The Mabinogion (Welsh pronunciation: [mabɪˈnɔɡjɔn]) is the title given to a collection of eleven stories collated from medieval Welsh manuscripts. The saga draws on pre-Christian Celtic mythology, legends, themes, and early medieval historical behaviour. While some details may curve back to older Iron Age traditions, each of these tales is the product of a amply developed medieval Welsh narrative tradition, both oral and written.
* Pwyll Pendefig Dyfed (Pwyll, Prince of Dyfed)
* Branwen Ferch Llŷr (Branwen, Daughter of Llŷr)
* Manawydan Fab Llŷr (Manawydan, son of Llŷr)
* Math Fab Mathonwy (Math, son of Mathonwy)
* Breuddwyd Macsen Wledig (The Dream of Macsen Wledig)
* Lludd a Llefelys (Lludd and Llefelys)
* Culhwch ac Olwen (Culhwch and Olwen)
* Breuddwyd Rhonabwy (The Dream of Rhonabwy)
* Hanes Taliesin (The Tale of Taliesin)
* Owain, neu Iarlles y Ffynnon (Owain, or the Lady of the Fountain)
* Peredur fab Efrog (Peredur, son of Efrawg)
* Geraint ac Enid (Geraint and Enid)
Pwyll Pendefig Dyfed
The first branch tells of how Pwyll, the prince of Dyfed is out hunting a stag when he setsupon Arawn ruler of Annwn who had previously targeted the stag. To make up for it Pwell exchanges places for a year with Arawn, the ruler of Annwn, defeats Arawn's enemy Hafgan and on his return encounters Rhiannon, a beautiful maiden whose ambling horse cannot be caught.
He manages to win her hand at the expense of Gwawl, to whom she is betrothed. He does so by using a magic bag that can never be filled in which he traps Gwawl. His men beat Gwawl while he is in the bag.
Rhiannon bears Pwyll a son but the child disappears the night he is born. Rhiannon is accused of killing him and forced to carry guests on her back as punishment.
But the child had been taken by a monster and is rescued by Teyrnon and his wife who bring him up as their own, calling him Gwri Golden Hair, until his resemblance to Pwyll becomes apparent.
They return him to his real parents, Rhiannon is released from her punishment and the boy is renamed Pryderi.
Branwen Ferch Llŷr
In the second branch, Branwen, sister of Bendigeidfrân (meaning Bran the Blessed), king of Britain, is given in marriage to Matholwch, king of Ireland.
Branwen's half-brother Efnisien, angry that he was not consulted, insults Matholwch by mutilating his horses but Bendigeidfrân gives him compensation in the form of new horses and treasure, including a magical cauldron which can restore the dead to life.
After returning to Ireland Matholwch and Branwen have a son, Gwern, but Efnisien's insult continues to rankle among the Irish and Branwen is banished to the kitchen and beaten every day.
Branwen trains a starling to take a message to Bendigeidfrân, who goes to war against Matholwch. His army crosses the Irish Sea in ships, but Bendigeidfrân is so huge he wades across.
The Irish offer to make peace and build a house big enough to entertain Bendigeidfrân but hang a hundred bags inside, supposedly containing flour but actually containing armed warriors.
Efnisien, suspecting a trick, reconnoitres the hall and kills the warriors by crushing their heads inside the bags. Later, at the feast, Efnisien, again feeling insulted, throws Gwern on the fire and fighting breaks out.
Seeing that the Irish are using the cauldron to revive their dead, Efnisien hides among the corpses and destroys the cauldron, although the effort costs him his life.
Only seven men, all Welsh, survive the battle, including Pryderi, Manawydan and Bendigeidfrân, who is mortally wounded by a poisoned spear.
Bendigeidfrân asks his companions to cut off his head and take it back to Britain where it continues to live for sometime as they partake of an enchanted feast.
Branwen dies of grief on returning home.
Five pregnant women survive to repopulate Ireland.
Manawydan Fab Llŷr
Pryderi and Manawydan return to Dyfed, where Pryderi is reunited with his wife Cigfa and Manawydan marries Rhiannon (Pryderi's mother from the First Branch).
However, a magical mist descends on the land, leaving it empty of all domesticated animals and humans apart from the four protagonists.
They stay in Dyfed and support themselves by hunting at first, then move to England where they make a living making saddles, shields and shoes of such quality that the local craftsmen cannot compete and drive them from town to town.
Eventually they return to Dyfed and become hunters again. While they are hunting a white boar leads Pryderi and Manawydan to a mysterious castle.
Pryderi, against Manawydan's advice, goes inside but does not return. Rhiannon goes to investigate and finds Pryderi clinging to a bowl, unable to speak. The same fate befalls her and the castle disappears.
Manawydan and Cigfa return to England as shoemakers, but once again the locals drive them out and they return to Dyfed.
They sow three fields of wheat but the first field is destroyed before it can be harvested. The next night the second field is destroyed. Manawydan keeps watch over the third field and when he sees it destroyed by mice he catches one and decides to hang it the next day.
A scholar, a priest and a bishop in turn offer him gifts if he will spare the mouse but he refuses. When asked what he wants in return for the mouse's life he demands the release of Pryderi and Rhiannon and the lifting of the enchantment over Dyfed.
The bishop agrees because the mouse is in fact his wife. He reveals that his name is Llwyd son of Cil Coed and that he caused the enchantment on Dyfed in revenge for the insult against his friend Gwawl, whom Pwyll, Pryderi's father, humiliated in the First Branch.
Math Fab Mathonwy
While Pryderi rules Dyfed in south Wales, Gwynedd in north Wales is ruled by Math, son of Mathonwy, whose feet must be held by a virgin at all times except while he is at war.
Math's nephew Gilfaethwy is in love with Goewin, the current footholder, and Gilfaethwy's brother Gwydion tricks Math into going to war against Pryderi so Gilfaethwy can have access to her.
Gwydion kills Pryderi in single combat and Gilfaethwy rapes Goewin.
Math marries Goewin in compensation for her rape and banishes Gwydion and Gilfaethwy, transforming them into a breeding pair of deer, then pigs, then wolves.
After three years they are restored to human form and return.
Math needs a new footholder and Gwydion suggests his sister Aranrhod but when Math magically tests her virginity, she gives birth to two sons.
One son Dylan, immediately takes to the sea. The other is raised by Gwydion but Aranrhod swears that he will never have a name or arms unless she gives them to him, which she refuses to do.
Gwydion tricks her into naming him Lleu Llaw Gyffes (Bright Skilful Hand) and giving him arms.
Aranrhod then swears he will never have a wife of any race living on earth so Gwydion and Math make him a beautiful wife from oak, broom, and meadowsweet, naming her Blodeuwedd (Flower Face).
Blodeuwedd falls in love with a passing hunter called Gronw Bebyr and they plot to kill Lleu.
Blodeuwedd tricks Lleu into revealing the means by which he can be killed but, when Gronw attempts to do the deed, Lleu escapes, though wounded, transformed into an eagle.
Gwydion finds Lleu, transforms him back into human form and turns Blodeuwedd into an owl.
Gronw offers to compensate Lleu but Lleu insists on returning the blow that was struck against him. He kills Gronw with his spear, which is thrown so hard it pierces him through a stone behind which he is hiding.
Breuddwyd Macsen Wledig
Macsen Wledig, the Emperor of Rome, dreams one night of a lovely maiden in a wonderful, far-off land.
Awakening, he sends his men all over the earth in search of her.
With much difficulty they find her in a rich castle in Wales, daughter of a chieftain based at Segontium (Caernarfon), and lead the Emperor to her.
Everything he finds is exactly as in his dream.
The maiden, whose name is Elen, accepts and loves him. Because Elen is found a virgin, Macsen gives her father sovereignty over the island of Britain and orders three castles built for his bride.
In Macsen's absence, a new emperor seizes power and warns him not to return.
With the help of men from Britain led by Elen's brother Kynan Meriadoc. Macsen marches across Gaul and Italy and recaptures Rome.
In gratitude to his British allies, Macsen rewards them with a portion of Gaul that becomes known as Brittany.
Lludd a Llefelys
The story begins as Lludd inherits the kingship of Britain from his father, Beli. Soon after, he helps his brother Llefelys marry the princess of France and become king of that country.
Though Lludd's reign starts off auspiciously. He founds "Caer Lludd", later to become London.
Before long three plagues disrupt the peace. The first plague is a race known as the Coraniaid, who come to Britain and cannot be forced out, as their hearing is so good that they can hear anything the wind catches. The second plague is a horrid scream that comes every May Day and causes all pregnant women in Britain to miscarry. The third plague involves disappearing provisions.
No matter how much Lludd may put in his stores, it will have vanished over the course of the night. Lludd takes his fleet to France to ask his brother's advice.
With the aid of a brass horn that prevents the Coraniaid from hearing their conversation, Llefelys offers solutions to each plague.
The Coraniaid, he reveals, can be killed by a mixture made from a certain insect. This mixture is harmless to the Britons, so Lludd must convene a meeting of both groups and throw the mixture over everyone, thereby destroying the invaders.
The second plague is caused by a dragon that is embroiled in combat with a foreign dragon. Lludd must set a trap for them at the exact center of the island, put them to sleep with mead, and then bury them underground in a stone chest.
The third plague is caused by a "mighty magician", who casts a spell to make the whole court fall asleep while he raids their stores. Lludd must confront him, keeping himself awake with a vat of cold water.
Lludd returns home to Britain. He destroys the Coraniaid with the insect mixture and confines the dragons at Dinas Emrys. Finally he fights the "mighty magician", who submits to him to become his loyal servant.
Culhwch ac Olwen
Culhwch's father, King Cilydd son of Celyddon, loses his wife Goleuddydd after a difficult childbirth.
When he remarries, the young Culhwch rejects his stepmother's attempt to pair him with his new stepsister.
Offended, the new queen puts a curse on him so that he can marry no one besides the beautiful Olwen, daughter of the giant Ysbaddaden Pencawr.
Though he has never seen Olwen, Culhwch becomes infatuated with her, but his father warns him that he will never find her without the aid of his famous cousin Arthur.
The young man immediately sets off to seek his kinsman. He finds him at his court in Celliwig in Cornwall (this is one of the earliest instances in literature or oral tradition of Arthur's court being assigned a specific location and a valuable source of comparison with the court as depicted in later Welsh, English and continental Arthurian legends).
Arthur agrees to help, and sends six of his finest warriors (Cai, Bedwyr, Gwalchmei, Gwrhyr Gwalstawd Ieithoedd, Menw son of Tairgwaedd and Cynddylig Gyfarwydd) to join Culhwch in his search for Olwen.
The group meets some relatives of Culhwch's that know Olwen and agree to arrange a meeting.
Olwen is receptive to Culhwch's attraction, but she cannot marry him unless her father agrees, and he, unable to survive past his daughter's wedding, will not consent until Culhwch completes a series of about forty impossible-sounding tasks.
Fortunately for Culhwch (and the reader), the completion of only a few of these tasks is recorded and the giant is killed, leaving Olwen free to marry her lover.
Breuddwyd Rhonabwy
The frame story tells that Madog sends Rhonabwy and two companions to find the prince's rebellious brother Iorwerth.
One night during the pursuit they seek shelter with Heilyn the Red, but find his house filthy and his beds full of fleas.
Lying down on a yellow ox-skin, Rhonabwy experiences a vision of Arthur and his time.
Serving as his guide is one of Arthur's followers, Iddawg the Churn of Britain, so called because he sparked the Battle of Camlann when he distorted the king's messages of peace he was supposed to deliver to the enemy Medrawd (Mordred).
Iddawg introduces Rhonabwy and his friends to Arthur, who regrets that Wales has been inherited by such tiny men.
Iddawg reveals that Arthur's men are assembled to meet the Saxons at the Battle of Mount Badon.
However, Arthur is more concerned with a game of gwyddbwyll (a chess-like board game) he is playing against his follower Owain mab Urien (Ywain).
While they play, messengers arrive declaring that Arthur's squires are attacking Owain's ravens. When Owain asks that this be stopped Arthur only responds, "your move."
Finally Owain orders his ravens to attack Arthur's servants. When Arthur asks him to call them off, Owain says "your move, lord."
Eventually Arthur crushes the chess pieces into dust, and the two declare peace between their forces.
After this the Saxons send a contingent asking for a truce, which Arthur grants after consulting his advisors. Cai declares that any who wish to follow Arthur should come to Cornwall.
The noise of the troops moving wakes Rhonabwy, who realizes he has slept for three days.
Hanes Taliesin
Taliesin began life as Gwion Bach, a servant to the enchantress Ceridwen. Ceridwen had a beautiful daughter and an ugly son named Avagddu, whose appearance no magic could cure.
Ceridwen sought to give him the gift of wisdom as compensation and cooked a potion granting inspiration, which had to be constantly stirred and cooked for a year and a day.
A blind man named Morda tended the fire beneath the cauldron, while Gwion Bach stirred.
The first three drops of liquid from this cauldron would give wisdom; the rest was a fatal poison. Three hot drops spilled onto Gwion's thumb as he stirred, and he instinctively put his thumb in his mouth, instantly gaining wisdom and knowledge.
The first thought that occurred to him was that Ceridwen would kill him, so he ran away.
All too soon he heard her fury and the sound of her pursuit. He turned himself into a hare on the land and she became a greyhound. He turned himself into a fish and jumped into a river: she then turned into an otter. He turned into a bird in the air, and in response she became a hawk.
Exhausted, he turned into a single grain of corn and she became a hen and ate him. She became pregnant.
She resolved to kill the child, knowing it was Gwion, but when he was born he was so beautiful that she couldn't, so she threw him in the ocean in a leather bag.
The baby was found by Elffin, the son of Gwyddno Garanhir, 'Lord of Ceredigion', while fishing for salmon.
Surprised at the whiteness of the boy's brow, he exclaimed "dyma Dal Iesin", meaning "this is a radiant brow." Taliesin, thus named, began to recite beautiful poetry, saying:
Amazed, Elffin asked how a baby could talk. Again Taliesin replied with poetry:
A few years later, when Taliesin turned thirteen, Elffin was at the court of King Maelgwn Gwynedd, claiming Taliesin was a better bard and that his wife a better woman than anyone the king had in his court.
Maelgwn's son Rhun went to Elffin's house to seduce his wife and prove Elffin's claims weren't true.
Rhun got her drunk and tried to take off her wedding ring to prove her unfaithfulness.
But Elffin was unconvinced.
Maelgwn then demanded Taliesin prove the claim that he was a better bard than the ones in his court.
Taliesin then prophesied the king's downfall in a flood of stanzas, while the king's bards could only play with their lips and make baby noises. Elffin was released from the prison into which he had been cast.
Owain, neu Iarlles y Ffynnon
Owain mab Urien shows up at Arthur’s weary from travel. Arthur finds the young man so charming that he can’t resist brushing the young mans hair while listening to Owain’s tales of knighthood. Then Owain talks of the legendary knight who guards the fountain.
Owain and Arthur fall asleep after they have breakfast Owain decides to go looking for the magical fountain and it’s cherished prize.
And journeying along the valley by the side of the river, he followed its course till he came to the plain and within sight of the Castle. When he approached the Castle, he saw the youths shooting their daggers in the place where Kynon had seen them, and the yellow man, to whom the Castle belonged, standing hard by. And no sooner had Owain saluted the yellow man than he was saluted by him in return.
And he went forward towards the Castle, and there he saw the chamber, and when he had entered the chamber he beheld the maidens working at satin embroidery, in chairs of gold. And their beauty and their comeliness seemed to Owain far greater than Kynon had represented to him. And they arose to wait upon Owain, as they had done to Kynon, and the meal which they set before him gave more satisfaction to Owain than it had done to Kynon.
About the middle of the repast, the yellow man asked Owain the object of his journey. And Owain made it known to him, and said, "I am in quest of the Knight who guards the fountain."
The next day Qwain sets off again to the fountain and find it. Guarding it is the fearsome Black Knight. Owain makes to greet the Black Knight, but the Black Night charges forward and they fight. They fight so hard that both of their lances break. Then the Black Knight receives a mortal blow and flees.
Owain wounded himself stumbles toward the castle where he happened upon Luned who helps him to get to the castle. Owain rests up and the next day sees out the window a funeral for the lord of the castle.
Luned is supposed to take a message to King Arthur but instead she sneaks off with Owain.
Owain is assigned to guard the fountain as he killed the previous guard and Lord of the castle.
Arthur’s men one by one catch wind of the tale of the Fearsome Black Knight, and one by one challenge the Black knight not knowing it is now Owain and thinking Owain dead. Owain has no choice but to defend the fountain.
Owain wins the battles but manages to talk to King Arthur who invites Owain back to his castle and thence forward Owain dwelt at Arthur's Court greatly beloved, as the head of his household, until he went away with his followers.
His followers being an army of three hundred ravens which Kenverchyn had left him. And wherever Owain went with the ravens he was victorious.
Peredur fab Efrog
Peredur’s father dies when he is young, and his mother takes him into the woods and raises him in isolation. Eventually he meets a group of knights and determines to become like them, so he travels to King Arthur's court.
There he is ridiculed by Cai and sets out on further adventures, promising to avenge Cai's insults to himself and those who defended him.
While travelling he meets two of his uncles, the first plays the role of Percival's Gornemant and educates him in arms and warns him not to ask the significance of what he sees. The second uncle reveals a salver containing a man's severed head.
The young knight does not ask about this and proceeds to further adventure, including a stay with the Nine Witches of Gloucester (Caer Loyw) and the encounter with the woman who was to be his true love, Angharad Golden-Hand.
Peredur returns to Arthur's court, but soon embarks on another series of adventures.
Eventually the hero learns the severed head at his uncle's court belonged to his cousin, who had been killed by the Nine Witches of Gloucester.
Peredur avenges his family, and is celebrated as a hero.
Geraint ac Enid
Geraint, son of King Erbin of Dumnonia, courts Enid. The couple marry and settle down together, but rumours spread that Geraint has gone soft.
Upset about this, Enid cries to herself that she is not a true wife for keeping her husband from his chivalric duties, but Geraint misunderstands her comment to mean she has been unfaithful to him.
He makes her join him on a long and dangerous trip and commands her not to speak to him. Enid disregards this command several times to warn her husband of danger.
Several adventures follow that prove Enid's love and Geraint's fighting ability. The couple is happily reconciled in the end, and Geraint inherits his father's kingdom.
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* Pwyll Pendefig Dyfed (Pwyll, Prince of Dyfed)
* Branwen Ferch Llŷr (Branwen, Daughter of Llŷr)
* Manawydan Fab Llŷr (Manawydan, son of Llŷr)
* Math Fab Mathonwy (Math, son of Mathonwy)
* Breuddwyd Macsen Wledig (The Dream of Macsen Wledig)
* Lludd a Llefelys (Lludd and Llefelys)
* Culhwch ac Olwen (Culhwch and Olwen)
* Breuddwyd Rhonabwy (The Dream of Rhonabwy)
* Hanes Taliesin (The Tale of Taliesin)
* Owain, neu Iarlles y Ffynnon (Owain, or the Lady of the Fountain)
* Peredur fab Efrog (Peredur, son of Efrawg)
* Geraint ac Enid (Geraint and Enid)
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Pwyll Pendefig Dyfed
The first branch tells of how Pwyll, the prince of Dyfed is out hunting a stag when he setsupon Arawn ruler of Annwn who had previously targeted the stag. To make up for it Pwell exchanges places for a year with Arawn, the ruler of Annwn, defeats Arawn's enemy Hafgan and on his return encounters Rhiannon, a beautiful maiden whose ambling horse cannot be caught.
He manages to win her hand at the expense of Gwawl, to whom she is betrothed. He does so by using a magic bag that can never be filled in which he traps Gwawl. His men beat Gwawl while he is in the bag.
Rhiannon bears Pwyll a son but the child disappears the night he is born. Rhiannon is accused of killing him and forced to carry guests on her back as punishment.
But the child had been taken by a monster and is rescued by Teyrnon and his wife who bring him up as their own, calling him Gwri Golden Hair, until his resemblance to Pwyll becomes apparent.
They return him to his real parents, Rhiannon is released from her punishment and the boy is renamed Pryderi.
Branwen Ferch Llŷr
In the second branch, Branwen, sister of Bendigeidfrân (meaning Bran the Blessed), king of Britain, is given in marriage to Matholwch, king of Ireland.
Branwen's half-brother Efnisien, angry that he was not consulted, insults Matholwch by mutilating his horses but Bendigeidfrân gives him compensation in the form of new horses and treasure, including a magical cauldron which can restore the dead to life.
After returning to Ireland Matholwch and Branwen have a son, Gwern, but Efnisien's insult continues to rankle among the Irish and Branwen is banished to the kitchen and beaten every day.
Branwen trains a starling to take a message to Bendigeidfrân, who goes to war against Matholwch. His army crosses the Irish Sea in ships, but Bendigeidfrân is so huge he wades across.
The Irish offer to make peace and build a house big enough to entertain Bendigeidfrân but hang a hundred bags inside, supposedly containing flour but actually containing armed warriors.
Efnisien, suspecting a trick, reconnoitres the hall and kills the warriors by crushing their heads inside the bags. Later, at the feast, Efnisien, again feeling insulted, throws Gwern on the fire and fighting breaks out.
Seeing that the Irish are using the cauldron to revive their dead, Efnisien hides among the corpses and destroys the cauldron, although the effort costs him his life.
Only seven men, all Welsh, survive the battle, including Pryderi, Manawydan and Bendigeidfrân, who is mortally wounded by a poisoned spear.
Bendigeidfrân asks his companions to cut off his head and take it back to Britain where it continues to live for sometime as they partake of an enchanted feast.
Branwen dies of grief on returning home.
Five pregnant women survive to repopulate Ireland.
Manawydan Fab Llŷr
Pryderi and Manawydan return to Dyfed, where Pryderi is reunited with his wife Cigfa and Manawydan marries Rhiannon (Pryderi's mother from the First Branch).
However, a magical mist descends on the land, leaving it empty of all domesticated animals and humans apart from the four protagonists.
They stay in Dyfed and support themselves by hunting at first, then move to England where they make a living making saddles, shields and shoes of such quality that the local craftsmen cannot compete and drive them from town to town.
Eventually they return to Dyfed and become hunters again. While they are hunting a white boar leads Pryderi and Manawydan to a mysterious castle.
Pryderi, against Manawydan's advice, goes inside but does not return. Rhiannon goes to investigate and finds Pryderi clinging to a bowl, unable to speak. The same fate befalls her and the castle disappears.
Manawydan and Cigfa return to England as shoemakers, but once again the locals drive them out and they return to Dyfed.
They sow three fields of wheat but the first field is destroyed before it can be harvested. The next night the second field is destroyed. Manawydan keeps watch over the third field and when he sees it destroyed by mice he catches one and decides to hang it the next day.
A scholar, a priest and a bishop in turn offer him gifts if he will spare the mouse but he refuses. When asked what he wants in return for the mouse's life he demands the release of Pryderi and Rhiannon and the lifting of the enchantment over Dyfed.
The bishop agrees because the mouse is in fact his wife. He reveals that his name is Llwyd son of Cil Coed and that he caused the enchantment on Dyfed in revenge for the insult against his friend Gwawl, whom Pwyll, Pryderi's father, humiliated in the First Branch.
Math Fab Mathonwy
While Pryderi rules Dyfed in south Wales, Gwynedd in north Wales is ruled by Math, son of Mathonwy, whose feet must be held by a virgin at all times except while he is at war.
Math's nephew Gilfaethwy is in love with Goewin, the current footholder, and Gilfaethwy's brother Gwydion tricks Math into going to war against Pryderi so Gilfaethwy can have access to her.
Gwydion kills Pryderi in single combat and Gilfaethwy rapes Goewin.
Math marries Goewin in compensation for her rape and banishes Gwydion and Gilfaethwy, transforming them into a breeding pair of deer, then pigs, then wolves.
After three years they are restored to human form and return.
Math needs a new footholder and Gwydion suggests his sister Aranrhod but when Math magically tests her virginity, she gives birth to two sons.
One son Dylan, immediately takes to the sea. The other is raised by Gwydion but Aranrhod swears that he will never have a name or arms unless she gives them to him, which she refuses to do.
Gwydion tricks her into naming him Lleu Llaw Gyffes (Bright Skilful Hand) and giving him arms.
Aranrhod then swears he will never have a wife of any race living on earth so Gwydion and Math make him a beautiful wife from oak, broom, and meadowsweet, naming her Blodeuwedd (Flower Face).
Blodeuwedd falls in love with a passing hunter called Gronw Bebyr and they plot to kill Lleu.
Blodeuwedd tricks Lleu into revealing the means by which he can be killed but, when Gronw attempts to do the deed, Lleu escapes, though wounded, transformed into an eagle.
Gwydion finds Lleu, transforms him back into human form and turns Blodeuwedd into an owl.
Gronw offers to compensate Lleu but Lleu insists on returning the blow that was struck against him. He kills Gronw with his spear, which is thrown so hard it pierces him through a stone behind which he is hiding.
Breuddwyd Macsen Wledig
Macsen Wledig, the Emperor of Rome, dreams one night of a lovely maiden in a wonderful, far-off land.
Awakening, he sends his men all over the earth in search of her.
With much difficulty they find her in a rich castle in Wales, daughter of a chieftain based at Segontium (Caernarfon), and lead the Emperor to her.
Everything he finds is exactly as in his dream.
The maiden, whose name is Elen, accepts and loves him. Because Elen is found a virgin, Macsen gives her father sovereignty over the island of Britain and orders three castles built for his bride.
In Macsen's absence, a new emperor seizes power and warns him not to return.
With the help of men from Britain led by Elen's brother Kynan Meriadoc. Macsen marches across Gaul and Italy and recaptures Rome.
In gratitude to his British allies, Macsen rewards them with a portion of Gaul that becomes known as Brittany.
Lludd a Llefelys
The story begins as Lludd inherits the kingship of Britain from his father, Beli. Soon after, he helps his brother Llefelys marry the princess of France and become king of that country.
Though Lludd's reign starts off auspiciously. He founds "Caer Lludd", later to become London.
Before long three plagues disrupt the peace. The first plague is a race known as the Coraniaid, who come to Britain and cannot be forced out, as their hearing is so good that they can hear anything the wind catches. The second plague is a horrid scream that comes every May Day and causes all pregnant women in Britain to miscarry. The third plague involves disappearing provisions.
No matter how much Lludd may put in his stores, it will have vanished over the course of the night. Lludd takes his fleet to France to ask his brother's advice.
With the aid of a brass horn that prevents the Coraniaid from hearing their conversation, Llefelys offers solutions to each plague.
The Coraniaid, he reveals, can be killed by a mixture made from a certain insect. This mixture is harmless to the Britons, so Lludd must convene a meeting of both groups and throw the mixture over everyone, thereby destroying the invaders.
The second plague is caused by a dragon that is embroiled in combat with a foreign dragon. Lludd must set a trap for them at the exact center of the island, put them to sleep with mead, and then bury them underground in a stone chest.
The third plague is caused by a "mighty magician", who casts a spell to make the whole court fall asleep while he raids their stores. Lludd must confront him, keeping himself awake with a vat of cold water.
Lludd returns home to Britain. He destroys the Coraniaid with the insect mixture and confines the dragons at Dinas Emrys. Finally he fights the "mighty magician", who submits to him to become his loyal servant.
Culhwch ac Olwen
Culhwch's father, King Cilydd son of Celyddon, loses his wife Goleuddydd after a difficult childbirth.
When he remarries, the young Culhwch rejects his stepmother's attempt to pair him with his new stepsister.
Offended, the new queen puts a curse on him so that he can marry no one besides the beautiful Olwen, daughter of the giant Ysbaddaden Pencawr.
Though he has never seen Olwen, Culhwch becomes infatuated with her, but his father warns him that he will never find her without the aid of his famous cousin Arthur.
The young man immediately sets off to seek his kinsman. He finds him at his court in Celliwig in Cornwall (this is one of the earliest instances in literature or oral tradition of Arthur's court being assigned a specific location and a valuable source of comparison with the court as depicted in later Welsh, English and continental Arthurian legends).
Arthur agrees to help, and sends six of his finest warriors (Cai, Bedwyr, Gwalchmei, Gwrhyr Gwalstawd Ieithoedd, Menw son of Tairgwaedd and Cynddylig Gyfarwydd) to join Culhwch in his search for Olwen.
The group meets some relatives of Culhwch's that know Olwen and agree to arrange a meeting.
Olwen is receptive to Culhwch's attraction, but she cannot marry him unless her father agrees, and he, unable to survive past his daughter's wedding, will not consent until Culhwch completes a series of about forty impossible-sounding tasks.
Fortunately for Culhwch (and the reader), the completion of only a few of these tasks is recorded and the giant is killed, leaving Olwen free to marry her lover.
Breuddwyd Rhonabwy
The frame story tells that Madog sends Rhonabwy and two companions to find the prince's rebellious brother Iorwerth.
One night during the pursuit they seek shelter with Heilyn the Red, but find his house filthy and his beds full of fleas.
Lying down on a yellow ox-skin, Rhonabwy experiences a vision of Arthur and his time.
Serving as his guide is one of Arthur's followers, Iddawg the Churn of Britain, so called because he sparked the Battle of Camlann when he distorted the king's messages of peace he was supposed to deliver to the enemy Medrawd (Mordred).
Iddawg introduces Rhonabwy and his friends to Arthur, who regrets that Wales has been inherited by such tiny men.
Iddawg reveals that Arthur's men are assembled to meet the Saxons at the Battle of Mount Badon.
However, Arthur is more concerned with a game of gwyddbwyll (a chess-like board game) he is playing against his follower Owain mab Urien (Ywain).
While they play, messengers arrive declaring that Arthur's squires are attacking Owain's ravens. When Owain asks that this be stopped Arthur only responds, "your move."
Finally Owain orders his ravens to attack Arthur's servants. When Arthur asks him to call them off, Owain says "your move, lord."
Eventually Arthur crushes the chess pieces into dust, and the two declare peace between their forces.
After this the Saxons send a contingent asking for a truce, which Arthur grants after consulting his advisors. Cai declares that any who wish to follow Arthur should come to Cornwall.
The noise of the troops moving wakes Rhonabwy, who realizes he has slept for three days.
Hanes Taliesin
Taliesin began life as Gwion Bach, a servant to the enchantress Ceridwen. Ceridwen had a beautiful daughter and an ugly son named Avagddu, whose appearance no magic could cure.
Ceridwen sought to give him the gift of wisdom as compensation and cooked a potion granting inspiration, which had to be constantly stirred and cooked for a year and a day.
A blind man named Morda tended the fire beneath the cauldron, while Gwion Bach stirred.
The first three drops of liquid from this cauldron would give wisdom; the rest was a fatal poison. Three hot drops spilled onto Gwion's thumb as he stirred, and he instinctively put his thumb in his mouth, instantly gaining wisdom and knowledge.
The first thought that occurred to him was that Ceridwen would kill him, so he ran away.
All too soon he heard her fury and the sound of her pursuit. He turned himself into a hare on the land and she became a greyhound. He turned himself into a fish and jumped into a river: she then turned into an otter. He turned into a bird in the air, and in response she became a hawk.
Exhausted, he turned into a single grain of corn and she became a hen and ate him. She became pregnant.
She resolved to kill the child, knowing it was Gwion, but when he was born he was so beautiful that she couldn't, so she threw him in the ocean in a leather bag.
The baby was found by Elffin, the son of Gwyddno Garanhir, 'Lord of Ceredigion', while fishing for salmon.
Surprised at the whiteness of the boy's brow, he exclaimed "dyma Dal Iesin", meaning "this is a radiant brow." Taliesin, thus named, began to recite beautiful poetry, saying:
“Fair Elffin, cease your lament!
Though I am weak and small,
On the wave crest of the surging sea,
I shall be better for you
Than three hundred shares of salmon.
Though I am weak and small,
On the wave crest of the surging sea,
I shall be better for you
Than three hundred shares of salmon.
Elffin of noble generosity,
Do not sorrow at your catch.
Though I am weak on the floor of my basket,
There are wonders on my tongue.''
Do not sorrow at your catch.
Though I am weak on the floor of my basket,
There are wonders on my tongue.''
Amazed, Elffin asked how a baby could talk. Again Taliesin replied with poetry:
"Floating like a boat in its waters,
I was thrown into a dark bag,
and on an endless sea, I was set adrift.
Just as I was suffocating, I had a happy omen,
and the master of the Heavens brought me to liberty."
I was thrown into a dark bag,
and on an endless sea, I was set adrift.
Just as I was suffocating, I had a happy omen,
and the master of the Heavens brought me to liberty."
A few years later, when Taliesin turned thirteen, Elffin was at the court of King Maelgwn Gwynedd, claiming Taliesin was a better bard and that his wife a better woman than anyone the king had in his court.
Maelgwn's son Rhun went to Elffin's house to seduce his wife and prove Elffin's claims weren't true.
Rhun got her drunk and tried to take off her wedding ring to prove her unfaithfulness.
But Elffin was unconvinced.
Maelgwn then demanded Taliesin prove the claim that he was a better bard than the ones in his court.
Taliesin then prophesied the king's downfall in a flood of stanzas, while the king's bards could only play with their lips and make baby noises. Elffin was released from the prison into which he had been cast.
Owain, neu Iarlles y Ffynnon
Owain mab Urien shows up at Arthur’s weary from travel. Arthur finds the young man so charming that he can’t resist brushing the young mans hair while listening to Owain’s tales of knighthood. Then Owain talks of the legendary knight who guards the fountain.
Owain and Arthur fall asleep after they have breakfast Owain decides to go looking for the magical fountain and it’s cherished prize.
And journeying along the valley by the side of the river, he followed its course till he came to the plain and within sight of the Castle. When he approached the Castle, he saw the youths shooting their daggers in the place where Kynon had seen them, and the yellow man, to whom the Castle belonged, standing hard by. And no sooner had Owain saluted the yellow man than he was saluted by him in return.
And he went forward towards the Castle, and there he saw the chamber, and when he had entered the chamber he beheld the maidens working at satin embroidery, in chairs of gold. And their beauty and their comeliness seemed to Owain far greater than Kynon had represented to him. And they arose to wait upon Owain, as they had done to Kynon, and the meal which they set before him gave more satisfaction to Owain than it had done to Kynon.
About the middle of the repast, the yellow man asked Owain the object of his journey. And Owain made it known to him, and said, "I am in quest of the Knight who guards the fountain."
The next day Qwain sets off again to the fountain and find it. Guarding it is the fearsome Black Knight. Owain makes to greet the Black Knight, but the Black Night charges forward and they fight. They fight so hard that both of their lances break. Then the Black Knight receives a mortal blow and flees.
Owain wounded himself stumbles toward the castle where he happened upon Luned who helps him to get to the castle. Owain rests up and the next day sees out the window a funeral for the lord of the castle.
Luned is supposed to take a message to King Arthur but instead she sneaks off with Owain.
Owain is assigned to guard the fountain as he killed the previous guard and Lord of the castle.
Arthur’s men one by one catch wind of the tale of the Fearsome Black Knight, and one by one challenge the Black knight not knowing it is now Owain and thinking Owain dead. Owain has no choice but to defend the fountain.
Owain wins the battles but manages to talk to King Arthur who invites Owain back to his castle and thence forward Owain dwelt at Arthur's Court greatly beloved, as the head of his household, until he went away with his followers.
His followers being an army of three hundred ravens which Kenverchyn had left him. And wherever Owain went with the ravens he was victorious.
Peredur fab Efrog
Peredur’s father dies when he is young, and his mother takes him into the woods and raises him in isolation. Eventually he meets a group of knights and determines to become like them, so he travels to King Arthur's court.
There he is ridiculed by Cai and sets out on further adventures, promising to avenge Cai's insults to himself and those who defended him.
While travelling he meets two of his uncles, the first plays the role of Percival's Gornemant and educates him in arms and warns him not to ask the significance of what he sees. The second uncle reveals a salver containing a man's severed head.
The young knight does not ask about this and proceeds to further adventure, including a stay with the Nine Witches of Gloucester (Caer Loyw) and the encounter with the woman who was to be his true love, Angharad Golden-Hand.
Peredur returns to Arthur's court, but soon embarks on another series of adventures.
Eventually the hero learns the severed head at his uncle's court belonged to his cousin, who had been killed by the Nine Witches of Gloucester.
Peredur avenges his family, and is celebrated as a hero.
Geraint ac Enid
Geraint, son of King Erbin of Dumnonia, courts Enid. The couple marry and settle down together, but rumours spread that Geraint has gone soft.
Upset about this, Enid cries to herself that she is not a true wife for keeping her husband from his chivalric duties, but Geraint misunderstands her comment to mean she has been unfaithful to him.
He makes her join him on a long and dangerous trip and commands her not to speak to him. Enid disregards this command several times to warn her husband of danger.
Several adventures follow that prove Enid's love and Geraint's fighting ability. The couple is happily reconciled in the end, and Geraint inherits his father's kingdom.
