Roma and Lupus
Rome, and the Wolf
Note: This story combines a variant of the tale Roma with another story, Lupus, which is further embedded in the narrative and unique to the Welsh Version A text.
Roma (variation)
A 'rich strong city in the East' is governed by seven wise men, whose wisdom and cleverness lead to the city's riches and success. The city is eventually besieged by a 'cruel strong king', and the seven wise men defend the city well, but cannot repel the enemy forces. At last the king promises to retreat and leave the population in peace, if only the citizens of the city will send out the seven wise men. The foolish citizens agree to this, and seize and bind the seven sages. But before they can hand them over to the wicked king, one of the sages stands and speaks. "If you deliver us to the enemy', he says, 'the same thing will happen as when the wolf deceived the shepherd.' And (exactly echoing the frame tale) the people ask, 'How was that?' The wise man explains.
Lupus
Once there was a wolf who was kept from killing a shepherd's flock by the shepherd's loyal, ferocious dogs, who gave the wolf no rest. The wolf, changing tactics, instead approached the shepherd directly, and promised that he would leave the sheep alone in everlasting peace, if only the shepherd would give the dogs to him. The foolish shepherd agreed, and caught and tied up his dogs, and left them for the wolf. The wold killed the dogs, then all the sheep, and finally the shepherd.
The citizens of the city, understanding the moral message, refused to believe the wicked king's words, freed the sages, and at last rose up and defeated their enemies.
| Note |
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As mentioned above, Lupus is unique to the Welsh Version A text, as is the accompanying revision of Roma. Unlike Roma or the hybrid Senescalcus and Roma, this iteration of Roma is told by the empress. Gadsden (2021) muses on how the narrative changes here, not to mention the additional embedded tale, reflect an authorial urge to make the tale's function more logical and linear. |
| Critical Literature |
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| Gadsden (2020), Gadsden (2021), Nishimura (2001) |
| Roma and Lupus appears in the following versions and secondary versions |
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| Roma and Lupus appears in the following manuscripts |
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