The Mabinogion, Guest’s 1877 edition
Caridwen’s Cauldron of Inspiration
Caridwen orders the cauldron to boil without interruption for a year and a day, while Gwion stirs and Morda maintains the fire. She gathers charm-bearing plants during its preparation. Only three drops carry the desired gift. After Gwion receives them, the remaining liquor is poisonous and the cauldron bursts, spilling its contents into a stream.
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In the sources
Principal account
LiteraryCaridwen orders the cauldron to boil without interruption for a year and a day, while Gwion stirs and Morda maintains the fire. She gathers charm-bearing plants during its preparation.
Further detail
LiteraryOnly three drops carry the desired gift. After Gwion receives them, the remaining liquor is poisonous and the cauldron bursts, spilling its contents into a stream.
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
might not cease to boil for a year and a day, until three blessed drops were obtained of the grace of Inspiration. And she put Gwion Bach the sonOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: The Mabinogion, Guest’s 1877 edition; active reader leaf 497
Exact passage checked against active scan text and original-leaf mapping; scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0240-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0240-E001-P0497
- Original scan leaf
- 498
- Recorded leaf number
- 498
- Current Reader position
- 489
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
The Mabinogion
because all the Hquor within it except the three charm-bearing drops was poisonous,Open this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: The Mabinogion, Guest’s 1877 edition; active reader leaf 497
Exact passage checked against active scan text and original-leaf mapping; scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0240-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0240-E001-P0497
- Original scan leaf
- 498
- Recorded leaf number
- 498
- Current Reader position
- 489
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Continue exploring
Gwion Bach
The cauldron-stirrer whose accidental taste brings foreknowledge and a flight through changing forms.
Same subject and traditionRhiannon’s Unfillable Bag
The small bag that turns Gwawl’s claim into a trap.
Same subject and traditionThe Cauldron of Renovation
The vessel that returns slain warriors to life while withholding their speech.
Same subject and traditionThe Head of Bendigeid Vran
The severed head that accompanies the survivors’ feasts before its protective burial.