he shall require of thee, grant it, and thou wilt obtain me; but if
thou deny him anything, thou wilt not obtain me, and it will be well
for thee if thou escape with thy life." "I promise all this, if
occasion offer," said he.

She returned to her chamber, and they all rose up and followed her to
the castle. And they slew the nine porters that were at the nine
gates in silence. And they slew the nine watch-dogs without one of
them barking. And they went forward to the hall.

"The greeting of Heaven and of man be unto thee, Yspaddaden Penkawr,"
said they. "And you, wherefore come you?" "We come to ask thy
daughter Olwen, for Kilhwch the son of Kilydd, the son of Prince
Kelyddon." "Where are my pages and my servants? Raise up the forks
beneath my two eyebrows which have fallen over my eyes, that I may
see the fashion of my son-in-law." And they did so. "Come hither
to-morrow, and you shall have an answer."

They rose to go forth, and Yspaddaden Penkawr seized one of the three
poisoned darts that lay beside him, and threw it after them. And
Bedwyr caught it, and flung it, and pierced Yspaddaden Penkawr
grievously with it through the knee. Then he said, "A cursed
ungentle son-in-law, truly. I shall ever walk the worse for his
rudeness, and shall ever be without a cure. This poisoned iron pains
me like the bite of a gadfly. Cursed be the smith who forged it, and
the anvil whereon it was wrought! So sharp is it!"

That night also they took up their abode in the house of Custennin
the herdsman. The next day with the dawn they arrayed themselves in
haste and proceeded to the castle, and entered the hall, and they