The Mabinogion, Guest’s 1877 edition
Arthur in the Mabinogion
The Lady of the Fountain opens with Arthur at Caerlleon upon Usk among Owain, Kynon, Kai and Gwenhwyvar. Hospitality and the telling of an adventure establish his court as a meeting-place. In Kilhwch’s quest, Arthur leads the pursuit of Twrch Trwyth and explains the boar’s former identity as a king. His household’s collective effort gives the quest a scale beyond its original petitioner.
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In the sources
Principal account
LiteraryThe Lady of the Fountain opens with Arthur at Caerlleon upon Usk among Owain, Kynon, Kai and Gwenhwyvar. Hospitality and the telling of an adventure establish his court as a meeting-place.
Further detail
LiteraryIn Kilhwch’s quest, Arthur leads the pursuit of Twrch Trwyth and explains the boar’s former identity as a king. His household’s collective effort gives the quest a scale beyond its original petitioner.
Context & interpretation
This entry follows the narrative in Charlotte Guest’s 1877 collection, including its particular spellings and arrangement of tales. Characters, enchantments and explanations of place names are presented as features of these stories; the translation alone does not establish their historical reality or a single original religious meaning.
Original passages
Source 1
The Mabinogion
THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN. KING- ARTHUR was at Caerlleon upon Usk; and one day lie sat in his chamber ; and with himOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: The Mabinogion, Guest’s 1877 edition; active reader leaf 28
Exact passage checked against active scan text and original-leaf mapping; scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0240-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0240-E001-P0028
- Original scan leaf
- 29
- Recorded leaf number
- 29
- Current Reader position
- 20
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
The Mabinogion
; and he told them that he was once a king, and that God had transformed him into a swine for his sins. Then Arthur sent Gwrhyr Gwalstawt leithoedd,Open this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: The Mabinogion, Guest’s 1877 edition; active reader leaf 278
Exact passage checked against active scan text and original-leaf mapping; scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0240-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0240-E001-P0278
- Original scan leaf
- 279
- Recorded leaf number
- 279
- Current Reader position
- 270
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Continue exploring
Twrch Trwyth
The transformed king pursued for the precious grooming implements carried between his ears.
Same subject and traditionArianrod
The mother who places conditions on Llew’s name, arms and marriage.
Same subject and traditionBranwen
The princess whose marriage alliance becomes the centre of a catastrophe between two islands.
Same subject and traditionCaridwen
The maker of an inspiration-cauldron whose intended gift is diverted to Gwion Bach.