DOCSLIB.ORG

Y Cymmrodor, Vii, Pp

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Y Cymmrodor, Vii, Pp M^lifl^f';'''j>v'i^ / If'ìl.L '&inccatitilc' î4f uttiOn rMnf ccrc^ti^uw dmitf áwácct' unç)civ ám^u^frràtcçmírcfff^çtpçr '" • tcf?« . ;-l^?>f?.5yí unc du«^m'ifiittívxmiporc fbrcic*dfei^" ^4c coîicm^jmcraricrtóru-'Cutic culAa.iejrt! xává^iKri myoctndcc cCíiruic- cH' n&tm' ot^^ U«rfm' í»tticí>t>ar<í' cian cfut u^ca^Vuc^ ntcí> €çuauc».tímatutM>ccmf>orc^in}?<>cma^ c€VriccAnntC0 cCamcr' àiicvtn\iftná^\<^^Ÿh^'tcconcfrc^ri iifAC' iâk tnrcc^ùnc^ucncdcn^ i^itta ^r^ cnuu\(lCtâr c\mcäa.(r" tiXfiinffutf' avLoru^^ numcr oc^ cracT' ucncracr yuf^cp^rCc^iì- iiifti%iíi]dr <îcrc^í>»^cröfucu>öcac?tnamt- <m<>cjditt ccnca ciuaárctmncii. fç^c 4nnxf ^nccofu^ rt-itntctin rcorn^rcc^' ccfcûcc^f cutti^cncifíîma^ <^^r ^^ywicrAht^frc- cto i^tít;»cetttito(uí rctíft fíinu \zcnx ^idUA' íjicandu' dhricfiít*^dddâ.rítmydiztrciuat^^ ^nnif Dconcfìiridít reçnamc^ tcpo? anntf^ fnodoLiatd rcíçriautcrftei^ 2r;/. Jl^//J. //^r/. M5. 3859, /o/.i88^, //.1-25. ^^.reeÊË!^ ^^ Cpîîimrodor. *u THE MAGAZINE OP THE HONOURABLE SOCIETY OF CYMMRODORION. VOL. XXVIII. TALIESIN. ?,^f.I BY SlR JOHN MORRIS-JONES, M.A., Professor of Welsh in the Unîverstty Colle^e of A'orth Wales. LONDON : ISSUED BY THE SOCIETY, NEW STONE BUILDINGS, 64, CHANCERY LANE. 1918. Devizes : Printed bx George Simpson & Co., Devizes, Ltd. EDITOEIAL NOTE. " " TaLIESIN BY SlR JOHN MoRRIS-JoNES. ' The Council of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion feel great satisfaction in presenting to the members of the Society this important contribution to the study of Welsh Literature. Originally it was intended to be a compara- tively short review of one of Dr. Gwenogvryn Evans's valu- able reproductions of Early "Welsh Texts, but the Editor of the Society's publications was fortunate enough to induce the Author to give to the world (in addition to his criticism of Dr. Evans's theories) the result of many years' close study of. some of the earliest existing specimens of Welsh Poetry. It is not for us to praise the very great service thus rendered to Wales, to its language, and its history, by Sir John Morris-Jones We have only to express the deep sense of gratitude which will be felt by every lover of literature, and especially by every member of the Cymmrodorion Society, for the unselfish and unremunerated labour that has added an invaluable treasure to our store of knowledge. For the addition of a helpful Index to the Author's work we are much indebted to his daughter, Miss Rhiannon Morris-Jones of the University College, Bangor. The Editor desires to add that beyond securing the production of thework, in the manner indicated, his assistance has been merely nominal. On behalf of the Cuuncil, E. Vincent Eyans, Hon. Secretary and Editor. CONTENTS ITAGE Tbadition, 1. The tradition of tlie Cynfeirdd ... ... 2 Early Records: Old Welsh, 6. MSS. of old poems ... 6 Collected, 9. Re-discovered, 10. Printed ... 12 Criticism : Sharon Tiirner, 13. Stephens, 16. Xash, 18. Skene, 22. Rhys, 23. Anwyl, 24. Linguistic theory, 27. Dr. Gwenogvryn Evans ... ... 37 Dr. Evans's method, 38. On the date, 40. On names, 50. On the geography, 55. The eponym theory, 84. Taliesin's "hiography", 101. The " " amended text, translation, and notes, 115. Palaeography, 125. Transcription fi'om Old Welsh exemplar, 130. Glos.ses, 139. General qiiestions relative to his work ... ... 145 Conclusions ... ... ... ... ... 151 EXAMINATI0X OF POEMS ... ... ... ... ... 152 Argoed Llwyfein, 154. Gweith Gwen Ystrad, 160. Uryen Yrechwydd, 171. Yng NgorfFowys, 175. Dadolwch Uryen, 181. ]\Iarwnat Owein, 187. Other Historical poems, 195. Marwnad Rhun. 202. Conclusions ... ... ... 223 Reconsideration of theories of Hi.storical poems ... 224 Other poems : Mythological poems, 235. Mystical poems, 240. Classical evidence, 247. Metem- psychosis, 250. Old hardism, 252. Later poems, 254. Future study of poems ... ... ... 257 Appendices : The oldest monuments of the Welsh language— Appendix I: The stone of Cingen ... ... 26() Appendix II: The Surexit Memorandum ... 265 Corrections and Additions ... ... ... ... 280 Index to Proper Names ... ... ... ... ... 283 (K^mmroìî0r. VoL. XXVITI. " Cared doeth yr encilion." 1918. ^aCimn^ By J. MOERIS JONES, M.A., Professor of Welsh at the University College of North Wales. Tradition is now generally aclmitted to be worthy of more respect than was paid to it in the nineteenth century. When it is not the obvious product of popular etymolog-y it usually contains some element of truth. And it may carry its message from a very remote age. At Mold there " stood a cairn called Bryn yr Ellyllon. It was believed a clad in armour had been to be haunted ; spectre golden seen to enter it. That this story was current before the mound was opened is a fact beyond dispute. In 1832 the cairn was explored. Three hundred cartloads of stones were removed, and beneath them was a skeleten ' laid at full length, wearing a corslet of beautifully-wrought gold, '" which had been placed on a lining of bronze.' The " " corslet is at the British Museum, but it is now stated " to be a peytrel or brunt for a pony ".'' It is, however, "obvious that before a warrior would decorate his horse with the precious metal, he had doubtless satisfied his own personal needs in this direction ".' Here then we 1 E. Sidney Hartland, Ethnoyraphical Survey of the United Kiiì(j- in 431. dom. p. 6, citint; Boyd Dawkins, Early Man fírifain, p. 2 A Guide to the Antiguities of the Uronze Age (in the Brit. Mus.), p. 149. » Ibid., p. 150. 2 Taliesin. have " of eyidence a tradition which must— have been handed down from the prehistoric iron age that is, for more than two thousand years ".' This is a purely local less example ; but more general traditions are not likely to be based on fact. The tradition of the Irish that their i ancestors came to Ireland direct from the continent has been vindicated by Zimmer against the dominant theory of the last century that they came across Britain." This first it theory was propounded by Edward Lhuyd ;' was adopted by Theophilus Evans, who quoted in its support a vague tradition about the presence of the Irish in Britain." The existence of such a tradition in the seventeenth cen- tury is confirmed by a statement in Gibson's Camden, 1695, p. 670, "that 'tis a common tradition among-st" the inhabitants of the hilly districts of Carnarvonshire, Breck- nock and Radnorshire, "that the Irish were the ancient Pro- of their ".' That is a fact but it does not prietors Country ; in any way prove Lhuyd's theory, for those Irish had come over from Ireland.* Here, then, is a fairly wide-spread tradition that must have been handed down from about the sixth century, Tradition is thus one of our data, to be accounted for and interpreted. Where there is no other apparent reason for it, it may well be what it seems —a of took and to be popular account what once place ; where more reliable data are scarce it may be of value in directing inquiry and confirming conclusions. Among the most persistent of the Welsh traditions is 1 Hartland, loc. cit. 2 Au/ welchem Wege kamen die Goidelen vom Rontinent nach Irland ? 1912, p. 31, etpassim; see H. Gaidoz in the Revue Internationale de lEnseignement, 1917, pp. 104-114. 3 Archceoloyia Britannica, 1707, At y Kymry, pp. [xvi-xviii]. 4 Brych y Prif Oesoedd (1740), Reprint, 1902, pp. 11, 12. ^ Y 131. Cymmrodor , ix, p. '' H. Zimmer, Nennius Yindicatus, 1893, pp. 89-91. Taliesin. 3 that which tells us that a group of famous bards, of whom Taliesin was tlie chief, íiourished during the period of the strug-gle between Briton and Saxon in the sixth century. If it be objected that this is not a genuine but a spurious tradition based upon a memorandum in the Nennian additamenta, one may reply that the reverse is the case, and that the memorandum is based upon a form of the tradition. For the Welsh tradition is not a reproduction of the memorandum the records ; memorandum an early North British variant of it. The sixth century bards of Welsh tradition are Taliesin, Aneirin, Myrddin and Llyw- arch those of the Hên ; memorandum are Talhaern, Taliessin, Néirin, Bluchbard and Cian. The names Taliesin and Neirin are common to both ; the Welsh and Nennian variants overlap but do not coincide, which proves their mutual independence and points to both beinof ffenuine. The tradition as reflected in Welsh literature bears all the marks of genuineness. It is not like a or advocated or explained new theory discovery ; it is taken for granted as common knowledge. Thus in the oldest Welsh copy of the Laws (the Black Book of Chirk), when reference is made to an expedition led by Rhûn ap Maelgwn, it is simply stated that Taliesin com- posed an englyn on the occasion.' There is no mention of the date, or even of the century. It is not explained that Taliesin was a contemporary of Ehûn, it is only implied. The tradition is not superimposed on the subject matter of Welsh literature ; it is a substratum which underlies it. Moreover, the conditions for handing down such a tra- dition were favourable. The bards formed an import- ant whose status was their body acknowledged ; privi- leges and duties are defined in the Laws of Hywel : the 1 Ancient Laws and Institutes of Walfís, 1841, i, p. 104. b2 4 Taliesin. of the Court the household bard is the eighth officer ;' chief bard is to sit next to the judge, and to lodge with the Heir Apparent.' Bardism was one of the three profes- for sions (the other two beiiig scholarship and smithcraft) which no serf was to be trained without his lord's per- an ancient institution when the mission ;^ it was obviously Laws were compiled, and no break in its continuity is at tenth all probable between the sixth and the century.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • “The Prophecies of Fferyll”: Virgilian Reception in Wales
    “The Prophecies of Fferyll”: Virgilian Reception in Wales Revised from a paper given to the Virgil Society on 18 May 2013 Davies Whenever I make the short journey from my home to Swansea’s railway station, I pass two shops which remind me of Virgil. Both are chemist shops, both belong to large retail empires. The name-boards above their doors proclaim that each shop is not only a “pharmacy” but also a fferyllfa, literally “Virgil’s place”. In bilingual Wales homage is paid to the greatest of poets every time we collect a prescription! The Welsh words for a chemist or pharmacist fferyllydd( ), for pharmaceutical science (fferylliaeth), for a retort (fferyllwydr) are – like fferyllfa,the chemist’s shop – all derived from Fferyll, a learned form of Virgil’s name regularly used by writers and poets of the Middle Ages in Wales.1 For example, the 14th-century Dafydd ap Gwilym, in one of his love poems, pic- tures his beloved as an enchantress and the silver harp that she is imagined playing as o ffyrf gelfyddyd Fferyll (“shaped by Virgil’s mighty art”).2 This is, of course, the Virgil “of popular legend”, as Comparetti describes him: the Virgil of the Neapolitan tales narrated by Gervase of Tilbury and Conrad of Querfurt, Virgil the magician and alchemist, whose literary roots may be in Ecl. 8, a fascinating counterfoil to the prophet of the Christian interpretation of Ecl. 4.3 Not that the role of magician and the role of prophet were so differentiated in the medieval mind as they might be today.
    [Show full text]
  • King Arthur and Medieval Knights
    Renata Jawniak KING ARTHUR AND MEDIEVAL KNIGHTS 1. Uwagi ogólne Zestaw materiałów opatrzony wspólnym tytułem King Arthur and Medieval Knights jest adresowany do studentów uzupełniających studiów magisterskich na kierun- kach humanistycznych. Przedstawione ćwiczenia mogą być wykorzystane do pracy z grupami studentów filologii, kulturoznawstwa, historii i innych kierunków hu- manistycznych jako materiał przedstawiający kulturę Wielkiej Brytanii. 2. Poziom zaawansowania: B2+/C1 3. Czas trwania opisanych ćwiczeń Ćwiczenia zaprezentowane w tym artykule są przeznaczone na trzy lub cztery jednostki lekcyjne po 90 minut każda. Czas trwania został ustalony na podstawie doświadcze- nia wynikającego z pracy nad poniższymi ćwiczeniami w grupach na poziomie B2+. 4. Cele dydaktyczne W swoim założeniu zajęcia mają rozwijać podstawowe umiejętności językowe, takie jak czytanie, mówienie, słuchanie oraz pisanie. Przy układaniu poszczegól- nych ćwiczeń miałam również na uwadze poszerzanie zasobu słownictwa, dlatego przy tekstach zostały umieszczone krótkie słowniczki, ćwiczenia na odnajdywa- nie słów w tekście oraz związki wyrazowe. Kolejnym celem jest cel poznawczy, czyli poszerzenie wiedzy studentów na temat postaci króla Artura, jego legendy oraz średniowiecznego rycerstwa. 5. Uwagi i sugestie Materiały King Arthur and Medieval Knights obejmują pięć tekstów tematycznych z ćwiczeniami oraz dwie audycje z ćwiczeniami na rozwijanie umiejętności słucha- nia. Przewidziane są tu zadania na interakcję student–nauczyciel, student–student oraz na pracę indywidualną. Ćwiczenia w zależności od poziomu grupy, stopnia 182 IV. O HISTORII I KULTURZE zaangażowania studentów w zajęcia i kierunku mogą być odpowiednio zmodyfiko- wane. Teksty tu zamieszczone możemy czytać i omawiać na zajęciach (zwłaszcza z grupami mniej zaawansowanymi językowo, tak by studenci się nie zniechęcili stopniem trudności) lub część przedstawionych ćwiczeń zadać jako pracę domo- wą, jeżeli nie chcemy poświęcać zbyt dużo czasu na zajęciach.
    [Show full text]
  • Storytelling in Medieval Wales
    Oral Tradition, 7/2 (1992):231-57 Storytelling in Medieval Wales Sioned Davies The Storyteller Very little is known of the storyteller and his functions in medieval Welsh society. Welsh sources imply that tales were recited in prose by professional storytellers—the cyfarwyddiaid (singular cyfarwydd). In medieval Ireland, there is evidence to suggest that the composition of both prose and poetry was linked to the fili, the poet, although storytelling was not one of his main functions.1 In Wales, however, there is no direct evidence regarding the relationship between the bardd (poet) and cyfarwydd (storyteller). One much quoted passage in an eleventh-century tale tells of Gwydion and his companions visiting the court of Pryderi in the guise of poets2— They were made welcome. Gwydion was placed beside Pryderi that night. “Why,” said Pryderi, “gladly would we have a tale [cyfarwyddyd] from some of the young men yonder.” “Lord,” said Gwydion, “it is a custom with us that the first night after one comes to a great man, the chief bard [pencerdd] shall have the say. I will tell a tale gladly.” Gwydion was the best teller of tales [cyfarwydd] in the world. And that night he entertained the court with pleasant tales and storytelling [cyfarwyddyd] till he was praised by everyone in the court. —while on another occasion Gwydion, in the guise of a poet from Glamorgan (in South Wales) is made welcome at a North Wales court and narrates cyfarwyddyd (stories) after feasting (Jones and Jones 1949:67). Both passages are open to interpretation regarding the role and significance 1 Mac Cana 1980; see also Bromwich 1978:lxxxiii-lxxxvi.
    [Show full text]
  • The Thirteenth Mt Haemus Lecture
    THE ORDER OF BARDS OVATES & DRUIDS MOUNT HAEMUS LECTURE FOR THE YEAR 2012 The Thirteenth Mt Haemus Lecture Magical Transformation in the Book of Taliesin and the Spoils of Annwn by Kristoffer Hughes Abstract The central theme within the OBOD Bardic grade expresses the transformation mystery present in the tale of Gwion Bach, who by degrees of elemental initiations and assimilation becomes he with the radiant brow – Taliesin. A further body of work exists in the form of Peniarth Manuscript Number 2, designated as ‘The Book of Taliesin’, inter-textual references within this material connects it to a vast body of work including the ‘Hanes Taliesin’ (the story of the birth of Taliesin) and the Four Branches of the Mabinogi which gives credence to the premise that magical transformation permeates the British/Welsh mythological sagas. This paper will focus on elements of magical transformation in the Book of Taliesin’s most famed mystical poem, ‘The Preideu Annwfyn (The Spoils of Annwn), and its pertinence to modern Druidic practise, to bridge the gulf between academia and the visionary, and to demonstrate the storehouse of wisdom accessible within the Taliesin material. Introduction It is the intention of this paper to examine the magical transformation properties present in the Book of Taliesin and the Preideu Annwfn. By the term ‘Magical Transformation’ I refer to the preternatural accounts of change initiated by magical means that are present within the Taliesin material and pertinent to modern practise and the assumption of various states of being. The transformative qualities of the Hanes Taliesin material is familiar to students of the OBOD, but I suggest that further material can be utilised to enhance the spiritual connection of the student to the source material of the OBOD and other Druidic systems.
    [Show full text]
  • Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Teyrnon
    MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR We extend a warm welcome to you in presenting Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Teyrnon's Annual Report, feeling sure that you will enjoy reading about the work and life of the school and will feel as proud as we do of our children, our community and our school. In 2018-19 we said an emotional farewell to our first pupils in Year 6 as we wished them well in taking the next step of their education at Ysgol Gyfun Gwent Is Coed. We had our first whole school picture taken in 2019, a moment to be treasured! Our sincere thanks must be given to the Head Teacher and all staff at Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Teyrnon for nurturing our children in a safe, happy, stimulating environment and providing them with interesting and varied experiences throughout the year. “94% of children really like their school and 99% think that teachers and other adults at school help them to learn well and that they make good progress.” Summer 2018 saw us say a very fond farewell to the pupils and staff of Ysgol Gyfun Gwent Is Coed. After two successful years of sharing the school site, alongside sharing many memorable experiences, we wish them well in their new home. We extend our thanks to the Headteacher, Ms Rhian Dafydd and all members of staff for continuing to work effectively, in YSGOL partnership with us during these exciting times, as the schools continue to grow. Thank you also to the Local Authority for co-ordinating the necessary work to develop the site.
    [Show full text]
  • Kingdom of Strathclyde from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia
    Kingdom of Strathclyde From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Strathclyde (lit. "Strath of the Clyde"), originally Brythonic Ystrad Clud, was one of the early medieval kingdoms of the Kingdom of Strathclyde Celtic people called the Britons in the Hen Ogledd, the Teyrnas Ystrad Clut Brythonic-speaking parts of what is now southern Scotland and northern England. The kingdom developed during the ← 5th century–11th → post-Roman period. It is also known as Alt Clut, the Brythonic century name for Dumbarton Rock, the medieval capital of the region. It may have had its origins with the Damnonii people of Ptolemy's Geographia. The language of Strathclyde, and that of the Britons in surrounding areas under non-native rulership, is known as Cumbric, a dialect or language closely related to Old Welsh. Place-name and archaeological evidence points to some settlement by Norse or Norse–Gaels in the Viking Age, although to a lesser degree than in neighbouring Galloway. A small number of Anglian place-names show some limited settlement by incomers from Northumbria prior to the Norse settlement. Due to the series of language changes in the area, it is not possible to say whether any Goidelic settlement took place before Gaelic was introduced in the High Middle Ages. After the sack of Dumbarton Rock by a Viking army from Dublin in 870, the name Strathclyde comes into use, perhaps reflecting a move of the centre of the kingdom to Govan. In the same period, it was also referred to as Cumbria, and its inhabitants as Cumbrians. During the High Middle Ages, the area was conquered by the Kingdom of Alba, becoming part of The core of Strathclyde is the strath of the River Clyde.
    [Show full text]
  • A Welsh Classical Dictionary
    A WELSH CLASSICAL DICTIONARY DACHUN, saint of Bodmin. See s.n. Credan. He has been wrongly identified with an Irish saint Dagan in LBS II.281, 285. G.H.Doble seems to have been misled in the same way (The Saints of Cornwall, IV. 156). DAGAN or DANOG, abbot of Llancarfan. He appears as Danoc in one of the ‘Llancarfan Charters’ appended to the Life of St.Cadog (§62 in VSB p.130). Here he is a clerical witness with Sulien (presumably abbot) and king Morgan [ab Athrwys]. He appears as abbot of Llancarfan in five charters in the Book of Llandaf, where he is called Danoc abbas Carbani Uallis (BLD 179c), and Dagan(us) abbas Carbani Uallis (BLD 158, 175, 186b, 195). In these five charters he is contemporary with bishop Berthwyn and Ithel ap Morgan, king of Glywysing. He succeeded Sulien as abbot and was succeeded by Paul. See Trans.Cym., 1948 pp.291-2, (but ignore the dates), and compare Wendy Davies, LlCh p.55 where Danog and Dagan are distinguished. Wendy Davies dates the BLD charters c.A.D.722 to 740 (ibid., pp.102 - 114). DALLDAF ail CUNIN COF. (Legendary). He is included in the tale of ‘Culhwch and Olwen’ as one of the warriors of Arthur's Court: Dalldaf eil Kimin Cof (WM 460, RM 106). In a triad (TYP no.73) he is called Dalldaf eil Cunyn Cof, one of the ‘Three Peers’ of Arthur's Court. In another triad (TYP no.41) we are told that Fferlas (Grey Fetlock), the horse of Dalldaf eil Cunin Cof, was one of the ‘Three Lovers' Horses’ (or perhaps ‘Beloved Horses’).
    [Show full text]
  • Creation of a Bibliography of Welsh-Celtic Literature: a Case Study on the Suitability of Using Online Catalogues for Bibliographic Research
    Creation of a bibliography of Welsh-Celtic literature: a case study on the suitability of using online catalogues for bibliographic research by Mary L. Evans, B.A.(Hons.) A master's dissertation, submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the award of the Master of Arts degree of the Loughborough University of Technology September 1994 Supervisor: Inese A. Smith, B.A, M.A. Department of Information and Library Studies ® Mary L.Evans, 1994 Abstract The dissertation discusses the creation of a bibliography of Welsh-Celtic literature and considers the usefulness of OPACs as a bibliographic information source. It asks whether OPACs can be relied upon to be the sole information source when conducting a bibliographic search. Different aspects of OPAC use are discussed in relation to the subject of Welsh-Celtic literature. These include: the search facilities that OPACs offer; aspects of searching in a bilingual subject and the development of bilingual OPACs; the subject headings required for searching in this subject. The dissertation concludes that OPACs can be useful to bibliographic research. However, the limited scope of the information they include and the poor quality and level of the information that they contain means that they cannot be relied upon to be an entirely accurate and comprehensive source. Acknowledgements I wish to express my thanks to my supervisor, Inese Smith, for guidance and encouragement. To all those who took the time to respond to my questionnaire and to m·y parents for their support. Contents Page No. Chapter 1 Introduction 1.1 Purpose of the dissertation 1 1.2 Choice of information source 2 1.3 Advantages of OPACs 3 1.4 Other sources 4 1.5 Outline of dissertation 6 Chapter 2 Definition of Celtic literature 2.
    [Show full text]
  • CELTIC MYTHOLOGY Ii
    i CELTIC MYTHOLOGY ii OTHER TITLES BY PHILIP FREEMAN The World of Saint Patrick iii ✦ CELTIC MYTHOLOGY Tales of Gods, Goddesses, and Heroes PHILIP FREEMAN 1 iv 1 Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford. It furthers the University’s objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide. Oxford is a registered trade mark of Oxford University Press in the UK and certain other countries. Published in the United States of America by Oxford University Press 198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016, United States of America. © Philip Freeman 2017 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of Oxford University Press, or as expressly permitted by law, by license, or under terms agreed with the appropriate reproduction rights organization. Inquiries concerning reproduction outside the scope of the above should be sent to the Rights Department, Oxford University Press, at the address above. You must not circulate this work in any other form and you must impose this same condition on any acquirer. CIP data is on file at the Library of Congress ISBN 978–0–19–046047–1 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Printed by Sheridan Books, Inc., United States of America v CONTENTS Introduction: Who Were the Celts? ix Pronunciation Guide xvii 1. The Earliest Celtic Gods 1 2. The Book of Invasions 14 3. The Wooing of Étaín 29 4. Cú Chulainn and the Táin Bó Cuailnge 46 The Discovery of the Táin 47 The Conception of Conchobar 48 The Curse of Macha 50 The Exile of the Sons of Uisliu 52 The Birth of Cú Chulainn 57 The Boyhood Deeds of Cú Chulainn 61 The Wooing of Emer 71 The Death of Aife’s Only Son 75 The Táin Begins 77 Single Combat 82 Cú Chulainn and Ferdia 86 The Final Battle 89 vi vi | Contents 5.
    [Show full text]
  • Open; the Third Door Was Closed, That Subject
    The Powvs Review NUMBER SEVENTEEN The Powys Review Editor Belinda Humfrey Reviews Editor Peter Miles Advisory Board Glen Cavaliero Ben Jones Ned Lukacher Correspondence, contributions, and books for review may be addressed to the Editor, Department of English, Saint David's University College, Lampeter, Dyfed, SA48 7ED. Copyright (c), The Editor The Powys Review is published with the financial support of the Welsh Arts Council. We are grateful to Mr Francis Powys and Laurence Pollinger Ltd., for permission to quote from the writings of John Cowper Powys and T. F. Powys, and to the late Mrs Evelyn Elwin for permission to quote from the writings of Llewelyn Powys. The Powys Review may be obtained from Booksellers for £2.50, or from Gomer Press, Llandysul, Dyfed, for £2.50 plus 60p postage. The Powys Review is printed by J. D. Lewis & Sons Ltd., Gomer Press, Llandysul, Dyfed. Enquiries about advertisement in The Powys Review should be made to James Dawson, 99 Corve Street, Ludlow, Shropshire. Tel. Ludlow (0584) 2274. Contents Roland Mathias Reviews John Cowper Powys and 'Wales'. A Limited Study 5 Gillian Clarke Selected Poems Colin Style ANN STEVENSON 63 On Hardy's Sacred Ground: Gwyn A. Williams JohnCowperPowys's Weymouth Sands 27 When was Wales? A History of the Welsh Wynford Vaughan Thomas Peter G. Christensen Wales: A History Middlemarch: A Point of Reference in PAUL BENNETT MORGAN 64 Weymouth Sands 39 John Cowper Powys Margaret Moran Paddock Calls "Premonitory Hints and Embryo ANTHONY HEAD 67 Suggestions in J. C. Powys's Wood and Stone and Rodmoor 48 Valentine Ackland For Sylvia: An Honest Account CLAIRE HARMAN 70 G.
    [Show full text]
  • The Figure of Taliesin in Charles Williams' Arthuriad
    Volume 10 Number 1 Article 4 4-15-1983 The Figure of Taliesin in Charles Williams' Arthuriad Richard Woods Stritch School of Medicine, IL Follow this and additional works at: https://dc.swosu.edu/mythlore Part of the Children's and Young Adult Literature Commons Recommended Citation Woods, Richard (1983) "The Figure of Taliesin in Charles Williams' Arthuriad," Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature: Vol. 10 : No. 1 , Article 4. Available at: https://dc.swosu.edu/mythlore/vol10/iss1/4 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Mythopoeic Society at SWOSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature by an authorized editor of SWOSU Digital Commons. An ADA compliant document is available upon request. For more information, please contact [email protected]. To join the Mythopoeic Society go to: http://www.mythsoc.org/join.htm Mythcon 51: A VIRTUAL “HALFLING” MYTHCON July 31 - August 1, 2021 (Saturday and Sunday) http://www.mythsoc.org/mythcon/mythcon-51.htm Mythcon 52: The Mythic, the Fantastic, and the Alien Albuquerque, New Mexico; July 29 - August 1, 2022 http://www.mythsoc.org/mythcon/mythcon-52.htm Abstract Discusses Taliesin as a historical personage and as a legendary and mythological figure, and specifically the sources for Williams’s portrayal of Taliesin in his Arthurian poetry. Speculates on why Williams chose Taliesin as the “romantic focus” of his poems, how he conceived his role, and why he departed from traditional sources.
    [Show full text]
  • UCLA Electronic Theses and Dissertations
    UCLA UCLA Electronic Theses and Dissertations Title Birth Narratives in Indo-European Mythology Permalink https://escholarship.org/uc/item/71m1f09s Author Pagé, Anna June Publication Date 2014 Peer reviewed|Thesis/dissertation eScholarship.org Powered by the California Digital Library University of California UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Los Angeles Birth Narratives in Indo-European Mythology A dissertation submied in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in Indo-European Studies by Anna June Pagé 2014 © Copyright by Anna June Pagé 2014 ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION Birth Narratives in Indo-European Mythology by Anna June Pagé Doctor of Philosopy in Indo-European Studies University of California, Los Angeles, 2014 Professor Joseph F. Nagy, Chair is dissertation presents a study of the shared themes and parallel narrative structures of a set of stories about extraordinary birth. Stories about extraordinary birth form a universal story-type that displays widespread and striking similarities in narrative traditions throughout the world. Stories of this nature are typically told about various types of important persons, such as heroes, kings, gods, and saints, and have most frequently been treated within the context of the “heroic biography’’ paern. Because of how well-aested this type of story is in all narrative traditions, a comparison of birth narratives from different Indo-European mythologies offers an ideal case study in the comparison and reconstruction of aspects of the Proto-Indo-European mythological system. While my primary focus is on stories from Indo-European sources, and particularly from Celtic, Greek, and Indic myth, several non-Indo-European examples of this type of narrative are also included in my discussion.
    [Show full text]