The New International Encyclopædia/Taliesin

TALIESIN, tăl′ĭ-sĭn. A British bard, who is supposed to have lived about the middle of the sixth century. Nothing definite is known as to his career, and some scholars hold that he is a mythical personage. According to legend he was called ‘the chief of the bards.’ The “Book of Taliesin” contains 50 poems, which were formerly attributed to Taliesin. All are now generally believed to be of a later date. Consult: Skene, The Four Ancient Books of Wales (2 vols., Edinburgh, 1868), in which the “Book of Taliesin” is included; for the legends, Guest, Mabinogion (2d ed., London, 1877).