Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race - Knowledge Rush

334 Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race[387][388]Kilhwch and OlwenKilhwch was son to Kilydd and his wife Goleuddydd, and issaid to have been cousin to Arthur. His mother having died,Kilydd took another wife, and she, jealous of her stepson, laidon him a quest which promised to be long and dangerous. “Ideclare,” she said, “that it is thy destiny”—the Gael would havesaid geis—“not to be suited with a wife till thou obtain Olwendaughter of Yspaddaden Penkawr.” 239 And Kilhwch reddenedat the name, and “love of the maiden diffused itself through allhis frame.” By his father's advice he set out to Arthur's Court tolearn how and where he might find and woo her.A brilliant passage then describes the youth in the flower of hisbeauty, on a noble steed caparisoned with gold, and accompaniedby two brindled white-breasted greyhounds with collars of rubies,setting forth on his journey to King Arthur. “And the blade ofgrass bent not beneath him, so light was his courser's tread.”Kilhwch at Arthur's CourtAfter some difficulties with the Porter and with Arthur'sseneschal, Kai, who did not wish to admit the lad while thecompany were sitting at meat, Kilhwch was brought into thepresence of the King, and declared his name and his desire.“I seek this boon,” he said, “from thee and likewise at thehands of thy warriors,” and he then enumerates an immense listfull of mythological personages and details—Bedwyr, Gwyn apNudd, Kai, Manawyddan, 240 Geraint, and many others, including“Morvran son of Tegid, whom no one struck at in the battle ofCamlan by reason of his ugliness; all thought he was a devil,”and “Sandde Bryd Angel, whom no one touched with a spear inthe battle of Camlan because of his beauty; all thought he was aministering angel.” The list extends to many scores of names andincludes many women, as, for instance, “Creiddylad the daughter239 “Hawthorn, King of the Giants.”240 The gods of the family of Dōn are thus conceived as servitors to Arthur,who in this story is evidently the god Artaius.