qx-0097 · 凯尔特
库尔威奇与奥尔温
继母的一句诅咒，换来巨人开出的整册难题
原文影录
原文已校照录公版文本，不改一字。异体字与阙文一仍其旧。
出 马比诺吉昂 · 《马比诺吉昂》〈库尔威奇与奥尔温〉 · 译者 夏洛特·格斯特（Lady Charlotte Guest / Schreiber），1838—1845 英译 · 核校出处
底本为格斯特（Lady Charlotte Guest，后署 Schreiber）1838—1845 年英译《马比诺吉昂》〈Kilhwch and Olwen〉；照录该电子本原译文，略去无关段落，段间删节一律用 …… 标示。本篇是《马比诺吉昂》中最长的一篇，以下只录与本条主旨直接相关的段落。篇中巨人名作 Yspaddaden Penkawr，主角名作 Kilhwch，均系格斯特本旧式威尔士拼法。
Kilydd the son of Prince Kelyddon desired a wife as a helpmate, and the wife that he chose was Goleuddydd, the daughter of Prince Anlawdd. And after their union, the people put up prayers that they might have an heir. And they had a son through the prayers of the people. From the time of her pregnancy Goleuddydd became wild, and wandered about, without habitation; but when her delivery was at hand, her reason came back to her.
……
And the swineherd took the boy, and brought him to the palace; and he was christened, and they called him Kilhwch, because he had been found in a swine’s burrow. Nevertheless the boy was of gentle lineage, and cousin unto Arthur; and they put him out to nurse.
After this the boy’s mother, Goleuddydd, the daughter of Prince Anlawdd, fell sick.
……
And when he saw it, the king took counsel where he should find a wife. Said one of his counsellors, “I know a wife that will suit thee well, and she is the wife of King Doged.” And they resolved to go to seek her; and they slew the king, and brought away his wife and one daughter that she had along with her.
……
Then said she unto him, “I declare to thee, that it is thy destiny not to be suited with a wife until thou obtain Olwen, the daughter of Yspaddaden Penkawr.” And the youth blushed, and the love of the maiden diffused itself through all his frame, although he had never seen her. And his father inquired of him, “What has come over thee, my son, and what aileth thee?”
……
Whatsoever boon thou mayest ask, thou shalt receive, be it what it may that thy tongue shall name.” “Pledge the truth of Heaven and the faith of thy kingdom thereof.” “I pledge it thee, gladly.” “I crave of thee then, that thou obtain for me Olwen, the daughter of Yspaddaden Penkawr; and this boon I likewise seek at the hands of thy warriors.
……
The maiden was clothed in a robe of flame-coloured silk, and about her neck was a collar of ruddy gold, on which were precious emeralds and rubies.
……
trod. And therefore was she called Olwen.
She entered the house, and sat beside Kilhwch upon the foremost bench; and as soon as he saw her he knew her. And Kilhwch said unto her, “Ah! maiden, thou art she whom I have loved; come away with me, lest they speak evil of thee and of me. Many a day have I loved thee.”
……
It is I,” answered Kilhwch. “I must have thy pledge that thou wilt not do towards me otherwise than is just, and when I have gotten that which I shall name, my daughter thou shalt have.” “I promise thee that willingly,” said Kilhwch, “name what thou wilt.” “I will do so,” said he.
“Seest thou yonder vast hill?” “I see it.” “I require that it be rooted up, and that the grubbings be burned for manure on the face of the land, and that it be ploughed and sown in one day, and in one day that the grain ripen. And of that wheat I intend to make food and liquor fit for the wedding of thee and my daughter.
……
“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that it will not be easy.”
“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. I must spread out my hair in order to shave it, and it will never be spread out unless I have the blood of the jet-black sorceress, the daughter of the pure white sorceress, from Pen Nant Govid, on the confines of Hell.”
“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that it will not be easy.”
“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. I will not have the blood unless I have it warm, and no vessels will keep warm the liquid that is put therein except the bottles of Gwyddolwyd Gorr, which preserve the heat of the liquor that is put into them in the east, until they arrive at the west. And he will not give them of his own free will, and thou wilt not be able to compel him.”
……
free will, and thou wilt not be able to compel him.”
“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that it will not be easy.”
“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. Some will desire fresh milk, and it will not be possible to have fresh milk for all, unless we have the bottles of Rhinnon Rhin Barnawd, wherein no liquor ever turns sour. And he will not give them of his own free will, and thou wilt not be able to compel him.”
“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that it will not be easy.”
“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. Throughout the world there is not a comb or scissors with which I can arrange my hair, on account of its rankness, except the comb and scissors that are between the two ears of Twrch Trwyth, the son of Prince Tared. He will not give them of his own free will, and thou wilt not be able to compel him.”
……
h thou mayest think that it will not be easy.”
“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
……
to compel him.”
“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that it will not be easy.”
“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. Difficulties shalt thou meet with, and nights without sleep, in seeking this, and if thou obtain it not, neither shalt thou obtain my daughter.”
“Horses shall I have, and chivalry; and my lord and kinsman Arthur will obtain for me all these things.
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Go forward. And thou shalt not be chargeable for food or raiment for my daughter while thou art seeking these things; and when thou hast compassed all these marvels, thou shalt have my daughter for thy wife.”
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without any trees save one oak sapling, which grew up to be an oak with an hundred branches. And that oak has since perished, so that now nothing remains of it but the withered stump; and from that day to this I have been here, yet have I never heard of the man for whom you inquire. Nevertheless, being an embassy from Arthur, I will be your guide to the place where there is an animal which was formed before I was.”
So they proceeded to the place where was the Owl of Cwm Cawlwyd.
……
And Kaw, of North Britain, mounted Arthur’s mare Llamrei, and was first in the attack. Then Kaw, of North Britain, wielded a mighty axe, and absolutely daring he came valiantly up to the boar, and clave his head in twain. And Kaw took away the tusk. Now the boar was not slain by the dogs that Yspaddaden had mentioned, but by Cavall, Arthur’s own dog.
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Twrch Trwyth went from there to between Tawy and Euyas, and Arthur summoned all Cornwall and Devon unto him, to the estuary of the Severn, and he said to the warriors of this Island, “Twrch Trwyth has slain many of my men, but, by the valour of warriors, while I live he shall not go into Cornwall. And I will not follow him any longer, but I will oppose him life to life.
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first by his feet, and plunged him in the Severn, so that it overwhelmed him.
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natched his razor from him, and Kyledyr Wyllt came up with him on the other side, upon another steed, in the Severn, and took from him the scissors. But before they could obtain the comb, he had regained the ground with his feet, and from the moment that he reached the shore, neither dog, nor man, nor horse could overtake him until he came to Cornwall. If they had had trouble in getting the jewels from him, much more had they in seeking to save the two men from being drowned. Kacmwri, as they drew him forth, was dragged by two millstones into the deep.
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nd his hosts proceeded until they overtook the boar in Cornwall, and the trouble which they had met with before was mere play to what they encountered in seeking the comb. But from one difficulty to another, the comb was at length obtained. And then he was hunted from Cornwall, and driven straight forward into the deep sea. And thenceforth it was never known whither he went; and Aned and Aethlem with him. Then went Arthur to Gelli Wic, in Cornwall, to anoint himself, and to rest from his fatigues.
Said Arthur, “Is there any one of the marvels yet unobtained?” Said one of his men, “There is—the blood of the witch Orddu, the daughter of the witch Orwen, of Pen Nant Govid, on the confines of Hell.”
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Then Kilhwch set forward, and Goreu the son of Custennin with him, and as many as wished ill to Yspaddaden Penkawr. And they took the marvels with them to his court. And Kaw of North Britain came and shaved his beard, skin, and flesh clean off to the very bone from ear to ear. “Art thou shaved, man?” said Kilhwch. “I am shaved,” answered he. “Is thy daughter mine now?” “She is thine,” said he, “but therefore needest thou not thank me, but Arthur who hath accomplished this for thee. By my free will thou shouldest never have had her, for with her I lose my life.” Then Goreu the son of Custennin seized him by the hair of his head, and dragged him after him to the keep, and cut off his head and placed it on a stake on the citadel. Then they took possession of his castle, and of his treasures.
白话直译
逐句对应的现代汉语直译，力求不增益、不修饰。
基利德（Kilydd），王子凯利东（Prince Kelyddon）的儿子，想娶一个妻子作帮手，他选中的妻子是戈莱迪德（Goleuddydd），王子安劳德（Prince Anlawdd）的女儿。他们结合之后，众人祈祷他们能有一个继承人。他们果然因众人的祈祷得了一个儿子。从怀孕的时候起，戈莱迪德就变得狂野，四处游荡，没有住处；但临产的时候，她的神志恢复了。
……养猪人抱起那个男孩，把他带到宫里；他受了洗，众人叫他库尔威奇（Kilhwch），因为他是在猪窝里被发现的。不过这男孩出身高贵，是亚瑟（Arthur）的表亲；他们把他送出去哺养。
这男孩的母亲戈莱迪德病了。她叫丈夫到跟前，对他说：「这场病我会死，你会另娶。妻子是主所赐的，但你若伤害你的儿子就不对了。所以我嘱咐你：在你看见我坟上长出一株开两朵花的荆棘之前，不要娶妻。」他答应了她。此后他每年替她修整坟墓，不让东西长出来。王后死了。国王每天早上派一个侍从去看看坟上有没有长出什么。到第七年年底，那个管事的人疏忽了他对王后许下的诺言。
……
国王看见荆棘之后，就商议该到哪儿去找妻子。一个谋士说：「我知道一个很配你的女人，她是多格德国王（King Doged）的妻子。」他们决定去寻她；他们杀了那个国王，把他的妻子和他妻子的一个女儿带了回来。
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王后就对他说：「我向你宣告：你注定娶不到妻子，除非你得到奥尔温（Olwen），伊斯巴达登·彭卡乌尔（Yspaddaden Penkawr）的女儿。」那年轻人脸红了，那少女的爱意流遍他全身，虽然他从未见过她。他父亲问他：「我儿，你怎么了，有什么难受的？」……
……「不论你求什么恩典，你都会得到，随你的舌头点出什么来。」「你要以天理和你的王国的信义作保。」「我乐意为你作保。」「那么我求你为我得到奥尔温，伊斯巴达登·彭卡乌尔的女儿；这个恩典我也向你的战士们求。」
……
那少女穿着火色丝绸的长袍，颈上是一圈赤金的项圈，上面嵌着珍贵的绿宝石和红玉。……
……凡是看见她的人都被她的爱充满。她踏过的每一处都长出四片白色的三叶草。因此她叫作奥尔温（Olwen，意为「白色的足迹」）……
她进了屋子，坐在最前面的长凳上，坐在库尔威奇身边；他一看见她就认出了她。库尔威奇对她说：「啊，少女，你就是我所爱的人；跟我走吧，免得他们说你我的坏话。我爱你已经很多日子了。」
……「是我，」库尔威奇答道。「我要你保证，你不会对我不公正；等我拿到我点出的东西，你的女儿就归我。」「我乐意向你保证，」库尔威奇说，「你点什么吧。」「那我就说了，」他说。
「你看见那边那座大山了吗？」「我看见了。」「我要它被连根拔起，要那些刨出来的东西被烧成地里的肥料，要它一天之内被耕好、播下种，一天之内谷子成熟。我要用那麦子做出配得上你和我的女儿婚宴的食物和酒。这一切我都要在一天之内做完。」……
……「我要把头发披散开来才能剃它，而除非我有从地狱边界、彭南特戈维德（Pen Nant Govid）来的那黑如墨的巫婆的血，那白如雪的巫婆的女儿的血，它就永远不会披散开。」……
……「就算你拿到这个，还有你拿不到的东西。我要的不是冷血；我若拿到血，除非它是温的。而除了古伊多卢伊德·戈尔（Gwyddolwyd Gorr）的那些瓶子，没有什么器皿能保住倒进去的液体的温度——那些瓶子能把倒进去的酒从东方一路保温到西方。他不会自愿给你，你也逼不了他。」……
……「有人会想要新鲜的奶，而除非我们有里农·林·巴瑙德（Rhinnon Rhin Barnawd）的瓶子——里面的酒从不发酸——就不可能给所有人新鲜奶。他不会自愿给你，你也逼不了他。」……
……「就算你拿到这个，还有你拿不到的东西。全世界没有一把梳子和剪刀能替我理这头发，因为它太粗劣了，只有巨猪特乌尔赫·特鲁维德（Twrch Trwyth）、王子塔雷德（Prince Tared）的儿子两耳之间的那把梳子和剪刀。他不会自愿给你，你也逼不了他。」……
……「就算你拿到这个，还有你拿不到的东西。」……
……「就算你拿到这个，还有你拿不到的东西。寻找这个，你会遇上困难，会有不眠之夜；如果你拿不到它，你也拿不到我的女儿。」……
「我会备下马匹和骑士；我的主上和亲族亚瑟会替我把这一切弄到手。」……
「去吧。你在寻找这些东西期间，不必负担我女儿的吃穿；等你把所有这些奇事都办成了，你就可以娶我的女儿为妻。」……
……「从此以后我一直在这里，却从来没有听说过你们打听的那个人。不过既然你们是亚瑟派来的使团，我愿意给你们领路，去一个在我被造出来之前就存在的活物那里。」……
于是他们去到库姆考尔维德（Cwm Cawlwyd）的猫头鹰那里。
……
……「可是那猎猪并不是被伊斯巴达登提到的那些狗杀死的，而是被卡瓦尔（Cavall）、亚瑟自己的狗杀死的。」……
特乌尔赫·特鲁维德从那里走到塔维（Tawy）与埃乌亚斯（Euyas）之间，亚瑟把整个康沃尔和德文召到他身边，召到塞文河口；他对这座岛的战士们说：「特乌尔赫·特鲁维德已经杀了我许多人，但凭着战士的勇武，只要我活着，它就不能进康沃尔。我不再跟着它走了，我要跟它性命相搏。」……
……他们先抓住它的脚，把它按进塞文河，河水把它淹住了。
……马邦（Mabon）从一侧催马，从他身上夺下剃刀；基莱迪尔·维尔特（Kyledyr Wyllt）骑着另一匹马从另一侧赶到，在塞文河里从它身上夺下剪刀。但等他们去拿梳子的时候，它已经用四只脚重新站到地上……
……他们从它身上取下那些宝物本来就够费劲了，要把那两个人从水里救出来就更费劲。卡克姆里（Kacmwri）被他们往外拉的时候，被两块磨石拖进了深水。……
……他们遇到的麻烦，比起取梳子时遇到的，简直算是玩。不过从一个困难到另一个困难，梳子终于拿到了。此后它被从康沃尔赶出去，一直被赶进深海。从那时起就再也没人知道它去了哪里；阿内德（Aned）和阿埃斯莱姆（Aethlem）跟着它一起去了。然后亚瑟到康沃尔的盖利维克（Gelli Wic）去，给自己敷药，从疲劳中歇息。
亚瑟说：「那些奇事还有没拿到的吗？」他手下的一个人说：「还有——地狱边界彭南特戈维德的巫婆奥尔杜（Orddu）的血，巫婆奥尔温（Orwen）的女儿。」……
然后库尔威奇出发了，库斯滕宁（Custennin）的儿子戈雷乌（Goreu）和他一起，还有所有盼着伊斯巴达登·彭卡乌尔遭殃的人。他们把那些奇物带到他的宫廷。北不列颠的卡乌（Kaw）来替他剃胡须，把胡须、皮、肉从一只耳朵到另一只耳朵一直剃到骨头。「你剃好了吗，人？」库尔威奇说。「我剃好了，」他答道。「你的女儿现在是我的了吗？」「她是你的了，」他说，「但你不必为此谢我，要谢替你办成这件事的亚瑟。按我的意愿，你本永远得不到她，因为有了她我就没了命。」于是库斯滕宁的儿子戈雷乌抓住他头上的头发，把他拖到主楼后面，砍下他的头，插在城堡的桩子上。他们占据了他的城堡和他的财宝。
那天夜里，奥尔温成了库尔威奇的新娘；她一辈子都是他的妻子。亚瑟的人马各自散去，各人回自己的地方。库尔威奇就这样得到了奥尔温，伊斯巴达登·彭卡乌尔的女儿。
AI 重述
以原文为骨架的文学重述。情节与结局依原典，仅语言与叙事视角重写。
他是在猪窝里被找到的，所以众人叫他库尔威奇。母亲死前跟丈夫讲好：坟上不长出开两朵花的荆棘，就不许另娶。第七年年底，看坟的人疏忽了。
新王后有自己的女儿要嫁。她对前妻的儿子说：你注定娶不到妻子，除非你娶到奥尔温，伊斯巴达登·彭卡乌尔的女儿。他还不到娶妻的年纪，也还没有见过她。
父亲说：这容易，亚瑟是你的表亲，去找他剪头发，向他讨这个恩典。
亚瑟收下了他，派使者找了一年，没有找到奥尔温。库尔威奇说：人人都拿到了恩典，只有我还空着手。凯站起来说：跟我们来，得不到她我们就不分开。
库斯滕宁的牧人屋里，牧人的妻子是库尔威奇母亲的姊妹。她哭着劝他们回头：来这里寻奥尔温的人没有一个活着回去过，伊斯巴达登已经杀了她二十三个儿子。凯说：让他跟我做伴，除非我也死，他不会死。
奥尔温每个星期六来这里洗头。她来了，走过的地方长出四片白色的三叶草——她的名字就是这个意思：白色的足迹。库尔威奇说：跟我走吧。她说：我不能，我向父亲起过誓；但他的命只活到我出嫁的时候。去问我父亲，他要什么你就办到什么，就能得到我。
他们不出一点声音杀了九个门卫和九条看门狗。伊斯巴达登叫人把盖住眼睛的眉毛挑起来，他要看看女婿的模样。他连着三天把毒镖掷向他们，贝德维尔、门乌、库尔威奇各自接住掷了回去。他一面喊疼，一面报账：把那边那座大山连根拔起，一天之内耕好、下种、收割；九斗亚麻织成女儿头上的白巾；比处女蜂群的蜜还甜九倍的蜜；卢伊尔的器皿装酒、格维德纽的篮子盛肉、泰尔图的竖琴自己吹弹、迪乌尔纳赫的大锅煮肉；伊斯基瑟温的野猪獠牙要活着从它头上拔下来；还要巨猪特乌尔赫·特鲁维德两耳之间的那把梳子和剪刀。每报一件，他就说：就算你拿到这个，还有你拿不到的东西。
拿到梳子和剪刀的路最长。他们先追另一头猪伊斯基瑟温，卡乌抡斧把它劈成两半，取下獠牙；接着要找马邦——他三夜大时就被从母亲身边带走，没有人知道他在哪里。他们一路问到鲑鱼背上，才找到被关在格洛斯特城墙下的马邦，又把巨猪从爱尔兰赶过塞文河。在河口，马邦和基莱迪尔从两边下水，夺下剃刀和剪刀；等他们去拿梳子，它已经四脚着地跑回康沃尔。往外拉人的时候，卡克姆里被两块磨石拖进深水，奥斯莱的刀连鞘灌了水，也被坠了下去。追到康沃尔，梳子到手；巨猪被赶进深海，从此没有人知道它去了哪里。
还差女巫的血。他们北上到彭南特戈维德的洞窟，亚瑟劈了巫婆，卡乌取了血。库尔威奇带这些奇物回到伊斯巴达登的宫廷，卡乌替他剃胡须，从一只耳朵到另一只耳朵剃到骨头。库尔威奇问：你的女儿现在归我了吗？巨人说：归你了；但你不要谢我，要谢替你办成这一切的亚瑟——按我的意愿，你永远得不到她，因为有了她我就没了命。戈雷乌砍下他的头，插在桩子上。那一夜，奥尔温成了库尔威奇的新娘。
按语
编纂者就该条所见母题、异文与流传所作的说明。
母题定位与「贴合度」的老实话。 本条挂 H02「远征与寻宝」。按 content/tales/ 下真实的 front matter，H02 此前只有三条，分别是 qx-0060 吉尔伽美什与不死草（美索不达米亚）、qx-0077 伊阿宋与金羊毛（希腊）、qx-0087 珀尔修斯斩美杜莎（希腊）；本条为 H02 补上第三个文化圈（凯尔特）。但必须直说：本条与 H02 的定义并不严丝合缝，属邻接而不完全同型。H02 的骨架是「为取回一件不死之物、灵药或圣器而远行，历关闯隘，同伴多半折损途中」；库尔威奇远行的直接目标不是一件宝物，而是娶到奥尔温这个活人。把「巨猪两耳之间的梳子与剪刀」当成那件宝物，只能算勉强的对应——它在整份条件单里只是倒数第二项，前面还有一座要连根拔起的大山、九斗亚麻、九倍甜的蜜、会自动弹奏的竖琴和一口爱尔兰的大锅。真正与 H02 严丝合缝的是追猎巨猪特乌尔赫·特鲁维德这一段：为了一件从不可能处取得的东西，亚瑟带着全岛的人和狗，从爱尔兰一路追到塞维尔河口、再追到康沃尔，同伴在河里溺死、在路上被杀。也就是说，本条可以读成「一个婚姻的外壳，里面装着一场 H02 式的远征」。我在下面把两种读法都摆出来，请酌情考虑是否给 H02 加一条 usage_note：库尔威奇是「宝物只是中间关卡，真正要交付的是一桩婚姻」。
H02 的第四种走向。 与三条旧条目对读，走向各不相同。qx-0060：不死草到手，回程被蛇靠气味找到吞掉，始终没有进埃雷克，宝物对人无效，账由他自己哭——宝物落空，写的是人的限度。qx-0077：金羊毛到手并交了出去，代价却落在美狄亚身上，她背叛父亲、杀弟弟、最后杀自己的孩子——宝物到手，用掉了一个人。qx-0087：首级到手、带回、而且反复调用，菲纽斯与他的同谋被石化，最后它交给雅典娜嵌进盾里继续留在神的手上——宝物到手，且被叙事继续调用。本条若成立，是第四种：宝物只是中间关卡。梳子和剪刀拿到手之后，叙事并没有停——它们被拿去给伊斯巴达登剃须，剃完胡须之后巨人仍然要被杀，婚事才算成。换句话说，前面三条的终点是「宝物的下落」，本条的终点是「一场婚礼加上一具尸首」。
同伴的折损（以译文为准）。 H02 定义里「同伴多半折损途中」在本篇有直接对应，且是逐条点名的：牧人的妻子说伊斯巴达登已经杀了她二十三个儿子（「Three-and-twenty of my sons has Yspaddaden Penkawr slain」）；特乌尔赫一路走一路杀人，译文点名的有埃赫尔·福德维特维尔（Echel Forddwytwll）、格威利的儿子加尔维利（Garwyli）、泰提翁的儿子马达乌克（Madawc）、特林加德的儿子格温（Gwyn）、埃伊尔亚温·彭洛劳（Eiryawn Penllorau）、基南的儿子基弗拉斯（Kyflas）、法兰西国王格维伦欣（Gwilenhin）、亚瑟的总匠人格威利丁·萨尔（Gwlydyn Saer）；在阿莫里卡，它杀了阿莫里卡国王希尔佩绍格（Hirpeissawg）、阿瑟的舅父利加特鲁德·埃米斯（Llygatrudd Emys）与格沃博苏（Gwrbothu），而卢伊道格·戈维尼阿德（Llwydawg Govynnyad）自己也死在那里。追到塞文河口时，亚瑟的仆役卡克姆里（Kacmwri）被两块磨石拖进深水溺死，奥斯莱·基莱尔瓦乌尔（Osla Kyllellvawr）因为刀鞘灌水被坠下去溺死。最后那头巨猪冲进深海，阿内德与阿埃斯莱姆跟着它一起失踪。此外，库尔威奇那一方也付出代价：牧人的二十三个儿子是这场婚事的前账，卡乌替巨人剃须、戈雷乌替库尔威奇砍头，才把账结清。
文本问题。 本篇是《马比诺吉昂》里最长的一篇，也最接近「清单式」：大量人名、任务与奇物被罗列，许多段落是可以独立抽取的清单单元。学界一般认为它成篇晚于四支（四支指《马比诺吉昂》四个相关联的故事），并且吸收了大量民间清单与英雄名录，因此它的「文学性」与四支不在一个层面上。格斯特（Lady Charlotte Guest，后署 Schreiber）1838—1845 年的英译是这一篇最早的完整英译，也是今天公版可用的那一本；她的译文后来被更精确的译本取代（如 Patrick Ford、Sioned Davies 的译本），用词与断句都有差别，本条只能代表格斯特本。另须如实说明两点：其一，上文说「约四十件」是流传的说法，格斯特译文本身没有给出任何确切数字——文本里从头到尾没有一句话统计过条件总数；译文里反复出现的是同一句式「Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get」以及巨人的回答「It will be easy for me to compass this」，所以条件是一条一条报出来的，不是按数目给出的。本条因此不写具体件数，只按译文用「一条一条报账」来描述。其二，格斯特本把巨人写作 Yspaddaden、主角写作 Kilhwch，都是旧式拼法；现代译本通行的拼法是 Ysbaddaden 与 Culhwch。照录原文层时一仍格斯特本，不改拼法。
与凯尔特圈内两条对勘。 qx-0094 布洛德维德与 qx-0095 马思的侄子三年变形都出自第四支〈马思之子马思〉，本条出自另一篇，但同属《马比诺吉昂》的同一套人物与法术世界。差别在难题的来源与去向：马思那一支里，难题（造一个花做的妻子、判决三年兽形）由审判者自己发落，人物在族谱之内受罚、期满回归；本条里难题由巨人开给女婿，条件全部办成之后，发条件的人反而被砍了头。一个法杖判刑、刑期有到期日；一个开口要价、价付清了便杀掉债主。这两条合起来看，凯尔特这一支的「不可能之事」往往是契约性的：它有明确的条款、有第三方（亚瑟）来履约、也有违约的后果（得不到女儿，甚至保不住性命）。希腊那两条（qx-0077、qx-0087）的难题多由神谕与神意安排，美索不达米亚那一条（qx-0060）根本没有人开价，英雄是自己去找的。有没有一个开价的对手，是 H02 这几条之间最实在的一条分界线。