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Alfred Tennyson
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Aneirin
Aneirin or Neirin was a Dark Age Brythonic poet. He is believed to have been a bard or 'court poet' in one of the Cumbric kingdoms of the Old North or Hen Ogledd, probably that of Gododdin at Edinburgh, in modern Scotland. From the 17th century, his name was often incorrectly spelled Aneurin.
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Brochfael Ysgithrog
http://wn.com/Brochfael_Ysgithrog -
Fionn mac Cumhail
http://wn.com/Fionn_mac_Cumhail -
Gildas
Gildas (c. 500 – 570) was a 6th-century British cleric. He is one of the best-documented figures of the Christian church in the British Isles during this period. His renowned learning and literary style earned him the designation Gildas Sapiens (Gildas the Wise). His work De Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae, which contains narratives of the post-Roman history of Britain, is the only substantial source for history of this period written by a near-contemporary. He was ordained in the Church, and in his works favours the monastic ideal. Fragments of letters he wrote reveal that he composed a Rule for monastic life that was somewhat less austere than the Rule written by his contemporary, Saint David, and set suitable penances for its breach.
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Ifor Williams
Sir Ifor Williams (16 April 1881 - 4 November 1965) was a Welsh scholar who laid the foundations for the academic study of Old Welsh, particularly early Welsh poetry.
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Iolo Morganwg
Edward Williams, better known by his bardic name Iolo Morganwg (), (10 March 1747 – 18 December 1826) was an influential Welsh antiquarian, poet, collector, and literary forger. He was widely considered a leading collector and expert on medieval Welsh literature in his day, but after his death it was revealed that he had forged a large number of his manuscripts. Regardless, he had a lasting impact on Welsh culture, seen most notably in his foundation of the Gorsedd, and the philosophy he developed in his forgeries had a huge impact on the early neo-druid movement. His bardic name is Welsh for "Iolo of Glamorgan" (the county's name is spelt "Morgannwg" in modern Welsh). Iolo is the diminutive of "Iorwerth", the Welsh form of "Edward".
http://wn.com/Iolo_Morganwg -
King Arthur
King Arthur is a legendary British leader who, according to Medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the early sixth century. The details of Arthur's story are mainly composed of folklore and literary invention, and his historical existence is debated and disputed by modern historians. The sparse historical background of Arthur is gleaned from various sources, including the Annales Cambriae, the Historia Brittonum, and the writings of Gildas. Arthur's name also occurs in early poetic sources such as Y Gododdin.
http://wn.com/King_Arthur
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The Battle of Arfderydd (also known as Arderydd) was fought, according to the Annales Cambriae, in 573. The opposing armies are variously given in a number of Old Welsh sources, perhaps suggesting a number of allied armies were involved. The main adversaries appear to have been Gwenddoleu ap Ceidio and either the princely brothers, Peredur and Gwrgi, or King Riderch Hael of Strathclyde. Gwenddoleu was defeated, and his forces killed. His bard, Myrddin Wyllt, went mad and ran into the forest. He is probably the original of the Arthurian character, Merlin.
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Bedd Taliesin is the legendary grave (bedd) of the poet Taliesin, located in Ceredigion, Wales. The Bronze Age round cairn is a listed Historic Monument (map ref: SN671912). It is a round-kerb cairn with a cist about 2m long. The capstone has fallen; the side stone slabs are more or less in their original positions.
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Galloway (, or Gallobha, Lowland Scots Gallowa) is an area in southwestern Scotland. It usually refers to the former counties of Wigtown (or historically West Galloway) and Kirkcudbright (or historically East Galloway). It is part of the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland.
http://wn.com/Galloway -
Glamorgan or Glamorganshire ( or ) is one of the thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It was originally an early medieval kingdom of varying boundaries known as Glywysing until taken over by the Normans as a lordship. Glamorgan is latterly represented by the three preserved counties of West Glamorgan, Mid Glamorgan and South Glamorgan. The name also survives in that of the county borough of the Vale of Glamorgan.
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Llanhennock () is a village in Monmouthshire, south east Wales, United Kingdom.
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Morda is a village on the outskirts of the town of Oswestry, Shropshire, England, located near the border of England and Wales.
http://wn.com/Morda -
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest ceremonial county in England. The majority of the Yorkshire Dales and all of the North York Moors lie within North Yorkshire's boundaries, and around 40% of the county is covered by National Parks.
http://wn.com/North_Yorkshire -
Northumbria or Northhumbria () was a medieval kingdom of the Angles, in what is now Northern England and South-East Scotland, becoming subsequently an earldom in a united Anglo-Saxon kingdom of England. The name reflects the approximate southern limit to the kingdom's territory, the Humber Estuary.
http://wn.com/Northumbria -
:This article is about the county in Wales. For other uses, see Kingdom of Powys and Powys (surname).
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Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Alba) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the southwest. In addition to the mainland, Scotland includes over 790 islands including the Northern Isles and the Hebrides.
http://wn.com/Scotland -
The Solway Firth is a firth that forms part of the border between England and Scotland, between Cumbria (including the Solway Plain) and Dumfries and Galloway. It stretches from St Bees Head, just south of Whitehaven in Cumbria, to the Mull of Galloway, on the western end of Dumfries and Galloway. The Isle of Man is also very near to the firth. The firth comprises part of the Irish Sea.
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Wales ( ; pronounced ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has an estimated population of three million and is officially bilingual with the Welsh and English languages having equal status. The Welsh language is an important element of Welsh culture. Its decline has reversed over recent years, with Welsh speakers estimated to be around 20% of the population of Wales.
http://wn.com/Wales
- Alfred Tennyson
- Aneirin
- Annales Cambriae
- Armes Prydein
- Avagddu
- Awen
- bard
- Battle of Arfderydd
- Battle of Camlann
- Bedd Taliesin
- bird
- Book of Taliesin
- Bran the Blessed
- Brochfael Ysgithrog
- Bronze Age
- Ceredigion
- Ceridwen
- Culhwch and Olwen
- Cynan Garwyn
- Elffin ap Gwyddno
- Elmet
- Fionn mac Cumhail
- fish
- Galloway
- Gildas
- Glamorgan
- greyhound
- Gwallog
- Gwyddno Garanhir
- hare
- hawk
- Hen Ogledd
- Historia Brittonum
- Idylls of the King
- Ifor Williams
- Iolo Morganwg
- King Arthur
- kingdom of Powys
- Llanhennock
- Maelgwn Gwynedd
- Middle Welsh
- Mons Badonicus
- Morda
- Morfran
- mythology
- North Yorkshire
- Northumbria
- otter
- Owain mab Urien
- poet
- poetry
- poison
- Powys
- religion
- Rheged
- Rhun
- river
- salmon
- salmon of wisdom
- Scotland
- Shapeshifting
- Solway Firth
- Sub-Roman Britain
- Talhaearn Tad Awen
- Tre-Taliesin
- Urien
- Urien Rheged
- Wales
- weir
- Welsh people
- wisdom
- Y Gododdin
- Yellow Plague
Jaffe, Taliesin Filmography
- Super Street Fighter IV (2010) (actor, plays Blanka)
- Super Street Fighter IV (2010) (actor, plays Adon)
- Fainaru fantajî kurisutaru kuronikuru: Kurisutaru bearâ (2009) (actor, plays Additional Voices)
- Star Ocean: The Last Hope (2009) (actor, plays Additional Voices)
- Infinite Undiscovery (2008) (actor, plays Eugene)
- Street Fighter IV (2008) (actor, plays Blanka)
- Street Fighter IV (2008) (director, plays Darion Mograine)
- World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King (2008) (actor, plays The Flash)
- Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe (2008) (actor, plays Security Guard)
- Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe (2008) (actor, plays Additional Voices)
- The Last Remnant (2008) (actor, plays Rufus)
- Hellsing Ultimate, Vol. 1 (2006) (director, plays Zweig)
- Hellsing Ultimate, Vol. 2 (2006) (director, plays Additional Voices)
- Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria (2006) (actor, plays Extra fighter)
- Gensô suikoden V (2006) (actor, plays Additional Voices)
- Gin-iro no kami no Agito (2006) (actor, plays Hokuto's Henchman)
- Hellsing Ultimate, Vol. 4 (2006) (director, plays Ippo)
- Hellsing Ultimate, Vol. 3 (2006) (director, plays Member 1)
- Soldier of God (2005) (actor, plays Hanasho)
- Gekijô-ban hagane no renkinjutsushi: Shanbara wo yuku mono (2005) (actor, plays Takeya Ikuhara)
- Sakigake!! Kuromati Kôkô: The Movie (2005) (actor, plays Nalkul)
- Sakigake!! Kuromati Kôkô: The Movie (2005) (actor, plays Inui)
- Sakigake!! Kuromati Kôkô: The Movie (2005) (actor, plays Kannei, Student C)
- Girls Bravo (2004) (actor, plays Medical Student)
- DearS (2004) (actor, plays Old-Clothes Dealer)
- Gensô suikoden IV (2004) (actor, plays Mori Koji)
- Texhnolyze (2003) (actor, plays Additional Voices)
- Ikki tôsen (2003) (actor, plays Additional Voices)
- Kôkaku kidôtai: Stand Alone Complex (2002) (actor, plays Jack, Leif, Assistant, Hellsing Member A, Radio Voice, Army Helicopter Pilot, Army Soldier)
- Haibane renmei (2002) (actor, plays Man Eating Flower)
- Invasion: Anime (2002) (actor, plays Bus Driver)
- I My Me! Strawberry Eggs (2001) (actor, plays Records Worker)
- Shaun Palmer's Pro Snowboarder (2001) (actor, plays Supermarket Clerk)
- Tamamayu monogatari 2 (2001) (actor, plays Wakaba The Cat)
- Herushingu (2001) (actor, plays Doctor)
- (#1.1) (2000) (actor, plays Additional Voices)
- (#1.1) (2000) (actor, plays Atahualpa, Construction Worker, Gang Member, Male Student, Warrior)
- (#1.1) (2000) (actor, plays JSSDF Soldier)
- (#1.1) (2000) (actor, plays JSSDF Soldier)
- (#1.1) (2000) (actor, plays Additional Voices)
- (#1.1) (2000) (director, plays Announcer 2)
- Nanako kaitai shinsyo (1999) (actor, plays Fei-Oh)
- Nanako kaitai shinsyo (1999) (actor, plays Frog Demon)
- Tears and Farewell! (1998) (director, plays Kenny Granger)
- The Promised Land (1998) (director, plays Kenny Granger)
- Memory, Separate Ways (1998) (director, plays Kenny Granger)
- Nazca (1998) (actor, plays Kenny Granger)
- Decisive Battle in an Empty Town! (1998) (director, plays Kenny Granger)
- Beyond Light, Towards Tomorrow (1998) (director, plays Kenny Granger)
- And for the Future! (1998) (director, plays Kenny Granger)
- Those Who Awaken (1998) (director, plays Kenny Granger)
- Towards the Final Fate! (1998) (director, plays Kenny Granger)
- Reunion in the Andes (1998) (director, plays Kenny Granger)
- Meeting of the Sleeping Souls (1998) (director, plays Kenny Granger)
- Light Chasing Darkness (1998) (director, plays Kenny Granger)
- Iriyatesse (1998) (director, plays Kenny Granger)
- Shin seiki Evangelion Gekijô-ban: Shito shinsei (1997) (actor, plays Kenny Granger)
- Shin seiki Evangelion Gekijô-ban: Air/Magokoro wo, kimi ni (1997) (actor, plays Kenny Granger)
- Burn-Up Excess (1997) (actor, plays Kenny Granger)
- Soreyuke! Uchû senkan Yamamoto Yôko (1996) (actor, plays Kenny Granger)
- Sazan aizu seima densetsu (1995) (actor, plays Kenny Granger)
- Sazan aizu (1991) (actor, plays Kenny Granger)
- All Alone (1988) (actor, plays Kenny Granger)
- Dinsmore's Wedding (1988) (actor, plays Kenny Granger)
- Hair (1988) (actor, plays Kenny Granger)
- The Golden Streak (1988) (actor, plays Kenny Granger)
- A Not So Fatal Attraction (1987) (actor, plays Kenny Granger)
- Hildy Gets Shot (1987) (actor, plays Kenny Granger)
- Hildy the Homewrecker (1987) (actor, plays Kenny Granger)
- Hildy's First Kiss (1987) (actor, plays Kenny Granger)
- Hildy's Public Defender (1987) (actor, plays Kenny Granger)
- Hostage (1987) (actor, plays Kenny Granger)
- I'm Okay, You're All Crazy (1987) (actor, plays Kenny Granger)
- Kissing Cousins (1987) (actor, plays Kenny Granger)
- Lover Boy (1987) (actor, plays Kenny Granger)
- Max Moves In (1987) (actor, plays Kenny Granger)
- Max's Ten (1987) (actor, plays Kenny Granger)
- Me Tarzan, You Hildy (1987) (actor, plays Kenny Granger)
- Midnight Run (1987) (actor, plays Kenny Granger)
- Monkey Business (1987) (actor, plays Kenny Granger)
- Mulcahy Gets Kicked Out (1987) (actor, plays Kenny Granger)
- New Year's Eve (1987) (actor, plays Kenny Granger)
- Tastes Great, Less Killing (1987) (actor, plays Mark)
- The Feds (1987) (actor, plays Scott)
- Divorce, Wiggins Style (1987) (actor, plays Eric Townsend)
- Call Me Madam (1987) (actor, plays Ludwig Müller)
- All in a Day's Work (1987) (actor, plays Willy Mansfield)
- Have a Nice Day (1987) (actor, plays Danny Slater)
- A Little Romance (1987) (actor, plays Christopher Floyd)
- A Hero (1987) (actor, plays Jimmy Hassett)
- A Friend in High Places (1987) (actor, plays Kenny)
Taliesin
Releases by year: 2011
Album releases
Three Times Three (Released 2011)
- Open Doors
- Pure Beach
- Shaping Realities
- Dragons Kingdom
- Breath of the Dragon
- Psyloactive
- The Shift
- The Wild Hunt
- Feentanz


- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 3:39
- Published: 03 Oct 2006
- Uploaded: 04 Dec 2011
- Author: gfunkusarelius



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- Duration: 2:16
- Published: 28 Dec 2009
- Uploaded: 29 Nov 2011
- Author: yenneffer333




- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 4:02
- Published: 04 Jun 2008
- Uploaded: 23 Aug 2010
- Author: sianedjones


- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 3:44
- Published: 13 Jan 2010
- Uploaded: 30 Nov 2011
- Author: michaeldit

- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 4:11
- Published: 10 Sep 2010
- Uploaded: 01 Dec 2011
- Author: Maximus1441


- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 4:15
- Published: 20 Jun 2007
- Uploaded: 03 Dec 2011
- Author: xMusicandLyricsx

- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 5:03
- Published: 12 Oct 2010
- Uploaded: 01 Nov 2011
- Author: BrianMorph64


- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 4:32
- Published: 13 Oct 2009
- Uploaded: 02 Sep 2011
- Author: 40sHummergal

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- Duration: 3:15
- Published: 04 Sep 2009
- Uploaded: 29 Nov 2011
- Author: coolblue46



- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 7:48
- Published: 08 Sep 2011
- Uploaded: 24 Nov 2011
- Author: CelestialElf








- Aberdyfi
- Alfred Tennyson
- Aneirin
- Annales Cambriae
- Armes Prydein
- Avagddu
- Awen
- bard
- Battle of Arfderydd
- Battle of Camlann
- Bedd Taliesin
- bird
- Book of Taliesin
- Bran the Blessed
- Brochfael Ysgithrog
- Bronze Age
- Ceredigion
- Ceridwen
- Culhwch and Olwen
- Cynan Garwyn
- Elffin ap Gwyddno
- Elmet
- Fionn mac Cumhail
- fish
- Galloway
- Gildas
- Glamorgan
- greyhound
- Gwallog
- Gwyddno Garanhir
- hare
- hawk
- Hen Ogledd
- Historia Brittonum
- Idylls of the King
- Ifor Williams
- Iolo Morganwg
- King Arthur
- kingdom of Powys
- Llanhennock
- Maelgwn Gwynedd
- Middle Welsh
- Mons Badonicus
- Morda
- Morfran
- mythology
- North Yorkshire
- Northumbria
- otter
- Owain mab Urien
- poet
- poetry
- poison
- Powys
- religion
- Rheged
- Rhun
- river
- salmon
- salmon of wisdom
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Taliesin (c. 534 – c. 599) (; ) was a Welsh poet of the post-Roman period whose work has possibly survived in a Middle Welsh manuscript, the Book of Taliesin. Taliesin was a renowned bard who is believed to have sung at the courts of at least three Celtic British kings.
A maximum of eleven of the preserved poems have been dated to as early as the 6th century, and were ascribed to the historical Taliesin. The bulk of this work praises King Urien of Rheged and his son Owain mab Urien, although several of the poems indicate that he also served as the court bard to King Brochfael Ysgithrog of Powys and his successor Cynan Garwyn, either before or during his time at Urien's court. Some of the events to which the poems refer, such as the Battle of Arfderydd (c. 583), are referred to in other sources.
His name, spelled as Taliessin in Alfred, Lord Tennyson's Idylls of the King and in some subsequent works, means "shining brow" in Middle Welsh. In legend and medieval Welsh poetry, he is often referred to as Taliesin Ben Beirdd ("Taliesin, Chief of Bards" or chief of poets). He is mentioned as one of the five British poets of renown, along with Talhaearn Tad Awen ("Talhaearn Father of the Muse"), Aneirin, Blwchfardd, and Cian Gwenith Gwawd ("Cian Wheat of Song"), in the Historia Brittonum, and is also mentioned in the collection of poems known as Y Gododdin. Taliesin was highly regarded in the mid-twelfth century as the supposed author of a great number of romantic legends.
According to legend, Taliesin was adopted as a child by Elffin, the son of Gwyddno Garanhir, and prophesied the death of Maelgwn Gwynedd from the Yellow Plague. In later stories he became a mythic hero, companion of Bran the Blessed and King Arthur. His legendary biography is found in several late renderings (see below), the earliest surviving narrative being found in a manuscript chronicle of world history written by Elis Gruffydd in the 16th century.
Biography
Little is known about his life, beyond what can be gleaned from the poems which are considered genuinely historical. These refer to victories by Urien at the battles of Argoed Llwyfain and Gwen Ystrad. Urien's son Owain fought alongside his father at the first of these and slew the enemy leader Fflamddwyn; some scholars have argued that Fflamddwyn is none other than Ida of Bernicia and that the battle occurred around the year 547. Less is known regarding the battle at Gwen Ystrad, but some have hypothesised that it occurred at Menao, Northumbria about the year 560. All of these locations are found in the Hen Ogledd (The Old North).Taliesin may or may not have served Owain mab Urien following Urien's death, as the chronology is not entirely clear. While Taliesin certainly outlived Owain, as demonstrated by a lament he composed for Owain's death, there is no proof that he survived Urien. Taliesin also sang in praise of Cynan Garwyn, king of Powys, Wales. It is striking in any case that Taliesin is not the first poet named by Nennius.
According to a tradition often alluded to in medieval Welsh poetry and in Historia Taliesin ("The Tale of Taliesin", surviving from the 16th century), Taliesin was the foster-son of Elffin ap Gwyddno, who gave him the name Taliesin, meaning "radiant brow", and who later became a king in Ceredigion, Wales. The legend states that he was then raised at his court in Aberdyfi and that at the age of 13, he visited King Maelgwn Gwynedd, Elffin's uncle, and correctly prophesied the manner and imminence of Maelgwn's death. A number of medieval poems attributed to Taliesin allude to the legend but they postdate the historical poet's floruit by at least five hundred years, or more.
The idea that he was a bard at the court of King Arthur dates back at least to the tale of Culhwch and Olwen, perhaps a product of the 11th century. It is elaborated upon in modern English poetry, such as Tennyson's Idylls of the King and Charles Williams's Taliessin Through Logres. In any case the historical Taliesin's career can be shown to have fallen in the last half of the 6th century, while historians who argue for Arthur's existence date his victory at Mons Badonicus in the years to either side of AD 500; the Annales Cambriae offers the date of 532 for his death or disappearance in the Battle of Camlann, only a few years earlier than the date of 542 found in the Historia Regum Britanniae.
Bedd Taliesin, a hilltop Bronze Age tumulus in Ceredigion, opposite Aberdyfi (see above), is a traditional site for his grave but the village of Tre-Taliesin, located at the foot of the hill, was actually named after the bard in the 19th century. A manuscript in the hand of 18th century literary forgerer Iolo Morganwg claimed he was the son of Saint Henwg of Llanhennock but this is contrary to every other fact and tradition. In it he is said to have been educated in the school of Catwg, at Llanfeithin, in Glamorgan, Wales, which the historian Gildas also attended. Captured as a youth by Irish pirates while fishing at sea, he is said to have escaped by using a wooden buckler for a boat; he landed at the fishing weir of Elffin, one of the sons of Urien (all medieval Welsh sources, however, make Elffin the son of Gwyddno Garanhir). Urien made him Elffin's instructor, and gave Taliesin an estate of land. But once introduced to the court of the warrior-chief, Taliesin became his foremost bard, followed him in his wars, and wrote of his victories.
Book of Taliesin
Some of the texts of The Book of Taliesin, scholars believe, are examples of 10th century Welsh. Since much if not all Welsh poetry was transmitted orally in Taliesin's day, it is possible that the original poems were first written down four centuries later using the contemporary spellings of that day. Sir Ifor Williams, whose work helped lay the foundations for the academic study of Old Welsh, particularly early Welsh poetry, published the text with notes in Canu Taliesin (1960), and subsequently in an English version as The Poems of Taliesin (1968).John Gwenogvryn Evans dated the Book of Taliesin to around 1275, but Daniel Huws now dates it to the first quarter of the 14th century. Most of the poems in the collection are quite late (around 10th to 12th century), though some claim Taliesin as author while others are attributed internally to other poets. A few of the "marks" presumably awarded for poems - or at least measuring their "value" - are extant in the margin of the Book of Taliesin.
Of the poems in The Book of Taliesin, twelve are addressed to known historical kings such as Cynan Garwyn, king of Powys, and Gwallog of Elmet. Eight of the poems, however, are addressed to Urien Rheged, whose kingdom was centered in the region of the Solway Firth on the borders of present-day England and Scotland and stretched east to Catraeth (identified by most scholars as present-day Catterick in North Yorkshire) and west to Galloway. One poem, a "marwnad" or death lament, was addressed to Owain, son of Urien.
The rest comprises some poems addressing mythological and religious topics as well as a few works such as 'Armes Prydein Vawr', the content of which implies that they were by later authors. Many lack the characteristics, metre and 'poetic tag' associated with the work of the historical Taliesin. Much of this material is associated with the legendary Taliesin.
The legendary account of his life
In the mid 16th century, Elis Gruffydd recorded a legendary account of Taliesin which resembles the story of the boyhood of the Irish hero Fionn mac Cumhail and the salmon of wisdom in some respects. The tale was also recorded in a slightly different version by John Jones of Gellilyfdy (c. 1607). A composite version based on these accounts is given below.
===Birth=== Taliesin began life as Gwion Bach, a servant to the enchantress Ceridwen. Ceridwen had a beautiful daughter and an ugly son named Morfran (also called Avagddu), whose appearance no magic could cure. Ceridwen sought to give him the gift of wisdom as compensation and cooked a potion granting inspiration (Awen), which had to be constantly stirred and cooked for a year and a day. A blind man named Morda tended the fire beneath the cauldron, while Gwion Bach stirred. The first three drops of liquid from this cauldron would give wisdom; the rest was a fatal poison. Three hot drops spilled onto Gwion's thumb as he stirred, and he instinctively put his thumb in his mouth, instantly gaining wisdom and knowledge. The first thought that occurred to him was that Ceridwen would kill him, so he ran away.
All too soon he heard her fury and the sound of her pursuit. He turned himself into a hare on the land and she became a greyhound. He turned himself into a fish and jumped into a river: she then turned into an otter. He turned into a bird in the air, and in response she became a hawk.
Exhausted, he turned into a single grain of corn and she became a hen and ate him. She became pregnant. She resolved to kill the child, knowing it was Gwion, but when he was born he was so beautiful that she couldn't, so she threw him in the ocean in a leather bag.
Discovery by Elffin
The baby was found by Elffin, the son of Gwyddno Garanhir, 'Lord of Ceredigion', while fishing for salmon. Surprised at the whiteness of the boy's brow, he exclaimed "dyma Dal Iesin", meaning "this is a radiant brow." Taliesin, thus named, began to recite beautiful poetry, saying::Fair Elffin, cease your lament! :....Though I am weak and small, :On the wave crest of the surging sea, :I shall be better for you :Than three hundred shares of salmon.
:Elffin of noble generosity, :Do not sorrow at your catch. :Though I am weak on the floor of my basket, :There are wonders on my tongue....''
Amazed, Elffin asked how a baby could talk. Again Taliesin replied with poetry:
:"Floating like a boat in its waters, :I was thrown into a dark bag, :and on an endless sea, I was set adrift. :Just as I was suffocating, I had a happy omen, :and the master of the Heavens brought me to liberty."
At the court of Maelgwn Gwynedd
A few years later, when Taliesin turned thirteen, Elffin was at the court of King Maelgwn Gwynedd, claiming Taliesin was a better bard and that his wife a better woman than anyone the king had in his court. Maelgwn's son Rhun went to Elffin's house to seduce his wife and prove Elffin's claims weren't true. Rhun got her drunk and tried to take off her wedding ring to prove her unfaithfulness. But Elffin was unconvinced. Maelgwn then demanded Taliesin prove the claim that he was a better bard than the ones in his court. Taliesin then prophesied the king's downfall in a flood of stanzas, while the king's bards could only play with their lips and make baby noises. Elffin was released from the prison into which he had been cast.
Footnotes
References
External links
Category:530s births Category:590s deaths Category:Medieval Welsh poets Category:Welsh-language poets Category:Mabinogion Category:Arthurian characters Category:Sub-Roman writers Category:Welsh mythology
ar:تالييسن br:Taliesin ca:Taliesin cs:Taliesin cy:Taliesin de:Taliesin es:Taliesin fr:Taliesin gl:Taliesin it:Taliesin ja:タリエシン pl:Taliesin pt:Taliesin ru:Талиесин sh:Taliesin sv:TaliesinThis text is licensed under the Creative Commons CC-BY-SA License. This text was originally published on Wikipedia and was developed by the Wikipedia community.