before the chimney corner, and out of it arose a youth with
yellow curling hair. Said Gwrhyr, "It is a pity to hide this youth. I
know that it is not his own crime that is thus visited upon him." "This
is but a remnant," said the woman. "Three and twenty of my sons has
Yspaddaden Penkawr slain, and I have no more hope of this one than of the
others." Then said Kai, "Let him come and be a companion with me, and he
shall not be slain unless I also am slain with him." And they ate. And
the woman asked them, "Upon what errand come you here?" "We come to seek
Olwen for this youth." Then said the woman, "In the name of Heaven,
since no one from the castle hath yet seen you, return again whence you
came." "Heaven is our witness, that we will not return until we have
seen the maiden." Said Kai, "Does she ever come hither, so that she may
be seen?" "She comes here every Saturday to wash her head, and in the
vessel where she washes, she leaves all her rings, and she never either
comes herself or sends any messengers to fetch them." "Will she come
here if she is sent to?" "Heaven knows that I will not destroy my soul,
nor will I betray those that trust me; unless you will pledge me your
faith that you will not harm her, I will not send to her." "We pledge
it," said they. So a message was sent, and she came.

The maiden was clothed in a robe of flame-coloured silk, and about her
neck was a collar of ruddy gold, on which were precious emeralds and
rubies. More yellow was her head than the flower of 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 the wood anemone amidst the spray of the
meadow fountain. The eye of the trained hawk, the glance of the three-
mewed falcon, was not brighter than hers. Her bosom was more snowy than
the breast of the white swan, her cheek was redder than the reddest
roses. Whoso beheld her was filled with her love. Four white trefoils
sprung up wherever she trod. And therefore was she called Olwen.

She entered the house, and sat beside Kilhwch upon the foremost bench;
and as soon as he saw her he knew her. And Kilhwch said unto her, "Ah!
maiden, thou art she whom I have loved; come away with me lest they speak
evil of thee and of me. Many a day have I loved thee." "I cannot do
this, for I have pledged my faith to my father not to go without his
counsel, for his life will last only until the time of my esp