[10] [Pronounced in two syllables "Kil-hooch," the oo sound prolonged or drawled and the ch very guttural as in the vigorous utterance of Scotch loch, German ach, etc. So "Twrch Trwyth" like Toorch Trooweth.]
[11] A wonderful bracing air seems to blow through this description. The superb details make up really a typic picture of youth in all times and countries.
[12] "Creiddylad" is the old Welsh name out of which the English tongue has made "Cordelia;" and this lady is no other than the loving daughter of King Lear. Lear's name in the Welsh originals lying far back beyond Shakspere's play is sometimes "Llyr" (as in "Manawyddan, the son of Llyr," who gives name to one of the Mabinogion), and sometimes, as here, "Lludd Llaw Ereint."
[13] It would be the grossest injustice to the tongue and the memory of our astounding Kilhwch not to mention carefully at this point that the names of Arthur's warriors and attendants which I have here given form but a small portion of the truly surprising list which he actually pours forth in the original story, as he stands before the king. These amount to more than two hundred; and there is no risk whatever in saying that the resources of the English alphabet have never met with a like strain as in the reproduction of them presented by Lady Guest. "Uchtryd Ardywad Kad," and "Gwrhyr Gwarthegvras," and "Esgeir Gulhwch Govynkawn," and "Drustwrn Hayarn," and "Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr," and "Lloch Llawwynnyawc," may serve as examples. Kihwch recites most of these without comment. I have selected those, but not all, to which he adds some parenthetic description. I have given them, too, in a different order from that of the original.
[14] See the story of Nynniaw and Peibiaw in the Introduction.
[15] This "Peredur" is the Welsh original of "Sir Percival" who figures so finely in the search for the Sangreal along with Sir Galahad and the rest.
[16] And the plot now becomes the artful contrivance by which Gwydion brings about that Arianrod names the boy in spite of herself, with other similar achievements.
[17] It is from this tale that Tennyson drew the incidents of his poem upon Geraint and Enid.
[18] "Gwalchmai," as before stated, is the "Sir Gawaine" of Malory's King Arthur.
[19] We have already become acquainted with Cavall at the hunting of the great boar in "Kilhwch and Olwen."