Editing Maelgwn Gwynedd (section)

=== The ''Tale of Taliesin'' ===
The ''Tale of Taliesin'' (''Hanes Taliesin'' or ''Ystoria Taliesin'') is a genuine legendary story about [[Taliesin]] which is preserved in two principal redactions dating from the mid-16th century and the early 17th century but which probably derives from older sources.<ref>Patrick K. Ford (ed.); ''Ystoria Taliesin'', University of Wales Press, 1992. Annotated edition of the two texts.</ref> It was first printed in [[Lady Charlotte Guest]]'s translation of the ''[[Mabinogion]]'': the notes to that edition are the work of [[Iolo Morganwg]] and contain inaccuracies and some of his inventions. The story itself tells of events where the Taliesin of legend is placed in difficult or impossible situations but invariably overcomes all obstacles, usually through feats of magic. Maelgwn Gwynedd is conspicuously depicted in a negative light, being foiled in unscrupulous actions of deceit and being outwitted.<ref>{{Harvcolnb|Charlotte|1877|pp=471–503}}, ''Taliesin''</ref>

The historical Taliesin was actually a contemporary of Maelgwn Gwynedd's son and successor [[Rhun Hir ap Maelgwn|Rhun]]. An elegy for Rhun, the ''Marwnad Rhun'' ({{langx|en|Elegy of Rhun}}) was once attributed to Taliesin by some scholars.<ref>{{Harvcolnb|Morris-Jones|1918|pp=209–222}}, Taliesin's ''Marwnad Rhun (Elegy of Rhun)''</ref> but is now considered to be of later provenance and is no longer accepted as his work.<ref>Ifor Williams (ed.); ''Canu Taliesin'', University of Wales Press, 1960, introduction.</ref> There is nothing to connect the historical Taliesin with Maelgwn Gwynedd, although references to the legend are found in medieval Welsh poems.<ref>''Canu Taliesin'', introduction.</ref>