Welsh Version A: Chwedleu Seith Doethon Rufein: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 15:05, 14 July 2025

The Welsh version of the Seven Sages narrative, Chwedleu Seith Doethon Rufein, derives from the French Version A Sept Sages tradition, according to Gadsden (2020). The Welsh redactor - identified in one manuscript as 'Llewelyn Offeiriad' (Llewelyn the Priest) - was clearly conversant in French literary style, and the text echoes elements of the French parent text blended with traditional Welsh narrative forms and structures (sometimes replicating passages from earlier Welsh texts, such as Culhwch ac Olwen, word for word). The redactor also introduced several distinctive elements into the text that distinguish it from other Version A texts. This is immediately obvious from the embedded tales. After the first six tales, which follow the expected Version A pattern, the text then includes Ramus - a tale unique to the Welsh version, replacing Avis - and also a distinctive version of Roma. The rest of the tales are in an unconventional order, and, according to Gadsden, 'some are modified, with their moral or message shifting, thereby altering their impact' (p. 65). This includes the rare event of a story - Roma - that is traditionally told by one of the Empress instead being told by one of the sages.

Other noteworthy details include: the emperor's first wife is given a name, Eua, or Eve (possibly a misreading of a passage from Paris Bibliothèque nationale de France, français 2137, according to Gadsden, p. 65); the inclusion of the witch who reveals the emperor's son,

General Information
Language within Version
Narrative / Scholarly Group
Parent Versions	A (Seven Sages)
Child Versions	Early Modern and Modern Welsh Version A, Middle Welsh Version A
Author	Llewelyn the Priest
Title
Siglum of the version of the Seven Sages
Version Number
Branch of the tradition

Language & Composition
Original language of version
Translated into (languages)
Place of composition
Date of composition
Source for date of composition

Literature & Editions
Modern research literature
Modern Editions

Recorded branch of this secondary version
A (Seven Sages) French Version A: Roman des Sept Sages Group U Group V Group W Group X Group Y Group Z Gaelic Version A German Version A: Allegatio/Libellus Latin Version A Latin Version A: Allegatio / Libellus Middle English Version A Midland Version Y Group Northern English Southern English Old Swedish Version A: Sju vise mästare Old Swedish Redaction A Old Swedish Redaction B Older Scots Version A: Buke of the Sevyne Sagis Welsh Version A: Chwedleu Seith Doethon Rufein Early Modern and Modern Welsh Version A Middle Welsh Version A

Connected prints
No connected prints

Adaptations
Adapted from (version)
Adapted into (version)
Source for composition and adaptation information

Languages in Use
Language of text
Regional or specific language of version

Notes
Note
Notes on motifs
Notes on the frame

Pattern of embedded stories in this version

Connected manuscripts

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 {{Secondary Version
-|Has Description=The Welsh version of the ''Seven Sages'' narrative, ''Chwedleu Seith Doethon Rufein,'' derives from the [[French Version A: Roman des Sept Sages|French Version A ''Sept Sages'']] tradition, according to [[Gadsden (2020)]]. However, the Welsh redactor introduced several distinctive elements into the text that distinguish it from other Version A texts. This is immediately obvious from the embedded tales. After the first six tales, which follow the expected Version A pattern, the text then includes Ramus ''-'' a tale unique to the Welsh version - and also a distinctive version of Roma. The rest of the tales are in an unconventional order, and, according to Gadsden, 'some are modified, with their moral or message shifting, thereby altering their impact'  (p. 65). This includes the rare event of a story that is traditionally told by one of the '''sages/the Empress instead being told by the Empress/one of the sages.'''
+|Has Description=The Welsh version of the ''Seven Sages'' narrative, ''Chwedleu Seith Doethon Rufein,'' derives from the [[French Version A: Roman des Sept Sages|French Version A ''Sept Sages'']] tradition, according to [[Gadsden (2020)]]. The Welsh redactor - identified in one manuscript as 'Llewelyn Offeiriad' (Llewelyn the Priest) - was clearly conversant in French literary style, and the text echoes elements of the French parent text blended with traditional Welsh narrative forms and structures (sometimes replicating passages from earlier Welsh texts, such as ''Culhwch ac Olwen,'' word for word). The redactor also introduced several distinctive elements into the text that distinguish it from other Version A texts. This is immediately obvious from the embedded tales. After the first six tales, which follow the expected Version A pattern, the text then includes Ramus ''-'' a tale unique to the Welsh version, replacing Avis - and also a distinctive version of Roma. The rest of the tales are in an unconventional order, and, according to Gadsden, 'some are modified, with their moral or message shifting, thereby altering their impact'  (p. 65). This includes the rare event of a story - Roma - that is traditionally told by one of the Empress instead being told by one of the sages.
-Other noteworthy details include: the name of the emperor's first wife (Eua, or Eve - possibly a misreading of a passage from [[Paris Bibliothèque nationale de France, français 2137]], according to Gadsden, p. 65); the inclusion of the witch who reveals the emperor's son,
+Other noteworthy details include: the emperor's first wife is given a name, Eua, or Eve (possibly a misreading of a passage from [[Paris Bibliothèque nationale de France, français 2137]], according to Gadsden, p. 65); the inclusion of the witch who reveals the emperor's son,
+|Has Author=Llewelyn the Priest
 }}
 {{EmbeddedStory