The Mabinogion, Guest’s 1877 edition
Olwen
Olwen’s arrival is marked by four white trefoils springing up wherever she steps. Guest’s description connects her name with this visible trace of her movement. She tells Kilhwch that she cannot depart without her father’s counsel, since his life will last only until her marriage. She advises him to accept the requirements of the quest rather than deny them.
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In the sources
Principal account
LiteraryOlwen’s arrival is marked by four white trefoils springing up wherever she steps. Guest’s description connects her name with this visible trace of her movement.
Further detail
LiteraryShe tells Kilhwch that she cannot depart without her father’s counsel, since his life will last only until her marriage. She advises him to accept the requirements of the quest rather than deny them.
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
her was filled with her love. Four white trefoils sprung up wherever she trod. And therefore was she called Olwen. She entered the house, and satOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: The Mabinogion, Guest’s 1877 edition; active reader leaf 258
Exact passage checked against active scan text and original-leaf mapping; scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0240-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0240-E001-P0258
- Original scan leaf
- 259
- Recorded leaf number
- 259
- Current Reader position
- 250
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
The Mabinogion
to go without his counsel, for his life will last only until the time of my espousals. Whatever is, must be. But I will give thee advice if thou wiltOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: The Mabinogion, Guest’s 1877 edition; active reader leaf 258
Exact passage checked against active scan text and original-leaf mapping; scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0240-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0240-E001-P0258
- Original scan leaf
- 259
- Recorded leaf number
- 259
- Current Reader position
- 250
- 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.
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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.