…The torchbearers hurriedly re-lit the torches of Dun Culhwch.
“Why, a veritable master of all the crafts we have here, it would seem,” said Big Chief Hawthorn, “but let a seat be brought for this man who has asked for my daughter’s hand that I might consider him the more keenly.”
So a seat was brought and Big Chief Hawthorn and Gwythyr, son of Greidyawl, sat face to face.
“A question, O Yoke-of-all-Craft, from where do you hail?” asked Big Chief Hawthorn.
Answered Gwythyr, “From a wise man’s heel, and you, O Big Chief Hawthorn?” he asked.
Answered Big Chief Hawthorn “From a confluence of wisdoms, and you, O Yoke-of-all-Craft?” he asked.
Answered Gwythyr, “From a hazel of true poetry’s wisdom, and you, O Big Chief Hawthorn?” he asked.
Answered Big Chief Hawthorn, “From the height of the sun’s expanse, and you, O Yoke-of-all-Craft?” he asked.
Answered Gwythyr, “From the extent of the moon’s mansions, and you, O Big Chief Hawthorn?” he asked.
Answered Big Chief Hawthorn, “From splendour’s circuits, and you, O Yoke-of-all-Craft?” he asked.
Answered Gwythyr, “From the brightness of sunrise, and you, O Big Chief Hawthorn?” he asked.
Answered Big Chief Hawthorn, “From that state where truth’s worth is measured, and you, O Yoke-of-all-Craft?” he asked.
Answered Gwythyr, “From that measure where truth is realised, and you, O Big Chief Hawthorn?” he asked.
Answered Big Chief Hawthorn, “From that reality where lies are vanquished, and you, O Yoke-of-all-Craft?” he asked.
Answered Gwythyr, “From perfection of goodness, and you, O Big Chief Hawthorn?” he asked.
Answered Big Chief Hawthorn, “From where all colours are seen, and you, O Yoke-of-all-Craft? he asked.
Answered Gwythyr, “From where all art is born, and you, O Big Chief Hawthorn?” he asked.
Answered Big Chief Hawthorn, “From the width of the pillars of the age, and you, O Yoke-of-all-Craft?” he asked.
Answered Gwythyr, “From the stretch of a babe’s life-cord, and you, O Big Chief Hawthorn?”
He asked, but Big Chief Hawthorn had fallen silent and was deep in contemplation…
Extract from, ‘Crucible of the Sun’, by Stuart France
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Excellent and interesting conversation. Sounds like a wonderful story full of wisdom. In my future reads. Thank you so much.
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Meanwhile … while those two fine examples of warrior-hood compared the sizes of their, ahem, vocabularies, the women got on with it and made all the arrangements. 😀
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Somerthing like that… 😉
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