Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race - Knowledge Rush

338 Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race[392]way home they fall in with Gwrnach the Giant, whose swordKai, pretending to be a sword-polisher, obtains by a stratagem.On reaching Arthur's Court again, and telling the King whatthey have to do, he promises his aid. First of the marvels theyaccomplished was the discovery and liberation of Mabon son ofModron, “who was taken from his mother when three nights old,and it is not known where he is now, nor whether he is living ordead.” Gwrhyr inquires of him from the Ousel of Cilgwri, who isso old that a smith's anvil on which he was wont to peck has beenworn to the size of a nut, yet he has never heard of Mabon. But hetakes them to a beast older still, the Stag of Redynvre, and so onto the Owl of Cwm Cawlwyd, and the Eagle of Gwern Abwy, andthe Salmon of Llyn Llyw, the oldest of living things, and at lastthey find Mabon imprisoned in the stone dungeon of Gloucester,and with Arthur's help they release him, and so the second taskis fulfilled. In one way or another, by stratagem, or valour, ormagic art, every achievement is accomplished, including the lastand most perilous one, that of obtaining “the blood of the blackwitch Orddu, daughter of the white witch Orwen, of Penn NartGovid on the confines of Hell.” The combat here is very like thatof Finn in the cave of Keshcorran, but Arthur at last cleaves thehag in twain, and Kaw of North Britain takes her blood.So then they set forth for the castle of Yspaddaden again, andhe acknowledges defeat. Goreu son of Custennin cuts off hishead, and that night Olwen became the happy bride of Kilhwch,and the hosts of Arthur dispersed, every man to his own land.The Dream of RhonabwyRhonabwy was a man-at-arms under Madawc son ofMaredudd, whose brother Iorwerth rose in rebellion againsthim; and Rhonabwy went with the troops of Madawc to put himdown. Going with a few companions into a mean hut to rest forthe night, he lies down to sleep on a yellow calf-skin by the fire,while his friends lie on filthy couches of straw and twigs. On thecalf-skin he has a wonderful dream. He sees before him the court