Tales Of Wales
1: Vicars
& Tramps 2: The Lady of the Lake
2: The Lady of the Lake & the Physicians
of Myddfai
In the 12th century a young man fell in
love with a woman who emerged from the magic lake – Llyn
y Fan Fach, in the hills above the village of Myddfai. He was
allowed to marry her providing he was faithful, didn't give her
three needless blows, nor touch her with iron. She came with a
dowry of goats, cattle, sheep and horses. They were very happy
and she bore him three sons.
Unfortunately he struck his wife once
when she laughed during a funeral, once when she cried at a wedding,
and then (to cap it all) he accidently touched her with the metal
bit of a bridle as she helped him to harness a horse.
She cried,“You have struck
me the last blow. Farewell!” Turning her back on him,
she called to the animals to follow her, and disappeared into
the lake. The distraught husband drowned in the deep waters of
the lake in his frantic search for her.
The lady’s three sons often went
to the lake, and one day she re-emerged and told Rhiwallon, the
eldest, that he must become a man of medicine and be "a
benefactor to mankind by giving relief from pain and misery through
healing all manner of diseases".
Rhiwallon and his sons Cadwgan, Gruffydd
and Einion all became physicians. Their fame spread. They compiled
a treatise published in The Red Book of Hergest, containing
prescriptions such as this cure for coughs:-
Coarsely powdered mustard seed boiled with figs in strong ale
– also for rheumatism, chilblains, and for preventing
drunkenness.
1: Vicars
& Tramps | Joking
Aside
The story of Lady of the Lake is a common
old Welsh folk tale and it could possibly relate right back to
early race memories of meetings between 2 cultures – the
Celts and the people of the Bronze Age. In some versions Rhiwallon
is described as tall and fair and the lady as small and dark –
apparently typical of both races. Bronze Age people often lived
on or beside lakes and were noted for their healing powers and
understanding of herbal remedies etc. The warlike Celts arrived
with the ability to forge iron. Their iron weapons would have
struck fear into the hearts of the indigenous people – thus
being ‘touched’ with iron could mean death.
Tourist Info:
Llyn y Fan Fach (grid ref SN 802 218) is high up on the escarpment
of the Black Mountain (not to be confused with the Black Mountains)
at the western end of the Brecon Beacons. Not accessible by bike,
but cycling in the Tywi Valley to the west is recommended –
around Rhandirmwyn, Cilycwm, Llandovery, Myddfai, Llangadog, Bethlehem,
and Llandeilo etc. If you're into hill climbing, try going up
around the hamlets of Capel Gwynfe, Llanddeunan, Talsarn and the
moorland road to Trecastle. Unfortunately, the Cross Inn at Talsarn
is no more. Llandovery would make a good base for a short cycling
holiday.
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– the medieval folklore stories of Wales