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). 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.
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,
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Notes
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Connected manuscripts
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Manuscript | Language | Location | Date of Production |
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Aberystwyth National Library of Wales Cardiff MS 2.83 (RMWL MS 6) | Welsh | Aberystwyth, Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru | 1550 | Aberystwyth National Library of Wales Cardiff MS 3.4 (RMWL Cardiff MS 5) | Welsh | Aberystwyth, Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru | 1527 | Aberystwyth National Library of Wales Cwrtmawr MS 20A | Welsh | Aberystwyth, Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru | 1750 - 1782 | Aberystwyth National Library of Wales Cwrtmawr MS 314-315D | Welsh | Aberystwyth, Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru | 1860 - 1877 | Aberystwyth National Library of Wales Llanover MS 13075B | Welsh | Aberystwyth, Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru | 1580 - 1600 | Aberystwyth National Library of Wales Llanstephan MS 117 | Welsh | Aberystwyth, Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru | 1544 - 1552 | Aberystwyth National Library of Wales Llanstephan MS 171 | Welsh | Aberystwyth, Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru | 1574 | Aberystwyth National Library of Wales Llanstephan MS 2. | Latin Middle Welsh | Aberystwyth, Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru | 1451 - 1475 | Aberystwyth National Library of Wales Llanstephan MS 92 | Welsh | Aberystwyth, Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru | 1500 - 1800 | Aberystwyth National Library of Wales Peniarth MS 120 | Welsh | Aberystwyth, Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru | 1775 - 1800 | Oxford Bodleian Library Jesus College MS. 111 | Welsh | Oxford, Bodleian Library | 1375 - 1415 | Oxford Bodleian Library Jesus College MS. 20 | Welsh | Oxford, Bodleian Library | 1400 - 1425 |
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