What aileth thee, my son?' asked his father at last, when Kilwch had

forgotten something he had been bidden to do, and Kilwch blushed red as

he answered:

'My stepmother says that none but Olwen, the daughter of Yspaddaden

Penkawr, shall be my wife.'

'That will be easily fulfilled,' replied his father. 'Arthur the king is

thy cousin. Go therefore unto him and beg him to cut thy hair, and to

grant thee this boon.'

[Illustration: Kilwch arrives at the Gate of Arthur's Palace]

Then the youth pricked forth upon a dapple grey horse of four years old,

with a bridle of linked gold, and gold upon his saddle. In his hand he

bore two spears of silver with heads of steel; a war-horn of ivory was

slung round his shoulder, and by his side hung a golden sword. Before

him were two brindled white-breasted greyhounds with collars of rubies

round their necks, 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 round him. And his horse 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 robe of purple, and an apple of gold was at

each corner, and every one of the apples was of the value of a hundred

cows. And the blades of grass bent not beneath him, so light were his

horse's feet as he journeyed toward the gate of Arthur's palace.

   *       *       *       *       *

'Is there a porter?' cried Kilwch, looking round for some one to open

the gate.

'There is; and I am Arthur's porter every first day of January,'

answered a man coming out to him. 'The rest of the year there are other

porters, and among them Pennpingyon, who goes upon his head to save his

feet.'

'Well, open the portal, I say.'

'No, that I may not do, for none can enter save the son of a king or a

pedlar who has goods to sell. But elsewhere there will be food for thy

dogs and hay for thy horse, and for thee collops cooked and peppered,

and sweet wine shall be served in the guest chamber.'

'That will not do for me,' answered Kilwch. 'If thou wilt not open the

gate I will send up three shouts that shall be heard from Cornwall unto

the north, and yet again to Ireland.'

'Whatsoever clamour thou mayest make,' spake Glewlwyd the porter, 'thou

shalt not enter 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?' and the porter answered:

'Far have I travelled, both in this island and elsewhere, and many

kingly men have I seen; but never yet have I beheld one equal in majesty

to him who now stands at the door.'

'If walking thou didst enter here, return thou running,' replied

Arthur, 'and let every one that opens and shuts the eye show him respect

and serve him, for it is not meet to keep such a man in the wind and

rain.' So Glewlwyd unbarred the gate and Kilwch rode in upon his

charger.

'Greeting unto thee, O ruler of this land,' cried he, 'and greeting no

less to the lowest than to the highest.'

'Greeting to thee also,' answered Arthur. 'Sit thou between two of my

warriors, and thou shalt have minstrels before thee and all that belongs

to one born to be a king, while thou remainest in my palace.'

'I am not come,' replied Kilwch, 'for meat and drink, but to obtain a

boon, and if thou grant it me I will pay it back, and will carry thy

praise to the four winds of heaven. But if thou wilt not grant it to me,

then I will proclaim thy discourtesy wherever thy name is known.'

'What thou askest that shalt thou receive,' said Arthur, 'as far as the

wind dries and the rain moistens, and the sun revolves and the sea

encircles and the earth extends. Save only my ship and my mantle, my

sword and my lance, my shield and my dagger, and Guinevere my wife.'

'I would that thou bless my hair,' spake Kilwch, and Arthur answered:

'That shall be granted thee.'

Forthwith he bade his men fetch him a comb of gold and a scissors with

loops of silver, and he combed the hair of Kilwch his guest.

'Tell me who thou art,' he said, 'for my heart warms to thee, and I feel

thou art come of my blood.'

'I am Kilwch, son of Kilydd,' replied the youth.

'Then my cousin thou art in truth,' replied Arthur, 'and whatsoever boon

thou mayest ask thou shalt receive.'

'The boon I crave is that thou mayest win for me Olwen, the daughter of

Yspaddaden Penkawr, and this boon I seek likewise at the hands of thy

warriors. From Sol, who can stand all day upon one foot; from Ossol,

who, if he were to find himself on the top of the highest mountain in

the world, could make it into a level plain in the beat of a bird's

wing; from Clust, who, though he were buried under the earth, could yet

hear the ant leave her nest fifty miles away: from these and from Kai

and from Bedwyr and from all thy mighty men I crave this boon.'

'O Kilwch,' said Arthur, 'never have I heard of the maiden of whom thou

speakest, nor of her kindred, but I will send messengers to seek her if

thou wilt give me time.'

'From this night to the end of the year right willingly will I grant

thee,' replied Kilwch; but when the end of the year came and the

messengers returned Kilwch was wroth, and spoke rough words to Arthur.

It was Kai, the boldest of the warriors and the swiftest of foot--he who

could pass nine nights without sleep, and nine days beneath the

water--that answered him:

'Rash youth that thou art, darest thou speak thus to Arthur? Come with

us, and we will not part company till we have won that maiden, or till

thou confess that there is none such in the world.'

Then Arthur summoned his five best men and bade them go with Kilwch.

There was Bedwyr the one-handed, Kai's comrade and brother in arms, the

swiftest man in Britain save Arthur; there was Kynddelig, who knew the

paths in a land where he had never been as surely as he did those of his

own country; there was Gwrhyr, that could speak all tongues; and

Gwalchmai the son of Gwyar, who never returned till he had gained what

he sought; and last of all there was Menw, who could weave a spell over

them so that none might see them, while they could see every one.

   *       *       *       *       *

So these seven journeyed together till they reached a vast open plain

in which was a fair castle. But though it seemed so close it was not

until the evening of the third day that they really drew near to it, and

in front of it a flock of sheep was spread, so many in number that there

seemed no end to them. A shepherd stood on a mound watching over them,

and by his side was a dog, as large as a horse nine winters old.

'Whose is this castle, O herdsman?' asked the knights.

'Stupid are ye truly,' answered the herdsman. 'All the world knows that

this is the castle of Yspaddaden Penkawr.'

'And who art thou?'

'I am called Custennin, brother of Yspaddaden, and ill has he treated

me. And who are you, and what do you here?'

'We come from Arthur the king, to seek Olwen the daughter of

Yspaddaden,' but at this news the shepherd gave a cry:

'O men, be warned and turn back while there is yet time. Others have

gone on that quest, but none have escaped to tell the tale,' and he rose

to his feet as if to leave them. Then Kilwch held out to him a ring of

gold, and he tried to put it on his finger, but it was too small, so he

placed it in his glove, and went home and gave it to his wife.

'Whence came this ring?' asked she, 'for such good luck is not wont to

befall thee.'

'The man to whom this ring belonged thou shalt see here in the evening,'

answered the shepherd; 'he is Kilwch, son of Kilydd, cousin to king

Arthur, and he has come to seek Olwen.' And when the wife heard that she

knew that Kilwch was her nephew, and her heart yearned after him, half

with joy at the thought of seeing him, and half with sorrow for the doom

she feared.

[Illustration: FAIR OLWEN ARRIVES]

Soon they heard steps approaching, and Kai and the rest entered into

the house and ate and drank. After that the woman opened a chest, and

out of it came a youth with curling yellow hair.

'It is a pity to hide him thus,' said Gwrhyr, 'for well I know that he

has done no evil.'

'Three and twenty of my sons has Yspaddaden slain, and I have no more

hope of saving this one,' replied she, and Kai was full of sorrow and

answered:

'Let him come with me and be my comrade, and he shall never be slain

unless I am slain also.' And so it was agreed.

'What is your errand here?' asked the woman.

'We seek Olwen the maiden for this youth,' answered Kai; 'does she ever

come hither so that she may be seen?'

'She comes every Saturday to wash her hair, and in the vessel where she

washes she leaves all her rings, and never does she so much as send a

messenger to fetch them.'

'Will she come if she is bidden?' asked Kai, pondering.

'She will come; but unless you pledge me your faith that you will not

harm her I will not fetch her.'

'We pledge it,' said they, and the maiden came.

   *       *       *       *       *

A fair sight was she in a robe of flame-coloured silk, with a collar of

ruddy gold about her neck, bright with 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 than the blossom of the

wood anemone. Four white trefoils sprang up where she trod, and

therefore was she called Olwen.

She entered, and sat down on a bench beside Kilwch, and he spake to her:

'Ah, maiden, since first I heard thy name I have loved thee--wilt thou

not come away with me from this evil place?'

'That I cannot do,' answered she, 'for I have given my word to my father

not to go without his knowledge, for his life will only last till I am

betrothed. Whatever is, must be, but this counsel I will give you. Go,

and ask me of my father, and whatsoever he shall require of thee grant

it, and thou shalt win me; but if thou deny him anything thou wilt not

obtain me, and it will be well for thee if thou escape with thy life.'

'All this I promise,' said he.

So she returned to the castle, and all Arthur's men went after her, and

entered the hall.

'Greeting to thee, Yspaddaden Penkawr,' said they. 'We come to ask thy

daughter Olwen for Kilwch, son of Kilydd.'

'Come hither to-morrow and I will answer you,' replied Yspaddaden

Penkawr, and as they rose to leave the hall he caught up one of the

three poisoned darts that lay beside him and flung it in their midst.

But Bedwyr saw and caught it, and flung it back so hard that it pierced

the knee of Yspaddaden.

'A gentle son-in-law, truly!' he cried, writhing with pain. 'I shall

ever walk the worse for this rudeness. Cursed be the smith who forged

it, and the anvil on which it was wrought!'

That night the men slept in the house of Custennin the herdsman, and the

next day they proceeded to the castle, and entered the hall, and said:

'Yspaddaden Penkawr, give us thy daughter and thou shalt keep her dower.

And unless thou wilt do this we will slay thee.'

'Her four great grandmothers and her four great grandfathers yet live,'

answered Yspaddaden Penkawr; 'it is needful that I take counsel with

them.'

'Be it so; we will go to meat,' but as they turned he took up the second

dart that lay by his side and cast it after them. And Menw caught it,

and flung it at him, and wounded him in the chest, so that it came out

at his back.

'A gentle son-in-law, truly!' cried Yspaddaden; 'the iron pains me like

the bite of a horse-leech. Cursed be the hearth whereon it was heated,

and the smith who formed it!'

   *       *       *       *       *

The third day Arthur's men returned to the palace into the presence of

Yspaddaden.

'Shoot not at me again,' said he, 'unless you desire death. But lift up

my eyebrows, which have fallen over my eyes, that I may see 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 Kilwch caught it, and

flung it back, and it passed through his eyeball, and came out on the

other side of his head.

'A gentle son-in-law, truly! Cursed be the fire in which it was forged

and the man who fashioned it!'

The next day Arthur's men came again to the palace and said:

'Shoot not at us any more unless thou desirest more pain than even now

thou hast, but give us thy daughter without more words.'

'Where is he that seeks my daughter? Let him come hither so that I may

see him.' And Kilwch sat himself in a chair and spoke face to face with

him.

'Is it thou that seekest my daughter?'

'It is I,' answered Kilwch.

'First give me thy word that thou wilt do nothing towards me that is not

just, and when thou hast won for me that which I shall ask, then thou

shalt wed my daughter.'

'I promise right willingly,' said Kilwch. 'Name what thou wilt.'

'Seest thou yonder hill? Well, in one day it shall be rooted up and

ploughed and sown, and the grain shall ripen, and of that wheat I will

bake the cakes for my daughter's wedding.'

'It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest deem it

will not be easy,' answered Kilwch, thinking of Ossol, under whose feet

the highest mountain became straightway a plain, but Yspaddaden paid no

heed, and continued:

'Seest thou that field yonder? When my daughter was born nine bushels of

flax were sown therein, and not one blade has sprung up. I require thee

to sow fresh flax in the ground that my daughter may wear a veil spun

from it on the day of her wedding.'

'It will be easy for me to compass this.'

'Though thou compass this there is that which thou wilt not compass. For

thou must bring me the basket of Gwyddneu Garanhir which will give meat

to the whole world. It is for thy wedding feast. Thou must also fetch me

the drinking-horn that is never empty, and the harp that never ceases to

play until it is bidden. Also the comb and scissors and razor that lie

between the two ears of Trwyth the boar, so that I may arrange my hair

for the wedding. And though thou get this yet there is that which thou

wilt not get, for Trwyth the boar will not let any man take from him the

comb and the scissors, unless Drudwyn the whelp hunt him. But no leash

in the world can hold Drudwyn save the leash of Cant Ewin, and no collar

will hold the leash except the collar of Canhastyr.'

'It will be easy for me to compass this, though thou mayest think it

will not be easy,' Kilwch answered him.

'Though thou get all these things yet there is that which thou wilt not

get. Throughout the world there is none that can hunt with this dog save

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, and though thou find him yet the boar will never be slain save

only with the sword of Gwrnach the giant, and if thou obtain it not

neither shalt thou obtain my daughter.'

'Horses shall I have, and knights from my lord Arthur. And I shall gain

thy daughter, and thou shalt lose thy life.'

The speech of Kilwch the son of Kilydd with Yspaddaden Penkawr was

ended.

   *       *       *       *       *

Then Arthur's men set forth, and Kilwch with them, and journeyed till

they reached the largest castle in the world, and a black man came out

to meet them.

'Whence comest thou, O man?' asked they, 'and whose is that castle?'

'That is the castle of Gwrnach the giant, as all the world knows,'

answered the man, 'but no guest ever returned thence alive, and none may

enter the gate except a craftsman, who brings his trade.' But little did

Arthur's men heed his warning, and they went straight to the gate.

'Open!' cried Gwrhyr.

'I will not open,' replied the porter.

'And wherefore?' asked Kai.

'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 save for a craftsman who

brings his trade the gate will not be opened to-night.'

'Verily, then, I may enter,' said Kai, 'for there is no better burnisher

of swords than I.'

'This will I tell Gwrnach the giant, and I will bring thee his answer.'

'Bid the man come before me,' cried Gwrnach, when the porter had told

his tale, 'for my sword stands much in need of polishing,' so Kai passed

in and saluted Gwrnach the giant.

'Is it true what I hear of thee, that thou canst burnish swords?'

'It is true,' answered Kai. Then was the sword of Gwrnach brought to

him.

'Shall it be burnished white or blue?' said Kai, taking a whetstone from

under his arm.

'As thou wilt,' answered the giant, and speedily did Kai polish half the

sword. The giant marvelled at his skill, and said:

'It is a wonder that such a man as thou shouldst be without a

companion.'

'I have a companion, noble sir, but he has no skill in this art.'

'What is his name?' asked the giant.

'Let the porter go forth, and I will tell him how he may know him. The

head of his lance will leave its shaft, and draw blood from the wind,

and descend upon its shaft again.' So the porter opened the gate and

Bedwyr entered.

Now there was much talk amongst those who remained without when the gate

closed upon Bedwyr, and Goreu, son of Custennin, prevailed with the

porter, and he and his companions got in also and hid themselves.

By this time the whole of the sword was polished, and Kai gave it into

the hand of Gwrnach the giant, who felt it and said:

'Thy work is good; I am content.'

Then 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 in one hand and the sword in the other, and came and stood

behind the giant, as if he would have sheathed the sword in the

scabbard. But with it he struck a blow at the head of the giant, and it

rolled from his body. After that they despoiled the castle of its gold

and jewels, and returned, bearing the sword of the giant, to Arthur's

court.

They told Arthur how they had sped, and they all took counsel together,

and agreed that they must set out on the quest for Mabon the son of

Modron, and Gwrhyr, who knew the languages of beasts and of birds, went

with them. So they journeyed until they came to the nest of an ousel,

and Gwrhyr spoke to her.

'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 I was a young bird, and there was a smith's

anvil in this place. But from that time no work has been done upon it,

save that every evening I have pecked at it, till now there is not so

much as the size of a nut remaining thereof. Yet all that time I have

never once heard of the man you name. Still, there is a race of beasts

older than I, and I will guide you to them.'

So the ousel flew before them, till she reached the stag of Redynvre;

but when they inquired of the stag whether he knew aught of Mabon he

shook his head.

'When first I came hither,' said he, 'the plain was bare save for one

oak sapling, which grew up to be an oak with a hundred branches. All

that is left of that oak is a withered stump, but never once have I

heard of the man you name. Nevertheless, as you are Arthur's men, I will

guide you to the place where there is an animal older than I;' and the

stag ran before them till he reached the owl of Cwm Cawlwyd. But when

they inquired of the owl if he knew aught of Mabon he shook his head.

'When first I came hither,' said he, 'the valley was a wooded glen; then

a race of men came and rooted it up. After that there grew a second

wood, and then a third, which you see. Look at my wings also--are they

not withered stumps? Yet until to-day I have never heard of the man you

name. Still, I will guide you to the oldest animal in the world, and the

one that has travelled most, the eagle of Gwern Abbey.' And he flew

before them, as fast as his old wings would carry him, till he reached

the eagle of Gwern Abbey, but when they inquired of the eagle whether he

knew aught of Mabon he shook his head.

[Illustration: The Stag of Redynvre brings the Seven Companions to the

Owl of Cwm Cawlwyd]

'When I first came hither,' said the eagle, 'there was a rock here, and

every evening I pecked at the stars from the top of it. Now, behold, it

is not even a span high! But only once have I heard of the man you name,

and that was when I went in search of food as far as Llyn Llyw. I

swooped down upon a salmon, and struck my claws into him, but he drew me

down under water till scarcely could I escape from him. Then I summoned

all my kindred to destroy him, but he made peace with me, and I took

fifty fish spears from his back. Unless he may know something of the man

whom you seek I cannot tell who may. But I will guide you to the place

where he is.'

So they followed the eagle, who flew before them, though so high was he

in the sky, it was often hard to mark his flight. At length he stopped

above a deep pool in a river.

'Salmon of Llyn Llyw,' he called, 'I have come to thee with an embassy

from Arthur to inquire if thou knowest aught concerning Mabon the son of

Modron?' And the Salmon answered:

'As much as I know I will tell thee. With every tide I go up the river,

till I reach the walls of Gloucester, and there have I found such wrong

as I never found elsewhere. And that you may see that what I say is true

let two of you go thither on my shoulders.' So Kai and Gwrhyr went upon

the shoulders of the salmon, and were carried under the walls of the

prison, from which proceeded the sound of great weeping.

'Who is it that thus laments in this house of stone?'

'It is I, Mabon the son of Modron.'

'Will silver or gold bring thy freedom, or only battle and fighting?'

asked Gwrhyr again.

'By fighting alone shall I be set free,' said Mabon.

Then they sent a messenger to Arthur to tell him that Mabon was found,

and he brought all his warriors to the castle of Gloucester and fell

fiercely upon it; while Kai and Bedwyr went on the shoulders of the

salmon to the gate of the dungeon, and broke it down and carried away

Mabon. And he now being free returned home with Arthur.

   *       *       *       *       *

After this, on a certain day, as Gwrhyr was walking across a mountain he

heard a grievous cry, and he hastened towards it. In a little valley he

saw the heather burning and the fire spreading fast towards an anthill,

and all the ants were hurrying to and fro, not knowing whither to go.

Gwrhyr had pity on them, and put out the fire, and in gratitude the ants

brought him the nine bushels of flax seed which Yspaddaden Penkawr

required of Kilwch. And many of the other marvels were done likewise by

Arthur and his knights, and at last it came to the fight with Trwyth the

boar, to obtain the comb and the scissors and the razor that lay between

his ears. But hard was the boar to catch, and fiercely did he fight when

Arthur's men gave him battle, so that many of them were slain.

Up and down the country went Trwyth the boar, and Arthur followed after

him, till they came to the Severn sea. There three knights caught his

feet unawares and plunged him into the water, while one snatched the

razor from him, and another seized the scissors. But before they laid

hold of the comb he had shaken them all off, and neither man nor horse

nor dog could reach him till he came to Cornwall, whither Arthur had

sworn he should not go. Thither Arthur followed after him with his

knights, and if it had been hard to win the razor and the scissors, the

struggle for the comb was fiercer still. Often it seemed as if the boar

would be the victor, but at length Arthur prevailed, and the boar was

driven into the sea. And whether he was drowned or where he went no man

knows to this day.

   *       *       *       *       *

In the end all the marvels were done, and Kilwch set forward, and with

him Goreu, the son of Custennin, to Yspaddaden Penkawr, bearing in their

hands the razor, the scissors and the comb, and Yspaddaden Penkawr was

shaved by Kaw.

'Is thy daughter mine now?' asked Kilwch.

'She is thine,' answered Yspaddaden, 'but it is Arthur and none other

who has won her for thee. Of my own free will thou shouldst never have

had her, for now I must lose my life.' And as he spake Goreu the son of

Custennin cut off his head, as it had been ordained, and Arthur's hosts

returned each man to his own country.

From the 'Mabinogion.'

Transcriber's Notes:

Inconsistencies in hyphenation of words preserved. (cowhouse, cow-house;

farmhouse, farm-house; maybe, may-be; seaweeds, sea-weeds)

Pg. 44, "money" changed to "monkey" as inferred from context. (till the

monkey came again.)

Pg. 45, comma inserted in sentence to make sense clearer. (Why, isn't

your heart here?)

Pg. 66, story A LOST PARADISE, name of author "Sebillot" changed to

"Sébillot" to match spelling in A FRENCH PUCK and _THE STORY OF A

VERY BAD BOY_.

Pg. 80, inserted closing single quote mark. (we have a good start.')

Pg. 96, illustration facing this page, and Pg. 99 illustration. In the

captions, the name of the character "SEVENINCHES" is changed to "SEVEN

INCHES" for readability and to match usage in text as well as in the

List of Illustrations. (SEVEN INCHES CARRIES AWAY THE PRINCESSES) (IN

CAME SEVEN INCHES HAND IN HAND WITH THE YOUNGEST SISTER)

Pg. 102, "botttom" changed to "bottom". (and the bottom of the

draw-well)

Pg. 116, name "Touéno-Buéno" (2 occurrences on this page) is spelled

"Touéno-Bouéno" elsewhere in the chapter. Original text preserved.

Pg. 141, "tavellers'" changed to "travellers'". (the travellers' 'serai'

or inn)

Pg. 154, inserted closing single quote mark. (church that is yonder.')

Pg. 175, single quote mark appears superfluous at beginning of paragraph

and so removed. (Yes, he had been wrong)

Pg. 198, caption of illustration facing this page, when transcribed for

the text version, opening double quote mark added. ("MY BABY, MY BABY!")

Pg. 223, caption of illustration, the words "the Sea-Fairies Brought"

are inferred as the original is unclear. The words chosen match those

given in the List of Illustrations.

Pg. 256, caption of illustration facing this page, when transcribed for

the text version "Rogear" changed to "Rogéar" (slays Rogéar the Magician.)

Pg. 282, "stars" is presumed as original is unclear. (as the stars in

the sky)

Pg. 289, inserted closing single quote mark. (town to come together.')

Pg. 314, caption of illustration, when transcribed for text version, for

readability, commas added to match caption given in list of

illustrations. (COME LAWYER, COME TAILOR....)

Pg. 334, added ending punctuation. (and slept in the wood.)

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Story DNA

Moral

Great achievements often require the combined efforts and sacrifices of many, and true love may demand seemingly impossible feats.

Plot Summary

Kilwch, prophesied to marry the beautiful Olwen, seeks the aid of his cousin King Arthur. Olwen's giant father, Yspaddaden Penkawr, sets an overwhelming list of impossible tasks, including finding the lost Mabon and retrieving magical items from the monstrous boar Trwyth. Arthur and his loyal knights embark on a grand quest, consulting ancient, wise animals and overcoming immense challenges. After a brutal hunt for Trwyth, all tasks are completed, Yspaddaden is slain, and Kilwch finally marries Olwen.

Themes

perseveranceloyaltydestinythe impossible task

Emotional Arc

uncertainty to triumph

Writing Style

Voice: third person omniscient
Pacing: moderate
Descriptive: moderate
Techniques: rule of three, catalogue of heroes/tasks, repetition of impossible tasks

Narrative Elements

Conflict: person vs supernatural
Ending: moral justice
Magic: prophecy, talking animals (Blackbird, Stag, Owl, Eagle, Salmon), superhuman abilities (Kai's endurance, Ossol's mountain leveling, Clust's hearing), magical items (golden bridle, silver spears, golden sword, ivory war-horn, ruby collars, purple robe with golden apples, comb/scissors/razor from Trwyth), transformation (Yspaddaden's beard growing back instantly), impossible tasks
the briar with two blossoms (symbol of the king's forgotten promise and the queen's death)Olwen (symbol of ultimate beauty and the reward for impossible feats)Trwyth's comb, razor, scissors (symbols of the ultimate, most dangerous challenge)

Cultural Context

Origin: Welsh (Celtic)
Era: timeless fairy tale

This story is a tale from the Mabinogion, a collection of medieval Welsh prose tales. It predates much of the more familiar French-influenced Arthurian romance and reflects earlier Celtic traditions and heroic narratives.

Plot Beats (15)

  1. Kilwch is born, his mother dies after making his father promise not to remarry until a briar with two blossoms grows on her grave, and he is sent to a nurse.
  2. Seven years later, the king forgets his promise, a briar grows, and he remarries; the new queen learns of Kilwch and brings him to court.
  3. Kilwch's stepmother prophesies he will marry Olwen, daughter of Yspaddaden Penkawr, making Kilwch feel proud and determined.
  4. Kilwch's father advises him to seek Arthur's help, as Arthur is his cousin.
  5. Kilwch, magnificently adorned, rides to Arthur's court and demands entry, impressing the porter and Arthur.
  6. Arthur grants Kilwch any boon except his most prized possessions and wife, and Kilwch asks for Arthur's aid in winning Olwen, listing many of Arthur's warriors.
  7. Arthur sends messengers to find Olwen, but they fail; Kilwch becomes impatient, and Kai rebukes him.
  8. Kilwch, Kai, Bedwyr, and others journey to Yspaddaden Penkawr's castle, where they meet Olwen, who is beautiful.
  9. Yspaddaden Penkawr sets an extensive list of impossible tasks for Kilwch to complete before he can marry Olwen, including finding Mabon and retrieving magical items from the boar Trwyth.
  10. Arthur and his knights undertake the tasks, seeking ancient, wise animals (Blackbird of Cilgwri, Stag of Redynvre, Owl of Cwm Cawlwyd, Eagle of Gwern Abbey, Salmon of Llyn Llyw) to find Mabon.
  11. Mabon is found imprisoned in Gloucester, freed by Arthur's forces, and joins the quest.
  12. Gwrhyr saves ants from a fire, and they gather the flax seeds required by Yspaddaden.
  13. The final, most perilous task involves hunting the monstrous boar Trwyth to obtain a comb, razor, and scissors from between its ears.
  14. Arthur and his knights engage in a long, brutal chase and battle with Trwyth, eventually securing the razor and scissors, and finally the comb, driving the boar into the sea.
  15. All tasks completed, Kilwch, Goreu, and Kaw return to Yspaddaden Penkawr; Kaw shaves him, Goreu beheads him, and Kilwch marries Olwen.

Characters

👤

Kilwch

human young adult male

Handsome youth, strong and capable

Attire: Robe of purple with golden apples, linked gold bridle, golden sword, silver spears, ivory war-horn

Youth on a dapple-grey horse with golden bridle and purple robe with golden apples

Determined, proud, respectful

👤

Yspaddaden Penkawr

human ageless male

Giant

Attire: No details given

Giant about to be shaved

Cruel, demanding, fated to die

👤

Olwen

human young adult female

Daughter of Yspaddaden Penkawr

Attire: No details given

The prize to be won

No details given

👤

Arthur

human adult male

King, mighty warrior

Attire: Kingly attire

King with his knights

Courteous, powerful, helpful

👤

Glewlwyd

human adult male

No details given

Attire: No details given

Porter at the gate

Cautious, respectful

👤

Goreu

human young adult male

No details given

Attire: No details given

Cutting off Yspaddaden Penkawr's head

Loyal, decisive

🐾

Trwyth

animal adult male

Fierce boar

Attire: Razor, scissors and comb between his ears

Boar with razor, scissors and comb between his ears

Aggressive, untamable

Locations

Queen's Grave

outdoor morning

A grave that the king is charged to keep clear of any growth, but eventually a briar with two blossoms grows on it.

Mood: solemn, fateful

The king sees the briar and decides to remarry, setting the plot in motion.

grave briar two blossoms

Gate of Arthur's Palace

transitional wind and rain

A grand gate with a porter who initially refuses Kilwch entry.

Mood: formal, imposing

Kilwch arrives and demands entry, demonstrating his determination and importance.

gate porter hall

Little Valley

outdoor afternoon dry, fire

A small valley where heather is burning and an anthill is threatened by the fire.

Mood: desperate, urgent

Gwrhyr saves the ants, who in turn help Kilwch complete one of the tasks.

heather fire anthill ants

Severn Sea

outdoor sea

The sea where Arthur's knights plunge Trwyth the boar into the water to seize the razor and scissors.

Mood: turbulent, dangerous

A key part of the hunt for the boar, where some of the magical items are obtained.

sea boar knights razor scissors

Yspaddaden Penkawr's dwelling

indoor

The home of Yspaddaden Penkawr, where Kilwch finally confronts him.

Mood: tense, fateful

Kilwch claims Olwen and Goreu kills Yspaddaden.

razor scissors comb