Review: Arthur's raid on the Underworld -- Caitlin Matthews

King Arthur's Raid on the Underworld : The Oldest Grail Quest, by Caitlin Matthews, with an introduction by John
Matthews and wonderful colour artwork by Meg Falconer, presents a new translation of the enigmatic Preiddeu Annwfyn
(Spoils of or Raid on the Underworld) an early Welsh poem attributed to the bard Taliesin.

In the introduction, John Matthews gives an overview of the various versions and manuscripts of the poem, and touches
upon the figure of the bard Taliesin. He then outlines the main themes of the poem with the central one being that of the
acquisition or "theft" of wisdom from the otherworld.

Two brief notes follow the introduction: In the"Author's Note", Caitlin Matthews outlines the plan of the book and suggests
a useful sequence for reading. Meg Falconer, in the "Artist's Note", offers highly useful insights into the impressive and
luminous paintings that accompany the text.

Three chapters form the core of the book. First comes Caitlin Matthews' incandescent translation of the Preiddeu, Her
rendering glows deeply with the spirit of the poet. The Preiddeu tells of Arthur's journeys to a series of otherworld
"fortresses", which clearly have deep initiatory implications. For instance, in Stanza II we find references to the cycling of
the seasons and elements, the primal song that originates in the cauldon of inspiration, and the mystery of the Nine
Maidens that was expressed and embodied in numerous ancient initiatory sisterhoods:

I am renowned in fame: the song was heard
In Caer Pedryfan, four times revolving.
My original song stems from the cauldron,
By the breath of nine maidens was it kindled. …

Caitlin Matthews' evocative renditions of Taliesin's verse narration express well the dense magical imagery of the poem.
Taliesin's poetry is so tightly compressed, however, that it will seem somewhat opaque to those without knowledge of
Celtic myth and magical tradition. Fortunately, Caitlin Matthews expertly clarifies some of the deeper meanings in
Chapter Two, entitled "Uncovering the Treasures, A Guide to the Raid".

Chapter Three rounds out the mysteries of the Preiddeu Annwfyn by presenting a useful overview of the tradition of the
Katabasis or decent to the UnderRealm. Here you will learn about the Sleepers in the Land, the Porter at the Gate, and
the relation between the Cauldron and the Grail. A prose reading of the poem is also included for purposes of clarification.
Two appendices give helpful additional material: Appendix 1 presents the poem in the original Welsh; Appendix 2, the
mythic background to Arthur's Raid.

Catilin Matthews' book is highly recommended to anyone interested in the Celtic UnderRealm Tradition and its
connections to the Grail quest and the magical poetry of the ancient Bards. Her new translation of the sacred verse of the
Preiddeu Annwfyn glows with the light of the hidden wisdom and her insights rise from the page like mist from the
cauldron of inspiration itself.