Mythology & Folklore

Book of Taliessin XXVIII

by Taliesin fl. late 6th century

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

Mythology & Folklore

I WONDER that there is not proclaimed
An acknowledgment of heaven to the earth.
Of the coming of a giant Ruler,
Alexander the Great.
Alexander, possessor of multitudes.
Passionate, iron-gifted,
Eminent for sword-strokes.
He went under the sea,
Under the sea he went,
To seek for science.
Whoever seeks science,
Let him be clamorous in mind.
He went above the wind,
Between two griffins on a journey,
To see a sight.
A sight he saw,
The present was not sufficient.
He saw a wonder.
A superiority of lineage with fishes.
What he desired in his mind,
He had from the world.
And also at his end
With God, mercy.

✦ ✦ ✦

Skene no. CVI (group W: Poems Relating to Legends of Alexander the Great). Ascribed to Taliesin by tradition.

MLA

Taliesin. “Book of Taliessin XXVIII.” Translated by Robert Williams. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/taliesin/55/.

Chicago

Taliesin. “Book of Taliessin XXVIII.” Translated by Robert Williams. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/taliesin/55/.

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