Английская Википедия:Four Branches of the Mabinogi

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The Four Branches of the Mabinogi or Шаблон:Lang are the earliest prose stories in the literature of Britain. Originally written in Wales in Middle Welsh, but widely available in translations, the Шаблон:Lang is generally agreed to be a single work in four parts, or "branches." The interrelated tales can be read as mythology, political themes, romances, or magical fantasies. They appeal to a wide range of readers, from young children to the most sophisticated adult. The tales are popular today in book format, as storytelling or theatre performances; they appear in recordings and on film, and continue to inspire many reinterpretations in artwork and modern fiction.

Overview

The Шаблон:Lang are known as the Four Branches of the Шаблон:Lang, or Шаблон:Lang in Welsh. The tales were compiled from oral tradition in the 11th century. They survived in private family libraries via medieval manuscripts, of which two main versions and some fragments continue to survive today. Early modern scholarship of the Шаблон:Lang saw the tales as a garbled Welsh mythology which prompted attempts to salvage or reconstruct them. Since the 1970s the tales have become recognised as a complex secular literature, though rooted in and containing elements of Welsh Mythology, with powerfully explored characters, political, ethical and gendered themes, as well as imaginative fantasies. The style of writing is admired for its deceptive simplicity and controlled wordpower, as well as intricate doublets where mirrorings have been compared to Celtic knotwork. The world displayed within the Шаблон:Lang extends across Wales, to Ireland, and into England. It presents a legendary Britain as a united land under a king, yet with powerful separate princedoms, where native Welsh law, Шаблон:Lang (magic), and romance, combine in a unique synergy. Possible authors who have been proposed for the Four Branches include Шаблон:Lang and Шаблон:Lang.

Each Branch contains several tale episodes in a sequence, and each Branch is titled with the name of a leading protagonist. These titles are Шаблон:Lang and Шаблон:Lang, but this is a modern custom; the Branches are not titled in the mediaeval manuscripts. Only one character appears in all four Branches, Шаблон:Lang, though he is never dominant or central to any of the Branches.

• Шаблон:Lang Prince of Шаблон:Lang tells of the heroic and magical sojourn of Шаблон:Lang in Шаблон:Lang, his shapeshifting, chastity and a duel, which all establish a mighty alliance. The formidable Шаблон:Lang courts him, and he helps her win her freedom to marry him. The strange abduction at birth of their baby son follows, with his rescue, fostering and restoration by the good lord Шаблон:Lang of the Kingdom of Gwent. The child is named Шаблон:Lang.
• Шаблон:Lang Daughter of Шаблон:Lang follows Шаблон:Lang's marriage to the King of Ireland, who abuses her due to insult by her half brother, Шаблон:Lang. A tragically genocidal war develops fomented by Шаблон:Lang, in which a Cauldron which resurrects the dead figures, and the giant king Bran's head survives his death in an enchanted idyll. Шаблон:Lang is merely named as a war survivor, and Шаблон:Lang dies, heartbroken.
• Шаблон:Lang Son of Шаблон:Lang brother of Шаблон:Lang, heir to the throne of Britain, becomes Шаблон:Lang's good friend during the war. Шаблон:Lang arranges his friend's marriage to Шаблон:Lang. The land of Шаблон:Lang is devastated. Journeys in England setting up craft businesses follow. An enchanted trap removes Шаблон:Lang and Шаблон:Lang becomes a farmer. He cannily negotiates their release, as well as the restoration of the land, by confronting the villain behind it all.
• Шаблон:Lang Son of Шаблон:Lang is a dark sequence of deception and treachery: war with Шаблон:Lang, the death of Шаблон:Lang, the double rape of a virgin girl, and the rejection of an unwanted hero son by proud Шаблон:Lang her magician brother is the architect of all these destinies. He adds an artificially incubated pregnancy, and a synthetic woman. She, Шаблон:Lang, creates a treacherous love triangle, murder in a peculiar manner. Шаблон:Lang makes a shamanic journey of redemption.

The Branches

First branch: Шаблон:Lang, Prince of Шаблон:Lang

Шаблон:Main Шаблон:Lang, "Шаблон:Lang Prince of Шаблон:Lang", hunting on his own land, meets the shining Шаблон:Lang or "Hounds of Шаблон:Lang", and takes another man's kill, a stag, for himself. Шаблон:Lang, the king of Шаблон:Lang, is greatly offended. As recompense, Шаблон:Lang switches bodies with Шаблон:Lang and dwells in Шаблон:Lang to vanquish Шаблон:Lang's adversary. Шаблон:Lang chastely shares the queen's bed for a year. Шаблон:Lang defeats Шаблон:Lang's enemy Шаблон:Lang, and is then rewarded with an alliance between his land of Шаблон:Lang, and Шаблон:Lang then returns home to Шаблон:Lang where he finds it has been well ruled by Шаблон:Lang in the past year.

Next, Шаблон:Lang encounters Шаблон:Lang, a beautiful and powerful maiden on a shining magical horse. They are strangely unreachable by anyone, for as they attempt to approach, Шаблон:Lang and her horse get further away. Finally, they ask her to stop in which she complies and it is revealed that Шаблон:Lang has chosen Шаблон:Lang as her husband, which he welcomes. On Шаблон:Lang and Шаблон:Lang's wedding day in the court of Шаблон:Lang appears in disguise and tricks Шаблон:Lang into giving him the entire wedding feast and Шаблон:Lang then guides Шаблон:Lang through a cunning strategy using her magic bag which can never be filled, to extricate her from her betrothal to the princely Шаблон:Lang is trapped in the bag and beaten by Шаблон:Lang's men until he agrees to Шаблон:Lang's terms, including foregoing vengeance.

Шаблон:Lang eventually bears Шаблон:Lang a son and heir, but the child disappears the night he is born. Шаблон:Lang's maids, in fear of their lives, accuse her of killing and eating her own baby. Шаблон:Lang negotiates a penalty where she must sit at the castle gate every day for seven years telling her terrible tale to strangers and offer them a ride on her back. Meanwhile, the child is rescued from its monstrous abductor by Шаблон:Lang. He and his wife adopt the boy who grows heroically apace, and adores horses. They called him Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang 'Golden Hair', Шаблон:Lang-cy). Шаблон:Lang sees the boy's resemblance to Шаблон:Lang, so he restores the boy to Шаблон:Lang for a happy ending. Шаблон:Lang is vindicated as is Шаблон:Lang's loyalty to her. Their son is renamed Шаблон:Lang "Loss", as is custom from his mother's first words to him: Шаблон:Lang puns on anxiety and labour. In due course, Шаблон:Lang inherits the rule of Шаблон:Lang.

Second Branch: Шаблон:Lang, Daughter of Шаблон:Lang

In the second branch, Шаблон:Lang, sister of Brân the Blessed, king of Britain, is requested by and given in marriage to Шаблон:Lang, king of Ireland. Шаблон:Lang's half-brother Шаблон:Lang, angered that no one consulted him, insults Шаблон:Lang by mutilating all his valuable horses so horribly they become useless. Шаблон:Lang the Blessed gives Шаблон:Lang compensation in the form of new horses and treasure, then added a magical cauldron (Шаблон:Lang-cy) which can restore the dead to life, although the revived persons will always remain unable to speak. The legend of this cauldron, when the two kings compare its lore, is that it came from Ireland.

In Ireland, Шаблон:Lang and Шаблон:Lang have a son, Шаблон:Lang. The Irish nobles continue to be hostile because of what Шаблон:Lang did. Шаблон:Lang allows them to sway him, and casts Шаблон:Lang away to serf in the kitchens, struck on the face every day by a low-caste butcher. Шаблон:Lang trains a starling to take a message to Шаблон:Lang across the Irish Sea. He musters his host and crosses the sea to war on Шаблон:Lang is so huge he wades across with his ships beside him. Шаблон:Lang persuades the Irish to sue for peace by building a colossal building to house Шаблон:Lang, which he has never had before.

The Irish hide two hundred warriors in the house, hanging in bags on its pillars. Шаблон:Lang shrewdly suspects treachery and disbelieves the Irish story these are bags of flour. He crushes the skull of each hidden warrior, singing after he does it. Later, at the feast, Шаблон:Lang deliberately seeks to create discord. He throws his infant nephew Шаблон:Lang on the fire and kills him. Fighting breaks out and the Irish use the Cauldron to revive their dead. Шаблон:Lang hides among the corpses to get in the Cauldron, stretches and cracks it, dying as he does so.

The war had become a genocide. Five pregnant women survive to repopulate Ireland. Only Seven Survivors remained of the British host, besides Шаблон:Lang. One is Шаблон:Lang's other brother, and his good friend Шаблон:Lang, mortally wounded by a poisoned spear, bids the survivors to cut off his head, and take it to bury at the White Tower in London. He prophesies his head will be their good companion and advise them, while they will sojourn for many years of idyllic feasting, first at Шаблон:Lang in Шаблон:Lang, then on the isle of Шаблон:Lang in Шаблон:Lang. But on arriving back in Britain, Шаблон:Lang dies of grief for the many who have died.

Шаблон:Lang means 'raven'; Шаблон:Lang means 'white raven'; and Шаблон:Lang means 'trouble, strife'.

Third Branch: Шаблон:Lang, son of Шаблон:Lang

Шаблон:Lang of Шаблон:Lang returns from the Irish War as one of its few survivors, to reunite with his mother Шаблон:Lang, and his wife Шаблон:Lang. He brings with him his beloved war comrade, Шаблон:Lang, the heir to the kingship of all Britain. But Шаблон:Lang's rights as heir to Britain have been usurped by Шаблон:Lang, and he does not want more war. Шаблон:Lang establishes him as the lord of Шаблон:Lang, including marriage to Шаблон:Lang, a union which both partners welcome. The four of them, Шаблон:Lang and her new husband Шаблон:Lang, become very good friends indeed, and travel the land of Шаблон:Lang admiring how bountiful it is.

Together they sit the Шаблон:Lang, as Шаблон:Lang once did. A clap of thunder, a bright light, and magical mist descend. Afterwards the land is devastated of all other life except wild animals. The four live by hunting, but after two years they want more, so they travel to England. In three towns in turn they craft saddles, shields and shoes of such quality that the local craftsmen cannot compete, so their envy becomes dangerous. Шаблон:Lang dislikes the lower class way of life, and Шаблон:Lang stops him from fighting their enemies. Instead Шаблон:Lang insists on moving away. After three attempts like this, they return to Шаблон:Lang.

Once more living as hunters Шаблон:Lang and Шаблон:Lang follow a shining white boar to a strange castle. Шаблон:Lang, against Шаблон:Lang's advice, follows his hounds inside to become trapped there by a golden bowl. Шаблон:Lang waits, then reports to Шаблон:Lang who rebukes his failure to rescue his friend. But when she follows her son she too becomes trapped. Alone with Шаблон:Lang reassures her he will respect her virtue. After another attempt in England as shoemakers, the pair return to Шаблон:Lang, and Шаблон:Lang farms three fields of wheat next to Шаблон:Lang. But his first field's harvest is cut down by thieves, and his second. He sits vigil at night, and sees a horde of mice eating the ripe corn. He catches a slow, fat one. Against Шаблон:Lang's protest he sets up a miniature gibbet to hang it as a thief.

A scholar, a priest and a bishop in turn offer him money if he will spare the mouse which he refuses. When asked what he wants for the mouse's life he first demands an explanation. The bishop tells him he is Шаблон:Lang, friend of the wronged Шаблон:Lang, the mouse is Шаблон:Lang's shapeshiften wife, and the devastation of Шаблон:Lang is to avenge Шаблон:Lang bargains to release of Шаблон:Lang and Шаблон:Lang, and the lifting of the curse on Шаблон:Lang.

Fourth Branch: Шаблон:Lang, son of Шаблон:Lang

Шаблон:Main Шаблон:Lang in North Wales is ruled by the magician king Шаблон:Lang, whose feet must be held by a virgin at all times except while he is at war. Шаблон:Lang's nephew Шаблон:Lang is infatuated with Шаблон:Lang, the royal maiden foot-holder, so Шаблон:Lang's brother Шаблон:Lang plots to aid him. He deceives Шаблон:Lang of Шаблон:Lang with magical sham gifts of horses and dogs, in exchange for Шаблон:Lang's valuable swine, a gift from Шаблон:Lang makes war in revenge, so Шаблон:Lang leaves Шаблон:Lang without his protection. Шаблон:Lang and Шаблон:Lang rape her, and Шаблон:Lang kills Шаблон:Lang in single combat. Шаблон:Lang marries Шаблон:Lang in compensation for her rape. He punishes the two brothers by shapeshifting them into animal pairs who must mate and bear young; first deer, then boars, then wolves. The sons they bear become Шаблон:Lang's foster sons, and after three years the brothers are reconciled with Шаблон:Lang.

Шаблон:Lang suggests his sister Шаблон:Lang as the new footholder. Шаблон:Lang magically tests her virginity requiring her to step over his wand. She immediately gives birth to a son, Шаблон:Lang, who takes to the sea. She also drops a scrap of life which Шаблон:Lang scoops up and incubates in a chest by his bed. Шаблон:Lang is deeply shamed and angered so she utterly rejects the boy. She swears a doom upon him that he cannot have a name, nor warrior arms, unless she gives them to him. Шаблон:Lang tricks her into naming the boy Шаблон:Lang (Bright Skillful Hand) by speaking to him, not knowing who he is as he is shapeshifted. More shapeshifting fakes a military attack so Шаблон:Lang gives them arms - dressing and arming Шаблон:Lang herself.

Шаблон:Lang's third curse is Шаблон:Lang may not marry a human woman. Шаблон:Lang and Шаблон:Lang construct a beautiful wife for him from oak blossom, broom flowers, and meadowsweet, naming her Шаблон:Lang (Flower Face). But Шаблон:Lang and Шаблон:Lang fall deeply in love. Шаблон:Lang tells her to find out the secret of Шаблон:Lang's protected life, which she does in the trust of her marriage bed. She begs Шаблон:Lang to explain so she can know how to protect him. The method is complicated, taking a year of almost impossible effort but Шаблон:Lang completes it and Шаблон:Lang falls to his spear, transforms into an eagle and departs. Шаблон:Lang and Шаблон:Lang then live together.

Шаблон:Lang pursues a quest to find Шаблон:Lang, who far away in eagle form perches up a tree, dying. Шаблон:Lang tracks a sow which he finds eating maggots falling from Шаблон:Lang's rotting body. Шаблон:Lang sings a magical Шаблон:Lang (poem) gradually bringing Шаблон:Lang back to humanity. Шаблон:Lang offers to compensate Шаблон:Lang; but Шаблон:Lang insists on returning the blow as it was struck against him. Шаблон:Lang is cowardly and attempts to evade it using a stone shield. Шаблон:Lang kills Шаблон:Lang with his spear, which pierces him through the stone. Шаблон:Lang punishes Шаблон:Lang by transforming her into an owl, a pariah among birds.

See also

• Mabinogion, a larger collection of British/Welsh medieval literary tales

Resources

Introductory

• ONLINE - FREE translation in English, a page for each Branch, by Will Parker. Includes footnotes.
• BOOK John Bollard's edition in English, 'Legend and Landscape of Wales: The Mabinogi' 2007. Illustrated with photographs of the sites in the tales. (See Translations)
• BOOK Sioned Davies translation 'The Mabinogion' 2008. (See Translations)
• VIDEO Cybi. (1996) The Mabinogion. Partly free on YouTube, fuller version of the retelling on DVD, by Cybi the laughing monk. Valley Stream.
• RECORDING Jones, Colin. 2008. “Mabinogion, the Four Branches.” Recordings of the Guest text, with background music. The first episode is free on the site.
• Ifor Williams, 'Pedeir Keinc y Mabinogi, Allan o Lyfr Gwyn Rhydderch' 1930, 1951. In Welsh. Scanned at online.
• Tales from the Mabinogion, trans. Gwyn Thomas. Illustrated by Margaret Jones. 2006.

Key Resources for Study

• Morgain, Shan. (2013) The Mabinogi Bibliography. Comprehensive annotated bibliography, searchable on tags; can derive citations. Includes much material on the wider Mabinogion, and some background context e.g. history, language.
• Parker, Will. (2002) “Bibliographic Essay. The Four Branches of the Mabinogi, A Medieval Celtic Text; English Language Scholarship 1795-1997.” Mabinogi.net. A survey of Mabinogi scholarship from the 19thC to the end of the 20thC.
• Parker, Will. (2003) Annotated translation of the Four Branches. Mabinogi.net. Translations made for his book (Parker, Will. (2005) The Four Branches of the Mabinogi. Dublin: Bardic Press. See www.mabinogi.net for Parker's articles.

Welsh sources

For the Welsh text in Middle Welsh spelling see Williams, Ifor. (1930, 1951). Pedeir Keinc y Mabinogi. Allan o Lyfr Gwyn Rhydderch. CUP. Classic text for modern students, and Welsh speakers, based on all the surviving MSS. This was the first modern use of the title Pedair Keinc y Mabinogi.

For the Welsh text in modernised spelling see J. M. Edwards, Mabinogion (o Lyfr Coch Hergest): Pwyll, Pendefig Dyfed, Branwen Ferch Llyr, Manawyddan fab Llyr, Math fab Mathonwy (Wrecsam: Hughes A'i Fab, 1921)

The Four Branches are edited individually in Middle Welsh with English glossary and notes as follows:

• First Branch: R. L. Thomson, Pwyll Pendeuic Dyuet. Dublin: Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 1957.
• Second Branch: D. S. Thomson, Branwen Uerch Lyr. Dublin: Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 1976.
• Third Branch: Patrick K. Ford, Manawydan uab Llyr. Belmont, Mass.: Ford and Bailie, 2000.
• Fourth Branch: Patrick K. Ford, Math uab Mathonwy. Belmont, Mass.: Ford and Bailie, 1999.
• For the Middle Welsh text closely copied from the mediaeval manuscripts (diplomatic editions) see: Rhys, John; and Evans, John Gwenogvryn. 1907,1973, 2010. The White Book of the Mabinogion: Welsh Tales and Romances Reproduced from the Peniarth Manuscripts. Series of Welsh Texts 7. Pwllheli. Also Evans transcript of the Llyfr Coch 1887.

The three mediaeval manuscripts which have survived into modern times, were scribed in the 13th and 14th centuries, later than the compilation period of the work in the 11th century. The text in all three does not greatly differ, but it is thought that they are not copies of each other, but of lost earlier originals. The oldest is only a fragment; Peniarth 6, c. 1225; containing parts of the Second and Third Branches. The other two are named by the colour of their covers: LLyfr Gwyn ("White Book") and Llyfr Coch ("Red Book").

The oldest complete version is the "White Book of Rhydderch" (Llyfr Gwyn Rhydderch), one of the Peniarth Manuscripts. It was scribed c. 1350 by five different writers, probably commissioned by Ieuan ab Rhydderch ab Ieuan Llwyd near Ceredigion. It was then copied and studied by various Welsh scholars. About 1658, it was acquired by the antiquary Robert Vaughan and preserved in his famous library of Hengwrt near Dolgellau, Gwynedd. In 1859 it was passed to the Peniarth library by William Watkin Edward Wynne. Finally, John Williams presented it to the National Library of Wales in 1904, where it can be viewed today in two volumes.

The second complete version which has survived is the "Red Book of Hergest" (Llyfr Coch Hergest). The scribing was c. 1382–1410, in a time of unrest culminating in Owain Glyndŵr's uprising. The scribe has been identified as Hywel Fychan fab Hywel Goch of Buellt, who worked for Hopcyn ap Tomas ab Einion (fl. 1337–1408) near Swansea. The Hopcyn library changed hands due to war and politics several times, with owners including the Vaughans of Hergest. The MS. wandered on, sometimes slightly dubiously via 'borrowing'. Edward Lhuyd is one of many who copied it to study. In 1701 it was donated to Jesus College Oxford where it remains today. Here it was copied by the young Ioan Tegid when a student at University of Oxford c. 1815-17 for Charles Bosanquet. Later Tegid, as a senior bard and scholar, assisted Lady Charlotte Guest in her bilingual publication series, The Mabinogion, which brought the tales to the modern world. Her volume containing the Mabinogi was published in 1845, and her work is still popular today.

Welsh Icons United a 2014 exhibition at the National Library of Wales, guested the Llyfr Coch, the Red Book, as part of its display; thus bringing the two main Mabinogi MSS. under one roof for the first time. (12 October – 15 March 2014)

Translations into English

• Pughe, William Owen. 1795. “The Mabinogion, or Juvenile Amusements, Being Ancient Welsh Romances.” Cambrian Register, 177–87. First publication, and English trans. of the first story in the First Branch. Also: Pughe, William Owen. 1829. “The Mabinogi: Or, the Romance of Math Ab Mathonwy.” The Cambrian Quarterly Magazine and Celtic Repository 1: 170–79. English trans. of the First Branch.
• Guest, Charlotte; aka Charlotte Schreiber, trans. and editor. The Mabinogion. (1845 part of a series, bilingual; 1849 part of 3 vols bilingual; 1877 one vol. English only.) Llandovery, Wales; and London; simultaneously. Guest's trans. continue to introduce many to the stories today in her characteristically flowing style.
• Ellis, Thomas Peter., and Lloyd, John; trans. (1929) The Mabinogion: A New Translation by T.P. Ellis and John Lloyd. Oxford: Clarendon Press. An accurate and useful edition for students.
• Jones, Gwyn and Thomas Jones; trans. (1949) The Mabinogion. Everyman's Library, 1949; revised 1974, 1989, 1993. The first major edition to supplant Guest.
  • 2001 Edition, (Preface by John Updike), Шаблон:ISBN.
• Gantz, Jeffrey; trans. (1976) The Mabinogion. London and New York: Penguin Books. Шаблон:ISBN. A popular edition for many years, still very readable pocket edition.
• Ford, Patrick K. ; trans. (1977)The Mabinogi and Other Medieval Welsh Tales. Berkeley: University of California Press. Шаблон:ISBN. Focuses on the native tales of the Mabinogion, including the Mabinogi.
• Parker, Will. 2003. “Mabinogi Translations." Very useful free online resource for instant access, and quick checks.
• Bollard, John K. trans, and Griffiths, Anthony; photog. (2006) The Mabinogi: Legend and Landscape of Wales. Gomer Press, Llandysul. Шаблон:ISBN. An excellent introduction, clear, beautifully designed, with photographs of the Mabinogi sites today.
• Davies, Sioned. (2007) The Mabinogion. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Шаблон:ISBN. A modern edition in practical format, backed by solid scholarship.
• J. R. R. Tolkien began work on a translation of Pwyll Prince of Dyfed. His translation is held at the Bodleian Library.

Modern Interpretations

• Walton, Evangeline. "The Mabinogion Tetralogy." Prose retelling. "The Island of the Mighty" 1970, first publ. as "The Virgin and the Swine" 1936; "The Children of Llyr" 1971; "The Song of Rhiannon" 1972; "Prince of Annwn" 1974. As a tetralogy New York: Ballantine Books. Шаблон:ISBN.
• Cybi. (1996) The Mabinogion. Partly free on YouTube and a fuller version of the retelling on DVD, by Cybi the laughing monk. Valley Stream. A lovely intro.
• Hayes, Derek W. (2007). Otherworld. S4C / BBC Wales. Animation and video with leading musicians and actors, using cutting edge CGI tech. of the time, an impressive work. See artwork on the site.
• Arberth Studios. (2008) Rhiannon: Curse Of The Four Branches (PC DVD). Not very closely based, more loosely inspired.
• Eames, Manon. (2008) Magnificent Myths of the Mabinogi. Stage performance of the full Mabinogi, in Aberystwyth. Staged in a slightly abridged version by Jill Williams at the Pontardawe Arts Centre, 2009. Each was performed by youth theatre.
• Jones, Colin. 2008. Mabinogion, the Four Branches. Recordings of the Guest text, with atmospheric background music. The first episode is free on the site.
• In 2009 Seren Books began publishing a radical new interpretation of the tales, as a series, setting them in modern times and in different countries. The series completed 2014. See here.
• Damh the Bard has released three albums retelling the first three branches in a combination of song and spoken word with accompaniment. "Y Mabinogi - The First Branch" (2017), "Y Mabinogi - The Second Branch" (2018), "Y Mabinogi - The Third Branch" (2020). As of 2023, the final album is forthcoming. See here.

Locations

Some of the locations mentioned in the text have been identified in reality. Many are associated with Arberth and the surrounding district. Some have not been identified and may be methodological or in need of further archeological and historical discoveries (ex. Caer Dathyl).