Elffin: a Cymric Folk Hero

Synonyms:
Cym:

In the Ystoria Taliesin Elffin is the son of Gwyddno Garanhir and is described as the unluckiest prince in the history of the Cymry. He is given the realm of Canolbarth to take care of, but under his stewardship the sea breaks through the defensive walls of his new estate and it's washed into the sea.

Feeling sorry for his son, Gwyddno presents him with the annual salmon catch from his weir (fish trap) between Aberystwyth and the Dyfi estuary on Calan Mai (May Eve, when the catch is purportedly especially valuable). But Elffin is so unlucky that when the river-keeper hauls in the nets there is not a single fish within them. Indeed, the only thing in the net is a large leather bag which ther riverman gives to Elffin. Within this sack is the reborn Gwion Bach and when Elffin sets eyes on him the light seems to shine from the boy's face and he exclaims: "Dyma dâl iesin!" (what a radiant brow!). The child responds with "Taliesin bîd" (let it be Taliesin); thus the child names himself.

As he rides home with the boy on his horse the child begins to speak and then starts reciting poetry. The poem he sings tells Elffin that the boy, Taliesin, has been sent as his guide and that the child is not only a trulty great poet but also a prophet and that by using his gifts all Elffin's enemies will be defeated.

From that day Elffin's luck changes and he prospers in all he does. As was the custom of the day Elffin fostered the boy until he was thirteen years old.

Many years later, emboldened by his changed fortunes Elffin unwisely boasts to Maelgwn Gwynedd that his own wife is the fairest, his poet is the wisest and his horses the fleetest in the entire island of Prydain. For this insult Maelgwn imprisoned Elffin in a high tower with thick silver chains about his feet (for Elffin was of royal blood). Maelgwn sends his son Rhun to inquire as to the demeanour of Elffin's wife. Taliesin foils Rhun's attempt to seduce and thus despoil the good name of Elffin's wife. He then comes to Maelgwn's court and in competition with the other bards he easily bests them all. When this was done Taliesin bade Elffin wager Maelgwn that he had a horse both better and swifter than any in the king's stables. This Elffin did and the race was set at a place called Morfa Rhiannedd. The course was marked and when the horses and riders were all ready Taliesin came up to Elffin's jockey with twenty-four burnt and blackened holly switches. He bade the jockey place these in his belt and start at the back of the herd. When he passed one of Maelgwn's horses he was to take out a hazel switch and strike the horse he was passing about the withers with it, before dropping the stick to the ground. Then whenever his horse stumbled the jockey was to cast this hat to the ground at that very spot. The jockey did precisely as he was bade and he won the race easily. Then, when the race was done and Elffin had been released Taliesin took Elffin to where the jocked had dropped his cap and when a pit was dug there a large cauldron, filled with gold, was discovered. Taliesin told Elffin that this was both payment and reward for having saved him from the weir. On this spot now stands a pool of water, called Pwllbair (Pool of the Cauldron).

I have been with artful men
with Math or with Gofannon
With Eunydd, with Elestron
my journey with the furrow-maker
A year in Gofannon's fortress
I am old, I am new, I am Gwion

Which would seem to indicate that Elestron and his brother Eunydd were mage-type deities. Which would fit-in with the abilities and properties of many of Dôn's descendants.

If you would like to try the foods of the time of the ancient Celts, then why not have a look at the ancient recipes section of this site. For the foods of the time when some of these tales were written down, take a look at the Medieval recipes section of the site and, in particular, the recipes from The Forme of Cury.

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