HOW the CYMRY LAND BECAME INHABITED
by William Elliot Griffis · from Welsh Fairy Tales
Adapted Version
Long, long ago, the world was very new. This is a tale of brave folk.
This land was Britain. No people lived here yet. Big, wild beasts lived in the woods. Bears lived there. Wolves lived there too. Beavers built dams in rivers. The beasts were big. They were not scary. The land was wild. It was very pretty. Birds sang in tall trees. Fish swam in clear streams.
The Cymry people lived far away. They had a Wise Leader. He was very kind. He was very smart. He taught them good ways. They learned to live well. He taught them to grow food. They grew food from seeds. They put seeds in the ground. Food grew for all. They were happy. They loved their kind leader. They worked and sang each day. They shared food at dusk.
The Wise Leader had a plan. They would go to a new land. He showed them how to build boats. They were small, round boats. They were called boats. All helped to build them. They used wood and beast skins. The boats were strong. They got in their boats. They sailed over the sea. It was a big trip. They came to a new land. The waves went up and down. The wind sang by the boats.
They saw many bees. The bees made sweet honey. There was honey all around. They called this land Honey Island. It was a sweet, new home. They smiled at the new shore. They ran on the soft grass.
They met new friends there. They built many homes. They made happy music. They sang many songs. All played as one. They ate sweet honey cakes. They danced by warm fires.
More people came to live. At times they had little talks. At times they had small disagreements. They learned to share. They shared food and songs. They shared work each day.
Some groups had many girls. Some groups had many boys. They felt a little lonely. They wanted to play as one. They saw each other far off. They waved from hills and fields.
It was hard to meet. It was hard to play. They wished they could be friends. They wished they could play. They looked across the land. They hoped for a fun day.
The Hill Boys had an idea. They asked the Valley Girls to play. The Valley Girls were happy. They were happy to go. They said, "Yes, let us go!" They ran with bright smiles.
The Valley Girls played with the Hill Boys. They laughed and had fun. They became good friends. They liked playing as one. They sang and clapped too. They made up happy games.
The Valley Grown-ups came back. They wondered where the girls were. They went to find them. They thought the girls were lost. They called the girls' names. They looked near woods and hills.
The boys and girls played chase. They ran to a big rock hill. The Valley Grown-ups chased them. It was a loud, fun game. Feet tapped on the ground. Voices rang in the air.
All got tired from playing. The game stopped. The Hill Boys were still friends. The Valley Girls were still friends. The Valley Grown-ups saw this. They smiled at the glad children.
The girls and boys saw a lake. "Let's swim!" they shouted. They jumped in the cool water. They splashed and laughed. They were happy to be friends. Water shone in the sun. Their laughs rang far and wide.
All was happy now. They all made new friends. They called the lake Lake of Friends. It was a happy, cool place. They sat by the blue lake. They told stories at night.
From that day, they played friendly games. They always found new friends. It was a happy custom. And so, all learned to be friends. They lived happily in Honey Island. They always played as one!
Original Story
HOW THE CYMRY LAND BECAME INHABITED
In all Britain to-day, no wolf roams wild and the deer are all tame.
Yet in the early ages, when human beings had not yet come into the land, the swamps and forests were full of very savage animals. There were bears and wolves by the thousand besides lions and the woolly rhinoceros, tigers, with terrible teeth like sabres.
Beavers built their dams over the little rivers, and the great horned oxen were very common. Then the mountains were higher, and the woods denser. Many of the animals lived in caves, and there were billions of bees and a great many butterflies. In the bogs were ferns of giant size, amid which terrible monsters hid that were always ready for a fight or a frolic.
In so beautiful a land, it seemed a pity that there were no men and women, no boys or girls, and no babies.
Yet the noble race of the Cymry, whom we call the Welsh, were already in Europe and lived in the summer land in the South. A great benefactor was born among them, who grew up to be a wonderfully wise man and taught his people the use of bows and arrows. He made laws, by which the different tribes stopped their continual fighting and quarrels, and united for the common good of all. He persuaded them to take family names. He invented the plow, and showed them how to use it, making furrows, in which to plant grain.
When the people found that they could get things to eat right out of the ground, from the seed they had planted, their children were wild with joy.
No people ever loved babies more than these Cymry folk and it was they who invented the cradle. This saved the hard-working mothers many a burden, for each woman had, besides rearing the children, to work for and wait on her husband.
He was the warrior and hunter, and she did most of the labor, in both the house and the field. When there were many little brats to look after, a cradle was a real help to her. In those days, "brat" was the general name for little folks. There were good laws, about women especially for their protection. Any rough or brutish fellow was fined heavily, or publicly punished, for striking one of them.
By and by, this great benefactor encouraged his people to the brave adventure, and led them, in crossing the sea to Britain. Men had not yet learned to build boats, with prow or stern, with keels and masts, or with sails, rudders, or oars, or much less to put engines in their bowels, or iron chimneys for smoke stacks, by which we see the mighty ships driven across the ocean without regard to wind or tide.
This great benefactor taught his people to make coracles, and on these the whole tribe of thousands of Cymric folk crossed over into Britain, landing in Cornwall. The old name of this shire meant the Horn of Gallia, or Wallia, as the new land was later named. We think of Cornwall as the big toe of the Mother Land. These first comers called it a horn.
It was a funny sight to see these coracles, which they named after their own round bodies. The men went down to the riverside or the sea shore, and with their stone hatchets, they chopped down trees. They cut the reeds and osiers, peeled the willow branches, and wove great baskets shaped like bowls. In this work, the women helped the men.
The coracle was made strong by a wooden frame fixed inside round the edge, and by two cross boards, which also served as seats. Then they turned the wicker frame upside down and stretched the hides of animals over the whole frame and bottom. With pitch, gum, or grease, they covered up the cracks or seams. Then they shaped paddles out of wood. When the coracle floated on the water, the whole family, daddy, mammy, kiddies, and any old aunts or uncles, or granddaddies, got into it. They waited for the wind to blow from the south over to the northern land.
At first the coracle spun round and round, but by and by each daddy could, by rowing or paddling, make the thing go straight ahead. So finally all arrived in the land now called Great Britain.
Though sugar was not then known, or for a thousand years later, the first thing they noticed was the enormous number of bees. When they searched, they found the rock caves and hollow trees full of honey, which had accumulated for generations. Every once in a while the bears, that so like sweet things, found out the hiding place of the bees, and ate up the honey. The children were very happy in sucking the honey comb and the mothers made candles out of the beeswax. The new comers named the country Honey Island.
The brave Cymry men had battles with the darker skinned people who were already there. When any one, young or old, died, their friends and relatives sat up all night guarding the body against wild beasts or savage men. This grew to be a settled custom and such a meeting was called a "wake." Everyone present did keep awake, and often in a very lively way.
As the Cymry multiplied, they built many don, or towns. All over the land to-day are names ending in don like London, or Croydon, showing where these villages were.
But while occupied in things for the body, their great ruler did not neglect matters of the mind. He found that some of his people had good voices and loved to sing. Others delighted in making poetry. So he invented or improved the harp, and fixed the rules of verse and song.
Thus ages before writing was known, the Cymry preserved their history and handed down what the wise ones taught.
Men might be born, live and die, come and go, like leaves on the trees, which expand in the springtime and fall in the autumn; but their songs, and poetry, and noble language never die. Even to-day, the Cymry love the speech of their fathers almost as well as they love their native land.
Yet things were not always lovely in Honey Land, or as sweet as sugar. As the tribes scattered far apart to settle in this or that valley, some had fish, but no salt, and others had plenty of salt, but no fish. Some had all the venison and bear meat they wanted, but no barley or oats. The hill men needed what the men on the seashore could supply. From their sheep and oxen they got wool and leather, and from the wild beasts fur to keep warm in winter. So many of them grew expert in trade. Soon there were among them some very rich men who were the chiefs of the tribes.
In time, hundreds of others learned how to traffic among the tribes and swap, or barter their goods, for as yet there were no coins for money, or bank bills. So they established markets or fairs, to which the girls and boys liked to go and sell their eggs and chickens, for when the wolves and foxes were killed off, sheep and geese multiplied.
But what hindered the peace of the land, were the feuds, or quarrels, because the men of one tribe thought they were braver, or better looking, than those in the other tribe. The women were very apt to boast that they wore their clothes—which were made of fox and weasel skins—more gracefully than those in the tribe next to them.
So there was much snarling and quarreling in Cymric Land. The people were too much like naughty children, or when kiddies are not taught good manners, to speak gently and to be kind one to the other.
One of the worst quarrels broke out, because in one tribe there were too many maidens and not enough young men for husbands. This was bad for the men, for it spoiled them. They had too many women to wait on them and they grew to be very selfish.
In what might be the next tribe, the trouble was the other way. There were too many boys, a surplus of men, and not nearly enough girls to go round. When any young fellow, moping out his life alone and anxious for a wife, went a-courting in the next tribe, or in their vale, or on their hill top, he was usually driven off with stones. Then there was a quarrel between the two tribes.
Any young girl, who sneaked out at night to meet her young man of another clan, was, when caught, instantly and severely spanked. Then, with her best clothes taken off, she had to stand tied to a post in the market place a whole day. Her hair was pulled down in disorder, and all the dogs were allowed to bark at her. The girls made fun of the poor thing, while they all rubbed one forefinger over the other, pointed at her and cried, "Fie, for shame!" while the boys called her hard names.
If it were known that the young man who wanted a wife had visited a girl in the other tribe, his spear and bow and arrows were taken away from him till the moon was full. The other boys and the girls treated him roughly and called him hard names, but he dare not defend himself and had to suffer patiently. This was all because of the feud between the two tribes.
This went on until the maidens in the valley, who were very many, while yet lovely and attractive, became very lonely and miserable; while the young men, all splendid hunters and warriors, multiplied in the hill country. They were wretched in mind, because not one could get a wife, for all the maidens in their own tribe were already engaged, or had been mated.
One day news came to the young men on the hill top, that the valley men were all off on a hunting expedition. At once, without waiting a moment, the poor lonely bachelors plucked up courage. Then, armed with ropes and straps, they marched in a body to the village in the valley below. There, they seized each man a girl, not waiting for any maid to comb her hair, or put on a new frock, or pack up her clothes, or carry any thing out of her home, and made off with her, as fast as one pair of legs could move with another pair on top.
At first, this looked like rough treatment—for a lovely girl, thus to be strapped to a brawny big fellow; but after a while, the girls thought it was great fun to be married and each one to have a man to caress, and fondle, and scold, and look for, and boss around; for each wife, inside of her own hut was quite able to rule her husband. Every one of these new wives was delighted to find a man who cared so much for her as to come after her, and risk his life to get her, and each one admired her new, brave husband.
Yet the brides knew too well that their men folks, fathers and brothers, uncles and cousins, would soon come back to attempt their recapture.
And this was just what happened. When a runner brought, to the valley men now far away, the news of the rape of their daughters, the hunters at once ceased chasing the deer and marched quickly back to get the girls and make them come home.
The hill men saw the band of hunters coming after their daughters. They at once took their new wives into a natural rocky fortress, on the top of a precipice, which overlooked the lake.
This stronghold had only one entrance, a sort of gateway of rocks, in front of which was a long steep, narrow path. Here the hill men stood, to resist the attack and hold their prizes.
It was a case of a very few defenders, assaulted by a multitude, and the battle was long and bloody. The hill men scorned to surrender and shot their arrows and hurled their javelins with desperate valor. They battled all day from sunrise until the late afternoon, when shadows began to lengthen. The stars, one by one came out and both parties, after setting sentinels, lay down to rest.
In the morning, again, charge after charge was made. Sword beat against shield and helmet, and clouds of arrows were shot by the archers, who were well posted in favorable situations, on the rocks. Long before noon, the field below was dotted and the narrow pass was choked with dead bodies. In the afternoon, after a short rest and refreshed with food, the valley men, though finding that only four of the hill fighters were alive, stood off at a distance and with their long bows and a shower of arrows left not one to breathe.
Now, thought the victors, we shall get our maidens back again. So, taking their time to wash off the blood and dust, to bind up their wounds, and to eat their supper, they thought it would be an easy job to load up all the girls on their ox-carts and carry them home.
But the valley brides, thus suddenly made widows, were too true to their brave husbands. So, when they had seen the last of their lovers quiet in death, they stripped off all their ornaments and fur robes, until all stood together, each clad in her own innocence, as pure in their purpose as if they were a company of Druid priestesses.
Then, chanting their death song, they marched in procession to the tall cliff, that rose sheer out of the water. One by one, each uttering the name of her beloved, leaped into the waves.
Men at a distance, knowing nothing of the fight, and sailors and fishermen far off on the water, thought that a flock of white birds were swooping down from their eyrie, into the sea to get their food from the fishes. But when none rose up above the waters, they understood, and later heard the whole story of the valor of the men and the devotion of the women.
The solemn silence of night soon brooded over the scene.
The men of the valley stayed only long enough to bury their own dead. Then they marched home and their houses were filled with mourning. Yet they admired the noble sacrifice of their daughters and were proud of them. Afterwards they raised stone monuments on the field of slaughter.
To-day, this water is called the Lake of the Maidens, and the great stones seen near the beach are the memorials marking the place of the slain in battle.
During many centuries, the ancient custom of capturing the bride, with resistance from her male relatives, was vigorously kept up. In the course of time, however, this was turned into a mimic play, with much fun and merriment. Yet, the girls appear to like it, and some even complain if it is not rough enough to seem almost real.
Story DNA
Plot Summary
This origin story details the migration of the Cymry (Welsh) people from southern Europe to Britain, led by a wise benefactor who teaches them essential skills and culture. After settling in 'Honey Island,' they develop trade and society but are plagued by inter-tribal feuds. A severe imbalance of marriageable individuals between two tribes leads to the hill men abducting the valley maidens. A fierce battle ensues, resulting in the death of all the hill men. Out of devotion to their new husbands, the widowed brides commit mass suicide by leaping into a lake, which is forever remembered as the Lake of the Maidens, and the custom of bride capture later evolves into a playful tradition.
Themes
Emotional Arc
struggle to establishment to conflict to tragic devotion
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
The story attempts to provide a mythical origin for certain Welsh customs and place names, blending historical migration theories with legendary elements. The 'darker skinned people' likely refers to pre-Celtic inhabitants of Britain.
Plot Beats (16)
- Ancient Britain is described as a wild land, devoid of humans but full of savage animals.
- The Cymry people, living in southern Europe, are introduced, along with their wise benefactor who teaches them agriculture, laws, and family names.
- The benefactor teaches the Cymry to build coracles, and they embark on a brave sea journey to Britain, landing in Cornwall.
- The Cymry settle in Britain, which they name Honey Island due to the abundance of bees and honey.
- They encounter and battle darker-skinned inhabitants, establish towns, and develop their culture, including music and poetry, before writing is known.
- As the Cymry multiply and spread, trade develops, but so do inter-tribal feuds and quarrels, often over trivial matters or imbalances.
- A major feud arises between two tribes: one with too many maidens and too few young men, and another with too many young men and too few maidens.
- Social customs punish young people who try to court across tribal lines, leading to widespread loneliness and misery.
- The young men from the hill tribe, learning the valley men are hunting, raid the valley village and abduct the maidens.
- The abducted maidens, initially treated roughly, grow to admire and love their brave new husbands.
- The valley men return from hunting, discover the abduction, and pursue the hill men to reclaim their daughters.
- The hill men take their new wives to a natural rock fortress and bravely defend against the valley men in a long, bloody battle.
- All the hill men are eventually killed by the overwhelming numbers of the valley men.
- The valley brides, now widows, refuse to return with their fathers and brothers; instead, they strip off their finery and leap into the lake, committing suicide out of devotion to their fallen husbands.
- The valley men bury their dead, mourn their daughters, and erect stone monuments; the lake is named the Lake of the Maidens.
- The custom of bride capture persists for centuries, eventually evolving into a playful mimicry.
Characters
The Great Benefactor
A man of robust health and commanding presence, likely of average height and sturdy build, reflecting a life of leadership and physical activity. His features would be strong and defined, indicative of his wisdom and resilience.
Attire: Simple but practical clothing made from woven wool or linen, likely in earthy tones like brown, green, or undyed cream. He would wear a tunic, possibly with a cloak for warmth and status, fastened with a simple brooch. His attire would be functional for travel and teaching, not overly ornate.
Wants: To improve the lives of his people, the Cymry, by teaching them new skills, establishing laws, and leading them to a better land.
Flaw: Not explicitly stated, but perhaps his unwavering belief in progress could make him overlook immediate dangers or the emotional toll of his decisions on individuals.
He begins as a wise teacher and unifier, then becomes a brave leader who guides his people across the sea, establishing them in a new land and continuing to foster their cultural development.
Wise, innovative, persuasive, unifying, brave.
The Cymry Women (Valley Brides)
Young, strong, and resilient women, likely of average height and sturdy build, accustomed to hard work in both field and home. Their features would be consistent with early Celtic peoples, with fair to medium complexions.
Attire: Simple, practical dresses or tunics made of woven linen or wool, in natural, undyed colors or muted earth tones. They might wear simple leather aprons for work. During the abduction, they are described as having their 'best clothes taken off' and later stripping off 'ornaments and fur robes' for their final act.
Wants: Initially, to find suitable mates and build families. After abduction, their motivation shifts to fierce loyalty to their new husbands and a refusal to return to their former lives.
Flaw: Their vulnerability to abduction due to tribal feuds; their deep emotional attachment leading to a tragic, collective suicide.
They start as lonely maidens, become abducted brides, then fiercely loyal wives, and finally, tragic heroines who choose death over dishonor or separation from their beloveds.
Hard-working, resilient, loyal, spirited, ultimately defiant and self-sacrificing.
The Cymry Men (Hill Men)
Strong, brawny, and athletic men, accustomed to hunting and warfare. They would be of sturdy build, with features consistent with early Celtic peoples, likely fair to medium complexions.
Attire: Practical hunting and warrior attire: leather tunics or vests, possibly fur cloaks for warmth, and simple trousers or leg wraps. They would carry spears, bows, and arrows.
Wants: Driven by loneliness and the desire for wives, they bravely abduct the valley maidens. Later, their motivation is to defend their new wives and their honor.
Flaw: Their desperation for wives leads to a violent act of abduction; their small numbers make them vulnerable in battle.
They begin as lonely bachelors, become brave abductors, then valorous defenders, and finally, fall in battle, leaving their wives as widows.
Brave, desperate (for wives), resourceful, loyal (to their new wives), valorous, stubborn.
The Cymry Men (Valley Men)
Strong and capable hunters and warriors, likely of various ages from young adult to older, reflecting the full male population of the tribe. Their build would be sturdy, accustomed to physical labor and hunting.
Attire: Practical hunting attire: tunics, trousers, and cloaks made of woven wool or linen, likely in earthy tones. They would be armed with bows, arrows, and swords.
Wants: To retrieve their abducted daughters and punish the hill men for their transgression.
Flaw: Their anger and desire for revenge lead to a bloody battle and ultimately the tragic loss of their daughters.
They begin as hunters, become enraged pursuers and attackers, then victorious but ultimately mournful fathers and relatives who bury their dead and raise monuments.
Protective (of their daughters), vengeful, persistent, mourning.
Locations
Ancient British Swamps and Forests
Vast, untamed wilderness of early Britain, characterized by dense woods, expansive bogs, and towering mountains. The forests are thick with ancient trees, and the bogs feature giant ferns. Caves are common in the mountainous areas.
Mood: Wild, primeval, teeming with life, dangerous yet beautiful.
The land before human habitation, filled with savage animals and natural abundance.
Cornwall Coastline (Landing Site)
The rugged coastline of Cornwall, where the Cymry first landed. Features a riverside or seashore suitable for felling trees and constructing coracles.
Mood: Hopeful, adventurous, industrious, a new beginning.
The Cymry people construct their coracles and make their perilous journey across the sea to Britain.
Hilltop Fortress overlooking the Lake of the Maidens
A natural rocky fortress atop a precipice, with a single, long, steep, and narrow path serving as its entrance. It overlooks a large lake.
Mood: Tense, desperate, tragic, heroic.
The hill men defend their captured brides against the valley men, leading to a bloody battle and the tragic leap of the maidens into the lake.