Taliesin's Prophecy
Music File
Lesley Nelson

Information
Lyrics
This is a traditional Welsh tune. The English translation is by Mrs. Hemans. There are other lyrics to the tune The Dawn of Day.

Although Taliesin has become a mythological figure, he was, in fact, a bard in ancient Wales. Some of his work survives. See links below for more information on Taliesin, the bard, the legend and his poetry.

Taliesin's prophesy concerned the Ancient Britons. "Their God they shall worship, their language they shall retain; their land they shall loose except wild Wales."

A voice from time departed,
Yet floats thy hills among;
Oh, Cambria! thus the prophet bard,
Thy Taliesin sung,
The path of unborn ages,
Is traced upon my soul,
The clouds which mantle things unseen
Away before me roll.
A light the depths revealing,
Hath o'er my spirit pass'd.
A rushing sound from days to be,
Swells fitful on the blast
And tell me that forever
Shall live the lofty tongue,
To which the harp of Mona's words,
By Freedom's hand was strung.

Green Island of the mighty,
I see thine ancient race,
Driv'n from their fathers' realm,
To make the rocks their dwelling place.
I see from Uthyr's kingdom,
The sceptre pass away,
And many a line of bards and chiefs,
And princely men decay.
But long as Arvon's mountains
Shall lift their sov'reign forms,
And wear the crowns to which is giv'n
Dominion o'er the storms,
So long their empire sharing,
Shall live the lofty tongue,
To which the harp of Mona's words,
By Freedom's hand was strung.
Related Links
From Our National Songs
See Bibliography for full information.