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TheThree Welsh Romances (Welsh:Y Tair Rhamant) are threeMiddle Welsh tales associated with theMabinogion. They are versions ofArthurian tales that also appear in the work ofChrétien de Troyes. Critics have debated whether the Welsh Romances are based on Chrétien's poems or if they derive from a shared original. The Romances survive in theWhite Book of Rhydderch and theRed Book of Hergest, both from the 14th century, though the material is at least as old as Chrétien.
The Three Welsh Romances are:
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Owain, or the Lady of the Fountain is analogous toChrétien de Troyes'Old French poemYvain, the Knight of the Lion. It survives in theWhite Book of Rhydderch and theRed Book of Hergest, both from the 14th century. The tale's hero,Yvain, is based on the historical figureOwain mab Urien. The romance consists of a hero marrying his love, theLady of the Fountain, but losing her when he neglects her for knightly exploits. With the aid of a lion he saves from a serpent, he finds a balance between his marital and social duties and rejoins his wife.
It was once thought thatOwain andYvain were derived from a common lost source, but it now seems more likely thatOwain was directly or indirectly based on Chrétien's poem, with local literary touches added to appeal to a Welsh audience. It is still possible that Chrétien in turn had a Welsh source, evidence of which can be found in certain episodes in theLife ofSt. Mungo (also called St Kentigern), where the saint's father Owain tries to woo his mother,Lot of Lothian's daughter, and which exhibit parallels to the narrative ofYvain.
Geraint and Enid, also known by the titleGeraint, son of Erbin, is analogous toChrétien de Troyes' 12th-century poemErec and Enide; some scholars think the two derive from a common lost source, while others believeGeraint is based directly or indirectly onErec (though Chrétien may have had a Celtic source). It survives in theWhite Book of Rhydderch and theRed Book of Hergest, both from the 14th century.
The romance concerns the love ofGeraint, one ofKing Arthur's men, and the beautifulEnid. Geraint, son of KingErbin of Dumnonia, courts Enid. The couple marry and settle down together, but rumors spread that Geraint has gone soft. Upset about this, Enid cries to herself that she is not a true wife for keeping her husband from his chivalric duties, but Geraint misunderstands her comment to mean she has been unfaithful to him. He makes her join him on a long and dangerous trip and commands her not to speak to him. Enid disregards this command several times to warn her husband of danger. Several adventures follow that prove Enid's love and Geraint's fighting ability. The couple is happily reconciled in the end, and Geraint inherits his father's kingdom.
Enid does not appear in Welsh sources outside of this romance, but Geraint was already a popular figure. Some scholars hold that theErec from Chrétien's poem is based on Geraint, but others think the Welsh author simply replaced an unfamiliar French name with one his audience would recognize and associate with heroism.
Alfred, Lord Tennyson based two of hisIdylls of the King onGeraint and Enid. They were originally published as a single poem called "Enid" in 1859; he later split it into two poems, "The Marriage of Geraint" and "Geraint and Enid".
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Peredur son of Efrawg is associated withChrétien de Troyes' unfinished romancePerceval, the Story of the Grail, but it contains many striking differences from that work, most notably the absence of the French poem's central object, thegrail. Versions of the text survive in four manuscripts from the 14th century.
The tale's protagonistPeredur travels toKing Arthur's court to become a knight. The young Peredur embarks on a series of adventures, culminating in his battle against thenine sorceresses.
