Chapter 30

CHAPTER XXX.
KILWICH AND OLWEN, CONTINUED. ALL that day they journeyed until the evening, and then they
beheld a vast castle, which was the largest in the world. And lo! a
black man, larger than three of the men of this world, came out from
the castle. And they spoke unto him, and said, "O man, whose castle is
that?" "Stupid are ye, truly, O men! There is no one in the world that
does not know that this is the castle of Gwernach the Giant." "What
treatment is there for guests and strangers that alight in that
castle?" "O chieftain, Heaven protect thee! No guest ever returned
thence alive, and no one may enter therein unless he brings with him
his craft."
Then they proceeded towards the gate. Said Gurhyr Gwalstat, "Is
there a porter!" "There is; wherefore dost thou call?" "Open the
gate." "I will not open it." "Wherefore wilt thou not?" "The knife
is in the meat, and the drink is in the horn, and there is revelry
in the hall of Gwernach the Giant; and except for a craftsman who
brings his craft, the gate will not be opened to-night." "Verily,
porter," then said Kay, "my craft bring I with me." "What is thy
craft?" "The best burnisher of swords am I in the world." "I will go
and tell this unto Gwernach the Giant, and I will bring thee an
answer."
So the porter went in, and Gwernach said to him, "Hast thou news
from the gate?" "I have. There is a party at the door of the gate
who desire to come in." "Didst thou inquire of them if they
possessed any art?" "I did inquire," said he, "and one told me that he
was well skilled in the burnishing of swords." "We have need of him
then. For some time have I sought for some one to polish my sword, and
could find no one. Let this man enter, since he brings with him his
craft."
The porter thereupon returned and opened the gate. And Kay went in
by himself, and he saluted Gwernach the Giant. And a chair was
placed for him opposite to Gwernach. And Gwernach said to him, "O man,
is it true that is reported of thee, that thou knowest how to
burnish swords?" "I know full well how to do so," answered Kay. Then
was the sword of Gwernach brought to him. And Kay took a blue
whet-stone from under his arm, and asked whether he would have it
burnished white or blue. "Do with it as it seems good to thee, or as
thou wouldst if it were thine own." Then Kay polished one half of
the blade, and put it in his band. "Will this please you?" asked he.
"I would rather than all that is in my dominions that the whole of
it were like this. It is a marvel to me that such a man as thou should
be without a companion." "O noble sir, I have a companion, albeit he
is not skilled in this art." "Who may he be?" "Let the porter go
forth, and I will tell him whereby he may know him. The head