Who was Taliesin?Two Taliesins emerge within the corpus of modern scholarship. These need to be distinguished carefully.There is the Taliesin who as a figure appears in the medieval welsh tale Chwedl Taliesin, a shapeshifter that Taliesin .But it is the poet who is a professional poet that i am referring to, he who praised his patron, Urien, so prodigiuosly.He lived in the sixthe century and is believed to have originated in Powys.His sphere of operation is quite vast but it is a moot question as to how far the poetry reflects or represents the sixth century bard or how far it suffers interpolation from later interpreters. How does a poem survive for so long without losing its original format?it is certain that cymric had lost its terminations and the system of poetic rhyming-or perhaps chiming would be better-was in place.The medieval cult of Taliesin was a big factor in blurring the two Taliesins. Yet Talisein the professional; poet is my focus and this is the subject.So then a brief, perhaps impressionistic intro.I will continue with this later.Do find it hard to write at a computer...My next blog will look at the distinction between the two Taliesins a little more closely...TaliesinI have said that two Taliesins seem to be apparent within the corpus of texts, one a supernatural being as evidenced in parts of The Myvyrian Archaeology of 1770, the other the professional poet in praise of Urien. It is the latter I refer to from now on.It is clear that Taliesin did not come from Rheged. At the opening of Arddwyre Rheged he clearly states that he is not of Uriens group. His poem to Cynan Garwyn may suggest he came from Powys since Cynan was a king of Powys who had scourged the lands of Brycheiniog.The time in which Taliesin composed his verse was one of both resurgence and British confidence. This is more clearly reflected in his poetry to Urien. Taliesin must have moved from area to area under Uriens aegis, under a marker of confidence. Urien is depicted as a great battle raiser, able to dispense gifts and also perhaps one who knew the value of his bard, as both eulogizer and propagandist. Yet in one poem Taliesin clearly stays at home while his lord fights. Even there Taliesin praises him in Bei Lleas Urien(what if Urien were dead?). The images of Urien, blood stained, are set against the glory of the battle, Uriens ability to despoil and by plunder, offer gifts. This is an important feature of Taliesins pieces.Yet it is not to examine the poems that is the purpose of this writing. It is more to delineate, insofar as I am able, the character of Taliesin. The poems require a longer treatment which may be a point to be developed later.Taliesin was committed to the cause of Rheged. Even when the men of Rheged had fought in vain he commended their bravery in other battles as a springboard to revival of victory. In essence the losses were not looked on as irrevocable but as maybe something to learn from and develop. Thus Arddwye Rheged is a poem that concerns it self with morale.Yet clearly at some point Talieson transferred his allegiance to another, other than Urien, one Gwallawg. Clearly this was not of any comfort to Urien and Taliesin knew of this and in composing Dadolwch Urien he moved to some reconciliation with him As he got older Urien may have handed over some of his lands to his sons.Taliesin sang of British confidence . His mapping of expedition is impressive ; not only are Troon and Ayr mentioned but also Edinburgh, Gowrie and Brechin and Wensleydale in the south. Taliesin knew well what was required of him as poet, extoller and moral booster but was also able to keen on the death of Owain, Uriens son.Urien himself, distanced from his sons was said to have met his end by Morgan , one jealous of Uriens valour. At this point internecine strife between allies-Urien, Morgan, Rhydderch Hen of Strathclyde and Gwallawg gainst Hussa of Northumbria ,broke down. It is interesting that Urien worked with Gwallawg, despite Taliesins defection to that other lord, if indeed it is the same Gwallawg.So then what to make of all this? No elegy for Urien exists by Taliesin so we are left with Urien as a hero shining in valour and with generosity. This still speaks. To me Taliesins poetry is about the relationship between poet and benefactor, ;his peripatetic journeys seems to point to him as one in some ways careerist but we are directed back to Urien since it is he who is the focus of most of Taliesins admirationPerhaps one should now consider the poems them selves. Well seetaliesin 3 sampling the textTo Cynan GarwynCynan, upholding battlea gift gave meWhy should i not praise himhe who gives much land?Quick and humorous without parallelhis hundred velvet robes of same measured cloth anda hundred arm bands to my collectionand fifty brooches too in his measure.A sword with stone beyond priceits hilt from Cynan I hadgenerous to a faultCadell came his army unshakento launch on the Wyespears fallingand bloody red bladetook the men of Gwentto die sorely. He was famed in Anglesey for battlewhen crossing the Menaiwith his horses clattering .At Crug Dyfed he was as Aercolwild, stealing.cattle never seen againremoved.Son of Brochfael had many kingdomsbut wanted still more possessionCornwall to be histheir loss not his concernpain he givesuntil for mercy they squeal.My hope is in Cynanhead of armieswhose flame is seen everywhereas a bonfire in Brychan's landa forming of deafening battle. You headsof kingdoms pity you who fear him Cynana shield to the fighta fiery monsterand as Cyngen before youthe wide kingdom upheld.I heard them speaking of himeveryone in his honour.The full expanse of the worldbelongs to Cynan.Adaptation Iain Williams August 25th 2009 copyrighted sept 2nd 2009