Mabinogion

mab-i-no'gi-on, as used commonly, the medieval fairy tales and romances of the Welsh. The word Mabinogion is a plural form of mabinogi. The fact that Mabinogi means literally "boy's story" has given rise to the idea that any old Welsh story may be included under this general title. As a matter of fact, the word mabinog was used technically to designate a youth who was under the instruction of a regular bard, but had not yet acquired the art of writing verse, and mabinogion was doubtless the collection of incidents and tales upon which the mabinog's instruction was based,--his "stock in trade" John Rhys calls it. Until toward the middle of the nineteenth century these Welsh tales were unavailable, except to those who understood the Welsh language. Although a spoken language, Welsh was neglected by the learned unless themselves natives of Wales. Both Southey and Scott had urged that the Welsh stories be translated into English. This work was done by Lady Charlotte Guest, 1838-49. A later and more convenient edition was published in 1877. It contains twelve tales.