The Mabinogion (Oxford World's Classics) (57 page)

²
Cynedyr the Wild
: he is later described as a son of
Hetwn Glafyriog
(the Leprous),
p. 199
.

³
Sawyl High Head
: one of the Three Arrogant Men of the Island of Britain (
TYP
23).

⁴
Gwalchmai son of Gwyar
: see note to
p. 66
.

⁵
Gwrhyr Interpreter of Languages
: Welsh
gwalstawd
is derived from Old English
wealhstod
, meaning ‘interpreter’. For a discussion of the
latimarii
or interpreters in twelfth-century Wales, and their possible role in transmitting narrative between the Welsh and Anglo-Norman courts, see C. Bullock-Davies,
Professional Interpreters and the Matter of Britain
(Cardiff, 1966).

⁶
Bedwini the Bishop
: the Chief of Bishops in Celli Wig in Cornwall, according to the triads (
TYP
1). He also appears in ‘Rhonabwy’s Dream’ (pp.
217
and
225
) as one of Arthur’s counsellors.

¹
Gwenhwyfar … Gwenhwyfach
: they are associated in the triads—the Three Sinister Hard Slaps of the Island of Britain (
TYP
53)—where it is claimed that the battle of Camlan occurred as a result of Gwenhwyfach slapping her sister. For Gwenhwyfar, see note to
p. 68
.

²
Clydno Eidin
: Clydno (meaning ‘distinguished fame’) was one of the leaders of the ‘Old North’.

³
Eurolwyn
: literally means ‘golden wheel’.

⁴
Indeg
: one of Arthur’s Three Concubines (
TYP
57).

⁵
Morfudd: a twin to Owain son of Urien Rheged, while her lover was Cynon son of Clydno (
TYP
70 and 71). Urien Rheged is the father of Owain, hero of ‘The Lady of the Well’ (see note to
p. 66
).

⁶
until the Day of Judgement
: the incident is described on
p. 207
.

⁷
Neol Hang-Cock
: Welsh
cŷn
(‘chisel’ or ‘wedge’) is also used in the obscene sense, as here, to mean ‘penis’.