The Freedom in Education Story Newsletter 4

This is the second instalment of Culhuch and Olwen.

 

Culhuch and Olwen:

Yspathaden, Chief Giant

 

So, Arthur’s messengers were despatched and they searched the land, and on the same day a year later, they returned to Arthur’s court and all said that they had found no news of Olwen.

“Everyone has obtained what they asked save for me,” said Culhuch. “I will depart, and take your honour with me.”

“Do not be angry with Arthur,” said Cei. “Come with us, and till you say this maiden does not exist in the world, or we find her, we will not be parted.”

With these words Cei arose, and Arthur chose five warriors to accompany him. Their names were Bedwyr, Cynthelig, Gwrhyr, interpreter of tongues, Gwalchmir and Menw.

Cei had the peculiarity that he could be without sleep for nine days and nine nights, and his breath lasted beneath the water for nine days and nine nights. No physician could heal a wound from Cei’s sword, and he had the wondrous ability to grow as tall as the tallest tree in forest when he so pleased. When the rain fell heaviest, whatsoever he held in his hand would remain dry for a hand’s breadth above and a hand’s breath below, so great was the heat of his body, and when the cold was keenest his companions could make use of that heat to kindle a fire.

Bedwyr never shrank from an enterprise on which Cei was bound, and none was so handsome as he in all the island save Arthur and Drych, son of Cibthar. Although he was one-handed, three warriors together were not swifter on the battlefield than he, and his spear would strike a thrust equal to that of nine opposing spears.

Cynthelig was called upon by Arthur to serve as a guide, and he was no worse a guide in a land he had never seen than he was in his own.

Gwthyr knew all the languages of the world, and Gwalchmei never failed to accomplish what he set out to achieve. He was the best of walkers, and the best of riders. He was Arthur’s nephew, his sister’s son, and his first cousin.

Menw was the son of Teigwaeth, and if they reached a strange land he could cast a spell so that none might see them, and they see everyone.

They set off together, and journeyed until they came to a wide open plain in the middle of which stood a great fort. They travelled towards it all that day, but when night fell, they were no nearer to it. The next day they journeyed on, and the next day also, but it was with difficulty that they came any closer.

At last they reached the wide open plain on which stood the fort, and they saw before them a great flock of sheep, without limit or end to it. A shepherd stood upon a mound, watching over the sheep, and beside him was a shaggy hound that was bigger than a nine-year-old stallion.

“Gwrhyr, Interpreter of Tongues, go and speak to that man,” said Cei.

“Nay,” said Gwrhyr, “I made no promise, Cei, but to go as far as you yourself would go.”

“Then let us go together,” said Cei.

“Have no fear,” said Menw, “I will cast a spell over the dog, so that he shall do us no harm.”

They drew near the shepherd, and asked him whose sheep he tended.

“Fools of men that you are!” exclaimed the shepherd.

“Throughout the world yonder fort is known as the fort of Yspathaden, Chief Giant.”

“And who are you?” they asked.

“I am Custennin, son of Mynwyedig, and who are you?”

“Messengers of Arthur, come to seek the hand of Olwen.”

“May God protect you,” said the shepherd. “For all the world, do not do that. Never a one has come to make that request and departed with his life.”

The warriors left the shepherd, and went on to the gates that stood before the shepherd’s home. His wife came out to meet them, and they entered the house and they were welcomed and given food and drink. After a while the woman opened a chest beside the hearth, and out of it arose a lad with curly yellow hair.

“It is a shame to hide such a lad as this,” said Gwrhyr. “I am sure it is through no fault of his own.”

“Nay,” said the woman, “he is all I have left. Yspathaden, has slain twenty-three sons of mine, and I have no more hope that this one shall live than the others.”

“Let him keep company with me,” said Cei, “and whoever slays him must slay me also.”

They all began to eat, and the woman said: “On what errand do you come here?”

“We are come to seek the hand of Olwen.”

“For God’s sake, since none from the fort has yet seen you, get you back!”

“God knows we will not go back till we have seen the maiden. Will she come to where she may be seen?”

“She comes here every Saturday to wash her hair; and in the bowl in which she washes, she leaves her rings. Neither she nor her messenger ever comes to fetch them.”

“Will she come here if you send for her?”

“God knows I will not betray one who trusts in me. But if you pledge your word to do her no harm, I will send for her.”

“We pledge our word,” they said.

So Olwen was sent for, and she came. She was dressed in a robe of flame-red silk, and about her neck was a necklace of red gold, with precious pearls and rubies upon it. Her head was yellower than the broom flower, and her skin was whiter than the foam of the wave. Her palms and fingers were whiter than the shoots of the marsh trefoil amidst the fine gravel of a welling spring. Whiter was her breast than the breast of the white swan, and redder her cheeks than the reddest foxgloves. Wherever she stepped four white trefoils sprang up, and for that reason she was called Olwen (white track).

She entered the house and sat down, and as soon as Culhuch saw her he loved her.

“Ah maiden, it is you that I love. Now come away with me.”

“Nay, that I may not do,” said Olwen. “My father had made me promise not to go without his consent, for he shall only live until I leave with a husband. However, there is advice I can give you. Go ask my father for my hand, and however much he asks of you, promise that you will get it. In this way you shall win me, but if he has any cause to doubt you, you shall not succeed, and you will do well to escape with your life.”

“I promise all that, and will obtain whatsoever he desires,” said Culhuch.

Then Olwen returned to her father’s fort, and they followed after her, and slew nine gatemen at nine gates, before they could bar their way. Yspathaden was seated in his hall, and they came before him and cried out:

“In the name of God and man, greetings to you, Yspathaden, Chief Giant.”

“And what brings you here?” asked Yspathaden.

“We seek the hand of Olwen for Culhuch, son of Cilyth.”

“Where are those rascal servants of mine?” cried Yspathaden. “Come raise up the forks under my two eyelids so that I may see my future son-in-law.”

This was done, and Yspathaden looked upon them and said: “Come here tomorrow, and I will give you an answer.”

They arose, and as they left Yspathaden snatched up one of the three poisoned stone spears beside him and hurled it after them. Bedwyr caught it, and hurled it back, and it pierced Yspathaden in the knee.

“You accursed son-in-law,” he said, “henceforward I shall walk the worse up a hill. This poisoned spear pains me like the sting of a gadfly.”

That night they lodged in the house of the shepherd, and next day they donned their finest things and re-entered the hall.

“Yspathaden, Chief Giant,” they said, “give us your daughter, or you will meet with your death.”

“Her four great-grandmothers, and her four great-grandfathers are still alive,” said Yspathaden. “I must first take counsel with them.”

“So be it,” they said, “we will leave you.”

As they arose, Yspathaden seized the second stone spear and hurled it after them. Menw caught it, and hurled it back at him, and pierced him in the middle of the chest.

“Accursed, savage son-in-law,” said Yspathaden. “This spear pains me like the bite of a big-headed leech. When I go uphill, I shall have tightness of chest, and belly ache, and sickness.”

On the third day they came once again into his court.

“Yspathaden, Chief Giant, do not shoot at us again,” they said. “Seek not your own harm, and deadly hurt and death.”

“Where are my servants,” cried Yspathaden. “Come, raise up the forks – my eyelids have fallen over my eyes. I wish to see my future son-in-law.” They arose to leave, and as they did so he took the third spear and hurled it after them.

Culhuch caught it and hurled it back, so that it pierced Yspathaden in the eye.

“Accursed, savage son-in-law,” said Yspathaden. “So long as I live, the sight of my eyes will be the worse. When I walk into the wind, they will water, and a headache shall I have, and a giddiness at the time of the new moon. This spear pains me like the bite of a mad dog.”

Next day they came again into the court.

“Do not shoot at us,” they said. “Seek not your own harm, and deadly hurt, and death. Give us your daughter.”

“Who is it who seeks my daughter?”

“It is I, Culhuch, son of Cilyth,” said Culhuch.

“Come here, so I can see you,” said Yspathaden.

A chair was placed for Culhuch at Yspathaden’s feet, and he seated himself upon it.

“So it is you who is seeking my daughter,” said Yspathaden.

“It is I,” said Culhuch.

“Give me your word to act justly towards me.”

“I give you my word,” said Culhuch.

“When you give me that which I ask of you, then you shall have my daughter.”

“Ask for whatever you desire,” said Culhuch.

“Do you see that hoed ground yonder?”

“I do,” said Culhuch.

“When first I met the mother of the maiden, nine hestors of flax seed were sown there. The ground has been bare since that time, but it has been freshly broken up, and you must sow another nine hestors, so that it can be spun, and made into a white headdress for my daughter’s head on the day of your wedding feast.

“It is easy for me to do that,” said Culhuch, “although you think it is not easy.”

“You must also get me the cauldron of Diwrnach, the Irishman, the overseer of Odgar, son of Aeth, king of Ireland. In that, you shall boil the meat for the wedding guests.”

“It is easy for me to get that, although you think it is not easy.”

“I must also wash my head and shave my beard. I must have the tusk of Ysgithyrwyn Chief Boar to shave myself, and it will do me no good unless it be plucked from his head alive.”

“It is easy for me to get that, although you think it is not easy.”

“However, there is none who can pluck it from his head save Odgar, son on Aeth, King of Ireland.”

“It is easy for me to do that,” said Culhuch, “although you think it is not easy.”

“I will not entrust the keeping of that tusk to any save Cadw of Pryderin. He will not come out of his kingdom of his own free will, nor can he be compelled.”

“It is easy for me to do that,” said Culhuch, “although you think it is not easy.”

“Even if you get that, there is a thing which you cannot get. I must first dress my beard before it is shaved. It will never lie flat unless the blood of the Black Hag be obtained. She dwells at the head of the Valley of Grief, in the uplands of the Underworld.”

“It is easy for me to do that,” said Culhuch, “although you think it is not easy.”

“However, there is no comb and shears in the world with which my hair may be dressed – so exceeding stiff is it – save the comb and shears that are between the two ears of the Swine Twrch Trwyth. He will not give them of his own free will, nor can he be compelled.”

“It is easy for me to do that,” said Culhuch, “although you think it is not easy.”

“However, Twrch Trwyth may not be hunted until the hound Drudwyn be obtained.”

“It is easy for me to do that,” said Culhuch, “although you think it is not easy.”

“He cannot be restrained by any leash in the world, save the leash of Cors Hundred Claws.”

“It is easy for me to do that,” said Culhuch, “although you think it is not easy.”

“There is no collar that can hold that leash save the collar of Canhastyr Hundred Hands.”

“It is easy for me to do that,” said Culhuch, “although you think it is not easy.”

“You will also need the chain of Cannastyr Hundred Hands to hold that collar along with that leash.”

“It is easy for me to do that,” said Culhuch, “although you think it is not easy.”

“There is no huntsman in the world who can hunt with that dog save Mabon, son of Modren.

He was taken away by his mother when only three nights old, and none knows where he is, or what his state is, or whether he be alive or dead.”

“It is easy for me to do that,” said Culhuch, “although you think it is not easy.”

“However, Mabon will never be obtained until his kinsman, Eldoel, son of Aer, be first obtained, for he will be untiring in his quest for him. He is his first cousin.”

“It is easy for me to do that,” said Culhuch, “although you think it is not easy.”

“You must also obtain the steed Gwyn Dun-Mare: his master will not give him of his own free will, nor can you compel him. However, unless Mabon rides him to hunt the Swine Twrch Trwyth, you will not succeed in catching him.”

“It is easy for me to do that,” said Culhuch, “although you think it is not easy.”

“You must also obtain a leash from the beard of Dillus the Bearded, for nothing save that can hold those two hounds, and it will be of no use lest the hairs be plucked from his beard while he is alive, and with wooden tweezers. He will not allow anyone to do that while he is alive, but it will be useless if he is dead, for it will be brittle.”

“It is easy for me to do that,” said Culhuch, “although you think it is not easy.”

“There is no huntsman in the world who can hold those two hounds save Cynedyr the Wild. Nine times wilder is he than the wildest wild beast on the mountain. You will never get him, nor will you get my daughter.”

“It is easy for me to do that,” said Culhuch, “although you think it is not easy.”

“You must also obtain Gwyn, son of Nuth, in whom God has placed the spirit of all the demons of the Underworld, lest they destroy the world. He will not be allowed to come with you, but without him you will not be able to hunt the Swine Twrch Trwyth.”

“It is easy for me to do that,” said Culhuch, “although you think it is not easy.”

“No horse in this world will avail Gwyn to hunt the Swine, Twrch Trwyth save Du.”

“It is easy for me to do that,” said Culhuch, “although you think it is not easy.”

“You must also obtain the help of Gwilenhin, the King of France. Without him you shall never hunt down the Swine Twrch Trwyth, but it is improper for him to leave his kingdom, and he will never come with you.”

“It is easy for me to do that,” said Culhuch, “although you think it is not easy.”

“You must also obtain Arthur and his huntsman to hunt the Swine Twrch Trwyth. He is a man of might and will never join you.”

“It is easy for me to do that,” said Culhuch, “although you think it is not easy.”

“Though you obtain his aid there is one thing more which you shall not obtain. That is the Sword of Wrnach, the Giant. He cannot be slain save with that sword, but he will give it to no one, neither for price nor for favour, nor can you compel him.”

“Horses shall I have,” said Culhuch, “and horsemen, and my lord and kinsman Arthur will get me all these things. And I shall win your daughter, and you shall lose your life.”

“Set forward now,” said Yspathaden. “In your absence I will continue to take charge of my daughter’s food and payment. Seek those things that I have asked for, and when they are won, you shall have my daughter.”

 Culhuch & Olwen, adapted from the Mabinogion, a collection of Celtic stories preserved in Medieval manuscripts written in the Welsh language.

Next instalment: Part 3, The Hunt for the Swine Twrch Trwyth