1. White-Hilt, the Sword of Rhydderch Hael (Dyrnwyn, gleddyf Rhydderch Hael): “if a well-born man drew it himself, it burst into flame from its hilt to its tip. And everyone who used to ask for it would receive; but because of this peculiarity everyone used to reject it. And therefore he was called Rhydderch the Generous.”
2. The Hamper of Gwyddno Garanhir (Mwys Gwyddno Garanir): food for one man would be put in it, and when it was opened, food for a hundred men would be found in it.
3. The Horn of Brân Galed from the North (Corn Brân Galed o’r Gogledd): whatever drink might be wished for was found in it.
4. The Chariot of Morgan Mwynfawr (Car Morgan Mwynfawr): if a man went in it, he might wish to be wherever he would, and he would be there quickly.
5. The Halter of Clydno Eiddyn (Cebystr Clydno Eiddin), which was fixed to a staple at the foot of his bed: whatever horse he might wish for, he would find in the halter.
6. The Knife of Llawfrodedd Farchog (Cyllell Llawfrodedd Farchog), which would serve for twenty-four men to eat at table.
7. The Cauldron of Dyrnwch the Giant (Pair Dyrnwch Gawr): if meat for a coward were put in it to boil, it would never boil; but if meat for a brave man were put in it, it would boil quickly (and thus the brave could be distinguished from the cowardly).
8. The Whetstone of Tudwal Tudglyd (Hogalen Tudwal Tudclyd): if a brave man sharpened his sword on the whetstone, then the sword would certainly kill any man from whom it drew blood. If a cowardly man used the whetstone, though, his sword would refuse to draw blood at all.
9. The Coat of Padarn Beisrudd (Pais Badarn Beisrydd): if a well-born man put it on, it would be the right size for him; if a churl, it would not go upon him.
10-11. The Crock and the Dish of Rhygenydd the Cleric (Gren a desgyl Rhygenydd Ysgolhaig): whatever food might be wished for in them, it would be found.
12. The Chessboard of Gwenddoleu ap Ceidio (Gwyddbwyll Gwenddoleu ap Ceidio): if the pieces were set, they would play by themselves. The board was of gold, and the men of silver.
13 The Mantle of Arthur in Cornwall (Llen Arthyr yng Nghernyw): whoever was under it could not be seen, and he could see everyone.
– from early Welsh Legends, this list is the “Standard version” according to Wikipedia
“Do you remember when I asked you to marry me? Do you remember what you said? You said with all my heart. That’s what you said Guinevere. No subterfuge, no trickery.”
Of all the men she spoke of, you are the only one she accorded any respect. Indeed, there was even a sense of affection and attachment. Perhaps the very fact that you are not attainable makes you that much more special to her, for I would swear the Lady loves you not as a brother, but as a consort – and seeks other men to replace you because you are inaccessible to her.
Persia Woolley “Guinevere: Queen of the Summer Stars”
In June myself and Dame Leslie bought Shadows Over Camelot to play on vacation. Really good fun game, totally recommend it.
The game came with a set of miniatures, which I have been (slowly) painting. One group we have the Knights of the Roundtable (left to right), Percival, Palamedes, Kay, Arthur, Gawain, Galahad and Tristran. Plus the treasures, Lancelot’s armour, the Holy Grail and Excalibur. Not pictured are the Picts, Saxons and catapults.
We’ll definitely be getting the expansion to the game next year which will have a Sir Bedivere miniature, can’t wait!
Ahh I envy you a lot! I don’t have people to play with (and I don’t know a lot about the game) but these are beautiful!
The only thing harder than finding your real-life true love is trying to find your literary true love.
Be careful while reading British Literature, with its crop of brooding male leads. Some of them are sweethearts who just struggle to communicate their feelings. Some of them are total psychopaths.
This book boyfriend catalog highlights all the brooding heroes (and villains) from the major schools and time periods of Brit Lit, ranked from least to most date-able. Part One: Medieval/Renaissance.
Pros: I guess…. he might have been a nice guy, if he hadn’t been the victim of raging antisemitism, both at the hands of Christopher Marlowe and all the characters in the play.
Cons: Bit of a psychopath: kills some nuns, kills his daughter, kills some monks; Betrays everyone
8. The Pardoner, from The Canterbury Tales
Pros: Tells my favorite story in the Tales; Since his gender and sexuality are ambiguous, he’s subverting the patriarchy- Whoo!
Cons: Poor personal hygiene; disgusting clothes; terrible hair; totally corrupt; relishes in his own greediness.
7. Redcrosse Knight, from The Faerie Queen
Pros: Most date-able guy in The Faerie Queen (which isn’t saying much- you really want to hook up with the character Contemplation??); Last guy since HP to duel a wizard and a dragon; Becomes the patron saint of England
Cons: Obsessed with female chastity; Questionable past relationship with a witch; Will have to be long-distance, as he is bound to serve The Faerie Queen
6. King Arthur, from Le Morte d’Arthur
Clive Owen in “King Arthur,” (2004).
Pros: Skilled military commander; Paragon of chivalry; Will return to save England in its hour of need; Good with his sword (um, that’s not how I meant it, but if you want to go there…)
Cons: Incestuous relationship with his sister; bad at being married; has no qualms about killing every newborn baby in his kingdom because Merlin said it was a good idea.
5. Cu Chulainn, from The Ulster Cycle
He’s the one carrying, not being carried btw
Pros: Irish accent; Demigod; Fights off an entire army when he’s 17; Important symbolic figure in the Irish Nationalist movement
Cons: Bit too lumberjack for my tastes; Got his name from killing a dog(!!!); Kills his son; Uncontrollable rage; Can’t deal with naked women
4. Sir Lancelot, from Le Morte d’Arthur
Michael Vartan in “The Mists of Avalon” (2001)
Pros: Killed 20 knights in a single fight; Willing to die for love; Part of the quest for the Holy Grail (you can quote Monty Python endlessly with him)
Cons: Brings about the destruction of Camelot; Not too concerned about pursuing married women; Actually goes insane for two years when separated from his bae
3. Tristan, from Tristan and Iseult
James Franco in “Tristan and Isolde,” 2006
Pros: Hipster Lancelot: Tristan fell for his leigelord’s wife before it was cool; Not just a valiant knight, also a skilled harpist (sensitive side)
Cons: Creepily marries another woman named Iseult in order to feel closer to his Iseult;
2. Fionn mac Cumhaill, from The Fenian Cycle
Pros: Irish accent; friends with a fucking leprechaun; wisest man on Earth; will return to save Ireland in its hour of need; responsible for the super cool Giant’s Causeway; greatest meet-cute ever: caught a deer and turned it into his wife
Cons: Are there any???
1. Satan, from Paradise Lost
Pros: Ridiculously eloquent; Seductive; Bright and intelligent; Tortured and misunderstood; Maybe not evil so much as… antiauthoritarian; One of the most complex characters in all literature
Cons: He’s Satan.
Thanks for reading! Next installment: the men of Shakespeare.
(In case anyone is concerned about maintaining pure British-ness, I focused on Morte d’Arthur instead of the French Arthurian sagas. Same for Tristan and Iseult– it had roots in Celtic mythology before becoming a French chivalric romance.)
Arthurian Legends 