Tradition: Welsh Mythology
Alternative Names: Little Penloi, Penoi
Category: Fairy
The Myth
Penloi was a beautiful fairy maiden, remarkably handsome but short and slight in stature. Shon Rolant of Hafod y Dre was returning home from the market at Llanrwst when he encountered and captured her near Pentrevoelas. He brought her home, where her extraordinary beauty caused everyone to admire her. Shon quickly fell deeply in love with her and repeatedly asked her to marry him, but Penloi initially refused. Eventually she agreed, but only on the condition that he discover her name.
About a month later, Shon was again returning from the market when he heard voices near the place where he had first captured the fairy. Someone was calling repeatedly, asking where “little Penloi” had gone. Realising that this must be the name of the fairy he had brought home, Shon returned to his house and addressed her as Penloi. She accepted him as her husband, although she expressed her displeasure at marrying what fairies considered a “dead man” — a human being. She also gave him a strict warning: she must never be touched by iron, or she would immediately disappear.
Shon was careful to obey the warning, but eventually the condition was broken by accident. One day he was on horseback speaking with Penloi, who was standing near the horse’s head. The animal suddenly threw up its head, causing the iron curb of its bridle to strike Penloi. At that instant she vanished completely, leaving Shon without his fairy wife.
Sources
Owen, Elias. Welsh Folk-Lore: A Collection of the Folk-Tales and Legends of North Wales. London: Elliot Stock, 1896.