Midwyf Daliesin I have the shining brow Eilwaith ym rithad Bum glas, bum gleisad Bum ci, bum hud Bum iwrch y mynydd Bum cyff, a bum rhaw Bum bwell yn llaw Bum ebill gefel flwyddyn a hanner Bum ceilawg brithwyn ar ieir yn eddrin Bum amws ar re Bum tarw trostre Bum rwch melinawr mal y maethawr Am harfolles iar grafudd, grib escar Gorffwyseis naw nos, yn i chroth yn was. Bum cleddyf yn anghad Bum ysgwyd ynghad. Bum tant yn helyn lledrith naw blwyddyn. Yn wfr bum ewyn Bum yspwng yn han Nid un wyf ni gan Midwyf Daliesin Midwyf Daliesin Midwyf Daliesin Midwyf Daliesin TRANSLATION I am Taliesin I am Taliesin A second time I was enchanted I was a kingfisher, I was a young salmon I was a hound, I was a hind I was a buck on the mountain I was a butt, and I was a spade I was a hatchet in the hand I was the pin of tongs For a year and a half I was a light - speckled cock over cackling hens. I was the stallion of a stud I was the bull of a homestead I was the miller's bolter. There received a hen ruddy clawed, with a divided comb. I rested nine nights In her womb a child I was a sword in the handgrip I was a shield in battle I was a string in the harp of enchantment for nine years. In water I was the spume. I was a sponge in the fire. I am not one who does not sing. I am Taliesin I am Taliesin I am Taliesin I am Taliesin

Dychymig pwy yw? Cread cyn dilyw Creadur cadarn Heb gig, heb ascwrn, Heb witheu, heb waed, Heb ben, a heb draed Ni bydd hyn, na ieu Noget y dechrau, Ni ddaw o'i oddeu Er ofn, nag angheu Ni ddioes i eiseu Gan greadurieu Mawr Duw morwynneu! Ban ddaw o ddechrau? Mawr i ferthideu Y Gwr a'i goreu Y maes, ynghoed Heb law, a heb droed Heb haint a heb hoed Ef eddig addoed Ac ef yn gyfoed A phymoes pymoed Hefyd ysydd hyn Ped pymhwnt flwyddyn Ac ef yn gyfled Ac wyneb tydwed Ac ef ni aned Ac ef ni weled Ar for, ac ar dir Ni wyl, ni welir Ef yn anghywir Ni ddaw ban funnir Ar dir, ac ar for, Ef yn anhebcor Ef yn ddiachor Ef yn ddieisor Ef, o bedeiror, Ni byd wrth gynghor Ef gychwyn amgor, Odduch maen ynyfnor Er llafar, ef mud, Ef yn anfynud Ef yn wrdd, yn ddrud Ban dremyn dros dud Ef mud, ef llafar Ef yn orddear Mwyhaf i faniar Ar wyneb daear Ef yn dda, ef yn ddrwg Ef yn a 'eglwg Ef yn an'amlwg Can his gwyl golwg Yn ddrwg ac yn dda Ef hwnt, ef yma Ef ydd an'rhefna Ni ddiwg a wna No ddiwg a wrech, Ac ef yn ddibech Yn wlyb ac yn sych Ef a ddawn fynych Grwes heul ac oerfel A dry naws awel Teithi symydir Ac ef ni ddimyir Menhyd tragywydd! Ys tydi wehyd Ddylif oll yssydd Pawb a'th edmygynt Gwr a gawyn wynt Er maint fo ymchwyd Tonneu y werydd Er gorfloed eryf Ban ddel yn rhythrydd Cyn traeth, cyferchydd A'i yrfa dderfydd A'm cuddwy tywawd Ac ef yn ddeithawg TRANSLATION Who's idea was the wind? Created before the deluge, He is a powerful creature Sans flesh, sans bone Sans veins, sans blood, Sans head, and sans feet He grows nor older, nor younger, than the first. Nor fear, nor death will turn aside his purpose. The world of the living will never survive the need of him. Great God of the whirlwinds! Whence comes his beginning? Great the resources of Him Who made the wind (which traverses) Field and forest Without hand and foot. Without sickness or sorrow, He is impatient of delay. and he is co-eval with the Five ages of the Five periods. Morever he is older, though it be half a million years. And he is widespread as the face of the earth. Born he was not Nor ever was seen. On sea and on land He neither sees, nor is seen. He is unreliable He will not come when desired. On land and sea, He is indispensable He knows no restraint His lot has not been cast. He comes from the four quarters. He will brook no counsel. He starts on his round, from the crest of a rock in the deep. He is loquacious, he is mute, he is frolicsome. He is vehement, intrepid, When he scours the land. He is mute, he is loquacious He is uproarious The most tumultuous on the face of the earth. He is good, he is evil He is blind He is invisible No eye can see him He is evil, he is good He is there, he is here When he works confusion, He will not repair what he does He will not restore what he wrecks And yet he is without sin. Now wet and now dry, He comes frequently. The sun's heat, and cold affect the feel of the wind, Whichever changes his part, But never is destroyed. Eternal mind! T'is thou that weavest The web of all there be All men honour thee Whos dost chain the wind. However much he upheaves The ocean billows Or shrieks his violence when he comes in gusts, Ere he touches shore, thou speakest! And his race is run. May the sands cover me, And the wind be in full career.

A'f y'm peillied ym hob pwyllad, Gan feirdd Brython, a'r cawceinad. Pryddest over yng hywryssedd Am rhyorseif am rhyorsedd I'r gofan gofal ddigawn gordd Wyf eisig bren, cyfyng ar gerdd Buarth beridd ban fo Pwy ar nis gwypo? Pymtheg mil drostraw, Yn i gymhwysaw Wyf cerddoliad wyf saer mal dryw Wyf ceiniad clear wyf drud wyf syw Mal sarff Mal serch ydd ymgeisaf Neud wyf fardd swyn ydd arfeiddaf Ban gan ceinieid ganu ynghof, Nid ef wnant wy ryfedd uchof Handid i mi eu herbyniaw, Yn ddifyfur, heb ddysc, heb draw, Mal arfolli dillad heb law Fal soddi yn llyn heb allu naw. Tyrfid aches ehofn i gradd Uchel y gwaedd mordwy derbydd. Craig am waneg, wrth fawr drefnad Anghlud ysgwrth, escar noddiad Craig rhag perched pen anynad Nid ef garaf amrysoniad Ys gwna medddawd meddydd A gorwyth medd warthrudd brydydd Ef cell, ef drull, ef darweir lled, Ef llogell cerdd, ef llemynnied Caraf i orwydd, a chil gor gled A Bardd a bryd - ni bryn i ged A geibl gelfydd, meuedd ni fed. Madws myned, er ym drafawd A chelfyddeid am gelfyddawd A chanu clwm, cystwm cywlad, I fugeil bro, porth neithoriad. Mal ymddeith tranc heb drwyd i gad, Eirif fynnei ymddeith heb oed - Eirif fagei gneuha heb goed - Mal ceisaw bydaf yngrug Mal peireint anrheith yn fyd, Mal goscorodd lluydd heb benn, Mal porthi anghlyd ar cenn, Mal grynniaw tyndei a gwrach, Mal haeddu awyr a bach Mal eirach gwaed ac yscall Mal gwneuthur goleu i ddall, Mal dogni dillad i noeth Mal tannu ewyn ar draeth, Mal porthi pysgawd ar laeth Mal toi neuadd a dail Mal lladd llurig a gwyeil Mal toddi tafled rhag gair. Wyf bardd neuadd wyf gyw cadeir Dyddygnad beirdd llafar llysceir Cyn yf argywein i'm garw gyflog Rhyphrynwyf i'm log it's dy, Fab Meir ! TRANSLATION I was sifted in every faculty by the Brython bards and the crowned minstrel. Poetising is futile in competition My competitor, however chairs me. Care enough to the young smith is his hammer, I, too, am but a slender twig, inexperienced in craft. The congress of the bards, when it takes place, Who is there that knows not of it? Fifteen thousand favouring it, and arranging for it. I am musician - and artificer like the wren I am a brilliant singer I am formidable, subtle As a serpent, as love I will enter the lists I am an enchanted bard I will dare (them all ) When the singers sing a song from memory, They perform no great wonder beyond what I can do. It falls to me to compete with them, Extemporaneously, without training or experience, Like a man donning armour without a hand, or sinking in water without being able to swim. The flowing tides seethes eager its pace Loudly it roars then dishes ashore. By a great design, the rock beyond the surf, An immovable pile, is an insular refuge. It is defence against every madman. I do not love contention. T'is drinking makes drunk the brewer and over draining of mead disgraces the bard, who is a cellar, a liquor store a lewd paunchy fellow A receptacle of song a mere vagabond. O love the woods - a retreat in a cosy border, and a bard who creates - not one who cadges for gifts. The man who curses the artist will never prosper It is well to go (to congress) for the sake of deliberating with artists about art and to sing a string of verses, as the custom is, to the Governor of the district, the provider of the feast. As Death doth travel without track to war So a number went without assignation, and many nursed the idea of nutting without trees, Like men seeking for a swarm of bees in heather Like engines of destruction mute, Like a company of soldiers without a leader, Like men feeding the comfortless with husk, Like ridging tumbled -down houses with a gwrach, Like men reaching for the sky with a hook, Like men staunching blood with thistles, Like men striking a light for the blind, Like men allotting a coat of mail to the unarmed, Like men scattering foam on the strand, Like men feeding fish with milk, Like men thatching the hall with leaves, Like men battering armour with withies, Like men melting a tablet against speech. I am bard of the hall. I am winner of the chair. The bards are greatly incensed loud their anathems. Before my ferrying over to my hard wages May I secure a place in thy mansion, Son of Mary!

Bard, y man y bo, Neirtheint a gaffo Caned ban dyrffo Sywed yn yd fo Haelon fanacco, Neus bi a rotho Drwy ieith Daliesin Berdd, dyennillin Ciawr, ban ddarfu Lliaws i olychu Bid eiddaw wylleith Anrheith Afagddu Neys dug, yn gelfydd, Gyfreg ar gywydd Gwiawn leferydd O ddamwein dyfydd Gwiddon, y peiran, Nerwei, heb walltan Gwnaei o farw fyw, Ac anhyweith yw Gwnaethei delideu, Er yn oes oesau Y trwuth dyddyccawd, O ddawn Wenddydd gwawd Pennilliach rhoed pawb Dybydd yna nawd Addwyn datcaniad Neur ddoeth ostegiad Trwydded, peir ynad i fardd a cheinad Tri ugein mlynedd Yd bortheis lawrwedd, Ynofr caw giwed, Yn elfydd Redeg Can gwys am dyoedd Can rhi ynddun oedd Can yw yo aethant Pan yw y doethant Can eilwydd gant Ac au darogant Seith ugein ogrefn Yssydd yn awen Wyth, o bob ugein, Yd fydd yn un sain Asswyn yniwyth Asswyn yngorwyth Asswyn all yssydd Yn nef, uch elfydd, Y mae au gwybydd Ys'tir,ystyriwys, Ystyrieid llyfreu, Cylch beirdd, au cyfreu Ped fwynt yd ffreuynt Ped ffreuynt ydd ynt Beth a font ar hynt, Llyna beth ydynt Y ddaear, pwy i lled, Neu faint i thewhed? Gogwn drwst llafnawr, A mael rhydd aml awr Gogwn a drefnawr, Y rhwng nef a llawr Pan atsein gobant? Pan ergyr difant? Mawrhydig sywys! Pan dygyfrensid Pan yw toir tir? to y tir, pwy i vaint? Pwy echenis gyrdd? Cyrdd pwy echenwys? Pan yw meddwl Colwyn? Pan yw lleddf morwyn? Pan yw brith irchwyn? Pan yw hallt halwyn? Cwrw, pan yw ystern? Pam yw lledrudd gwern? Pan yw rhydd egroes? Nef wraig au dyroes O ddwyn ys dyrgaf Awen, cyd bei fud, Gogwn i gorfryd Gogwn ban ddyfeinw Gogwn ban ddyleinw? Gogwn ban ddillydd? Gogwn ban wescrydd Gogwn py begor Yssydd ydan for Gogwn eu heisordd Miwyf Daliesin Rhyphrydaf iawn llin Pwy enw y ddeu air Ni eing yn un pair? Pan yw mor meddwhawd? Pan yw dil pysgawd? Mor fwyn fydd eu cnawd Hyd ban yw meddysc Pan yw gennawc pysc Du troed alarch gwyn Traetheg fyngofeg, Yn Efreg, yng Roeg, Lladin, a Chymraeg TRANSLATION The bard, wherever he may be, shall have entertainment. Let him sing when the spirit moves Let him prophesy while he lives Let him proclaim the generous And there will be no lack of givers. By the teachings of Taliesin The bards greatly profit He will fall, when people stop admiring him Witchery is won't to be his The spoliation of afagddu And by skill, he has brought A finish to poetry. Gwion opens his mouth An accident his song. The gwiddon kept the kettle boiling without lapse of fire It could make the dead alive A most difficult task. She had worked at metals From immemorial times. She now brings a concoction of the gift of the goddess of song Let all contribute verses the custom will then appear. Pleasant the recital Then silence was proclaimed the Justiciar causes a licence (to be given) To bard and minstrel. For three score years, I supported earthly form in The quarter of the licence tribe, In the land of Redeg. A hundred mansions I frequented A hundred chiefs in them were Since they have gone Whence they came, The minstrel shall sing of all, and prophesy concerning them. Seven score chords there are in music The octave of every score, Which is ever in harmony, Enchants in calm Enchants in storm Enchants all there is. In heaven above there is One Who knows the harmonies It is necessary, he considered, to study the books of the bards, their round, and all that pertains to them What they bring forth, that they are What they are on tour, That is their true character. The east, what is its extent, or how great its thickness? I know the clash of arms, and The ruddy work of constant shouting. I know something of what is ordained Twixt heaven and earth (but) Whence the echo of the hollow? Whence the stroke of extinction? Majestic is knowledge! Whence has it been imparted? Whence is clothed the land? Covering the earth to what extent? Who has sung the songs? Who's song did he sing? Whence is the Caledonian drunk? Whence is the maiden gentle? Whence is the roebuck spotted? Whence is brine salty? Beer, whence its ferment? Whence the alder's reddish tinge? Whence the ruddiness of hips? Heaven's lady bestowed them. I shall obtain from the abyss. The muse, though it were mute, I know its great impulses. I know when it finishes I know when it wells up I know when it flows I know when it overflows I know what motion There is beneath the sea I know the warp of the web I am Taliesin I sing of true lineage. What name of two words will not go into any cauldron? Whence the heaving of the sea? Whence the structure of fish? How pleasant their 'flesh' Until it be tainted Whence is fish scaley? Black the foot of a white swan? Let my mind be set forth in Hebrew and Greek, Latin and Welsh.

Addwyn plwyf cymrwyf, Ddyf a'i towys Arall addwyn, amser paradwys Addwyn lloer, llewychawd yn elfydd Arall addwyn pan da ddymgofydd Addwyn haf araf hwyr hirddydd Arall addwyn, a thriedd a gerydd Addwyn blodeu ar warthaf perwydd Arall addwyn, achre cerenhydd Addwyn di dryf i ewig ac elein Arall addwyn, cynawr am harwein Addwyn lluarth, pan llwydd i genhin Arall addwyn, cadafarth yn egin Addwyn eddystr yng hebystr lledrin Arall addwyn, cyweithas brenhin Addwyn glew, nwy goleith gogyweg Arall addwyn, i ellein gallineb Addwyn grug pan fytho ehoeg Arall addwyn, morfa i wartheg Addwyn dymhor, pan dynn lloi laeth Arall addwyn, enwyn maeronaeth Ac yssydd i mi addwyn nid gwaeth, Athal lawn full wrth dal meddweith Addwyn i bysc y llyn y llywiawd Arall addwyn, goralw gwaryhawd Addwyn gair a lefeir y Drindawd Arall addwyn, penyd i bechawd Ys addwynhaf o bob addwyndawd Caffel cerenhydd Dofydd ddyddbrawd TRANSLATION Delightful are the united people, God leading it Delightful too the age of innocence. Pleasant the moon that shines on earth Pleasant too, when the good you recall. Pleasant is summer, the lingering dusk of a long day Pleasant too the communion thou lovest. Beautiful are the flowers on the fruit trees, and delightful the budding of friendship. Pleasant is solitude to the roe and fawn Pleasant too a huntsman to guide me. Pleasant the garden when vegetables flourish and sweet the charlock in young corn. Pleasant the charger that is bridled Pleasant too, the fellowship of a king. Glorious the brave whom indecision will not destroy Glorious, too, his splendid circumspection. Pleasant the heath when it is green Pleasant, too the meadows to the cows. Pleasant the season when calves draw milk Pleasant, too, the butter-milk of the dairy. And what is to me no less pleasant, the guerdon of a full horn beside the mead - vat. Pleasant to the fish the water he steers in Pleasant, too, to call decisive for the play. Pleasant the message the Trinity delivers Pleasant, too, (that there is ) penance for sin. The pleasates of every pleasant thing The assured friendship of the Lord at last.