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Taliesin Quotes (534-599)
Poet
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About Taliesin
Taliesin (or Taliessin; c. 534 – c. 599) is the earliest poet in any Brittonic language whose work has survived. Although he probably composed in Cumbric, since the songs most surely attributed to him are praise poems to Urien Rheged, a warrior monarch of the Old North, these poems survive in Middle Welsh in the so-called Book of Taliesin, written down around the 13th century, along with about forty more of more dubious attribution. His name means "Radiant Brow" (tal iesin in Welsh). The book was translated by Robert Williams and published in The Four Ancient Books of Wales (1858) by W. F. Skene. These translations are notoriously unreliable, but few better have since appeared, due to the obscurity and compression of the verse.
Best Taliesin Quotes
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Explore our curated collection of the most famous and impactful Taliesin quotes.
“And entreating his exalted weight,
Under the stars, saints he planted.”
Under the stars, saints he planted.”
“Multitudes, of beautiful works,
Believed, served with us.”
Believed, served with us.”
“Excellent in every way around the glens
The two skilful ones make inquiries”
The two skilful ones make inquiries”
“Thrice three protections,
Returning to the old places,
With a steed used to the field.”
Returning to the old places,
With a steed used to the field.”
“I am old. I am young. I am Gwion,
I am universal, I am possessed of penetrating wit.”
I am universal, I am possessed of penetrating wit.”
“I was nine full months
In the womb of Ceridwen.
Before that I was Gwion,
But now I am Taliesin.”
In the womb of Ceridwen.
Before that I was Gwion,
But now I am Taliesin.”
“I was with the Lord
In the manger of the ass.
I upheld Moses
Through the water of Jordan.”
In the manger of the ass.
I upheld Moses
Through the water of Jordan.”
“Who was confessor
To the gracious Son of Mary?
What was the most beneficial measure
Which Adam accomplished?”
To the gracious Son of Mary?
What was the most beneficial measure
Which Adam accomplished?”
“I adore the sovereign lord of the royal land -
May his dominion extend over the reaches of the cosmos!
”
May his dominion extend over the reaches of the cosmos!
”
“While I was held prisoner, sweet inspiration educated me
and laws were imparted to me in a speech which had no words...”
and laws were imparted to me in a speech which had no words...”
“While I am watching over you,
no great need will overcome you.
be mindful of the name of the Trinity
And none shall overcome you.”
no great need will overcome you.
be mindful of the name of the Trinity
And none shall overcome you.”
“Elphin of noble generosity,
Do not sorrow at your catch.
Though I am weak on the floor of my basket,
There are wonders on my tongue.”
Do not sorrow at your catch.
Though I am weak on the floor of my basket,
There are wonders on my tongue.”
“Twelve thousand in the convention
Believed through the voice of John.
They worship, they deserve a portion,
In heaven they will not be angry.”
Believed through the voice of John.
They worship, they deserve a portion,
In heaven they will not be angry.”
“A hallowed grave in dying, with the grave an altar:
I adore the sovereign lord, the great,
That I be not sad, Christ grant me.
”
I adore the sovereign lord, the great,
That I be not sad, Christ grant me.
”
“Sure-hoofed is my steed impelled by the spur;
The high sprigs of alder are on thy shield;
Bran art thou called, of the glittering branches.”
The high sprigs of alder are on thy shield;
Bran art thou called, of the glittering branches.”
“Pleasant, a steed with a thick mane in a tangle;
Also pleasant, crackling fuel.
Pleasant, desire, and silver fringes;
Also pleasant, the conjugal ring.”
Also pleasant, crackling fuel.
Pleasant, desire, and silver fringes;
Also pleasant, the conjugal ring.”
“Seven scores, seven scores, seven hundreds of saints,
And seven thousands and seven ten scores,
November a number implored,
Though martyrs good they came.”
And seven thousands and seven ten scores,
November a number implored,
Though martyrs good they came.”
Taliesin Quotes by Topic
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Taliesin on Inspiration
“While I was held prisoner, sweet inspiration educated me and laws were imparted to me in a speech which had no words...”
Taliesin on 7 (number)
“Seven scores, seven scores, seven hundreds of saints, And seven thousands and seven ten scores, November a number implored, Though martyrs good they came.”
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Taliesin on Penance
“A pleasant virtue, extreme penance to an extreme course; Also pleasant, when God is delivering me. Pleasant, the carousal that hinders not mental exertion; Also pleasant, to drink together about horns.”
Quotes About Taliesin
Gain deeper perspective through quotes about Taliesin from others.
Source on Taliesin 5 quotes
“Am I not with hosts making a din? I would not cease, between two hosts, without gore. Am I not he that is called Gorlassar? My belt was a rainbow to my foe.”
This is part of the folk tradition of how the boy Gwion became Taliesin on Taliesin
“The Cauldron of Wisdom and Inspiration must be kept boiling for a year and a day, and then the first three drops from it would impart ultimate knowledge to the one who drank them. But the rest of the liquid would be deadly poison. Long labored Ceridwen, roaming far to find the rare and exotic herbs she required, and so it chanced that she fell asleep on the last day of the spell. The boy Gwion was stirring the brew when three drops flew out onto his thumb, and they were scalding hot, so that he thrust it into his mouth to stop the burning. Instantly, he had the wisdom and inspiration of ages, and the first thing that occurred to him was that Ceridwen would be very angry.”
Thomas Gray on Taliesin
“Hear from the grave, great Taliessin, hear; They breathe a soul to animate thy clay. Bright Rapture calls, and soaring, as she sings, Waves in the eye of Heav'n her many-colour'd wings.”
About Taliesin
Taliesin (or Taliessin; c. 534 – c. 599) is the earliest poet in any Brittonic language whose work has survived. Although he probably composed in Cumbric, since the songs most surely attributed to him are praise poems to Urien Rheged, a warrior monarch of the Old North, these poems survive in Middle Welsh in the so-called Book of Taliesin, written down around the 13th century, along with about forty more of more dubious attribution. His name means "Radiant Brow" (tal iesin in Welsh). The book was translated by Robert Williams and published in The Four Ancient Books of Wales (1858) by W. F. Skene. These translations are notoriously unreliable, but few better have since appeared, due to the obscurity and compression of the verse.