Y Mabinogion
A collection of Welsh prose tales, composed between the second half of
the 11th century and the end of the 13th century, but based on older
oral tradition. Most of the 11 anonymous tales incorporate Welsh
mythology and folklore and deal with the Arthurian legend.
These stories are preserved in two manuscripts,
- the White Book of Rhydderch (circa 1300-25)
and
- the Red Book of Hergest (circa 1375-1425)
The first English translation was made from the latter in 1838-39 by
Lady Charlotte Elizabeth Guest. The meaning of the name Mabinogion,
which she adopted as the title, is the subject of debate. It is
derived from the group of four related stories that begins the
collection, "The Four Branches of the Mabinogi"; of 11th-century
composition, they concern the life of Prince Gwri, or Pryderi.
This cycle is followed by four independent tales also based on
native Welsh lore. The collection concludes with a group of three
Arthurian romances, showing Norman-French influence and bearing
some relation to the work of the 12th-century French poet Chrétien
de Troyes, although originally of Welsh origin.
The complete tales can be found here
"Mabinogion,"
Microsoft (R) Encarta.
Copyright (c) 1994 Microsoft Corporation.
Copyright (c) 1994 Funk & Wagnall's Corporation.