A Welsh legendary cycle with Arthurian edges, heroic journeys, and shape-shifting folklore.
Bulfinch's Mythology
Welsh mythic tales
The Mabinogeon
A Welsh legendary cycle with Arthurian edges, heroic journeys, and shape-shifting folklore.
Chapter list
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The Mabinogeon
Introductory Note
It has been well known to the literati and antiquarians of Europe that there exist in the great public libraries voluminous manuscripts of romances and tales once popular, but...
CHAPTER I
THE BRITONS
The earliest inhabitants of Britain are supposed to have been a branch of that great family known in history by the designation of Celts. Cambria, which is a frequent name for...
CHAPTER II
THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN
King Arthur was at Caerleon upon Usk; and one day he sat in his chamber, and with him were Owain, the son of Urien, and Kynon, the son of Clydno, and Kay, the son of Kyner, and...
CHAPTER III
THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN (Continued)
[Footnote: Amongst all the characters of early British history none is the more interesting, or occupies more conspicuous place, than the hero of this tale. Urien, his father,...
CHAPTER IV
THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN (Continued)
It befell that, as Gawain went forth one day with King Arthur, he perceived him to be very sad and sorrowful. And Gawain was much grieved to see Arthur in his state, and he...
CHAPTER V
GERAINT, THE SON OF ERBIN
Arthur was accustomed to hold his court at Caerleon upon Usk. And there he held it seven Easters and five Christmases. And once upon a time he held his court there at...
CHAPTER VI
GERAINT, THE SON OF ERBIN (Continued)
Now this is how Arthur hunted the stag. The men and the dogs were divided into hunting-parties, and the dogs were let loose upon the stag. And the last dog that was let loose...
CHAPTER VII
GERAINT, THE SON OF ERBIN (Continued)
Geraint, as he had been used to do when he was at Arthur's court, frequented tournaments. And he became acquainted with valiant and mighty men, until he had gained as much fame...
CHAPTER VIII
PWYLL, PRINCE OF DYVED
Once upon a time Pwyll was at Narberth, his chief palace, where a feast had been prepared for him, and with him was a great host of men. And after the first meal Pwyll arose to...
CHAPTER IX
BRANWEN, THE DAUGHTER OF LLYR
Bendigeid Vran, the son of Llyr, was the crowned king of this island, and he was exalted from the crown of London. And one afternoon he was at Harlech, in Ardudwy, at his...
CHAPTER X
MANAWYDDAN
Pwyll and Rhiannon had a son, whom they named Pryderi. And when he was grown up, Pwyll, his father, died. And Pryderi married Kicva, the daughter of Gwynn Gloy.
CHAPTER XI
KILWICH AND OLWEN
Kilydd, a son of Prince Kelyddon, desired a wife as a helpmate, and the wife that he chose was Goleudid, the daughter of Prince Anlawd. And after their union the people put up...
CHAPTER XII
KILWICH AND OLWEN (Continued)
All that day they journeyed until the evening, and then they beheld a vast castle, which was the largest in the world. And lo! a black man, larger than three of the men of this...
CHAPTER XIII
TALIESIN
Gwyddno Garanhir was sovereign of Gwaelod, a territory bordering on the sea. And he possessed a weir upon the strand between Dyvi and Aberystwyth, near to his own castle, and...