Welsh Version A: Chwedleu Seith Doethon Rufein
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,
Recorded Branch of This Secondary Version
- A (Seven Sages)
- Dutch Version A
- French Version A: Roman des Sept Sages
- Gaelic Version A
- German Version A: Allegatio/Libellus
- Italian Version A
- Latin Version A
- Middle English Version A
- Old Swedish Version A: Sju vise mästare
- Older Scots Version A: Buke of the Sevyne Sagis
- Welsh Version A: Chwedleu Seith Doethon Rufein
Pattern of Embedded Stories in This Version
| Has Short Title | Has Sequence Number | Has Narrator | Has Name Variation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arbor – The Tree | 1 | Empress | |
| Canis – The Faithful Dog | 2 | Bancillas | Bantillas |
| Aper – The Boar and the Fruit | 3 | Empress | |
| Medicus – The Doctor | 4 | Auguste | Augustus |
| Gaza – The Treasure | 5 | Empress | |
| Puteus – The Well | 6 | Lentulus | Lentillus |
| Ramus – The Branch | 7 | Empress | |
| Roma and Lupus | 8 | Malquidras | Malcwidas |
| Virgilius – Virgil's Marvels | 9 | Empress | |
| Vidua – The Widow | 10 | Cato | Catomas |
| Sapientes – The Wise Men | 11 | Empress | |
| Inclusa – The Imprisoned Wife | 12 | Jesse | |
| Senescalcus – The Seneschal | 13 | Empress | |
| Tentamina – The Test | 14 | Meron | Martinus |
Connected Manuscripts