The Mabinogion, Guest’s 1877 edition
Yspaddaden Penkawr
Yspaddaden requires attendants to lift his eyebrows so that he can see Kilhwch. Their meetings are also exchanges of poisoned darts, making the negotiation itself hazardous. He demands that a wild hill be cleared, ploughed, sown and brought to a ripe harvest within a single day. This begins the extended catalogue of marvels required before the wedding.
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In the sources
Principal account
LiteraryYspaddaden requires attendants to lift his eyebrows so that he can see Kilhwch. Their meetings are also exchanges of poisoned darts, making the negotiation itself hazardous.
Further detail
LiteraryHe demands that a wild hill be cleared, ploughed, sown and brought to a ripe harvest within a single day. This begins the extended catalogue of marvels required before the wedding.
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
death. Where are my attendants ? Lift up the forks of my eyebrows which have fallen over my eyeballs, that I may see the fashion of my son-in-law." Then they arose,Open this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: The Mabinogion, Guest’s 1877 edition; active reader leaf 260
Exact passage checked against active scan text and original-leaf mapping; scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0240-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0240-E001-P0260
- Original scan leaf
- 261
- Recorded leaf number
- 261
- Current Reader position
- 252
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
The Mabinogion
of thee and my daughter. And all this I require done in one day." " It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that it will notOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: The Mabinogion, Guest’s 1877 edition; active reader leaf 261
Exact passage checked against active scan text and original-leaf mapping; scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0240-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0240-E001-P0261
- Original scan leaf
- 262
- Recorded leaf number
- 262
- Current Reader position
- 253
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Continue exploring
Bendigeid Vran
The giant king who becomes a bridge for his army and leaves a protective head behind.
Same subject and traditionThe Salmon of Llyn Llyw
The ancient fish that carries Arthur’s searchers to Mabon’s prison.
Same subject and traditionThe Two Dragons of Lludd’s Tale
The combatants whose recurring conflict is explained as the cause of Britain’s fearful shriek.
Same subject and traditionTwrch Trwyth
The transformed king pursued for the precious grooming implements carried between his ears.