So she resolved, according to the arts of the books of the Fferyllt, to boil a cauldron of Inspiration and Science for her son, that his reception might be honourable4 because of his knowledge of the mysteries of the future state of the world.
Then she began to boil the cauldron, which from the beginning of its boiling might not cease to boil for a year and a day, until three blessed drops were obtained of the grace of Inspiration.
And she put Gwion Bach the son of Gwreang of Llanfair in Caereinion, in Powys, to stir the cauldron, and a blind man named Morda to kindle5 the fire beneath it, and she charged them that they should not suffer it to cease boiling for the space of a year and a day. And she herself, according to the books of the astronomers6, and in planetary hours, gathered every day of all charm-bearing herbs. And one day, towards the end of the year, as Caridwen was culling7 plants and making incantations, it chanced that three drops of the charmed liquor flew out of the cauldron and fell upon the finger of Gwion Bach. And by reason of their great heat he put his finger to his mouth, and the instant he put those marvel-working drops into his mouth, he foresaw everything that was to come, and perceived that his chief care must be to guard against the wiles8 of Caridwen, for vast was her skill. And in very great fear he fled towards his own land. And the cauldron burst in two, because all the liquor within it except the three charm-bearing drops was poisonous, so that the horses of Gwyddno Garanhir were poisoned by the water of the stream into which the liquor of the cauldron ran, and the confluence9 of that stream was called the Poison of the Horses of Gwyddno from that time forth10.
Thereupon came in Caridwen and saw all the toil11 of the whole year lost. And she seized a billet of wood and struck the blind Morda on the head until one of his eyes fell out upon his cheek. And he said, “Wrongfully hast thou disfigured me, for I am innocent. Thy loss was not because of me.” “Thou speakest truth,” said Caridwen, “it was Gwion Bach who robbed me.”
And she went forth after him, running. And he saw her, and changed himself into a hare and fled. But she changed herself into a greyhound and turned him. And he ran towards a river, and became a fish. And she in the form of an otter-bitch chased him under the water, until he was fain to turn himself into a bird of the air. She, as a hawk13, followed him and gave him no rest in the sky. And just as she was about to stoop upon him, and he was in fear of death, he espied14 a heap of winnowed15 wheat on the floor of a barn, and he dropped among the wheat, and turned himself into one of the grains. Then she transformed herself into a high-crested black hen, and went to the wheat and scratched it with her feet, and found him out and swallowed him. And, as the story says, she bore him nine months, and when she was delivered of him, she could not find it in her heart to kill him, by reason of his beauty. So she wrapped him in a leathern bag, and cast him into the sea to the mercy of God, on the twenty-ninth day of April.
And at that time the weir16 of Gwyddno was on the strand17 between Dyvi and Aberystwyth, near to his own castle, and the value of an hundred pounds was taken in that weir every May eve. And in those days Gwyddno had an only son named Elphin, the most hapless of youths, and the most needy18. And it grieved his father sore, for he thought that he was born in an evil hour. And by the advice of his council, his father had granted him the drawing of the weir that year, to see if good luck would ever befall him, and to give him something wherewith to begin the world.
And the next day when Elphin went to look, there was nothing in the weir. But as he turned back he perceived the leathern bag upon a pole of the weir. Then said one of the weir-ward unto Elphin, “Thou wast never unlucky until to-night, and now thou hast destroyed the virtues19 of the weir, which always yielded the value of an hundred pounds every May eve, and to-night there is nothing but this leathern skin within it.” “How now,” said Elphin, “there may be therein the value of an hundred pounds.” Well, they took up the leathern bag, and he who opened it saw the forehead of the boy, and said to Elphin, “Behold21 a radiant brow!” [6] “Taliesin be he called,” said Elphin. And he lifted the boy in his arms, and lamenting22 his mischance, he placed him sorrowfully behind him. And he made his horse amble24 gently, that before had been trotting25, and he carried him as softly as if he had been sitting in the easiest chair in the world. And presently the boy made a Consolation26 and praise to Elphin, and foretold27 honour to Elphin; and the Consolation was as you may see:—
“Fair Elphin, cease to lament23!
Let no one be dissatisfied with his own,
To despair will bring no advantage.
No man sees what supports him;
The prayer of Cynllo will not be in vain;
God will not violate his promise.
Never in Gwyddno’s weir
Was there such good luck as this night.
Fair Elphin, dry thy cheeks!
Being too sad will not avail.
Although thou thinkest thou hast no gain,
Too much grief will bring thee no good;
Nor doubt the miracles of the Almighty28:
Although I am but little, I am highly gifted.
From seas, and from mountains,
And from the depths of rivers,
God brings wealth to the fortunate man.
Elphin of lively qualities,
Thy resolution is unmanly;
Thou must not be over sorrowful:
Better to trust in God than to forbode ill.
Weak and small as I am,
On the foaming30 beach of the ocean,
In the day of trouble I shall be
Of more service to thee than three hundred salmon31.
Elphin of notable qualities,
Be not displeased32 at thy misfortune;
Although reclined thus weak in my bag,
There lies a virtue20 in my tongue.
While I continue thy protector
Thou hast not much to fear;
Remembering the names of the Trinity,
None shall be able to harm thee.”
And this was the first poem that Taliesin ever sang, being to console Elphin in his grief for that the produce of the weir was lost, and, what was worse, that all the world would consider that it was through his fault and ill-luck. And then Gwyddno Garanhir [7] asked him what he was, whether man or spirit. Whereupon he sang this tale, and said:—
“First, I have been formed a comely33 person,
In the court of Caridwen I have done penance34;
Though little I was seen, placidly35 received,
I was great on the floor of the place to where I was led;
I have been a prized defence, the sweet muse36 the cause,
And by law without speech I have been liberated37
By a smiling black old hag, when irritated
Dreadful her claim when pursued:
I have fled with vigour39, I have fled as a frog,
I have fled in the semblance40 of a crow, scarcely finding rest;
I have fled vehemently41, I have fled as a chain,
I have fled as a roe42 into an entangled43 thicket44;
I have fled as a wolf cub45, I have fled as a wolf in a wilderness46,
I have fled as a thrush of portending47 language;
I have fled as a fox, used to concurrent48 bounds of quirks49;
I have fled as a martin, which did not avail;
I have fled as a squirrel, that vainly hides,
I have fled as a stag’s antler, of ruddy course,
I have fled as iron in a glowing fire,
I have fled as a spear-head, of woe50 to such as has a wish for it;
I have fled as a fierce hull51 bitterly fighting,
I have fled as a bristly boar seen in a ravine,
I have fled as a white grain of pure wheat,
On the skirt of a hempen52 sheet entangled,
That seemed of the size of a mare’s foal,
That is filling like a ship on the waters;
Into a dark leathern bag I was thrown,
And on a boundless53 sea I was sent adrift;
Which was to me an omen54 of being tenderly nursed,
And the Lord God then set me at liberty.”
Then came Elphin to the house or court of Gwyddno his father, and Taliesin with him. And Gwyddno asked him if he had had a good haul at the weir, and he told him that he had got that which was better than fish. “What was that?” said Gwyddno. “A Bard55,” answered Elphin. Then said Gwyddno, “Alas, what will he profit thee?” And Taliesin himself replied and said, “He will profit him more than the weir ever profited thee.” Asked Gwyddno, “Art thou able to speak, and thou so little?” And Taliesin answered him, “I am better able to speak than thou to question me.” “Let me hear what thou canst say,” quoth Gwyddno. Then Taliesin sang:—
“In water there is a quality endowed with a blessing56;
On God it is most just to meditate57 aright;
To God it is proper to supplicate58 with seriousness,
Since no obstacle can there be to obtain a reward from him.
Three times have I been born, I know by meditation59;
It were miserable60 for a person not to come and obtain
All the sciences of the world, collected together in my breast,
For I know what has been, what in future will occur.
I will supplicate my Lord that I get refuge in him,
A regard I may obtain in his grace;
The Son of Mary is my trust, great in him is my delight,
For in him is the world continually upholden.
God has been to instruct me and to raise my expectation,
The true Creator of heaven, who affords me protection;
It is rightly intended that the saints should daily pray,
For God, the renovator61, will bring them to him.”
And forthwith Elphin gave his haul to his wife, and she nursed him tenderly and lovingly. Thenceforward Elphin increased in riches more and more day after day, and in love and favour with the king, and there abode62 Taliesin until he was thirteen years old, when Elphin son of Gwyddno went by a Christmas invitation to his uncle, Maelgwn Gwynedd, who some time after this held open court at Christmastide in the castle of Dyganwy, for all the number of his lords of both degrees, both spiritual and temporal, with a vast and thronged63 host of knights64 and squires66. And amongst them there arose a discourse68 and discussion. And thus was it said.
“Is there in the whole world a king so great as Maelgwn, or one on whom Heaven has bestowed69 so many spiritual gifts as upon him? First, form, and beauty, and meekness70, and strength, besides all the powers of the soul!” And together with these they said that Heaven had given one gift that exceeded all the others, which was the beauty, and comeliness71, and grace, and wisdom, and modesty72 of his queen; whose virtues surpassed those of all the ladies and noble maidens74 throughout the whole kingdom. And with this they put questions one to another amongst themselves: Who had braver men? Who had fairer or swifter horses or greyhounds? Who had more skilful75 or wiser bards76—than Maelgwn?
Now at that time the bards were in great favour with the exalted of the kingdom; and then none performed the office of those who are now called heralds77, unless they were learned men, not only expert in the service of kings and princes, but studious and well versed78 in the lineage, and arms, and exploits of princes and kings, and in discussions concerning foreign kingdoms, and the ancient things of this kingdom, and chiefly in the annals of the first nobles; and also were prepared always with their answers in various languages, Latin, French, Welsh, and English. And together with this they were great chroniclers, and recorders, and skilful in framing verses, and ready in making englyns in every one of those languages. Now of these there were at that feast within the palace of Maelgwn as many as four-and-twenty, and chief of them all was one named Heinin Vardd.
When they had all made an end of thus praising the king and his gifts, it befell that Elphin spoke79 in this wise. “Of a truth none but a king may vie with a king; but were he not a king, I would say that my wife was as virtuous80 as any lady in the kingdom, and also that I have a bard who is more skilful than all the king’s bards.” In a short space some of his fellows showed the king all the boastings of Elphin; and the king ordered him to be thrown into a strong prison, until he might know the truth as to the virtues of his wife, and the wisdom of his bard.
Now when Elphin had been put in a tower of the castle, with a thick chain about his feet (it is said that it was a silver chain, because he was of royal blood), the king, as the story relates, sent his son Rhun to inquire into the demeanour of Elphin’s wife. Now Rhun was the most graceless man in the world, and there was neither wife nor maiden with whom he had held converse81, but was evil spoken of. While Rhun went in haste towards Elphin’s dwelling, being fully12 minded to bring disgrace upon his wife, Taliesin told his mistress how that the king had placed his master in durance in prison, and how that Rhun was coming in haste to strive to bring disgrace upon her. Wherefore he caused his mistress to array one of the maids of her kitchen in her apparel; which the noble lady gladly did; and she loaded her hands with the best rings that she and her husband possessed82.
In this guise83 Taliesin caused his mistress to put the maiden to sit at the board in her room at supper, and he made her to seem as her mistress, and the mistress to seem as the maid. And when they were in due time seated at their supper in the manner that has been said, Rhun suddenly arrived at Elphin’s dwelling, and was received with joy, for all the servants knew him plainly; and they brought him in haste to the room of their mistress, in the semblance of whom the maid rose up from supper and welcomed him gladly. And afterwards she sat down to supper again the second time, and Rhun with her. Then Rhun began jesting with the maid, who still kept the semblance of her mistress. And verily this story shows that the maiden became so intoxicated84, that she fell asleep; and the story relates that it was a powder that Rhun put into the drink, that made her sleep so soundly that she never felt it when he cut from off her hand her little finger, whereupon was the signet ring of Elphin, which he had sent to his wife as a token, a short time before. And Rhun returned to the king with the finger and the ring as a proof, to show that he had cut it from off her hand, without her awaking from her sleep of intemperance85.
The king rejoiced greatly at these tidings, and he sent for his councillors, to whom he told the whole story from the beginning. And he caused Elphin to be brought out of his prison, and he chided him because of his boast. And he spake unto Elphin on this wise. “Elphin, be it known to thee beyond a doubt that it is but folly86 for a man to trust in the virtues of his wife further than he can see her; and that thou mayest be certain of thy wife’s vileness87, behold her finger, with thy signet ring upon it, which was cut from her hand last night, while she slept the sleep of intoxication89.” Then thus spake Elphin. “With thy leave, mighty29 king, I cannot deny my ring, for it is known of many; but verily I assert strongly that the finger around which it is, was never attached to the hand of my wife, for in truth and certainty there are three notable things pertaining90 to it, none of which ever belonged to any of my wife’s fingers. The first of the three is, that it is certain, by your grace’s leave, that wheresoever my wife is at this present hour, whether sitting, or standing91, or lying down, this ring would never remain upon her thumb, whereas you can plainly see that it was hard to draw it over the joint92 of the little finger of the hand whence this was cut; the second thing is, that my wife has never let pass one Saturday since I have known her without paring her nails before going to bed, and you can see fully that the nail of this little finger has not been pared for a month. The third is, truly, that the hand whence this finger came was kneading rye dough93 within three days before the finger was cut therefrom, and I can assure your goodness that my wife has never kneaded rye dough since my wife she has been.”
Then the king was mightily94 wroth with Elphin for so stoutly95 withstanding him, respecting the goodness of his wife, wherefore he ordered him to his prison a second time, saying that he should not be loosed thence until he had proved the truth of his boast, as well concerning the wisdom of his bard as the virtues of his wife.
In the meantime his wife and Taliesin remained joyful96 at Elphin’s dwelling. And Taliesin showed his mistress how that Elphin was in prison because of them, but he bade her be glad, for that he would go to Maelgwn’s court to free his master. Then she asked him in what manner he would set him free. And he answered her:—
“A journey will I perform,
And to the gate I will come;
The hall I will enter,
And my song I will sing;
My speech I will pronounce
To silence royal bards,
In presence of their chief,
I will greet to deride97,
Upon them I will break
And Elphin I will free.
Should contention98 arise,
In presence of the prince,
With summons to the bards,
For the sweet flowing song,
And wizards’ posing lore99
And wisdom of Druids,
In the court of the sons of the Distributor
Some are who did appear
Intent on wily schemes,
By craft and tricking means,
In pangs101 of affliction
To wrong the innocent,
Let the fools be silent,
As erst in Badon’s fight,—
With Arthur of liberal ones
The head, with long red blades;
Through feats102 of testy103 men,
And a chief with his foes104.
Woe be to them, the fools,
When revenge comes on them.
I Taliesin, chief of bards,
With a sapient105 Druid’s words,
Will set kind Elphin free
From haughty106 tyrant’s bonds.
To their fell and chilling cry,
By the act of a surprising steed,
From the far distant North,
There soon shall be an end.
Let neither grace nor health
Be to Maelgwn Gwynedd,
For this force and this wrong;
And be extremes of ills
And an avenged107 end
To Rhun and all his race:
Short be his course of life,
Be all his lands laid waste;
And long exile be assigned
To Maelgwn Gwynedd!”
After this he took leave of his mistress, and came at last to the Court of Maelgwn, who was going to sit in his hall and dine in his royal state, as it was the custom in those days for kings and princes to do at every chief feast. And as soon as Taliesin entered the hall, he placed himself in a quiet corner, near the place where the bards and the minstrels were wont108 to come in doing their service and duty to the king, as is the custom at the high festivals when the bounty109 is proclaimed. And so, when the bards and the heralds came to cry largess, and to proclaim the power of the king and his strength, at the moment that they passed by the corner wherein he was crouching110, Taliesin pouted111 out his lips after them, and played “Blerwm, blerwm,” with his finger upon his lips. Neither took they much notice of him as they went by, but proceeded forward till they came before the king, unto whom they made their obeisance112 with their bodies, as they were wont, without speaking a single word, but pouting113 out their lips, and making mouths at the king, playing “Blerwm, blerwm,” upon their lips with their fingers, as they had seen the boy do elsewhere. This sight caused the king to wonder and to deem within himself that they were drunk with many liquors. Wherefore he commanded one of his lords, who served at the board, to go to them and desire them to collect their wits, and to consider where they stood, and what it was fitting for them to do. And this lord did so gladly. But they ceased not from their folly any more than before. Whereupon he sent to them a second time, and a third, desiring them to go forth from the hall. At the last the king ordered one of his squires to give a blow to the chief of them named Heinin Vardd; and the squire67 took a broom and struck him on the head, so that he fell back in his seat. Then he arose and went on his knees, and besought114 leave of the king’s grace to show that this their fault was not through want of knowledge, neither through drunkenness, but by the influence of some spirit that was in the hall. And after this Heinin spoke on this wise. “Oh, honourable king, be it known to your grace, that not from the strength of drink, or of too much liquor, are we dumb, without power of speech like drunken men, but through the influence of a spirit that sits in the corner yonder in the form of a child.” Forthwith the king commanded the squire to fetch him; and he went to the nook where Taliesin sat, and brought him before the king, who asked him what he was, and whence he came. And he answered the king in verse.
“Primary chief bard am I to Elphin,
And my original country is the region of the summer stars;
Idno and Heinin called me Merddin,
At length every king will call me Taliesin.
I was with my Lord in the highest sphere,
On the fall of Lucifer into the depth of hell
I have borne a banner before Alexander;
I know the names of the stars from north to south;
I have been on the galaxy115 at the throne of the Distributor;
I was in Canaan when Absalom was slain116;
I conveyed the Divine Spirit to the level of the vale of Hebron;
I was in the court of Don before the birth of Gwdion.
I was instructor117 to Eli and Enoc;
I have been winged by the genius of the splendid crosier;
I have been loquacious118 prior to being gifted with speech;
I was at the place of the crucifixion of the merciful Son of God;
I have been three periods in the prison of Arianrod;
I have been the chief director of the work of the tower of Nimrod;
I am a wonder whose origin is not known.
I have been in Asia with Noah in the ark,
I have seen the destruction of Sodom and Gomorra;
I have been in India when Roma was built,
I am now come here to the remnant of Troia.
I have been with my Lord in the manger of the ass73:
I strengthened Moses through the water of Jordan;
I have been in the firmament119 with Mary Magdalene;
I have obtained the muse from the cauldron of Caridwen;
I have been bard of the harp120 to Lleon of Lochlin.
I have been on the White Hill, in the court of Cynvelyn,
For a day and a year in stocks and fetters122,
I have suffered hunger for the Son of the Virgin123,
I have been fostered in the land of the Deity124,
I have been teacher to all intelligences,
I am able to instruct the whole universe.
I shall be until the day of doom125 on the face of the earth;
And it is not known whether my body is flesh or fish.
Then I was for nine months
In the womb of the hag Caridwen;
I was originally little Gwion,
And at length I am Taliesin.”
And when the king and his nobles had heard the song, they wondered much, for they had never heard the like from a boy so young as he. And when the king knew that he was the bard of Elphin, he bade Heinin, his first and wisest bard, to answer Taliesin and to strive with him. But when he came, he could do no other but play “blerwm” on his lips; and when he sent for the others of the four-and-twenty bards they all did likewise, and could do no other. And Maelgwn asked the boy Taliesin what was his errand, and he answered him in song.
“Puny126 bards, I am trying
To secure the prize, if I can;
By a gentle prophetic strain
I am endeavouring to retrieve127
The loss I may have suffered;
Complete the attempt I hope,
Since Elphin endures trouble
In the fortress128 of Teganwy,
On him may there not be laid
Too many chains and fetters;
The Chair of the fortress of Teganwy
Will I again seek;
Strengthened by my muse I am powerful;
Mighty on my part is what I seek,
For three hundred songs and more
Are combined in the spell I sing.
There ought not to stand where I am
Neither stone, neither ring;
And there ought not to be about me
Any bard who may not know
That Elphin the son of Gwyddno
Is in the land of Artro,
Secured by thirteen locks,
For praising his instructor;
And then I Taliesin,
Chief of the bards of the west,
Shall loosen Elphin
Out of a golden fetter121.”
* * * * *
“If you be primary bards
To the master of sciences,
Declare ye mysteries
That relate to the inhabitants of the world;
There is a noxious129 creature,
From the rampart of Satanas,
Which has overcome all
Between the deep and the shallow;
Equally wide are his jaws130
As the mountains of the Alps;
Him death will not subdue131,
Nor hand or blades;
There is the load of nine hundred wagons132
In the hair of his two paws;
There is in his head an eye
Green as the limpid133 sheet of icicle;
Three springs arise
In the nape of his neck;
Sea-roughs thereon
Swim through it;
There was the dissolution of the oxen
Of Deivrdonwy the water-gifted.
The names of the three springs
From the midst of the ocean;
One generated brine
Which is from the Corina,
To replenish134 the flood
Over seas disappearing;
The second, without injury
It will fall on us,
When there is rain abroad,
Through the whelming sky;
The third will appear
Through the mountain veins135,
Like a flinty banquet,
The work of the King of kings,
You are blundering bards,
In too much solicitude137;
You cannot celebrate
The kingdom of the Britons;
And I am Taliesin,
Chief of the bards of the west,
Who will loosen Elphin
Out of the golden fetter.”
* * * * *
“Be silent, then, ye unlucky rhyming bards,
For you cannot judge between truth and falsehood.
If you be primary bards formed by heaven,
Tell your king what his fate will be.
It is I who am a diviner and a leading bard,
And know every passage in the country of your king;
I shall liberate38 Elphin from the belly138 of the stony139 tower;
And will tell your king what will befall him.
A most strange creature will come from the sea marsh140 of Rhianedd
As a punishment of iniquity141 on Maelgwn Gwynedd;
His hair, his teeth, and his eyes being as gold,
And this will bring destruction upon Maelgwn Gwynedd.”
* * * * *
“Discover thou what is
The strong creature from before the flood,
Without flesh, without bone,
Without vein136, without blood,
Without head, without feet,
It will neither be older nor younger
Than at the beginning;
For fear of a denial,
There are no rude wants
With creatures.
Great God! how the sea whitens
When first it comes!
Great are its gusts142
When it comes from the south;
Great are its evaporations
When it strikes on coasts.
It is in the field, it is in the wood,
Without hand, and without foot,
Without signs of old age,
Though it be co-æval
With the five ages or periods
And older still,
Though they be numberless years.
It is also so wide
As the surface of the earth;
And it was not born,
Nor was it seen.
It will cause consternation143
Wherever God willeth.
On sea, and on land,
It neither sees, nor is seen.
Its course is devious144,
And will not come when desired;
On land and on sea,
It is indispensable.
It is without an equal,
It is four-sided;
It is not confined,
It is incomparable;
It comes from four quarters;
It will not be advised,
It will not be without advice.
It commences its journey
Above the marble rock,
It is sonorous145, it is dumb,
It is mild,
It is strong, it is bold,
When it glances over the land,
It is silent, it is vocal146,
It is clamorous147,
It is the most noisy
On the face of the earth.
It is good, it is bad,
It is extremely injurious.
It is concealed148,
Because sight cannot perceive it.
It is noxious, it is beneficial;
It is yonder, it is here;
It will discompose,
But will not repair the injury;
It will not suffer for its doings,
Seeing it is blameless.
It is wet, it is dry,
It frequently comes,
Proceeding149 from the heat of the sun,
And the coldness of the moon.
The moon is less beneficial,
Inasmuch as her heat is less.
One Being has prepared it,
Out of all creatures,
By a tremendous blast,
To wreak150 vengeance151
On Maelgwn Gwynedd.”
And while he was thus singing his verse near the door, there arose a mighty storm of wind, so that the king and all his nobles thought that the castle would fall on their heads. And the king caused them to fetch Elphin in haste from his dungeon152, and placed him before Taliesin. And it is said, that immediately he sang a verse, so that the chains opened from about his feet.
“I adore the Supreme153, Lord of all animation,—
Him that supports the heavens, Ruler of every extreme,
Him that made the water good for all,
Him who has bestowed each gift, and blesses it;—
May abundance of mead154 be given Maelgwn of Anglesey, who supplies us,
From his foaming meadhorns, with the choicest pure liquor.
Since bees collect, and do not enjoy,
We have sparkling distilled155 mead, which is universally praised.
The multitude of creatures which the earth nourishes
God made for man, with a view to enrich him;—
Some are violent, some are mute, he enjoys them,
Some are wild, some are tame; the Lord makes them;—
Part of their produce becomes clothing;
For food and beverage156 till doom will they continue.
I entreat157 the Supreme, Sovereign of the region of peace,
To liberate Elphin from banishment158,
The man who gave me wine, and ale, and mead,
With large princely steeds, of beautiful appearance;
May he yet give me; and at the end,
May God of his good will grant me, in honour,
A succession of numberless ages, in the retreat of tranquillity159.
Elphin, knight65 of mead, late be thy dissolution!”
And afterwards he sang the ode which is called “The Excellence160 of the Bards.”
“What was the first man
Made by the God of heaven;
What the fairest flattering speech
That was prepared by leuav;
What meat, what drink,
What roof his shelter;
What the first impression
Of his primary thinking;
What became his clothing;
Who carried on a disguise,
Owing to the wilds of the country,
In the beginning?
Wherefore should a stone be hard;
Why should a thorn be sharp-pointed?
Who is hard like a flint;
Who is salt like brine;
Who sweet like honey;
Who rides on the gale161;
Why ridged should be the nose;
Why should a wheel be round;
Why should the tongue be gifted with speech
Rather than another member?
If thy bards, Heinin, be competent,
Let them reply to me, Taliesin.”
And after that he sang the address which is called “The Reproof162 of the Bards.”
“If thou art a bard completely imbued163
With genius not to be controlled,
Be thou not untractable
Within the court of thy king;
Until thy rigmarole shall be known,
Be thou silent, Heinin,
As to the name of thy verse,
And the name of thy vaunting;
And as to the name of thy grandsire
Prior to his being baptized.
And the name of the sphere,
And the name of the element,
And the name of thy language,
And the name of thy region.
Avaunt, ye bards above,
Avaunt, ye bards below!
My beloved is below,
In the fetter of Ariansod
It is certain you know not
How to understand the song I utter,
Nor clearly how to discriminate164
Between the truth and what is false;
Puny bards, crows of the district,
Why do you not take to flight?
A bard that will not silence me,
Silence may he not obtain,
Till he goes to be covered
Under gravel165 and pebbles166;
Such as shall listen to me,
May God listen to him.”
Then sang he the piece called “The Spite of the Bards.”
“Minstrels persevere167 in their false custom,
Immoral168 ditties are their delight;
Vain and tasteless praise they recite;
Falsehood at all times do they utter;
The innocent persons they ridicule169;
Married women they destroy,
Innocent virgins170 of Mary they corrupt171;
As they pass their lives away in vanity,
Poor innocent persons they ridicule;
At night they get drunk, they sleep the day;
In idleness without work they feed themselves;
The Church they hate, and the tavern172 they frequent;
With thieves and perjured173 fellows they associate;
At courts they inquire after feasts;
Every senseless word they bring forward;
Every deadly sin they praise;
Every vile88 course of life they lead;
Through every village, town, and country they stroll;
Concerning the gripe of death they think not;
Neither lodging174 nor charity do they give;
Indulging in victuals175 to excess.
Psalms176 or prayers they do not use,
Tithes178 or offerings to God they do not pay,
On holidays or Sundays they do not worship;
Vigils or festivals they do not heed179.
The birds do fly, the fish do swim,
The bees collect honey, worms do crawl,
Every thing travails180 to obtain its food,
Except minstrels and lazy useless thieves.
I deride neither song nor minstrelsy,
For they are given by God to lighten thought;
But him who abuses them,
For blaspheming Jesus and his service.”
Taliesin having set his master free from prison, and having protected the innocence181 of his wife, and silenced the Bards, so that not one of them dared to say a word, now brought Elphin’s wife before them, and showed that she had not one finger wanting. Right glad was Elphin, right glad was Taliesin.
Then he bade Elphin wager182 the king, that he had a horse both better and swifter than the king’s horses. And this Elphin did, and the day, and the time, and the place were fixed183, and the place was that which at this day is called Morva Rhiannedd: and thither184 the king went with all his people, and four-and-twenty of the swiftest horses he possessed. And after a long process the course was marked, and the horses were placed for running. Then came Taliesin with four-and-twenty twigs186 of holly187, which he had burnt black, and he caused the youth who was to ride his master’s horse to place them in his belt, and he gave him orders to let all the king’s horses get before him, and as he should overtake one horse after the other, to take one of the twigs and strike the horse with it over the crupper, and then let that twig185 fall; and after that to take another twig, and do in like manner to every one of the horses, as he should overtake them, enjoining188 the horseman strictly189 to watch when his own horse should stumble, and to throw down his cap on the spot. All these things did the youth fulfil, giving a blow to every one of the king’s horses, and throwing down his cap on the spot where his horse stumbled. And to this spot Taliesin brought his master after his horse had won the race. And he caused Elphin to put workmen to dig a hole there; and when they had dug the ground deep enough, they found a large cauldron full of gold. And then said Taliesin, “Elphin, behold a payment and reward unto thee, for having taken me out of the weir, and for having reared me from that time until now.” And on this spot stands a pool of water, which is to this time called Pwllbair.
After all this, the king caused Taliesin to be brought before him, and he asked him to recite concerning the creation of man from the beginning; and thereupon he made the poem which is now called “One of the Four Pillars of Song.”
“The Almighty made,
Down the Hebron vale,
With his plastic hands,
Adam’s fair form:
And five hundred years,
Void of any help,
There he remained and lay
Without a soul.
He again did form,
In calm paradise,
From a left-side rib100,
Bliss-throbbing Eve.
Seven hours they were
The orchard190 keeping,
Till Satan brought strife191,
With wiles from hell.
Thence were they driven,
Cold and shivering,
To gain their living,
Into this world.
To bring forth with pain
Their sons and daughters,
To have possession
Of Asia’s land.
Twice five, ten and eight,
She was self-bearing,
The mixed burden
Of man-woman.
And once, not hidden,
She brought forth Abel,
And Cain the forlorn,
The homicide.
To him and his mate
Was given a spade,
To break up the soil,
Thus to get bread.
The wheat pure and white,
Summer tilth to sow,
Every man to feed,
Till great yule feast.
An angelic hand
From the high Father,
Brought seed for growing
That Eve might sow;
But she then did hide
Of the gift a tenth,
And all did not sow
Of what was dug.
Black rye then was found,
And not pure wheat grain,
To show the mischief193
Thus of thieving.
For this thievish act,
It is requisite194,
That all men should pay
Tithe177 unto God.
Of the ruddy wine,
Planted on sunny days,
And on new-moon nights;
And the white wine.
The wheat rich in grain
And red flowing wine
Christ’s pure body make,
Son of Alpha.
The wafer is flesh,
The wine is spilt blood,
The Trinity’s words
Sanctify them.
The concealed books
From Emmanuel’s hand
Were brought by Raphael
As Adam’s gift,
When in his old age,
To his chin immersed
In Jordan’s water,
Keeping a fast,
Moses did obtain
In Jordan’s water,
The aid of the three
Most special rods.
Solomon did obtain
In Babel’s tower,
All the sciences
In Asia land.
So did I obtain,
In my bardic195 books,
All the sciences
Of Europe and Africa.
Their course, their bearing,
Their permitted way,
And their fate I know,
Unto the end.
Oh! what misery196,
Through extreme of woe,
Prophecy will show
On Troia’s race!
A coiling serpent
Proud and merciless,
On her golden wings,
From Germany.
She will overrun
England and Scotland,
From Lychlyn sea-shore
To the Severn.
Then will the Brython
Be as prisoners,
By strangers swayed,
From Saxony.
Their Lord they will praise,
Their speech they will keep,
Their land they will lose,
Except wild Walia.
Till some change shall come,
After long penance,
When equally rife192
The two crimes come.
Britons then shall have
Their land and their crown,
And the stranger swarm197
Shall disappear.
All the angel’s words,
As to peace and war,
Will be fulfilled
To Britain’s race.”
He further told the king various prophecies of things that should be in the world, in songs, as follows.
The End
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1
dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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exalted
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| adj.(地位等)高的，崇高的；尊贵的，高尚的 | |
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honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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kindle
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| v.点燃，着火 | |
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astronomers
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| n.天文学者，天文学家( astronomer的名词复数 ) | |
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culling
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| n.选择，大批物品中剔出劣质货v.挑选，剔除( cull的现在分词 ) | |
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wiles
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| n.（旨在欺骗或吸引人的）诡计，花招；欺骗，欺诈( wile的名词复数 ) | |
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confluence
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| n.汇合，聚集 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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hawk
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| n.鹰，骗子；鹰派成员 | |
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14
espied
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| v.看到( espy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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winnowed
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| adj.扬净的，风选的v.扬( winnow的过去式和过去分词 )；辨别；选择；除去 | |
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weir
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| n.堰堤，拦河坝 | |
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strand
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| vt.使（船）搁浅，使（某人）困于（某地） | |
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needy
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| adj.贫穷的，贫困的，生活艰苦的 | |
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virtues
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| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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21
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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lamenting
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| adj.悲伤的，悲哀的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的现在分词 ) | |
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lament
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| n.悲叹，悔恨，恸哭；v.哀悼，悔恨，悲叹 | |
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amble
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| vi.缓行，漫步 | |
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trotting
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| 小跑，急走( trot的现在分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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26
consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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27
foretold
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| v.预言，预示( foretell的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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28
almighty
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| adj.全能的，万能的；很大的，很强的 | |
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29
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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30
foaming
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| adj.布满泡沫的；发泡 | |
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31
salmon
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| n.鲑，大马哈鱼，橙红色的 | |
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32
displeased
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| a.不快的 | |
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33
comely
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| adj.漂亮的，合宜的 | |
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34
penance
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| n.（赎罪的）惩罪 | |
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35
placidly
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| adv.平稳地，平静地 | |
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muse
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| n.缪斯（希腊神话中的女神），创作灵感 | |
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37
liberated
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| a.无拘束的，放纵的 | |
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38
liberate
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| v.解放，使获得自由，释出，放出；vt.解放，使获自由 | |
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vigour
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| （=vigor）n.智力，体力，精力 | |
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40
semblance
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| n.外貌，外表 | |
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41
vehemently
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| adv. 热烈地 | |
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42
roe
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| n.鱼卵；獐鹿 | |
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43
entangled
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| adj.卷入的；陷入的；被缠住的；缠在一起的v.使某人（某物/自己）缠绕，纠缠于（某物中），使某人（自己）陷入（困难或复杂的环境中）( entangle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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44
thicket
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| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
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cub
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| n.幼兽，年轻无经验的人 | |
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46
wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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portending
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| v.预示( portend的现在分词 )；预兆；给…以警告；预告 | |
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concurrent
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| adj.同时发生的，一致的 | |
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quirks
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| n.奇事，巧合( quirk的名词复数 )；怪癖 | |
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woe
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| n.悲哀，苦痛，不幸，困难；int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
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51
hull
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| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
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52
hempen
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| adj. 大麻制的, 大麻的 | |
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53
boundless
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| adj.无限的；无边无际的；巨大的 | |
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omen
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| n.征兆，预兆；vt.预示 | |
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55
bard
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| n.吟游诗人 | |
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blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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57
meditate
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| v.想，考虑，（尤指宗教上的）沉思，冥想 | |
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supplicate
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| v.恳求；adv.祈求地，哀求地，恳求地 | |
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meditation
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| n.熟虑，（尤指宗教的）默想，沉思，（pl.）冥想录 | |
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60
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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renovator
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| 革新者 | |
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abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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thronged
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| v.成群，挤满( throng的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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64
knights
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| 骑士； （中古时代的）武士( knight的名词复数 )； 骑士； 爵士； （国际象棋中）马 | |
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knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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squires
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| n.地主，乡绅( squire的名词复数 ) | |
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squire
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| n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
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discourse
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| n.论文，演说；谈话；话语；vi.讲述，著述 | |
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bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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70
meekness
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| n.温顺，柔和 | |
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71
comeliness
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| n. 清秀, 美丽, 合宜 | |
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72
modesty
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| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
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73
ass
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| n.驴；傻瓜，蠢笨的人 | |
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74
maidens
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| 处女( maiden的名词复数 )； 少女； 未婚女子； （板球运动）未得分的一轮投球 | |
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75
skilful
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| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
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76
bards
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| n.诗人( bard的名词复数 ) | |
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77
heralds
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| n.使者( herald的名词复数 )；预报者；预兆；传令官v.预示( herald的第三人称单数 )；宣布（好或重要） | |
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versed
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| adj. 精通，熟练 | |
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79
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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virtuous
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| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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81
converse
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| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
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82
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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83
guise
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| n.外表，伪装的姿态 | |
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84
intoxicated
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| 喝醉的，极其兴奋的 | |
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85
intemperance
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| n.放纵 | |
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86
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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vileness
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| n.讨厌，卑劣 | |
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vile
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| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
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intoxication
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| n.wild excitement;drunkenness；poisoning | |
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90
pertaining
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| 与…有关系的，附属…的，为…固有的(to) | |
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91
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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92
joint
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| adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合 | |
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93
dough
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| n.生面团；钱，现款 | |
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94
mightily
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| ad.强烈地；非常地 | |
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95
stoutly
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| adv.牢固地，粗壮的 | |
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96
joyful
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| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
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97
deride
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| v.嘲弄，愚弄 | |
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98
contention
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| n.争论，争辩，论战；论点，主张 | |
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99
lore
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| n.传说；学问，经验，知识 | |
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100
rib
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| n.肋骨，肋状物 | |
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101
pangs
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| 突然的剧痛( pang的名词复数 )； 悲痛 | |
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102
feats
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| 功绩，伟业，技艺( feat的名词复数 ) | |
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103
testy
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| adj.易怒的；暴躁的 | |
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104
foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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105
sapient
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| adj.有见识的，有智慧的 | |
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106
haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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107
avenged
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| v.为…复仇，报…之仇( avenge的过去式和过去分词 )；为…报复 | |
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108
wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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109
bounty
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| n.慷慨的赠予物，奖金；慷慨，大方；施与 | |
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110
crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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111
pouted
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| v.撅（嘴）( pout的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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112
obeisance
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| n.鞠躬，敬礼 | |
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113
pouting
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| v.撅（嘴）( pout的现在分词 ) | |
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114
besought
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| v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的过去式和过去分词 )；(beseech的过去式与过去分词) | |
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115
galaxy
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| n.星系；银河系；一群(杰出或著名的人物) | |
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116
slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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117
instructor
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| n.指导者，教员，教练 | |
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118
loquacious
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| adj.多嘴的，饶舌的 | |
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119
firmament
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| n.苍穹；最高层 | |
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120
harp
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| n.竖琴；天琴座 | |
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121
fetter
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| n./vt.脚镣，束缚 | |
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122
fetters
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| n.脚镣( fetter的名词复数 )；束缚v.给…上脚镣，束缚( fetter的第三人称单数 ) | |
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123
virgin
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| n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的 | |
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124
deity
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| n.神，神性；被奉若神明的人(或物) | |
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125
doom
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| n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定 | |
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126
puny
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| adj.微不足道的，弱小的 | |
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127
retrieve
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| vt.重新得到，收回；挽回，补救；检索 | |
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128
fortress
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| n.堡垒，防御工事 | |
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129
noxious
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| adj.有害的，有毒的；使道德败坏的，讨厌的 | |
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130
jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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131
subdue
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| vt.制服，使顺从，征服；抑制，克制 | |
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132
wagons
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| n.四轮的运货马车( wagon的名词复数 )；铁路货车；小手推车 | |
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133
limpid
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| adj.清澈的，透明的 | |
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134
replenish
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| vt.补充；(把…)装满；(再)填满 | |
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135
veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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136
vein
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| n.血管，静脉；叶脉，纹理；情绪；vt.使成脉络 | |
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137
solicitude
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| n.焦虑 | |
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138
belly
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| n.肚子，腹部；(像肚子一样)鼓起的部分，膛 | |
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139
stony
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| adj.石头的，多石头的，冷酷的，无情的 | |
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140
marsh
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| n.沼泽，湿地 | |
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141
iniquity
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| n.邪恶；不公正 | |
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142
gusts
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| 一阵强风( gust的名词复数 )； （怒、笑等的）爆发； （感情的）迸发； 发作 | |
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143
consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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144
devious
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| adj.不坦率的，狡猾的；迂回的，曲折的 | |
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145
sonorous
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| adj.响亮的，回响的；adv.圆润低沉地；感人地；n.感人，堂皇 | |
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146
vocal
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| adj.直言不讳的；嗓音的；n.[pl.]声乐节目 | |
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147
clamorous
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| adj.吵闹的，喧哗的 | |
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148
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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149
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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150
wreak
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| v.发泄；报复 | |
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151
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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152
dungeon
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| n.地牢，土牢 | |
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153
supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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154
mead
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| n.蜂蜜酒 | |
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155
distilled
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| adj.由蒸馏得来的v.蒸馏( distil的过去式和过去分词 )；从…提取精华 | |
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156
beverage
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| n.(水，酒等之外的)饮料 | |
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157
entreat
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| v.恳求，恳请 | |
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158
banishment
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| n.放逐，驱逐 | |
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159
tranquillity
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| n. 平静, 安静 | |
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160
excellence
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| n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德 | |
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161
gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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162
reproof
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| n.斥责，责备 | |
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163
imbued
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| v.使（某人/某事）充满或激起（感情等）( imbue的过去式和过去分词 )；使充满；灌输；激发（强烈感情或品质等） | |
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164
discriminate
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| v.区别，辨别，区分；有区别地对待 | |
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165
gravel
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| n.砂跞；砂砾层；结石 | |
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166
pebbles
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| [复数]鹅卵石； 沙砾； 卵石，小圆石( pebble的名词复数 ) | |
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167
persevere
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| v.坚持，坚忍，不屈不挠 | |
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168
immoral
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| adj.不道德的，淫荡的，荒淫的，有伤风化的 | |
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169
ridicule
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| v.讥讽，挖苦；n.嘲弄 | |
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170
virgins
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| 处女，童男( virgin的名词复数 )； 童贞玛利亚（耶稣之母） | |
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171
corrupt
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| v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的 | |
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172
tavern
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| n.小旅馆，客栈；小酒店 | |
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173
perjured
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| adj.伪证的，犯伪证罪的v.发假誓，作伪证( perjure的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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174
lodging
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| n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
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175
victuals
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| n.食物；食品 | |
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176
psalms
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| n.赞美诗( psalm的名词复数 )；圣诗；圣歌；(中的) | |
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177
tithe
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| n.十分之一税；v.课什一税，缴什一税 | |
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178
tithes
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| n.（宗教捐税）什一税，什一的教区税，小部分( tithe的名词复数 ) | |
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179
heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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180
travails
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| n.艰苦劳动( travail的名词复数 )；辛勤努力；痛苦；分娩的阵痛 | |
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181
innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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182
wager
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| n.赌注；vt.押注，打赌 | |
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183
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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184
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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185
twig
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| n.小树枝，嫩枝；v.理解 | |
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186
twigs
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| 细枝，嫩枝( twig的名词复数 ) | |
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187
holly
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| n.[植]冬青属灌木 | |
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188
enjoining
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| v.命令( enjoin的现在分词 ) | |
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189
strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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190
orchard
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| n.果园，果园里的全部果树，(美俚)棒球场 | |
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191
strife
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| n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争 | |
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192
rife
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| adj.(指坏事情)充斥的，流行的，普遍的 | |
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193
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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194
requisite
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| adj.需要的，必不可少的；n.必需品 | |
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195
bardic
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| adj.吟游诗人的 | |
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196
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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197
swarm
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| n.(昆虫)等一大群；vi.成群飞舞；蜂拥而入 | |
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