A brief retelling, set to music, of one theme from the tale of Culhwch and Olwen,
which is one of the earliest recorded legends of King Arthur, taken from the Mabinogion.
"Mabon ap Modron" means "Great son of the great mother" in Brythonic Celtic.
From the labours of y Modron comes the blessing of a son
And the son is clasped upon the breast until three days are gone.
From the shelter of that warm embrace,
The son is lost without a trace,
To Ysbaddadon's darkest place,
Where ruthless schemes are spun.
With the running of the river and the falling of the rain
So the year begins to crumble and the light begins to wane
And a hero suckled with the swine
Is cursed to seek, through love divine,
A daughter of the giant's line,
To find the son again.
From the bailey of a castle in the shadow of a crag,
So the noble Culhwch ventures forth beneath King Arthur's flag,
And, in search of counsel, comes to see
The Ouzel bird of Cilgrwri
Who bade the hero, from his tree,
To seek the ancient Stag.
And descending from the gullies where the mountain breezes howl,
So the pilgrims gain the Greenwood where the fearsome Bleddin prowl,
And, beside a twisted Derwen tree,
The ancient Stag of Rhendefre
Advises Culhwch, patiently,
To find the wizened Owl.
Ever deeper in the forest, so the questing knights repair,
Ever forwards to the heartland of the Druid and the Bear,
Where the wise old Owl of Cwn Cawlwyd,
Stock-still, as though from oakwood hewed,
With knowing stare, tu-whit tu-whooed
Locate the Eagle's lair.
To the summit of the mountain where the mighty north wind blows,
So the faithful brothers follow where the gallant hero goes,
And the Eagle of Gwernabwy,
That soars above the highest tree,
Avows to Culhwch, solemnly,
That Salmon surely knows.
To the waters of the Hafren, where the pool of Llyn Llyw hides,
In the hazel grove of wisdom, where the oldest creature bides,
So the ancient Salmon, dreaming there,
Arises from his pool to bear
The persevering band to where
The Mabon now resides.
Deep in Ysbaddadon's dungeons, so would Culhwch’s loyal band
Find the prison cell of Mabon where the giant’s ramparts stand.
With the Mabon free to roam again
And Ysbaddadon caught and slain,
The brave young Culhwch so would gain
The white-pathed Olwen’s hand.