The Spoils of Annwfn

This is the English translation of the poem Preiddeu Annwfn (The Spoils of Annwfn) from the the Llyfr Taliesin (Book of Taliesin). It is rendered as close as possible to the original using my font, Mabinogi Celtic which is free for anyone to download and install. This is an Arthurian poem, recounting a raid by Arthur and his men on the magical realm of Annwfn to retrieve its treasures.

I praise the Protectory, leader of the realm, king.
who extends his leadership across the entire world
Orderly was the prison of Gweir in Caer Sidi
By the tale of Pwyll and Pryderi
None before him entered there
By the heavy blue chain a faithful servant is held
And before the spoils of Annwfn, bitterly he sang
And until judgement day our bardic prayers shall last
Three companies of Prydwen, we went towards it
Except seven, no host emerged from Caer Sidi

| am honoured in praise, my song is heard
In the four-towered fortress, four caused commotion
In poetry from the cauldron when it was uttered
From the breath of nine maidens it was kindled
The cauldre of the head of Annwfn, what is its form?
A dark ridge and perls around its border
It shall not boil the food of a coward it is not destined
The flashing sword of Lleawg was not raised to it.
And in the hand of Lleminawg was it left.
And before the door of uffern lanterns burned.
And when we went with Arthur, covert difficulty
Except for seven, no host emerged from the Fortress of Drunkenness

I am honoured in praise, my song greatly heard
In the fortress of four towers, isle of the secure door
Flowing water and jet are commingled
Sparkling wine the spirit laid before their retinue
Three companies of Prydwen, we travelled by sea
Except for seven, no host emerged from the Fortress of Hardness

Those little men of the lord's scriptures [ie scribes] are undeserving of me
Beyond the Fortress of Glass none saw Arthur's valour
Three-score centuries of men stood upon its wall.
It was difficult to discourse with their sentinel.
Three companies of Prydwen went along with Arthur
Except for seven no host emerged from the Fortress of Hindrance

Those little men, low-slung their round-shields, are undeserving of me
They know not [upon] which day was created whom
what hour of the mid-day was Cwy born.
He who made the ?plough, did not go to the meadows of Defwy
They do not know, the brindled oxen, broad their halters
Seven-score links in his neck-chain
And when we went with Arthur, dolorous visit
Except for seven, no host emerged from the Fortress of God's Heights

Those little men, slack their desire, are undeserving of me
They know not which day the chieftain was created
what hour of the mid-day the owner was born,
What beast they kept, silver about its head
When we went with Arthur, sorrowful strife.
Except for seven no host emerged from the Steep-sided Fortress

Monks howl like a choir of hounds
from an encounter with lords for whom is made known
Is there one course of wind? is there one great water?
Is there but one spark of fire, of unielding tumult?

Monks gather in packs like wolflets
from an encounter with lords for whom is made known
They know not when midnight and dawn divide
Nor wind, what its course, whence does it rush
what place it ravages, what land suffers its commotion
How many saints lost and how many altars?
I praise the Protectory, great prince
I shall not be sad, Christ endows me.

The poem given above are transcribed directly from the Llyfr Taliesin (Book of Taliesin), with reference to Blodeugerdd Barddas o'r Bedwaredd Ganrif ar Ddeg edited by Dafydd Johnston. Letters or words obviously missing from the text are enclosed in square brackets [ ] and letters or words that are either superfluous to the metre or which are erroniously copied in the original are indicated in italic text.

Navigation