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Enid, a MythSource painting
Celtic

Enid

01Identity

Enid in Celtic tradition

Enid is the daughter of Earl Ynywl. Geraint meets her when he follows the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk to the tournament, where Ynywl offers her as the lady for whom Geraint may fight. After Geraint defeats the knight, Enid is welcomed at Arthur’s court and becomes his wife. She accompanies him when he returns to Cornwall to defend his father’s lands. As Geraint grows distant from his companions, Enid grieves over the change and speaks aloud while he sleeps. He misunderstands her words, orders her to ride ahead and forbids her to speak. Enid warns him when robbers and armed bands approach, even though he rebukes her for breaking his command. She remains beside him through his fights and near-fatal collapse. When an earl strikes her and Geraint appears dead, she refuses food until he eats too; he revives and kills the earl. After Geraint recovers from his wounds, they continue together. Geraint defeats the champion of the mist-enclosed games, and they return to his lands.

SourceThe Mabinogion (Lady Charlotte Guest translation, 1877): The Mabinogion : from the Welsh of the Llyfr coch o Hergest (The red book of Hergest) in the Library of Jesus College, Oxford , Geraint the Son of Erbin, printed pp. 141–184

Top questions

The quick answers

02The myths

The myths of Enid

1 myth, with sources recorded for each.

Enid and Geraint

Enid enters Guest’s romance at the household of Earl Ynywl, whose family has fallen from its former standing. Geraint arrives while pursuing the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk to a contest. Ynywl offers his daughter as the lady for whom Geraint may fight. Geraint defeats the knight, restores the earl’s lands and takes Enid to Arthur’s court, where they marry. After years together, Geraint withdraws from his companions and spends his time with Enid. She fears that he has lost his former courage and public life. While he sleeps, she speaks her grief aloud. Geraint wakes, mistakes her words for longing for another man, and orders her to ride ahead in shabby clothes. He forbids her to speak unless he asks.

Enid breaks that silence when danger approaches. She warns Geraint about armed bands, though he rebukes her for speaking. After his victories, she takes charge of the captured horses and equipment as they continue. At one encounter an earl strikes Enid while Geraint appears dead. She refuses food until he eats too; he revives, kills the earl, and later recovers from his wounds. Their journey reaches games hidden by mist. Geraint faces the champion while Enid waits anxiously for him. After winning, he demands that the enchantment end and sounds the horn. The mist lifts, the divided hosts meet and reconcile, and the earl invites Geraint and the Little King to stay that night. The next morning Geraint and Enid travel towards his dominions. He reigns prosperously thereafter, and Guest says their renown lasts together.

Enid and Geraint, a MythSource painting of the scene

83 sources· checked 2026-10-01

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Also mentioned in

Stories elsewhere on MythSource that mention Enid, each on that figure’s page.