Yniol

Also known as: Earl Yniol · Family: Yniol's household · Role: father of Enid · First appears: The Marriage of Geraint 1

Life events

• Yniol grants Geraint lodging and invites him to share the household’s modest meal.(The Marriage of Geraint 2)
  • With: Geraint
  • “Then Yniol, ‘Enter therefore and partake The slender entertainment of a house Once rich, now poor, but ever open-doored.’”
• Yniol reveals that his nephew’s betrayal ousted him from his earldom and destroyed his household.(The Marriage of Geraint 3)
  • “He sowed a slander in the common ear, Affirming that his father left him gold, And in my charge, which was not rendered to him; Bribed with large promises the men who served About my person, the more easily Because my means were somewhat broken into Through open doors and hospitality; Raised my own town against me in the night Before my Enid’s birthday, sacked my house; From mine own earldom foully ousted me;”
• Yniol gives Geraint his old arms for the next day’s tournament.(The Marriage of Geraint 3)
  • With: Geraint
  • “And Yniol answered, “Arms, indeed, but old And rusty, old and rusty, Prince Geraint, Are mine, and therefore at thy asking, thine.”
• Yniol’s nephew is refused as Enid’s suitor, contributing to Yniol’s subsequent ruin.(The Marriage of Geraint 3)
  • With: Enid
  • “The second was your foe, the sparrow-hawk, My curse, my nephew—I will not let his name Slip from my lips if I can help it—he, When that I knew him fierce and turbulent Refused her to him, then his pride awoke;”
• Yniol recovers the family’s stolen goods after their earldom is restored.(The Marriage of Geraint 4)
  • With: Enid
  • “Went Yniol through the town, and everywhere He found the sack and plunder of our house All scattered through the houses of the town; And gave command that all which once was ours Should now be ours again”
• Edyrn reveals that he once plotted to overthrow Yniol and seize Enid.(Geraint and Enid 5)
  • With: Edyrn Enid
  • “being repulsed By Yniol and yourself, I schemed and wrought Until I overturned him; then set up”

The Marriage of Geraint 1

• child: Enid “Had married Enid, Yniol’s only child,”

The Marriage of Geraint 2

• child: Enid (Yniol is identified as Enid's father earlier in the chapter.) “Enid, the good knight's horse stands in the court;”
• with Geraint (Yniol receives Geraint as a guest.) “‘Whither, fair son?’ to whom Geraint replied, ‘O friend, I seek a harbourage for the night.’ Then Yniol, ‘Enter therefore and partake The slender entertainment of a house Once rich, now poor, but ever open-doored.’”

The Marriage of Geraint 3

• with Geraint (Yniol is the host and Geraint is his guest.) “Rest! the good house, though ruined, O my son, / Endures not that her guest should serve himself.”
• child: Enid (Yniol refers to Enid as his child.) “Nor speak I now from foolish flattery; / For this dear child hath often heard me praise / Your feats of arms”

The Marriage of Geraint 4

• younger kin: Edyrn “Then Yniol’s nephew, after trumpet blown, Spake to the lady with him and proclaimed, “Advance and take, as fairest of the fair, What I these two years past have won for thee, The prize of beauty.” Loudly spake the Prince, “Forbear: there is a worthier,” and the knight With some surprise and thrice as much disdain Turned, and beheld the four, and all his face Glowed like the heart of a great fire at Yule, So burnt he was with passion, crying out, “Do battle for it then,” no more; and thrice They clashed together, and thrice they brake their spears. Then each, dishorsed and drawing, lashed at each So often and with such blows, that all the crowd Wondered, and now and then from distant walls There came a clapping as of phantom hands. So twice they fought, and twice they breathed, and still The dew of their great labour, and the blood Of their strong bodies, flowing, drained their force. But either’s force was matched till Yniol’s cry, “Remember that great insult done the Queen,” Increased Geraint’s, who heaved his blade aloft, And cracked the helmet through, and bit the bone, And felled him, and set foot upon his breast, And said, “Thy name?” To whom the fallen man Made answer, groaning, “Edyrn, son of Nudd!”

Geraint and Enid 5

• child: Enid “Yourself were first the blameless cause to make My nature’s prideful sparkle in the blood Break into furious flame; being repulsed By Yniol and yourself, I schemed and wrought Until I overturned him; then set up (With one main purpose ever at my heart) My haughty jousts, and took a paramour; Did her mock-honour as the fairest fair, And, toppling over all antagonism, So waxed in pride, that I believed myself Unconquerable, for I was wellnigh mad: And, but for my main purpose in these jousts, I should have slain your father, seized yourself.”
• enemies with Edyrn “being repulsed By Yniol and yourself, I schemed and wrought Until I overturned him”

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Extracted from the original text of Idylls of the King. Made with Rho MD.