The Mabinogion, Guest’s 1877 edition
Branwen
After marrying Matholwch, Branwen is forced into kitchen service and subjected to daily violence. She trains a starling to carry a letter describing her treatment to her brother. During the attempted reconciliation, she supports peace so that the country will not be destroyed. The subsequent violence defeats that purpose rather than fulfilling it.
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In the sources
Principal account
LiteraryAfter marrying Matholwch, Branwen is forced into kitchen service and subjected to daily violence. She trains a starling to carry a letter describing her treatment to her brother.
Further detail
LiteraryDuring the attempted reconciliation, she supports peace so that the country will not be destroyed. The subsequent violence defeats that purpose rather than fulfilling it.
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
cover of the kneading trough, and she taught it to speak, and she taught the bird what manner of man her brother was. And she wrote a letter ofOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: The Mabinogion, Guest’s 1877 edition; active reader leaf 401
Exact passage checked against active scan text and original-leaf mapping; scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0240-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0240-E001-P0401
- Original scan leaf
- 402
- Recorded leaf number
- 402
- Current Reader position
- 393
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
The Mabinogion
by the advice of Branwen, and lest the country should be destroyed. And this peace was made, and the house was built both vast and strong. But the Irish plannedOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: The Mabinogion, Guest’s 1877 edition; active reader leaf 404
Exact passage checked against active scan text and original-leaf mapping; scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0240-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0240-E001-P0404
- Original scan leaf
- 405
- Recorded leaf number
- 405
- Current Reader position
- 396
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Continue exploring
Matholwch
The Irish king whose marriage to Branwen joins a diplomatic alliance to a disastrous feud.
Same subject and traditionArianrod
The mother who places conditions on Llew’s name, arms and marriage.
Same subject and traditionArthur in the Mabinogion
The courtly ruler whose household gathers the companions and quests of Guest’s Welsh romances.
Same subject and traditionCaridwen
The maker of an inspiration-cauldron whose intended gift is diverted to Gwion Bach.