Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.3 alpha 5/22/85; site cbosgd.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!mhuxv!mhuxh!mhuxj!mhuxn!ihnp4!cbosgd!rlp
From: rlp@cbosgd.UUCP (Bob Platt)
Newsgroups: net.nlang.celts
Subject: Re: King Arthur (Excaliber)
Message-ID: <1337@cbosgd.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 24-Jul-85 19:01:33 EDT
Article-I.D.: cbosgd.1337
Posted: Wed Jul 24 19:01:33 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 26-Jul-85 07:40:11 EDT
References: <1688@reed.UUCP> <238@persci.UUCP>
Reply-To: rlp@cbosgd.UUCP (Joe Knapp)
Distribution: net
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Columbus
Lines: 93
Keywords: Taliesin, Welsh Arthur, place-names

Arthur appears in the Kymric "The Book of Taliesin," published (recopied)
in the 15th century. The "author" Taliesin was a 6th century Welsh Bard 
who in the 15th century was already a mythological character himself.

The poem (song) is reminiscent of later Grail legends. It is very abstruse,
leading scholars to abandon it in despair, or question its authenticity.
Briefly, it describes the rescue of one Gwair by a party of men led by
Arthur in his ship Prydwen. They find the "grail" in Caer Pedryvan, the
"four-cornered castle" in the land of Annwyn.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
		The Spoils of Annwyn  (by Taliesin)

	Complete was the prison of Gwair in Caer Sidi.
	Through the permission of Pwyll and Pryderi
	No one before him went to it;
	A heavy blue chain firmly held the youth,
	And for the spoils of Annwyn gloomily he sings,
	And to the doom shall he continue his lay.
	Thrice the fullness of Prydwen we went into it,
	Except seven, none returned from Caer Sidi.

	Am I not a candidate for fame, to be heard in the song,
	In Caer Pedryvan four times revolving!
	It will be my first word from the cauldron when it expresses;
	By the breath of nine damsels it is gently warmed.
	Is it not the cauldron of the chief of Annwyn in its fashion?
	With a ridge round its edge of pearls!

	It will not boil the food of a coward not sworn,
	A sword bright flashing to him will be brought,
	And left in the hand of Llemynawg,
	And before the portals of hell, the horns of light shall be burning.
	And when we went with Arthur in his splendid labours,
	Except seven, none returned from Caer Vediwid (or the enclosure
		of the perfect ones).

	Am I not a candidate for fame, to be heard in the song,
	In the quadrangular enclosure, in the island of the strong door,
	Where the twilight and the jet of night moved together.
	Bright wine was the beverage of the host,
	Three times te fullness of Prydwen, we went on sea,
	Except seven, none returned from Caer Rigor (or the enclosure
		of the Royal party).

	I will not have merit, with the multitude in relating the hero's deeds,
	Beyond Caer Wydr they beheld not the prowess of Arthur?
	Three times twenty-hundred men stood on the wall,
	It was difficult to converse with the sentinel.
	Three times the fullness of Prydwen, we went with Arthur,
	Except seven, none returned from Caer Colur (or the gloomy 
		enclosure).

	I will not have merit from the multitude with trailing shields,
	They know not on what day, or who caused it,
	Nor what hour in the splendid day Cwy was born,
	Nor who prevented him from going to the meanders of Devwy.
	They know not the brindled ox, with his thick head-band,
	and with seven score knobs in his collar.
	And when we went with Arthur of mournful memory,
	Except seven, none returned from Caer Vandwy (or the enclosure 
		resting on the height).

	I will not have merit from men of drooping courage,
	They know not what day the chief was caused,
	Nor in what hour in the splendid day the owner was born;
	What animal they keep of silver head.
	When we went with Arthur of mournful contention,
	Except seven, none returned from Caer Ochren (or the enclosure 
		of the shelving side).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The island referred to is purported by my source to be the Isle of 'Sena.'  
It's not on any map I have.

I find this word 'caer' interesting.  It seems to be a generic word for 
'enclosure,'  whether it is a ship (Caer Wydr, Arthur's vessel of glass), 
castle, hill-fort, etc. Also, elements of the song vaguely reminded
me of one called "The Bells of Rhymney" by Judy Collins; after dusting the
record off, I was surprised to find that not only is it based on seven verses,
each ending in the name of a Welsh town, but one town is *Caerfilly* and
another *Cardiff*! It turns out that there are no fewer than 25 British towns
having the prefix 'Caer,' all (except one: Caer Caradoc) in Wales. There are
also many more towns, like Cardiff, with the variant prefix 'Car.'  Does 
anyone know what this word means to modern-day Welshmen? Or what it meant
in the past?  Is it possibly related to the word 'cairn' (which also
appears in many place names, e.g. Carn Gwylim, Powys)?

						Joe Knapp (cbosgd!nscs!jmk)

   "the glee-wood touched
    the harp's sweet note awoke; and now a song intoned,
    both sooth and sad; now the great-hearted king
    told well a wondrous tale."
				Beowulf