Welsh Version A: Chwedleu Seith Doethon Rufein

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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's existence to the Empress; and the omission of the name of the young seer who solves the mystery in Sapientes. For a Welsh literary audience, already familiar with the figure of 'Myrddin' (Merlin) as a Wild Man of the Woods character (predating Geoffrey of Monmouth's Vita Merlini), the choice to leave the seer-child anonymous may have been an expedient way of avoiding confusion.

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	Gadsden (2020), Evans (1903), Huws (2000), Try (2015)
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
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Connected manuscripts

Manuscript Language Location Date of Production 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