The Mabinogion, Guest’s 1877 edition
Iddawc Cordd Prydain
Iddawc explains that he carried messages between Arthur and Medrawd but replaced Arthur’s peaceful words with the harshest language he could devise. He attributes the ensuing battle of Camlan to that distortion. He says that he abandoned the battle three nights before its end and spent seven years doing penance. His guidance to Rhonabwy thus comes from someone whose earlier speech caused destruction.
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In the sources
Principal account
LiteraryIddawc explains that he carried messages between Arthur and Medrawd but replaced Arthur’s peaceful words with the harshest language he could devise. He attributes the ensuing battle of Camlan to that distortion.
Further detail
LiteraryHe says that he abandoned the battle three nights before its end and spent seven years doing penance. His guidance to Rhonabwy thus comes from someone whose earlier speech caused destruction.
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
think of, I uttered unto Medrawd the harshest I could devise. And therefore am I called Iddawc Cordd Prydain, for from this did the battle of Camlan ensue. AndOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: The Mabinogion, Guest’s 1877 edition; active reader leaf 327
Exact passage checked against active scan text and original-leaf mapping; scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0240-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0240-E001-P0327
- Original scan leaf
- 328
- Recorded leaf number
- 328
- Current Reader position
- 319
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
The Mabinogion
do penance. And there I remained doing penance seven years, and after that I gained pardon." Then lo ! they heard a mighty sound which was much louderOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: The Mabinogion, Guest’s 1877 edition; active reader leaf 327
Exact passage checked against active scan text and original-leaf mapping; scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0240-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0240-E001-P0327
- Original scan leaf
- 328
- Recorded leaf number
- 328
- Current Reader position
- 319
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
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