The Mabinogion, Guest’s 1877 edition
Rhiannon’s Unfillable Bag
Rhiannon instructs Pwyll to ask only for a bagful of food and says that even the provisions of seven cantrevs would not fill it. A modest request conceals an impossible capacity. When Gwawl steps inside to press down the food, Pwyll raises the bag around him and ties its opening. The result forces negotiation over the marriage claim.
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In the sources
Principal account
LiteraryRhiannon instructs Pwyll to ask only for a bagful of food and says that even the provisions of seven cantrevs would not fill it. A modest request conceals an impossible capacity.
Further detail
LiteraryWhen Gwawl steps inside to press down the food, Pwyll raises the bag around him and ties its opening. The result forces negotiation over the marriage claim.
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
thy hand, and ask nothing but a bagful of food, and I will cause that if all the meat and liquor that are in these seven Cantrevs wereOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: The Mabinogion, Guest’s 1877 edition; active reader leaf 374
Exact passage checked against active scan text and original-leaf mapping; scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0240-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0240-E001-P0374
- Original scan leaf
- 375
- Recorded leaf number
- 375
- Current Reader position
- 366
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
The Mabinogion
he shut it up quickly and slipped a knot upon the thongs, and blew his horn. And thereupon behold his household came down upon the palace. AndOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: The Mabinogion, Guest’s 1877 edition; active reader leaf 375
Exact passage checked against active scan text and original-leaf mapping; scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0240-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0240-E001-P0375
- Original scan leaf
- 376
- Recorded leaf number
- 376
- Current Reader position
- 367
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Continue exploring
Rhiannon
The commanding horsewoman who chooses Pwyll and devises the means to defeat Gwawl’s claim.
Same subject and traditionCaridwen’s Cauldron of Inspiration
The year-long preparation that concentrates its power into three drops.
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.