Preiddeu Annwfn poem text
PFJTurner
per request:
Taliesin, _Preiddeu Annwfn_ (_The Plunder of Annwen_)
circa A.D. 600
(based upon J. Rhys translation, 1891.)
I adore the noble prince and High King
Who extended his sway over the world’s strand.
Perfect was the captivity of Gwair in Caer Sidi,
Through the warning of Pwyll and Pryderi.
Before him no one entered into it,
Into the heavy dark chain, a trusty youth was guarded;
And at the plundering of Annwen grievously did he sing,
And till doom will he remain a bard afterwards.
Three shiploads of Prydwen, we went to sea;
Seven alone did return from Caer Sidi.
I am a seeker of praise, if my song be heard:
In Caer Pedryvan, [in Four-Cornered isle,]
[This poem] of the cauldron would be spoken
By the breath of nine maidens it [the cauldron] would be kindled.
The top of Annwen’s cauldron - what is it like?
A rim it has, with pearls, round its border;
It boils not a coward’s food; it would not be perjured.
The sword of Llwch Lleawc would be lifted to it.
And in the hand of Lleminawc was it left.
And before the door of Annwen’s gate lamps were burning,
And when we accompanied Arthur, a brilliant effort,
Seven alone did return from Caer Veddwit.
I am a seeker of praise, my song being heard:
At Caer Pedryvan, in the Quick-door isle,
At dusk and in the blackness of night they mix
The sparkling wine, the drink before their retinue.
Three shiploads of Prydwen, we went to sea;
Seven alone did return from Caer Rigor.
I merit not the laurel of the ruler of letters.
Beyond Caer Wydyr they saw not Arthur’s valor.
Three score Canhwr stood on the wall;
Hard it was found to converse with the sentinel.
Three shiploads of Prydwen, we went with Arthur;
Seven alone did return from Caer Goludd.
I merit not the laurel of those of long shields;
They know not the Lord’s day, or who he is,
What hour of early day he was born, or where,
Who made . . . went not . . .
They know not the Speckled Ox with the stout halter,
With seven score joints in his collar.
When we went with Arthur, on an anxious visit,
Seven alone did return from Caer Vandwy.
I merit not the laurel of those of long shields;
They know not the day of the Lord and Chief,
What hour of early day he was born the Master,
Or what horde guards the silver of His head.
When we went with Arthur, anxious contest,
Seven alone did return from Caer Ochren.
-PFJT
http://members.aol.com/PFJTurner/SKS.html
Tom Green
>per request:
>
>Taliesin, _Preiddeu Annwfn_ (_The Plunder of Annwen_)
>circa A.D. 600
>(based upon J. Rhys translation, 1891.)
Just to avoid any confusion, the date of composition of Preiddeu Annwn
cannot be narrowed further than c.850-1150 [cf. M. Haycock "'Preiddeu Annwn'
and the figure of Taliesin" in _Studia Celtica_ 18/19 (1983-84) pp.52-78 and
P. Sims-Williams "The Early Welsh Arthurian Poems" in R. Bromwich, A.O.H.
Jarman and B.F. Roberts (eds.) _The Arthur of the Welsh. The Arthurian
Legend in Medieval Welsh Literature_ (University of Wales Press, Cardiff
1991)].
Regards,
Tom Green,
Oxford.
PFJTurner
Clarification: date of the poem
The poem is attributed to Taliesin, who flourished around the late 6th C, early
7th C: hence A.D. 600.
Tom Green
>Clarification: date of the poem
>
>The poem is attributed to Taliesin, who flourished around the late 6th C,
early
>7th C: hence A.D. 600.
>
Trust me -- you can't say this! 'Preiddeu Annwn' was composed somewhere
between c.850 and c.1150. Please do have a look at Prof. Sims-Williams
article and that by Haycock for both the date, a full edition and a
commentary. I can supply more references with regards to Taliesin if
required -- on the so-called Book of Taliesin see Margaret Haycock "Llyfr
Taliesin" in _National Library of Wales Journal_ 25 (1988) pp.357-86.
Best wishes,
Tom Green,
Oxford.
PFJTurner
Re: Poem attributed to Taliesin.
The poem is attributed to Taliesin.
Apparently, somebody has written an article contesting this attribution. So,
why not set forth in a posting the reasons given in that article for this
conclusion? That might spark a discussion.
Simply citing one's reading list as if it where the equivalent of Geoffrey of
Monmouth's 'book in the Briton language' (Geoffrey asserted that his opinions
could not be contested because he could cite this book as authority) does not
contribute to a sharing of ideas.
Tom Green
>The poem is attributed to Taliesin.
>
>Apparently, somebody has written an article contesting this attribution.
>So, why not set forth in a posting the reasons given in that article for
>this conclusion? That might spark a discussion.
Mr Turner,
Why not read the articles yourself? Unlike with Geoffrey's 'book' the texts
I reference are available. I have neither the time nor the inclination to
participate in a discussion regarding Taliesin. While the historicity of
Arthur is of some relevance to my own researches, the question of Taliesin
is not. Perhaps more importantly the idea that Taliesin was not the author
of all the poems in the Book of Taliesin is neither new nor contested -- it
is accepted by all the serious researchers in the field that write on early
Welsh literature, thus rendering any such discussion we have here sterile.
To summarize the consensus, the Book of Taliesin [National Library of Wales
MS 2] was written by a single scribe in the first quarter of the
14th-century and its contents purport to comprise the collected works of the
sixth-century poet Taliesin *as they were envisaged in the later middle
ages*. The case for a genuine early nucleus which might represent the poets
authentic work is based on a group of praise-poems addressed to Urien of
Rheged and other 6th-century rulers. Of more certain date is the
tenth-century prophetic poem 'Armes Prydein'. The main content of the
manuscript however "consists of a mass of poems of differing dates which are
implicitly attributed to the fictional figure of the omniscient Taliesin as
he was concieved by later ages." [Bromwich et al "Introduction" in _The
Arthur of the Welsh_ (Cardiff 1991) p.8]. The Book of Taliesin *cannot* be
seen as being the work of the 6th-century Taliesin.
Regards,
Tom Green,
Oxford.
PFJTurner
Re: I have neither the time nor the inclination to participate in a discussion
regarding Taliesin.
Fair enough.
Upon reflection, I think it was presumptuous of me to insist that an issue be
dealt with in a particular fashion.
Each person should feel free to participate in this newsgroup in whatever
manner and to whatever degree he or she sees fit.
Apologies.
G. Beggan
> per request:
>
> Taliesin, _Preiddeu Annwfn_ (_The Plunder of Annwen_)
> circa A.D. 600
> (based upon J. Rhys translation, 1891.)
>
Nothing in the structure of the poem, which has been dated to the interval 9th - 12th century, prevents it being dated to c.1177. Though it appears in the Book of Taliesin, there NEVER was a Welsh poet - or a man - of that name. Such a fictitious poet has become a convenient political explanation in Wales for the existence of Middle Welsh poetry translated from the works of gaelic poets seized at this abbey. The abbey was one of at least two which were in succession sited within the great circular fortress called Regia Altera in Ptolemy's map of Hibernia. Regia Altera lies in the true landscape of the Mabinogi, as indeed does Pryderi's tumulus to this day. This circular fortress also had the names Caer Sidi, Caer Ochren, the Glass Fortress, etc. It was not however the Four-Peaked Fortress, though it was not far apart from it.