The Mabinogion, Guest’s 1877 edition
Gwenhwyvar
In the Lady of the Fountain, Gwenhwyvar rebukes Kai for his discourteous speech to Owain. Her intervention makes conduct within the court answerable to more than martial reputation. In Geraint’s tale, she agrees that the injured Edeyrn should first receive care rather than suffer death for an insult. She also welcomes the arriving maiden into her household.
Also known as Guinevere
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In the sources
Principal account
LiteraryIn the Lady of the Fountain, Gwenhwyvar rebukes Kai for his discourteous speech to Owain. Her intervention makes conduct within the court answerable to more than martial reputation.
Further detail
LiteraryIn Geraint’s tale, she agrees that the injured Edeyrn should first receive care rather than suffer death for an insult. She also welcomes the arriving maiden into her household.
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
hanged, Kai, than to use such uncourteous speech towards a man like Owain." " By the hand of my friend, good Lady," said Kai, " thyOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: The Mabinogion, Guest’s 1877 edition; active reader leaf 35
Exact passage checked against active scan text and original-leaf mapping; scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0240-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0240-E001-P0035
- Original scan leaf
- 36
- Recorded leaf number
- 36
- Current Reader position
- 27
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
The Mabinogion
thou desirest. Lord," said she, " will I grant to him, since it is as insulting to thee that an insult should be offered to me as to thyself."Open this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: The Mabinogion, Guest’s 1877 edition; active reader leaf 180
Exact passage checked against active scan text and original-leaf mapping; scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0240-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0240-E001-P0180
- Original scan leaf
- 181
- Recorded leaf number
- 181
- Current Reader position
- 172
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Continue exploring
Arianrod
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 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.