Lord Dunsany, The Sword of Welleran and Other Stories; London: George Allen & Sons, 1908 title page
The sword of Welleran
Welleran’s great curved sword is kept in a glass casket in Merimna’s hall of trophies. As a child, Rold asks what a man should do with it; his mother answers that people look at it and remember Welleran. It belongs to a culture of preserved memory, and touching it is forbidden. Years later, the dead Welleran enters eighteen-year-old Rold’s dreams as an attack approaches. Rold resists the command to take the sword until the hero’s appeal draws him to break the casket. Wearing Welleran’s red cloak, he carries the blade out while asleep, then wakes among the citizens at the ravine. His battle cry repeats the old hero’s name, and the narrative personifies the blade as rejoicing in its renewed use. Daylight changes Rold’s response. He condemns the weapon, imagining the homes and children that the dead can never bring into being. The sword connects the power of inherited legend with the human cost concealed by the beautiful relic.
Also known as Welleran’s sword · Sword of Welleran
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In the sources
A relic for looking and remembering
DocumentedThe sword is preserved in a glass casket. Rold’s mother explains its role as an object through which people remember Welleran.
A forbidden object taken from its case
DocumentedRold initially says that touching the sword is unlawful. Under Welleran’s influence within his dreams, he breaks the glass and takes the curved blade.
The blade rejoices in battle
DocumentedRold raises the sword with a cry invoking Welleran. The narrative gives the weapon a curved soul and describes its joy amid the fighting.
Context & interpretation
The fictional weapon in the complete title story, especially printed pp. 12–13 and 27–37. This is a literary object, not an identified historical sword or an endorsement of its use.
Original passages
Source 1
The Sword of Welleran and Other Stories
the great glass casket wherein lay the sword of WelleranOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: The Sword of Welleran and Other Stories, “The Sword of Welleran”, printed p. 12
Exact cleared Reader page visually inspected; complete title-story prose, printed pp. 3–37, reviewed. Documents a fictional portrayal, not an actual location, surviving object or verified supernatural event.
- Edition
- IMJ-0256-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0256-E001-P0021
- Original scan leaf
- 32
- Recorded leaf number
- 32
- Current Reader position
- 21
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
The Sword of Welleran and Other Stories
Men look at the sword and remember Welleran.Open this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: The Sword of Welleran and Other Stories, “The Sword of Welleran”, printed p. 13
Exact cleared Reader page visually inspected; complete title-story prose, printed pp. 3–37, reviewed. Documents a fictional portrayal, not an actual location, surviving object or verified supernatural event.
- Edition
- IMJ-0256-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0256-E001-P0022
- Original scan leaf
- 33
- Recorded leaf number
- 33
- Current Reader position
- 22
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 3
The Sword of Welleran and Other Stories
It is not lawful; none may touch the sword.Open this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: The Sword of Welleran and Other Stories, “The Sword of Welleran”, printed p. 30
Exact cleared Reader page visually inspected; complete title-story prose, printed pp. 3–37, reviewed. Documents a fictional portrayal, not an actual location, surviving object or verified supernatural event.
- Edition
- IMJ-0256-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0256-E001-P0039
- Original scan leaf
- 50
- Recorded leaf number
- 50
- Current Reader position
- 39
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 4
The Sword of Welleran and Other Stories
Rold broke the glass casket with his handOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: The Sword of Welleran and Other Stories, “The Sword of Welleran”, printed p. 32
Exact cleared Reader page visually inspected; complete title-story prose, printed pp. 3–37, reviewed. Documents a fictional portrayal, not an actual location, surviving object or verified supernatural event.
- Edition
- IMJ-0256-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0256-E001-P0041
- Original scan leaf
- 52
- Recorded leaf number
- 52
- Current Reader position
- 41
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 5
The Sword of Welleran and Other Stories
Welleran! And the sword of Welleran!Open this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: The Sword of Welleran and Other Stories, “The Sword of Welleran”, printed p. 34
Exact cleared Reader page visually inspected; complete title-story prose, printed pp. 3–37, reviewed. Documents a fictional portrayal, not an actual location, surviving object or verified supernatural event.
- Edition
- IMJ-0256-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0256-E001-P0043
- Original scan leaf
- 54
- Recorded leaf number
- 54
- Current Reader position
- 43
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 6
The Sword of Welleran and Other Stories
the curved soul of that mighty swordOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: The Sword of Welleran and Other Stories, “The Sword of Welleran”, printed p. 35
Exact cleared Reader page visually inspected; complete title-story prose, printed pp. 3–37, reviewed. Documents a fictional portrayal, not an actual location, surviving object or verified supernatural event.
- Edition
- IMJ-0256-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0256-E001-P0046
- Original scan leaf
- 57
- Recorded leaf number
- 57
- Current Reader position
- 46
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 7
The Sword of Welleran and Other Stories
the tears of Rold fell down upon the proud sword but could not wash it clean.Open this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: The Sword of Welleran and Other Stories, “The Sword of Welleran”, printed p. 36
Exact cleared Reader page visually inspected; complete title-story prose, printed pp. 3–37, reviewed. Documents a fictional portrayal, not an actual location, surviving object or verified supernatural event.
- Edition
- IMJ-0256-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0256-E001-P0047
- Original scan leaf
- 58
- Recorded leaf number
- 58
- Current Reader position
- 47
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
