# Taliesin explained — Bulfinch’s Mythology > Chapter companion for Bulfinch’s Mythology by Thomas Bulfinch. ## What happens Elphin, son of Gwyddno, finds a baby in a leather bag in his father's weir and names him Taliesin. The infant immediately speaks poetry and promises to bring Elphin greater fortune than fish. Taliesin grows up and, when Elphin is imprisoned for boasting that his wife is more virtuous and his bard more skilled than King Maelgan's, Taliesin saves Elphin's wife from disgrace by substituting a maid, then frees Elphin from prison and silences the king's bards with his superior wisdom and magical powers. ## Themes in this chapter ### Cultural Transmission and Education Taliesin embodies the transmission of ancient wisdom and poetic tradition, claiming knowledge of past, present, and future, and ultimately surpassing the king's bards. ### Hospitality and Its Violation Rhun's deceitful visit to Elphin's home and his drugging of the supposed mistress violate the norms of hospitality. ### Fate and Free Will Elphin's initial ill luck is reversed by the miraculous appearance of Taliesin, suggesting fate can be altered by divine or magical intervention. ## Character check-ins ### Elphin Son of Gwyddno, hapless youth who finds Taliesin in the weir and becomes his patron; later imprisoned for boasting about his wife and bard. ### Taliesin Infant found in a leather bag who speaks poetry from birth, grows into a supremely wise bard, and rescues Elphin from prison and disgrace. ### Gwyddno Garanhir Sovereign of Gwaelod, father of Elphin, who grants his son the drawing of the weir. ### Maelgan Gwynedd King who holds court at Dyganwy, imprisons Elphin for his boast, and is ultimately confounded by Taliesin. ### Rhun Son of King Maelgan, sent to seduce and disgrace Elphin's wife, but is tricked by Taliesin into cutting off a maid's finger instead. ## Key lines > Fair Elphin, cease to lament! Never in Gwyddno's weir Was there such good luck as this night. Elphin, stop grieving; this catch in the weir is the best luck you've ever had. _Taliesin's first poem, consoling Elphin for the apparent failure of the weir._ > I have been formed a comely person; Although I am but little, I am highly gifted; Into a dark leathern bag I was thrown, And on a boundless sea I was sent adrift. Though I am small, I am very talented; I was cast into a leather bag and set adrift on the ocean. _Taliesin explains his mysterious origin to Elphin._ > Primary chief bard am I to Elphin, And my native country is the region of the summer stars; I have been in Asia with Noah in the ark, I have seen the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, I was in India when Rome was built, I have now come here to the remnant of Troia. I am Elphin's chief bard, from the land of the summer stars; I was with Noah, witnessed Sodom's fall, was in India at Rome's founding, and now I am here among the descendants of Troy. _Taliesin's boastful claim of ancient and worldwide experience before King Maelgan._ > Discover thou what is The strong creature from before the flood, Without flesh, without bone, Without vein, without blood, Without head, without feet; It will neither be older nor younger Than at the beginning. Tell me what this ancient, formless creature is—no flesh, bones, blood, head, or feet—that never ages. _Taliesin's riddle to the king and his bards, which precedes a storm._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/xiii-taliesin - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters