Mythology & Folklore

Book of Taliessin XLI

by Taliesin fl. late 6th century

Translated by Robert Williams (1868) · From Book of Taliessin

Mythology & Folklore

Madawg, the joy of the wall,
Madawg, before he was in the grave,
Was a fortress of abundance
Of games, and society.
The son of Uthyr before he was slain,
From his hand he pledged thee.
Erof the cruel came,
Of impotent joy;
Of impotent sorrow.
Erof the cruel caused
Treacheries to Jesus.
Though he believed.
The earth quaking,
And the elements darkening,
And a shadow on the world,
And baptism trembling.
An impotent stop
Was taken by fierce Erof,
Going in the course of things
Among the hideous fiends
Even to the bottom of Uffern.

✦ ✦ ✦

Skene no. IV (group A: Poems Referring to Early Traditions). Ascribed to Taliesin by tradition.

MLA

Taliesin. “Book of Taliessin XLI.” Translated by Robert Williams. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/taliesin/3/.

Chicago

Taliesin. “Book of Taliessin XLI.” Translated by Robert Williams. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/taliesin/3/.

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