Editing Sir Kay (section)

==Cai in Welsh tradition==
Cai or Cei is one of the earliest characters to be associated with the [[Arthurian mythology]], appearing in a number of early Welsh texts, including ''[[Culhwch and Olwen|Culhwch ac Olwen]]'', ''[[Three Welsh Romances|Geraint fab Erbin]]'', ''[[Three Welsh Romances|Iarlles y Ffynnon]]'', ''[[Peredur fab Efrawg]]'', ''[[Breuddwyd Rhonabwy]]'', ''[[Pa gur|Pa Gur]]'', and the [[Welsh Triads]]. His father is given as Cynyr Ceinfarfog (Fork-Beard), his son as Garanwyn and his daughter as Kelemon.

Before Cai's birth, Cynyr prophesied that his son's heart would be eternally cold, that he would be exceptionally stubborn, and that no one would be able to brave fire or water like him. Cai is attributed with a number of further superhuman abilities, including the ability to go nine days and nine nights without the need to breathe or to sleep, the ability to grow as "tall as the tallest tree in the forest if he pleased" and the ability to radiate supernatural heat from his hands.<ref>S. Davies translation, ''The Mabinogion'' (Oxford 2007) p. 189.</ref> Furthermore, it is impossible to cure a wound from Cai's sword.<ref>Gantz, Jeffrey. ''The Mabinogion''.</ref> Cai is killed by Gwyddawg fab (son of) Menestyr, who is in turn killed in vengeance by [[King Arthur|Arthur]].

[[Robert Graves]] commented that the early description of Cei "is close to the account given of the Sun-hero [[Cuchulain]] in his battle rage. But in the later Arthurian legends Cei has degenerated into a buffoon and Chief of Cooks"<ref>R. Graves, ''The White Goddess'' (Manchester 1999) p. 91.</ref>—an aspect of the folklore process whereby old heroes must be downgraded (but not forgotten) in order to make room for new.<ref>H. Mustard translation, ''Parzival'' (New York 1961) p. 16.</ref>

===''Pa Gur yv y Porthaur''===
One of the earliest direct reference to Cai can be found in the 10th-century poem ''Pa Gur'', in which Arthur recounts the feats and achievements of his warriors so as to gain entrance to a fortress guarded by [[Glewlwyd Gafaelfawr]], the titular porter. The poem concerns itself largely with Cai's exploits:

{{quote|<poem>Prince of the plunder, / The unrelenting warrior to his enemy; / Heavy was he in his vengeance; / Terrible was his fighting.
When he would drink from a horn, / He would drink as much as four; / When into battle he came / He slew as would a hundred.
Unless God should accomplish it, / Cei's death would be unattainable.
Worthy Cei and Llachau / Used to fight battles, / Before the pain of livid spears [ended the conflict].
On the top of Ystarfingun / Cei slew [[Nine sorceresses|nine witches]]. / Worthy Cei went to Ynys Mon / To destroy lions. / Little protection did his shield offer / Against [[Cath Palug|Palug's Cat]].<ref name="Pa Gur">{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110723202344/http://www.markadderley.net/arthur/welsh-arthur/pagur.html ''Pa Gur'']}}</ref></poem>}}

===''Culhwch ac Olwen''===
{{main|Culhwch and Olwen}}
[[File:Ysbaddaden.jpeg|thumb|Culhwch and his companions at Ysbadadden's court in [[Ernest Wallcousins]]’ illustration for ''Celtic Myth & Legend'' (1920)]]

[[Culhwch]]'s father, [[Cilydd|King Cilydd son of Celyddon]], loses his wife [[Goleuddydd]] after a difficult childbirth. When he remarries, the young Culhwch rejects his stepmother's attempt to pair him with his new stepsister. Offended, the new queen puts a curse on him so that he can marry no one besides the beautiful [[Olwen]], daughter of the giant [[Ysbaddaden]]. Though he has never seen her, Culhwch becomes infatuated with her, but his father warns him that he will never find her without the aid of his famous cousin Arthur. The young man immediately sets off to seek his kinsman. He finds him at his court in [[Celliwig]] in Cornwall and asks for support and assistance. Cai is the first knight to volunteer to assist Culhwch in his quest,<ref>S. Davies translation, ''The Mabinogion'' (Oxford 2007) p. 189.</ref> promising to stand by his side until Olwen is found. A further five knights join them in their mission. They travel onwards until they come across the "fairest of the castles of the world", and meet Ysbaddaden's shepherd brother, Custennin. They learn that the castle belongs to Ysbaddaden, that he stripped Custennin of his lands and murdered the shepherd's twenty-three children out of cruelty. Custennin set up a meeting between Culhwch and Olwen, and the maiden agrees to lead Culhwch and his companions to Ysbadadden's castle. Cai pledges to protect the twenty-fourth son, [[Goreu fab Custennin|Goreu]] with his life.<ref>S. Davies translation, ''The Mabinogion'' (Oxford 2007) p. 193.</ref> The knights attack the castle by stealth, killing the nine porters and the nine watchdogs, and enter the giant's hall. Upon their arrival, Ysbaddaden attempts to kill Culhwch with a poison dart, but is outwitted and wounded, first by [[Bedivere|Bedwyr]], then by the enchanter [[Menw]], and finally by Culhwch himself. Eventually, Ysbaddaden relents, and agrees to give Culhwch his daughter on the condition that he completes a number of impossible tasks (''anoethau''), including hunting the [[Twrch Trwyth]] and recovering the exalted prisoner [[Mabon ap Modron]].

Cai is a prominent character throughout the tale and is responsible for completing a number of the tasks; he kills Wrnach the Giant, rescues [[Mabon ap Modron]] from his watery prison and retrieves the hairs of Dillus the Bearded.<ref>S. Davies translation, ''The Mabinogion'' (Oxford 2007) pp. 202-7.</ref>  However, when Arthur makes a satirical [[englyn]] about Cai, he grows angry and hostile towards the king, ultimately abandoning the quest and his companions. The narrative tells us that Cai would "have nothing to do with Arthur from then on, not when the latter was waning in strength or when his men were being killed." As a result, he did not take part in the hunt for Twrch Trwyth.

===Other appearances===
In the ''Life of St. [[Cadoc]]'' (c. 1100) Bedwyr is alongside Arthur and Cai in dealing with King [[Gwynllyw]] of [[Gwynllwg]]'s abduction of St. [[Gwladys]] from her father's court in [[Brycheiniog]]. Cai appears prominently in the [[Ystorya Trystan|early Welsh version]] of ''[[Tristan and Isolde]]'', in which he assists the two lovers and is himself infatuated with a maiden named Golwg Hafddydd,<ref>[http://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/trystan.html Trystan and Esyllt].</ref> and in the early dialogue poems relating to [[Maleagant|Melwas]]'s abduction of [[Guinevere|Gwenhwyfar]]. The context suggests that Cai is rescuing the queen from the otherworldly suitor, and may imply a romantic relationship between Cai and Gwenhwyfar.<ref>[http://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/melwas.html The Dialogue of Melwas and Gwenhwyfar].</ref>

The Welsh Triads name Cai as one of the "Three Battle-Diademed Men of the Island of Britain" alongside [[Tristan|Drystan mab Tallwch]] and [[Hueil mab Caw]].<ref name="ReferenceA">Bromwich, Rachel. ''Trioedd Ynys Prydein''.</ref> In the ''Triads of the Horses'', his horse is named as Gwyneu gwddf hir (Gwyneu of the Long Neck).<ref name="ReferenceA"/> According to tradition, Cai is intimately associated with the old Roman fort of Caer Gai.<ref>Bromwich, Rachel. {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20060825125641/http://www.celtnet.org.uk/gods_c/cei.html Cei at Celtnet]}}.</ref>

In the [[Welsh Romances]] (specifically ''[[Owain, or the Lady of the Fountain]]'' and ''[[Peredur son of Efrawg]]''), Cai assumes the same boorish role he takes in the continental romances.<ref>S. Davies translation, ''The Mabinogion'' (Oxford 2007) p. 246.</ref> However, manuscripts for these romances date to well after [[Chrétien de Troyes]], meaning that Cai as he appears there may owe more to Chrétien's version of the character than to the indigenous Welsh representation.