Being the second part of the tale of Culhwch ac Olwen; in which Culwch makes a long speech naming the members of Arthur's entire household, as he also wishes to extract from them the promise that they too will assist in the quest to obtain the hand of Olwen.
It consists therefore, almost entirely of a list of names. It serves as a testament to the capacities of the medieval cyfarwyddion, or storytellers, who would have committed all this lot to memory, but otherwise it features little in the way of excitement. One apologies in advance, but it is part of the story and is included for the sake of completness. Besides, it does feature a medieval Welsh joke.
"I crave of you then, that you obtain for me Olwen, the daughter of Yspaddaden Pencawr; and this favour I likewise seek at the hands of your warriors.
I seek it from Cai, and Bedwyr, and Greidawl Galldonyd, and Gwythyr ap Greidawl, and Greid ap Eri, and Cynddelig Cyfarwydd, and Tathal Twyll Goleu, and Maelwys ap Baeddan, and Crychwr ap Nes, and Cubert ap Daere, and Percos ap Poch, and Lluber Beuthach, and Corfil Berfach, and Gwynn ap Nudd, and Edeyrn ap Nudd, and Gadwy ap Geraint, and Prince Fflewddur Fflam, and Ruawn Pebyr ap Dorath, and Bradwen ap Moren Mynawc, and Moren Mynawc himself, and Dalldaf ap Cimin Cof, and son of Alun Dyfed, and son of Saidi, and son of Gwryon, and Uchtryd Ardywad Cad, and Cynwas Curfagyl, and Gwrhyr Gwarthegfras, and Isperyr Ewingath, and Gallcoyt Gofynynat, and Duach, and Grathach, and Nerthach, the sons of Gwawrddur Cyrfach (these men came forth from the confines of hell), and Cilydd Canhastyr, and Canastyr Canllaw, and Cors Cant-Ewin, and Esgeir Gulhwch Gofyncawn, and Drustwrn Hayarn, and Glewlwyd Gafaelfawr, and Lloch Llawwynnyawc, and Aunwas Adeiniawc, and Sinnoch ap Seithfed, and Gwennwynwyn ap Naw, and Bedyw ap Seithfed, and Gobrwy ap Echel Forddwyttwll, and Echel Forddwyttwll himself, and Mael ap Roycol, and Dadweir Dallpenn, and Garwyli ap Gwythawc Gwyr, and Gwythawc Gwyr himself, and Gormant ap Ricca, and Menw ap Teirgwaedd, and Digon ab Alar, and Selyf ap Smoit, and Gusg ab Atheu, and Nerth ap Kedarn, and Drudwas ap Tryffin, and Twrch ap Perif, and Twrch ab Annwas, and Iona king of France, and Sel ap Selgi, and Teregud ab Iaen, and Sulyen ab Iaen, and Bradwen ab Iaen, and Moren ab Iaen, and Siawn ab Iaen, and Cradawc ab Iaen. (They were men of Caerdathal, of Athur's's kindred on his father's side.)
Dirmyg ap Caw, and Justic ap Caw, and Etmic ap Caw, and Anghawd ap Caw, and Ovan ap Caw, and Kelin ap Caw, and Connyn ap Caw, and Mabsant ap Caw, and Gwyngad ap Caw, and Llwybyr ap Caw, and Coth ap Caw, and Meilic ap Caw, and Kynwas ap Caw, and Ardwyad ap Caw, and Ergyryad ap Caw, and Neb ap Caw, and Gilda ap Caw, and Calcas ap Caw, and Hueil ap Caw (he never yet made a request at the hand of any Lord).
And Samson Finsych, and Taliesin the chief of the bards, and Manawyddan ap Llyr, and Llary ap Prince Casnar, and Ysperni ap Fflergant king of Armorica, and Saranhon, ap Glythwyr, and Llawr Eilerw, and Annyanniawc ap Menw ap Teirgwaedd, and Gwynn ap Nwyfre, and Fflam ap Nwyfre, and Geraint ap Erbin, and Ermid ap Erbin, and Dyfel ap Erbin, and Gwynn ap Ermid, and Cyndrwyn ap Ermid, and Hyfeidd Unllenn, and Eiddon Fawr Frydic, and Reidwn Arwy, and Gormant ap Ricca (Athur's's brother by his mother's side; the Penhynef of Cornwall was his father), and Llawnrodded Farvawc, and Nodawl Faryf Twrch, and Berth ap Cado, and Rheidwn ap Beli, and Iscofan Hael, and Iscawin ap Panon, and Morfran ap Tegid (no one struck him in the battle of Camlan by reason of his ugliness; all thought he was an auxiliary devil. Hair had he upon him like the hair of a stag).
And Sandde Bryd Angel (no one touched him with a spear in the battle of Camlan because of his beauty; all thought he was a ministering angel).
And Cynwyl Sant (the third man that escaped from the battle of Camlan, and he was the last who parted from Athur's on Hengroen his horse).
And Uchtryd ap Erim, and Eus ap Erim, and Henwas Adeinawg ap Erim, and Henbedestyr ap Erim, and Sgilti Yscawndroed ap Erim. (Unto these three men belonged these three qualities; with Henbedestyr there was not any one who could keep pace, either on horseback or on foot; with Henwas Adeinawg, no four-footed beast could run the distance of an acre, much less could it go beyond it; and as to Sgilti Yscawndroed, when he intended to go upon a message for his Lord, he never sought to find a path, but knowing whither he was to go, if his way lay through a wood he went along the tops of the trees. During his whole life, a blade of reed grass bent not beneath his feet, much less did one ever break, so lightly did he tread.)
Teithi Hen ap Gwynhan (his dominions were swallowed up by the sea, and he himself hardly escaped, and he came to Athur's; and his knife had this peculiarity, that from the time that he came there no haft would ever remain upon it, and owing to this a sickness came over him, and he pined away during the remainder of his life, and of this he died).
And Carneddyr ap Gofynyon Hen, and Gwenwynwyn ap Naf Gyssefin, Athur's's champion, and Llysgadrudd Emys, and Gwrbothu Hen, (uncles unto Athur's were they, his mother's brothers).
Culfanawyd ap Goryon, and Llenlleawg Wyddel from the headland of Ganion, and Dyfynwal Moel, and Dunard king of the North, Teirnon Twryf Bliant, and Tegfan Gloff, and Tegyr Talgellawg, Gwrdinal ap Ebrei, and Morgant Hael, Gwystyl ap Rhun ap Nwython, and Llwyddeu ap Nwython, and Gwydre ap Llwyddeu (Gwenabwy ferch Caw was his mother, Hueil his uncle stabbed him, and hatred was between Hueil and Athur's because of the wound).
Drem ap Dremidyd (When the gnat arose in the morning with the sun, he could see it from Gelli Wic in Cornwall, as far off as Pen Blathaon in North Britain.) And Eidyol ap Ner, and Glywyddn Saer (who constructed Ehangwen, Athur's's hall). Cynyr Ceinfarfawc (when he was told he had a son born, he said to his wife, "Woman, if your son be mine, his heart will be always cold, and there will be no warmth in his hands; and he will have another peculiarity, if he is my son he will always be stubborn; and he will have another peculiarity, when he carries a burden, whether it be large or small, no one will be able to see it, either before him or at his back; and he will have another peculiarity, no one will be able to resist fire and water so well as he will; and he will have another peculiarity, there will never be a servant or an officer equal to him"). Henwas, and Henwyneb (an old companion to Athur's).
Gwallgoyc (another; when he came to a town, though there were three hundred houses in it, if he wanted anything, he would not let sleep come to the eyes of any one whilst he remained there).
Berwyn, ap Gerenhir, and Paris king of France, and Osla Gyllellvawr (who bore a short broad dagger. When Athur's and his hosts came before a torrent, they would seek for a narrow place where they might pass the water, and would lay the sheathed dagger across the torrent, and it would form a bridge sufficient for the armies of the three Islands of Britain, and of the three islands adjacent, with their spoil).
Gwyddawg ap Menestyr (who slew Cai, and whom Athur's slew, together with his brothers, to revenge Cai).
Garanwyn ap Cai, and Amren ap Bedwyr, and Ely Amyr, and Rheu Rhwyd Dyrys, and Rhun Rhudwern, and Eli, and Trachmyr (Athur's's chief huntsmen).
And Llwyddeu ap Celcoed, and Hunabwy ap Gwryon, and Gwynn Godyvron, and Gweir Datharwenniddawg, and Gweir ap Cadell ap Talaryant, and Gweir Gwrhyd Ennwir, and Gweir Paladyr Hir (the uncles of Athur's, the brothers of his mother).
The sons of Llwch Llawwynnyawg (from beyond the raging sea). Llenlleawg Wyddel, and Ardderchawg Prydain.
Cas ap Saidi, Gwrvan Gwallt Avwyn, and Gwyllennhin the king of France, and Gwittart ab Oedd king of Ireland, Garselit Wyddel, Panawr Pen Bagad, and Ffleudor ap Nav, Gwynnhyfar mayor of Cornwall and Devon (the ninth man that rallied the battle of Camlan).
Celi and Cueli, and Gilla Coes Hydd (he would clear three hundred acres at one bound: the chief leaper of Ireland was he).
Sol and Gwadyn Ossol, and Gawdyn Odyeith. (Sol could stand all day upon one foot. Gwadyn Ossol, if he stood upon the top of the highest mountain in the world, it would become a level plain under his feet. Gwadyn Odyeith, the soles of his feet emitted sparks of fire when they struck upon things hard, like the heated mass when drawn out of the forge. He cleared the way for Athur's when he came to any stoppage.)
Hirerwm and Hiratrwm. (The day they went on a visit three cantrefs provided for their entertainment, and they feasted until noon and drank until night, when they went to sleep. And then they devoured the heads of the vermin through hunger, as if they had never eaten anything. When they made a visit they left neither the fat nor the lean, neither the hot nor the cold, the sour nor the sweet, the fresh nor the salt, the boiled nor the raw.)
Huarwar ab Aflawn (who asked Athur's such a favour as would satisfy him. It was the third great plague of Cornwall when he received it. None could get a smile from him but when he was satisfied.)
Gware Gwallt Euryn.
The two cubs of Gast Rhymi, Gwyddrud and Gwyddneu Astrus.
Sugyn ap Sugnedydd (Who would suck up the sea on which were three hundred ships, so as to leave nothing but a dry strand. He was broad-chested).
Rhacymwri, the attendant of Athur's (Whatever barn he was shown, were there the produce of thirty ploughs within it, he would strike it with an iron flail until the rafters, the beams, and the boards were no better than the small oats in the mow upon the floor of the barn).
Dygyflwng, and Anoeth Feidawg.
And Hir Eiddyl, and Hir Amreu (They were two attendants of Athur's).
And Gwefyl ap Gwestad (On the day that he was sad, he would let one of his lips drop below his waist, while he turned upon the other like a cap upon his head). Uchtryd Faryf Draws (who spread his red untrimmed beard over the forty-eight rafters which were in Athur's's Hall).
Elidyr Gyfarwydd and Yscyrdaf the Yscudydd (Two attendants of Gwenhywyfar were they. Their feet were swift as their thoughts when bearing a message).
Brys ap Bryssethach (From the hill of the Black Fernbrake in North Britain). And Grudlwyn Gorr.
Bwlch, and Cyfwlch, and Sefwlch, the sons of Cleddyf Cyfwlch, the grandsons of Cleddyf Difwlch. (Their three shields were three gleaming glitterers; their three spears were three pointed piercers; their three swords were three grinding gashers; Glas, Glessic, and Gleisad. Their three dogs, Call, Cuall, and Cafall. Their three horses, Hwyrdyddwg, and Drwgdyddwg, and Llwyrdyddwg. Their three wives, Och, and Garym, and Diaspad. Their three grandchildren, Lluched, and Nefed, and Eissiwed. Their three daughters, Drwg, and Gwaeth, and Gwaethaf Oll. Their three handmaids, Eheubryd ferch Cyfwlch, Gorascwrn ferch Nerth, Ewaedan ferch Cynfelyn Ceudawd Pwyll the half-man).
Dwnn Diessic Unbenn, Eiladyr ap Pen Llarcau, Cynedyr Wyllt ap Hettwn Talaryant, Sawyl Ben Uchel, Gwalchmai ap Gwyar, Gwalhafed ap Gwyar, Gwrhyr Gwastawd Ieithoedd (to whom all tongues were known), and Cethcrwm the Priest. Clust ap Clustfeinad (though he were buried seven cubits beneath the earth, he would hear the ant fifty miles off rise from her nest in the morning).
Medyr ap Methredydd (From Gelli Wic he could, in a twinkling, shoot the wren through the two legs upon Esgeir Oerfel in Ireland).
Gwiawn Llygad Cath (who could cut a haw from the eye of the gnat without hurting him).
Ol ab Olwydd (Seven years before he was born his father's swine were carried off, and when he grew up a man he tracked the swine, and brought them back in seven herds).
Bedwini the Bishop (who blessed Athur's's meat and drink).
For the sake of the golden-chained daughters of this island. For the sake of Gwenhwyfar its chief lady, and Gwennhwyach her sister, and Rathtyeu the only daughter of Clemenhill, and Rhelemon ferch Cai, and Tannwen ferch Gweir Datharweniddawg. Gwenn Alarch ferch Cynwyl Canbwch. Eurneid ferch Clydno Eiddin. Eneuawc ferch Bedwyr. Enrydreg ferch Tudfathar. Gwennwledyr ferch Gwaledyr Kyrfach. Erddudnid ferch Tryffin. Eurolwen ferch Gwdolwyn Gorr. Teleri ferch Peul. Indeg ferch Garwy Hir. Morfudd ferch Urien Rheged. Gwenllian Deg the majestic maiden. Creiddylad ferch Lludd Llaw Ereint. (She was the most splendid maiden in the three islands of the mighty, and in the three islands adjacent, and for her Gwythyr ap Greidawl and Gwynn ap Nudd fight every first of May until the day of doom.) Ellylw ferch Neol Kynn-Crog (she lived three ages). Essyllt Finwen, and Essyllt Fingul."
And all these did Culhwch son of Cilydd adjure to obtain his favour.
To the third part of Culhwch ac Olwen