Gilfaethwy: a Cymric god of the Mabinogi

Synonyms:
Cym:

Gilfaethwy fab Dôn is best known from the Mabinogi of Math fab Mathonwy where he appears in trickster guise.

Math fab Mathonwy was the arglwydd of Gwynedd and he had this cyneddf; that he could not survive were his feet not in the lap of a maiden, save when this was prevented by the advent of war. The maiden currently with him was Goewin daughter of Pebin of Dôl Pebin in Arfon; she benig the fairest maiden of her age. Now, Math's particular cyneddf prevented him from making the customary circuit of his country and he had to remain in his main llys of Caer Dathyl in Arfon; thus Gilfaethwy mab Dôn and Gwydion mab Dôn, the sons of his sister, both members of his household, making this circuit in his stead.

Goewin dwelt with Math constantly, but Gilfaethwy mab Dôn had set his affections upon her, loving her so much that he knew not what he should do on her account. His appearance and demeanour were altered by his love for her, such that it was no longer easy to recognize him.

One day Gwydion, his brother, gazed intently at Gilfaethwy and enquired: 'what aileth thee?'. Gilfaethwy replied, 'what seest thou in me?'

'I see,' Gwydion responded. 'that thou hast lost thy appearance and form, what aileth thee?'

'My lord brother,' Gilfaethwy answered, 'that which affects me it would not profit me to tell anyone.'

'What is that, dear soul?'

'You know that Math mab Mathonwy has this cynneddf: that if men whisper together, no matter how low the tone of their voices, if it is carried by the wind then Math will hear it.'

'Yes,' responded Gwydion, 'now hold thy tongue for I know thy intent; thou art in love with Goewin.' Realizing that his brother knew his intent Gilfaethwy gave the heaviest sigh that the world had heard.

'Be silent dear soul, do not sigh,' commented Gwydion. 'For it is not by this that you will triumph. I will cause the rising of Gwynedd and Powys and Deheubarth to seek the maided; be of glad heart for I will make it come to pass.'

With this they both went to Math mab Mathonwy. 'Arglwydd,' said Gwydion, 'I have hearth that there have come to the south beasts the like of which this island has never known before.'

'What are they called?' Math enquired.

'Hogs, lord.' Responded Gwydion.

'What manner of beasts are these?'

'They are small animals and their meat is better even than beef,' responded Gwydion. 'They are small creatures and they change their names. They are now termed swine.'

'To whom do they belong?'

'They are the possessions of Pryderi mab Pwyll and they were sent to him from Annwfn by Arawn the king of Annwfn (and they still retain that name; half hog, half pig).'

Math enquired as to how the beasts could be obtained. Gwydion responded that he and Gilfaethwy would travel with ten others, each in the guise of bards and though their travails would not be evil they would return with the magical beasts. Coming to Pwyll's Llys they were dined and Gwydion entertained the arglwydd of the cantrefs of the south. At the end of the evening Gwydion asked for a boon, that he might have Pryderi's pigs. Pryderi refused, saying that he had made a covenant that he would not allow the swine to move from his land until they had doubled in number. Gwydion persuaded Pryderi to hold-off his decision until the following day when he would be presented with an exchange for the swine. That night, by dint of his magic arts Gwydion engendered twelve chargers, arrayed with saddles and golden trappings, twelve greyhounds with golden collars and golden leashes and twelve gold shields made from mushrooms. The following morning these were shown to Pryderi who readily accepted them in return for his swine. Gwydion, Gilfaethwy took the pigs, urging their companions onwards for they knew that the glamour Gwydion had wrought would not last. At Arllechwedd they housed the swine in a sty and made their way to Math's Llys at Caer Dathyl. There, word reached them that Pryderi was preparing for war because of the wrong that had been done to them. Whereupon they heard the trumping of horns and the surge of a host. At this they donned their arms and made their way to Penardd in Arfon.

That night Gwydion mab Dôn and Gilfaethwy his brother made their way back to Caer Dathyl whereupon Gilfaethwy took to Math's bed. He bade Goewin remain by force even as he discourteously turned the other maidens from the room. That night Gilfaethwy slept with Goewin, taking away her essence.

When the day greeted them on the morrow Gwydion and Gilfaethwy returned to where Math mab Matholwch was with his host. After taking counsel, Math prepared for battle between Maenor Penardd and Maenor Coed Alun where the host of Pryderi attacked them. The slaughter was great on all sides though the men of Deheubarth were forced to flee. The hosts of Gwynedd followed them to Nantcall where there was a great slaughter and to secure peace Pryderi gave hostages Gwrgi Gwastra and twenty-three others. They journeyed in peace until they reached Traeth Mawr; however as they reached Melenryd the archers could not refrain from shooting at them. Whereupon Pryderi despatched an embassy to Math to pray him to forbid his men from attacking and leave the outcome of the battle to himself and Gwydion mab Dôn who had been the ultimate cause of the battle. Gwydion agrees to fight Pryderi in single combat and by orce of strength and fierceness and by dint of his magic and illusion Gwydion was victorious and Pryderi was slain. He was buried in Maentwrog, above Rhydfelen and there his grave lies to this day. Thus were the men of Gwynedd victorious and as the despondent men of the southlands left for home their captives were returned to them. Whereupon Math mab Mathonwy returned to Caer Dathyl whilst Gilfaethwy mab Dôn and those of Math's household who were with him went to make a circuit of Gwynedd, as was their wont, whithout approaching the Llys.

Math retired to his own chamber and caused a place to be prepared where he could recline so that he might put his feet in his maiden's lap. But as Goewin approached she said: 'Lord, seek another to hold thy feet, for I am now a woman.'

'What does this mean?' Math enquired of her.

'An attack, my lord,' that was forced upon me in public and I was not silent whilst this happened. There were none in the Llys who did not know what befell me. This was caused by thy nephews, the sons of thy sister, Gwydion mab Dôn and Gilfaethwy mab Dôn. Violence was perpetrated on me and shame unto thee; for he slept with me and this in thy chamber and in thy bed.'

'Yea,' responded Matholwch, 'whatever I can do I will do. I shall make restitution untoo thee first and then I will have amends made unto myself. And thou, I shall take thee for a wife and and all my wealth and my lands shall be given unto your hands.'

Gwydion and Gilfaethwy dared not come near the Llys and they remained within the confines of the land until it was forbidden to provide them with meat and drink. Initially they did not approach Math until, finally, they were forced to seek an audience.

'Lord,' they said, 'good day to thee.'

'Indeed,' responded Math, 'is it to make restitution that thou have come?'

'Arglwydd,' they said, 'we are at thy will.'

'My will would be not to have lost so many men and so many arms as I did. Thou could not compensate me for my shame, let alone the death of Pryderi. And since you came here to be at my will I shall commence thy punishment.'

Taking his wand Matholwch struck Gilfaetthwy and transformed him into a hind. Then he hastrily seized Gwydion, lest he escape. He struck him also with his wand and transformed him into a stag. 'Now that you are in bonds,' Matholwch commented 'I will make you travel together and posess the nature of the animals whose forms you bear. And in the time such beasts will bear offspring, the same will happen to thee. A year from today come hither to me.'

A year to the day there came a loud noise beneath the chamber walls and there came the barking sound of the court dogs.

'Look and see what lies outside' commanded Matholwch of a courtier.

The man returned, saying 'I have looked, my lord, and without there is a stag a doe and a fawn.'

Math arose and went outside. When he arrived he saw three animals: stag, doe and a strong an lively fawn. Then he raised his staff and saying 'he who was a doe last year shall be a wild boar this year and he who was a stag last year shall be a sow this year.' With this he struck them both with his wand. 'The son, however, I shall take to raise and baptize.' The fawn was made man and named Hydwn (Noble Deer).

Then Math turned to the swine and said: 'Go and be a wild boar and a wild sow. And the nature of woodland swine will be your nature. A year hence return to this wall and bring your offspring with thee.'

A year hence and the sound of barking dogs was heard by the Llys' outer walls. The court assembled and Math went forth. When he reached them he saw three swine: a wild hog, a sow and a well-grown piglet; who was well grown for his age.

'Yea,' said Math, 'this one I shall take into my household and cause to be baptized.' Striking the piglet with his wand and the beast was transformed into a tall fair-haired youth who he named Hychddwn (Noble Swine). 'As for you,' Math turned to the swine, 'he who was a wild boar last year shall be a she-wolf and he who was a woodland sow last year shall be a wolf-dog this year.' With this he struck them with his wand transforming them into wolf and she-wolf. Saying 'thou shalt share the nature of the creatures whose semblance you bear. Return a year hence to this spot under the Llys' walls.

That very same day, a year hence a commotion and a barking of dogs was herd beneath the walls of his chamber. Math rose and ventured outside where he saw a wolf a she-wolf and a strong wolf-cub along with them. 'This one shall I take,' said Math, 'and I shall have him baptized. There is a name prepared for him already and that is Bleiddwn (Noble Wolf).' Then, turning to Gwydion and Gilfaethwy he said: 'Three sons were born to thee and these three are:

Tri Mab Gilfaethwy en-wir,
Tri chenryssaddad cywir,
Bleiddwn, Hydwn, Hychddwn Hir

Three sons of Gilfaethwy the wicked,
Three champions, great
Bleiddwn, Hydwn and Hychddwn the tall.

With this he struck them both with his wand transforming them back into themselves.

'Men,' Math said, 'for the wrong thou didst to me, sufficient has been your punishment and dishonour, for thou begat offspring one on the other.' Then he bade that the two men be anointed, their heads washed and rainment prepared for them.

When this was done Math had Gwydion and Gilfaethwy attend him. 'Men,' he said, 'peach have thou attained, and thou shalt likewise have friendship. Now give counsel unto me; which maiden shall I seek?'

Gwydion urges Math to seek out their sister, 'Arianrhod ferch Dôn your niece, the daughter of your sister.' The role of Gilfaethwy ends here but the tale itself continues with the testing of Arianrhod and the adventures of Gwydion and Lleu Llaw Gyffes. The full translaton of the tale of Math mab Mathonwy can be found in the Texts and Translations area of this site.

In many respects Gilfaethwy is one of the minor members of the Plant Dôn and though mentioned in the Cymric genealogies: Bonedd yr Arwyr (Peniarth MS 127) Gilfaethwy is only really known from the Mabinogi of Math mab Matholwch where his function is really to advance the tale of his brother, Gwydion.

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