Page 110 - Aldeburgh Festival 2022 FINAL COVERAGE BOOK

At their neighbours' wedding The Woman, rather than dancing, sits quietly — she has faerie sight and can see
an unhappy future for the couple. The Man questions her "faerie ways" and strikes the first heart-blow. At the
christening of the neighbour’s child The Woman, rather than celebrating, cries and weeps — she has faerie sight
and can see the child is not long for this world. The man chides her once more and strikes the second heart-
blow. At the funeral of the child, rather than crying, The Woman laughs and sings – she has faerie sight and can
see the child is in a better place now with the Tylwyth Teg (the Fair Folk). The Man is horrified and upbraids her,
thus striking the third and final heart blow. She turns and walks back to the lake, calling her dowry to come
home. The procession, including slaughtered pigs and cows that have "jumped down from the meat hook",
follow her back into the watery depths, never to return.

The Welsh "lady of the lake" myth is just one of many "watery wife" tales from northern Europe that include the
Mermaids of Ireland, the Kelpie of Scotland, and the Selkie of the Shetlands and Scandinavia (pictured below:
Munch's Separation). However, in each of those the women are portrayed as either malevolent (pulling hapless
men to their deaths), have something magical stolen from them which they plot to get back (seal skin, red cap,
or silver bridle), or are captured by men and kept in human form. The faerie myths of Wales are unique in that
the woman in each tale sets very clear conditions under which she agrees to marry the man (he shall not strike
her three blows or hit her with clay), the breaking of which would result in her returning to the lake forever. The
Welsh myths are empowering, with strong female characters who set their own agenda. There is no coercion,
theft, or kidnap but rather misunderstandings and cultural differences.