and seemed even more alarmed at her dis

pleasure than she was at his momentary audacity. She reassured him with a smile; and, pointing her spear in the direction of her distant home, she bounded before him down the rock.

This was the kiss of Taliesin to the

daughter of Elphin, which is celebrated in an inedited triad, as one of "the Three Chaste Kisses of the island of Britain."

115

CHAP. IX.

THE SONGS OF DIGANWY.

Three things that will always swallow, and never be satisfied the sea; a burial ground; and a king.

TRIADS OF WISDOM.

THE hall of Maelgon Gwyneth was ringing with music and revelry, when Taliesin stood on the floor, with his harp, in the midst of the assembly, and, without introduction or preface, struck a few chords, that, as if by magic, suspended all other sounds, and fixed the attention of all in silent expectation. He then sang as follows:

CANU Y MEDD.

THE MEAD SONG

OF TALIESIN.

The King of kings upholds the heaven,
And parts from earth the billowy sea:
By Him all earthly joys are given ;

He loves the just, and guards the free.
Round the wide hall, for thine and thee,
With purest draughts the mead-horns foam,
Maelgon of Gwyneth! Can it be

That here a prince bewails his home?

The bee tastes not the sparkling draught

Which mortals from his toils obtain ;
That sends, in festal circles quaffed,

Sweet tumult through the heart and brain.

The timid, while the horn they drain,
Grow bold; the happy more rejoice;
The mourner ceases to complain;

The gifted bard exalts his voice.

To royal Elphin life I owe,

Nurture and name, the harp, and mead :
Full, pure, and sparkling be their flow,
The horns to Maelgon's lips decreed :
For him may horn to horn succeed,
Till, glowing with their generous fire,
He bid the captive chief be freed,
Whom at his hands my songs require.

Elphin has given me store of mead,
Mead, ale, and wine, and fish, and corn;
A happy home; a splendid steed,
Which stately trappings well adorn.

Tomorrow be the auspicious morn

That home the expected chief shall lead ;
So may King Maelgon drain the horn

In thrice three million feasts of mead.

"all the

"I give you," said Maelgon, rights of hospitality, and as many horns as you please of the mead you so well and justly extol. If you be Elphin's bard, it must be confessed he spoke truth with respect to you, for you are a much better bard than any of mine, as they are all free to confess I give them that liberty."

:

The bards availed themselves of the royal indulgence, and confessed their own inferiority to Taliesin, as the king had commanded them to do. Whether they were all as well convinced of it as they professed to be, may be left to the decision of that very large class of literary gentlemen who are in the