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direct from Lady Guest's English version into German and French; but the only satisfactory translation, direct from the Welsh texts, into either of these languages has been that of Professor J. Loth (Les Mabinogion, Paris, 1913); a masterly and brilliant work to which we have been indebted on several occasions. The production of a complete translation, with textual variations, has been rendered possible only by the work of Dr. Gwenogvryn Evans. In 1887 he, in conjunction with the late Professor Sir John Rhys, published, through the Oxford University Press, a diplomatic text, entitled The Text of the Mabinogion and other Welsh Tales from the Red Book of Hergest (hereinafter referred to under the abbreviation of R.B.). In 1907 he published, as vol. vii of the series of Old Welsh Texts, a diplomatic text of the White Book Mabinogion (hereinafter referred to under the abbreviation W.B.), this being a reproduction of the versions contained in the Peniarth MSS.

The translation which follows is based primarily upon these two diplomatic texts of Dr. Gwenogvryn Evans; and we may be permitted to express here our deep sense of the enormous debt, hitherto practically unrequited, which Wales and all students of romance owe to him for his work.

As Professor Loth has said, the appearance of the White Book text ‘has rendered necessary a serious revision of the text’. Moreover, for the purpose of study, both of literature and of manners, an accurate and full version is needed, without any expurgations or toning down of passages which, at first sight, may appear rough.