Explore "The History of Taliesin. from the Ancient British" by George Borrow on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
Talieson was a foundling, discovered in his infancy lying in a coracle, on / a salmon-weir, in the domain of Elphin, a prince of North Wales, who / became his patron. During his life he arrogated to himself a supernatural / descent and understanding, and for at least a thousand years after his / death he was regarded by the descendants of the ancient Britons in the / character of a prophet or something more. The poems which he produced / procured for him the title of "Bardic King; " they display much that is / vigorous and original, but are disfigured by mysticism and extravagant / metaphor; one of the most spirited of them is the following, which the / Author calls his "Hanes" or history.
The head Bard's place I hold / To Elphin, Chieftain bold; / The country of my birth / Was the Cherubs' land of mirth; / I from the prophet John / The name of Merddin won; / And now the Monarchs all / Me Taliesin call.