Taliesin.27s birth Hanes Taliesin

the legendary character began life gwion bach, servant ceridwen, wife of nobleman tegid foel, in days when king arthur ruled. magician had 3 arts learned: enchantment, magic, , divination. ceridwen had beautiful daughter , ugly son named morfran, means great crow , appearance no magic cure. later became known afagddu, means utter darkness . ceridwen felt in order him gain respect , acceptance noblemen had have great qualities compensate ugly looks, sought give him gift of wisdom , knowledge. through arts found way of giving son these special qualities, found special herbs earth inspiration (awen), had stirred , cooked year , day in cauldron.

a blind man, morda, assigned ceridwen stir cauldron, while gwion bach, young lad, stoked fire underneath it. first 3 drops of liquid cauldron give, extraordinarily learned in various arts , full of spirit of prophecy (the tale of gwion bach), , rest fatal poison. after ceridwen s hard work sat down, , accidentally fell asleep. while asleep 3 drops sprang cauldron , gwion bach shoved morfran out of way 3 drops. instantly, gained wisdom. knowing wisdom ceridwen angry once found out happened, ran away.

all heard fury , sound of pursuit. turned himself hare on land , became greyhound. turned himself fish , jumped river: turned otter. turned bird in air, , in response became hawk.

exhausted, ceridwen managed force him barn, turned single grain of corn , became tufted black hen , ate him. became pregnant because of this. resolved kill child, knowing gwion, when born beautiful couldn t, had him put hide covered basket , thrown lake, river, or sea, depending on version of tale is.