TALIESIN

 

https://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/mab/mab32.htm

Taliesin was a 6th Century poet and one of the five chief bards of the Isle of the Mighty. Twelve poems attributed to him have survived to the present day, some of which are thought to be authentic. Although it is considered too late to be Taliesin's, the poem the Spoils of Annwfn connects him with Arthur and the raid on Annwn.

As with his contemporaries, fantastic tales have naturally grown up around Taliesin. One story begins with the bard as a young boy named Gwion. The great witch Ceridwen assigned him the task of tending her cauldron. For a year and a day he was to stir the magical brew. Ceridwen he was to stir teh magical brew. Ceridwen would then give the mixture a source of great knowledge, to her son as compensation fo hsi hideous appearance. As the fateful day drew near, Gwion accidentally splashed himself with the brew. In licking three drops off his fingers, he became the unintended recipient of teh All Knowing and thus became aware of Ceridwen's plans to kill him once he had served his purpose. What remained of the brew was only poison and teh enraged Ceridwen gave chase. With newly acquired gifts Gwion shifted his shape to that of a hare. Ceridwen followed in the shape of a greyhound. He took to a stream, becoming a fish. Ceridwen followed a an otter. He took to the air as a small bird, she followed as a hawk. Lastly Lastly, Gwion became a grain of wheat. Ceridwen, in the shape of a black hen, swallowed him. Returning to her own shape, Ceridwen was now pregnant with Gwion. In time, she gave birth to the child. Ceridwen. On seeing his beauty, however, she could not bring herself to kill him but set him adrift upon the sea in a leather bag. Elphin, the nephew of King Maelgwn, found the bag caught on a salmon weir. He carefully opened it and on seeing teh child exclaimed, "Behold a radiant brow!" And so the child was named Taliesin meaning "Radiant Brow." Elphin's family took him into their care and raised him.

Taliesin's power first attracted attention when he journeyed to the court of King maelgwn to rescue his imprisoned patron Elphin. To avoid interference from the haughty resident bards, Taliesin cast a spell upon them so that the only words they could speak were "blewn blewn blewn." To add to their indignity, the enchantment also caused them to compulsively fingr their bottom lips. Under the disdainful glare of the king, the chief bard, Heinin strained against the spell. After what seemed an eternity, Heinin managed to blurt out that they were not drunk, as it seemed, but were under a spell cast by the boy in the corner! Now commanding the king's undivided attention, Taliesin stepped forward. The king asked him who he was, and in reply Taliesin began to recite his now famous poem of "I Hae Beens," recounting his many incarnations. With the sound of his voice the chains that held Elphin fell away. Taliesin then began to foretell the future of Britain. As he spoke the wind rose until it raged, shaking the hall and nearly drowning his words. As the prophesies drew to a close the wind subsided, leaving all quiet but for the whispered chants of the bards.

 

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