Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race - Knowledge Rush

336 Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race[390]from that quest alive.” Custennin and his family, it appears, havesuffered much at the hands of Yspaddaden—all their sons but onebeing slain, because Yspaddaden envied his brother his share oftheir patrimony. So they associated themselves with the heroesin their quest.Olwen of the White TrackNext day Olwen came down to the herdsman's house as usual,for she was wont to wash her hair there every Saturday, andeach time she did so she left all her rings in the vessel and neversent for them again. She is described in one of those pictorialpassages in which the Celtic passion for beauty has found suchexquisite utterance.“The maiden was clothed in a robe of flame-coloured silk, andabout her neck was a collar of ruddy gold on which were preciousemeralds and rubies. More yellow was her head than the flowerof the broom, and her skin was whiter than the foam of the wave,and fairer were her hands and her fingers than the blossoms of thewood-anemone amidst the spray of the meadow fountain. Theeye of the trained hawk, the glance of the three-mewed falcon,was not brighter than hers. Her bosom was more snowy than thebreast of the white swan, her cheek was redder than the reddestroses. Whoso beheld her was filled with her love. Four whitetrefoils sprang up wherever she trod. And therefore was shecalled Olwen.” 241Kilhwch and she conversed together and loved each other, andshe bade him go and ask her of her father and deny him nothingthat he might demand. She had pledged her faith not to wedwithout his will, for his life would only last till the time of herespousals.YspaddadenNext day the party went to the castle and saw Yspaddaden.He put them off with various excuses, and as they left flung241 “She of the White Track.” Compare the description of Etain, pp. 157, 158.