The Mabinogion (Oxford World's Classics) (37 page)

‘
It is easy for me to get that, though
you
may think it’s not easy
.’

‘
Though you may get that, there is something you will not get
. There is no leash in the world that can hold him, except the leash of Cors Cant Ewin.’

‘
It is easy for me to get that, though
you
may think it’s not easy
.’

‘
Though you may get that, there is something you will not get
. There is no collar in the world that can hold the leash, except the collar of Canhastyr Can Llaw.’

‘
It is easy for me to get that, though
you
may think it’s not easy
.’

‘
Though you may get that, there is something you will not get
. The chain of Cilydd Canhastyr
*
to hold the collar along with the leash.’

‘
It is easy for me to get that, though
you
may think it’s not easy
.’

‘
Though you may get that, there is something you will not get
. There is no huntsman in the world who can hunt with that dog, except Mabon son of Modron,
*
who was taken when three nights old from his mother. No one knows where he is, nor what state he’s in, whether dead or alive.’

‘
It is easy for me to get that, though
you
may think it’s not easy
.’

‘
Though you may get that, there is something you won’t get
. Gwyn Myngddwn, the steed of Gweddw
*
(he’s as swift as a wave), under Mabon to hunt Twrch Trwyth. He will not give it willingly, nor can you force him.’

‘
It is easy for me to get that, though
you
may think it’s not easy
.’

‘
Though you may get that, there is something you will not get
. Mabon will never be found—no one knows where he is—until you first find Eidoel son of Aer,
*
his kinsman, for he’ll be tireless in his search for him. He’s his first cousin.’

‘
It is easy for me to get that, though
you
may think it’s not easy
.’

‘
Though you may get that, there is something you will not get
. Garselyd Wyddel, he is the chief huntsman of Ireland.
*
Twrch Trwyth will never be hunted without him.’

‘
It is easy for me to get that, though
you
may think it’s not easy
.’

‘Though you may get that, there is something you will not get. A leash
from the beard of Dillus Farfog, for nothing will hold those two whelps
*
except that. And it will be of no use unless it’s taken from his beard while he’s alive, and plucked with wooden tweezers. He will not allow anyone to do that to him while he’s alive. But it will be useless if he’s dead, because it will be brittle.’

‘
It is easy for me to get that, though
you
may think it’s not easy
.’

‘
Though you may get that, there is something you will not get
. There is no huntsman in the world who can hold those two whelps, except Cynedyr Wyllt son of Hetwn Glafyriog.
*
He is nine times wilder 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 get that, though
you
may think it’s not easy
.’

‘
Though you may get that, there is something you will not get
. Twrch Trwyth will not be hunted until Gwyn son of Nudd is found—God has put the spirit of the demons of Annwfn
*
in him, lest the world be destroyed. He will not be spared from there.’

‘
It is easy for me to get that, though
you
may think it’s not easy
.’

‘
Though you may get that, there is something you will not get
. No steed will be of any use to Gwyn in hunting Twrch Trwyth, except Du, the steed of Moro Oerfeddog.’
*

‘
It is easy for me to get that, though
you
may think it’s not easy
.’

‘
Though you may get that, there is something you will not get
. Until Gwilenhin, king of France,
*
comes, Twrch Trwyth will never be hunted without him. It is improper for him to leave his kingdom, and he will never come here.’

‘
It is easy for me to get that, though
you
may think it’s not easy
.’

‘
Though you may get that, there is something you will not get
. Twrch Trwyth will never be hunted without getting the son of Alun Dyfed.
*
He is a good unleasher.’

‘
It is easy for me to get that, though
you
may think it’s not easy
.’

‘
Though you may get that, there is something you will not get
. Twrch Trwyth will never be hunted until you get Aned and Aethlem.
*
They are as swift as a gust of wind; they have never been unleashed on a beast they did not kill.’

‘
It is easy for me to get that, though
you
may think it’s not easy
.’

‘
Though you may get that, there is something you will not get
. Arthur and his huntsmen to hunt Twrch Trwyth. He is a powerful man and he will not accompany you, nor can you force him. This is the reason why—he is under my control.’
*

‘
It is easy for me to get that, though
you
may think it’s not easy
.’

‘
Though you may get that, there is something you will not get
. Twrch Trwyth will never be hunted until you get—

Bwlch and Cyfwlch and Syfwlch,

sons of Cleddyf Cyfwlch,

grandsons of Cleddyf Difwlch.

Three gleaming glitterers their three shields,

Three stabbing strokes their three spears;

Three keen carvers their three swords;

Glas, Glesig, Gleisiad their three hounds;

Call, Cuall, Cafall their three steeds;

Hwyr Ddyddwg and Drwg Ddyddwg and Llwyr Ddyddwg

their three wives;

Och and Garym and Diasbad their three witches;

Lluched and Neued and Eisiwed their three daughters;

Drwg and Gwaeth and Gwaethaf Oll their three maidservants.

These three men blow their horns, and all the others come to shriek until no one could care whether the sky fell on the earth.’
*

‘
It is easy for me to get that, though
you
may think it’s not easy
.’

‘
Though you may get that, there is something you will not get
. The sword of Wrnach Gawr.
*
He can only be killed with that. He will never give it to anyone, either for money or as a gift; nor can you force him.’

‘
It is easy for me to get that, though
you
may think it’s not easy
.’

‘
Though you may get that, there is something you will not get
. Sleeplessness with no rest at night will be yours seeking those things, and you will not get them, nor shall you get my daughter.’

‘I will get horses, and horsemen. And Arthur, my lord and kinsman, will get me all those things. And I will get your daughter, and you shall lose your life.’

‘Go on your way now. You shall not be responsible for either food or clothing for my daughter. Seek those things. And when you get those things, you shall get my daughter.’

They travelled that day until evening, until they saw a stone-and-mortar fort, the largest fort in the world. Behold, they saw coming from the fort a black-haired man, bigger than three men of this world.

They said to him, ‘Where do you come from, sir?’

‘From the fort you can see over there.’

‘Whose fort is it?’

‘You stupid men. There is no one in the world who does not know who owns this fort. It belongs to Wrnach Gawr.’

‘What customs are there regarding guests and travellers who arrive at this fort?’

‘Ah lord, may God protect you. No guest has ever left here alive. No one is allowed inside except he who brings his craft.’

They made for the gate. Gwrhyr Gwalstawd Ieithoedd said, ‘Is there a gatekeeper?’

‘Yes. And as for you, may you lose your head for asking.’

‘Open the gate.’
*

‘I will not.’

‘Why won’t you open it?’

‘Knife has gone into food and drink into horns, and a thronging in the hall of Wrnach. Except for a craftsman who brings his craft, it will not be opened again tonight.’

Cai said, ‘Gatekeeper, I have a craft.’

‘What craft do you have?’

‘I am the best furbisher of swords in the world.’

‘I shall go and tell that to Wrnach Gawr, and bring you an answer.’

The gatekeeper came inside. Wrnach Gawr said, ‘Do you have news from the gate?’

‘I do. There’s a band of men at the entrance to the gate and they want to come in.’

‘Did you ask if they had a craft?’

‘I did. And one of them said he could furbish swords.’

‘I need him. For some time I have been looking for someone who could polish my sword, but I have found no one. Let that man in, since he has a craft.’

The gatekeeper came and opened the gate, and Cai came in alone. And he greeted Wrnach Gawr. A chair was placed under him.

Wrnach said, ‘Well, sir, is it true what is said about you, that you are able to furbish swords?’

‘I can do that.’ The sword was brought to him. Cai put a striped whetstone under his arm.

‘Which would you prefer, white-bladed or dark-blue-bladed?’
*

‘Do whatever would please
you
, as if it were yours.’ Cai cleaned one half of the blade for him and placed it in his hand.

‘Does that please you?’

‘It would please me more than anything in my land if it were all like this. It’s a shame that a man as good as you is without a companion.’

‘But sir, I
do
have a companion, although he doesn’t practise this craft.’

‘Who is that?’

‘Let the gatekeeper go outside, and I’ll describe the signs to him. The head of his spear comes away from its shaft, it draws blood from the wind and lands on the shaft again.’

The gate was opened and Bedwyr entered. Cai said, ‘Bedwyr is skilful, although he doesn’t practise this craft.’

And there was great arguing among those men outside because Cai and Bedwyr had entered. And a young lad came inside with them—the only son of Custennin the shepherd. He and his companions, who stuck close to him, crossed the three baileys, as though it were nothing to them, until they were inside the fort. His companions said of Custennin’s son, ‘He is the best of men.’ From then on he was called Gorau son of Custennin.
*
They dispersed to their lodgings so that they could kill those who lodged them without the giant knowing. The burnishing of the sword was finished, and Cai placed it in the hand of Wrnach Gawr, as if to see whether the work pleased him.

The giant said, ‘The work is good, and I am pleased.’

Cai said, ‘Your sheath has damaged your sword. Give it to me to remove the wooden side-pieces, and let me make new ones for it.’ And he takes the sheath from him, and the sword in the other hand. He stands above the giant as if to put the sword in its sheath. He thrusts it into the giant’s head, and takes off his head with one blow. They destroy the fort and take away what treasure they want. A year from that very day they came
*
to the court of Arthur, and with them the sword of Wrnach Gawr.

They told Arthur what had happened to them.

Arthur said, ‘Which of those wonders is it best to seek first?’

‘It is best’, they said, ‘to seek Mabon son of Modron, but he cannot be found until we first find Eidoel son of Aer, his kinsman.’

Arthur arose, and the warriors of the Island of Britain with him, to seek Eidoel, and they came to Gliwi’s outer wall where Eidoel was imprisoned. Gliwi
*
stood on top of the fort and said, ‘Arthur, what do you want from me, since you will not leave me alone on this rock? No good comes to me here and no pleasure; I have neither wheat nor oats, without you too seeking to do me harm.’

Arthur said, ‘I have not come here to harm you but to seek the prisoner you have.’

‘I shall give you the prisoner, although I had not intended to give him up to anyone. And besides that, you shall have my help and support.’

The men said to Arthur, ‘Lord, go home. You cannot go with your host to seek such trivial things as these.’

Arthur said, ‘Gwrhyr Gwalstawd Ieithoedd, it is right for you to go on this quest. You know all languages, and can speak the same language as some of the birds and the beasts. Eidoel, it is right for you to go and seek him with my men, he is your first cousin. Cai and Bedwyr, I have hope that you accomplish the quest you are undertaking. Go on this quest on my behalf.’

They travelled until they came to the Blackbird of Cilgwri.
*

Gwrhyr asked her, ‘For God’s sake, do you know anything of Mabon son of Modron, who was taken when three nights old from between his mother and the wall?’

The Blackbird said, ‘When I first came here, there was a smith’s anvil here, and I was a young bird. No work has been done on it except by my beak every evening. Today there’s not so much of it as a nut that is not worn away. God’s vengeance on me if I have heard anything about the man you are asking after. However, what is right and proper for me to do for Arthur’s messengers, I will do. There is a species of animal that God shaped before me. I will go there as your guide.’

They came to where the Stag of Rhedynfre
*
was.

‘Stag of Rhedynfre, we have come to you here—Arthur’s messengers— for we know of no animal older than you. Tell us, do you know anything of Mabon son of Modron, who was taken when three nights old from his mother?’

The Stag said, ‘When I first came here, there was only one antler on either side of my head, and there were no trees here except
a single oak sapling, and that grew into an oak with a hundred branches. And the oak fell after that, and today nothing remains of it but a red stump. From that day to this I have been here. I have heard nothing about the one you are asking after. However, since you are Arthur’s messengers, I shall be your guide to where there is an animal God shaped before me.’