Note 58 — Chapter II · ARTHUR IN WELSH LEGEND AND LITERATURE

The Study of Celtic Literature. Rhys’s opinion that the primitive form, and substance, of this tale date from the tenth century has been already referred to. Dr Gwenogvryn Evans, in the Preface to his edition of The White Book ‘Mabinogion,’ without assigning to it so definite a date, holds that Kulhwch and Olwen “is the oldest in language, in matter, in simplicity of narrative, in primitive atmosphere,” of all the tales to which the general name ‘mabinogion’ is given. Mr Alfred Nutt, while holding that portions of Kulhwch and Olwen are of “pre-historic antiquity, far transcending in age any historic Arthur,” assigns the story in the form we have it to the twelfth century, on the strength, mainly, of its affinities to eleventh century Irish sagas.