Bards are highly revered in Taliesin's stories, honored for their linguistic capabilities, wide range of knowledge, and responsibilities as chroniclers of the kingdoms' endeavors.
Yet Taliesin has three accounts of bards, singing praises of true bards, and disappointment and scorn for the bards of Maelgwn's court, all with little to no basis to back it up.
What's worse, even if Taliesin claims corruption from other bards' singing, he does nothing to distinguish his singing from theirs. I honestly believe that Taliesin is just blowing hot air.
Yet Taliesin has three accounts of bards, singing praises of true bards, and disappointment and scorn for the bards of Maelgwn's court, all with little to no basis to back it up.
What's worse, even if Taliesin claims corruption from other bards' singing, he does nothing to distinguish his singing from theirs. I honestly believe that Taliesin is just blowing hot air.
Are there other occupations that seem innocuous, but actually have a valuable role in a kingdom's structure. Servants like maids and butlers seem to be one, as are blacksmiths.
Elphin's wife exchanges places with a maid to prove his innocence by the difference in their ring fingers. Once again showing the exchange in roles plot device that I find interesting.
To be able to tell the future through song is a powerful boon indeed. What if songs sang could rather make certain events true rather than predict them?
While it was tyrannical of Maelgwn to imprison Elphin so quickly, Elphin was also a rather rude guest by boasting the superiority of his wife and bard.
A story centered on Maelgwn would be a welcome interpretation on the events of Taliesin's tales.
Taliesin's prediction of what is to befall Maelgwn sounds contradictory and vague. Who's to say he is not merely making all this shit up?
What's more, there is hardly any event after Taliesin's prose to indicate or prove his supposed powers of foresight.
A comedic take on this kind of character could make for good entertainment, displaying the danger and foolishness in trusting psychic powers.
There is an implied cycle of reincarnation and many lives lived in Taliesin's Reply. A bard or some other's spirit carried throughout time to do work for others speaks of some kind of epic quality.
Mythology & Folklore Mabinogion Pwyll & Taliesin Unit, translation by Lady Charlotte Guest
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