Notes on the Mabinogion (A)

(Originally Written September 11, 2009 in the Journal)

I think it might have been a mistake to move from the language rich work of Virgil to a compiling of Welsh folklore in The Mabinogion. Jeffery Gantz, the translator, even mentions the rough around the edges stuff in the introduction. But, as it is mythology and of a pseudohistorical nature I'm sure I'll enjoy it - though maybe not as much as The Aeneid.

Pwyll Lord of Dyved

Further Reading for Comparison : The Wasting Sickness of Cu Chulaind

Pwyll, a king, is asked by Arawn, a king of the otherworld, to defeat another otherworld king in battle to secure friendship. He does so and forms an alliance.

Pwyll then meets a woman in a vision named Rhiannon. Rhiannon requests that Pwyll marry her so that she does not have to wed a man she does not wish to. During a feast Pwyll gives his word to Gwawl, son of Clud to grant him his wish. Unfortunately, Gwawl is the man Rhiannon is to marry and because of chivalry Pwyll agrees to the terms. Meanwhile Pwyll and Rhiannon devise a plan to trick Gwawl out of his marriage rite, which succeeds.

Pwyll and Rhiannon are married but produce no heir. Pwyll's friends call Pwyll to take another wife but he asks for one more year's time. Rhiannon bears a son within the year but the child mysteriously disappears. The maidens to Rhiannon devise a scheme to kill a foal and put it in the room and blame Rhiannon for killing her own son. Rhiannon is punished. Meanwhile, Teirnon, a former man of Pwyll, has a great horse. But every time the horse gives birth its foal disappears. This time Teirnon watches over the foal and a giant eagle claw comes and smothers it up.

Tiernon cuts off the claw and saves the foal. Tiernon then finds a boy and gives it to his wife. They name the boy Gwri Golden Hair. They raise him and he grows up to be supernaturally strong. One day Tiernon hears of the punishment of Rhiannon and looks at Gwri and realizes it is the son of his friend Pwyll. They take Gwri to Pwyll and Rhiannon where they rename him Pryderi. Pwyll dies and Pryderi becomes king and rules justly and expands the territory.

Branwen, Daughter of Llyr

Lord Mallolwch, King of Ireland, came to Wales to seek an alliance with Bran, King of the Island of the Mighty. Mallolwch sought the hand of Branwen, daughter of Llyr. Bran agreed and there was a feast.

Evnissyens, the brother of Branwen was outraged at his sister being married off without his permission so he disfigured Mallolwch's horses, thus insulting him. Mallolwch set out for vengeance but Bran appeased him with gifts, including a magic cauldron. This magic cauldron was a gift from a giant to Bran. When a man died he could be placed in the cauldron and boiled. The next day he would be alive again, but could not speak.

Mallolwch left with his bride for Ireland. She bore him a son named Gwern. After a year Mallolwch's men mocked him for the insult on the horses until he could take no more and disgraced Branwen, sister of Evnissyen. Branwen trained a bird to carry a letter to her other brother Bran, the king of the Island of the Mighty telling of her disgrace.

Bran armed his men and went to Ireland. Bran was a giant and laid across a river so his men could pass. When the Irish saw this they tried to appease the army.

The built Bran a house, which because of his size, he had never had a house big enough for him. In the house hid 200 Irish warriors, but Evnissyen squeezed their heads until they died. There was a feast where Gwern, son of Mallolwch and Branwen met Bran. Bran received the boy well, but Evnissyen through the boy in the fire.

A battle began and the Irish kept respawning every night until Evnissyen, saddened by the grief he caused sacrificed himself and destroyed the cauldron. At the end of the battle all the Irish had been killed except for five pregnant women. Only seven of the Island of the Mighty survived.

Bran, as he was dying, prophesied to his men, ordering them to cut off his head and bury it in London. When the men returned to England, Branwen died of a broken heart at the grief she had caused both islands. The men eventually came to London where they learned another king had taken rule. They buried the head of Bran and so long as it was buried there, there were no plagues in England.