Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race - Knowledge Rush

358 Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race[415]within. “Behold a radiant brow!” 252 said Gwyddno. “Taliesin behe called,” said Elphin. And they brought the child home verycarefully and reared it as their own. And this was Taliesin, primebard of the Cymry; and the first of the poems he made was a layof praise to Elphin and promise of good fortune for the future.And this was fulfilled, for Elphin grew in riches and honour dayafter day, and in love and favour with King Arthur.But one day as men praised King Arthur and all his belongingsabove measure, Elphin boasted that he had a wife as virtuous asany at Arthur's Court and a bard more skilful than any of theKing's; and they flung him into prison until they should see ifhe could make good his boast. And as he lay there with a silverchain about his feet, a graceless fellow named Rhun was sent tocourt the wife of Elphin and to bring back proofs of her folly;and it was said that neither maid nor matron with whom Rhunconversed but was evil-spoken of.Taliesin then bade his mistress conceal herself, and she gaveher raiment and jewels to one of the kitchenmaids, who receivedRhun as if she were mistress of the household. And after supperRhun plied the maid with drink, and she became intoxicated andfell in a deep sleep; whereupon Rhun cut off one of her fingers,on which was the signet-ring of Elphin that he had sent his wifea little while before. Rhun brought the finger and the ring on itto Arthur's Court.Next day Elphin was fetched out of prison and shown thefinger and the ring. Whereupon he said: “With thy leave, mightyking, I cannot deny the ring, but the finger it is on was never mywife's. For this is the little finger, and the ring fits tightly on it,but my wife could barely keep it on her thumb. And my wife,moreover, is wont to pare her nails every Saturday night, but thisnail hath not been pared for a month. And thirdly, the hand towhich this finger belonged was kneading rye-dough within three252 Taliesin.