Tales Of Wales: page 2
Page 1: Vicars & Tramps | Page 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.
Page 1: Vicars & Tramps
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.
Photo: Silage bales take revenge on local farmers in the Brecon Beacons National Park!
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 (Ordnance Survey landranger map 146). If you're into hill climbing, try going up around the hamlets of Capel Gwynfe, Llanddeunan, Talsarn and the moorland road to Trecastle (Ordnance Survey landranger map 160). Llandovery would make a good base for a short cycling holiday.