Texts

Esgyniad Mair i’r Nef ‘Assumption of Mary’

  • Middle Welsh
  • prose

Welsh versions of the Transitus Mariae Beatae.

Scope
multiple versions
Manuscripts
Version A
pp. 179–198
A somewhat free translation by Huw Pennant, who used the Latin version from the Legenda Aurea.
Version B
pp. 136–141
Based on a version of the Transitus Beatae Mariae which Tischendorf, in his Apocalypses Apocryphae, called version A.
Version group C Versions corresponding to version B of the Transitus Beatae Mariae, although within this group there are further variations of some significance.
pp. 27—32
A copy which is found embedded in an account of the miracles of Virgin Mary (Gwyrthyeu e Wynvydedic Veir). It corresponds to version B of the Transitus Beatae Mariae.
ff. 69v–f77r
It corresponds to version B of the Transitus Beatae Mariae.
pp. 1–7
J. G. Evans suggests that this text, along with others in this section of the MS, is a copy from Jesus College 119.
ff. 38r–40r
To an extent, this version corresponds to version B of the Transitus Beatae Mariae, but Williams (BBCS 18) has argued that part of it additionally relies on an independent Welsh translation of a different Latin original. This copy precedes Gwyrthyeu e Wynvydedic Veir.
ff. 169v–172v
Close to Pen. 14, but not an altogether satisfactory text. This copy precedes Gwyrthyeu e Wynvydedic Veir.
Language
  • Middle Welsh
Form
prose (primary)

Classification

Sources

Primary sources Text editions and/or modern translations – in whole or in part – along with publications containing additions and corrections, if known. Diplomatic editions, facsimiles and digital image reproductions of the manuscripts are not always listed here but may be found in entries for the relevant manuscripts. For historical purposes, early editions, transcriptions and translations are not excluded, even if their reliability does not meet modern standards.

[dipl. ed.] Thomas, Peter Wynn [ed.], D. Mark Smith, and Diana Luft [transcribers and encoders], Welsh prose (Rhyddiaith Gymraeg) 1300–1425, Online: Cardiff University, 2007–present. URL: <http://www.rhyddiaithganoloesol.caerdydd.ac.uk>.
[‘Marwolaeth Mair’] Transcriptions from Pen. 15, Jesus College 119, Pen. 5 and Llanstephan 27.
[dipl. ed.] Isaac, Graham R., Simon Rodway, Silva Nurmio, Kit Kapphahn, and Patrick Sims-Williams [eds.], Rhyddiaith Gymraeg o lawysgrifau’r 13eg ganrif: fersiwn 2, Aberystwyth: Aberystwyth University, Department of Welsh and Celtic Studies, 2013. Computer file.
Transcription from Pen. 14.
[dipl. ed.] Morris-Jones, John, and John Rhŷs, The Elucidarium and other tracts in Welsh from Llyvyr agkyr Llandewivrevi A.D. 1346 (Jesus college ms. 119), Anecdota Oxoniensia, Mediaeval and Modern Series, 6, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1894.
Internet Archive: <link> Internet Archive – originally from Google Books: <link>
77–85 Version from Jesus College 119.
[ed.] Jones, Gwenan, “Gwyrthyeu y Wynvydedic Veir [part 3]”, Bulletin of the Board of Celtic Studies 10:1 (1939): 21–33.
29–33 Version from Pen. 14.

Secondary sources (select)

Evans, D. Simon, Medieval religious literature, Writers of Wales, Cardiff: University of Wales Press, 1986.
70–71
Williams, J. E. Caerwyn, “Medieval Welsh religious prose”, in: Proceedings of the Second International Congress of Celtic Studies held in Cardiff 6–13 July, 1963, 2, Cardiff: University of Wales Press, 1966. 65–97.
79–80
Williams, J. E. Caerwyn, “Transitus Beatae Mariae a thestunau cyffelyb yn Gymraeg”, Bulletin of the Board of Celtic Studies 18 (1958–1960): 131–157.
Williams, J. E. Caerwyn, Traddodiad llenyddol Iwerddon, Cardiff: University of Wales Press, 1958.  

For the revised English edition, see J. E. Caerwyn Williams • Patrick K. Ford, The Irish literary tradition (1992).

312–359, 360–408
Contributors
Dennis Groenewegen
Page created
March 2022, last updated: June 2023