Preiddeu Annwn is an old middle-Welsh poem, attributed to the Bard Taliesin, that dates back (in written form) to the 9th century. It was originally included in the Book of Taliesin. Like all Celtic literature of this time, it is based on a much older oral tradition, gradually finding its way to written form.

Preiddeu Annwn — prounounced PRY-thee AHN-oon — translates as “the treasures of the Underworld.”

This poem is significant for many reasons. One of them is that it seems to be an early prototype of the Arthurian Grail Quest. It contains the refrain “Except seven, none returned,” despite the fact that the quest began with three ships (Prydwen, Arthur’s ship) full of men. The later Grail legends focused on the cup, only the water symbol. This early poem contains all 4 Hallows for each of the four elements, retrieved by Quest from the underworld.

There are a few translations (my favorite is the one by Caitlin and John Matthews) of this poem available, but I didn’t find any of them satisfying. Some of the translations better convey the meaning of the poem, but lose the gorgeous rhyme & rhythm of the Welsh. It’s stunning to hear:

As a result, I compiled my own version in English. I don’t read or speak Welsh so I can’t say this is my own translation. I do not vouch for anything remotely like accurate Welsh scholarship here — I did this merely for fun, as a creative exercise, to create something with some rhyme & rhythm in English, that might convey some of the original meaning.

With that said, here is my version of the poem, with the original Welsh on the left, and lots of creative license in my English rendering on the right.

Preiddeu Annwn

The Treasures of the Underworld

I

1. Golychaf wledic pendeuic gwlat ri.	1. Hail!
2. [r]y ledas ypennaeth dros traeth mundi.	2. Sovereignty!
3. bu kyweir karchar gweir ygkaer sidi.	3. Gweir’s prison was prepared in Caer Sidi, the Fortress of the Mound
4. trwy ebostol pwyll aphryderi.	4. in the manner of Pwyll and Pryderi.
5. Neb kyn noc ef nyt aeth idi.	5. None before Gweir went down,
6. yr gadwyn trom las kywirwas ae ketwi.	6. into the heavy blue/gray chains that bound the loyal youth.
7. Arac preideu annwfyn tost yt geni.	7. And before the spoils of Annwn he sang his bitter sound.
8. Ac yt urawt parahawt ynbardwedi.	8. Forevermore, The bards will speak this Truth.
9. Tri lloneit prytwen yd aetham ni idi.	9. Three shiploads of Prydwen’s men sailed to Annwn
10. nam seith ny dyrreith ogaer sidi.	10. Except seven none returned from Caer Sidi, the Fortress of the Mound.

II

11. Neut wyf glot geinmyn cerd ochlywir.	11. The bard’s song sounded
12. ygkaer pedryuan pedyr ychwelyt.	12. in the Four-Peaked Caer Pedyrvan, forever turning.
13. yg kenneir or peir pan leferit.	13. And of its cauldron was my first song sung
14. Oanadyl naw morwyn gochyneuit.	14. Nine maidens kindled the cauldron breathing it to life
15. Neu peir pen annwfyn pwy y vynut.	15. What is the nature of Lord Annwn’s cauldron?
16. gwrym am yoror amererit.	16. Enameled iridescence and pearly white its rim.
17. Ny beirw bwyt llwfyr ny rytyghit.	17. It will not cook a coward’s food; its destiny sings a nobler hymn.
18. cledyf lluch lleawc idaw rydyrchit.	18. The flashing sword of Lleawg was thust into it.
19. Ac yn llaw leminawc yd edewit.	19. And left in Lleminawc’s hand
20. Arac drws porth vffern llugyrn lloscit.	20. Before the door of Hell lamps burned grand.
21. Aphan aetham ni gan arthur trafferth lechrit	21. And when we went with Arthur, We struggled with The Great Work.
22. namyn seith ny dyrreith o gaer vedwit.	22. Except seven none returned from Caer Vedwyd Fortress of the Mead-Feast.

III

23. Neut wyf glot geinmyn kerd glywanawr.	23. I Taliesin, first Herald of Glory; my song sounded
24. ygkaer pedryfan ynys pybyrdor	24. In Caer Rigor, the Fortress of Hardness On the island Gate.
25. echwyd amuchyd kymyscetor	25. Where night and day are one.
26. gwin gloyw eugwirawt rac eu gorgord.	26. Bright wine was set before the gathering.
27. Tri lloneit prytwen yd aetham ni ar vor.	27. Three shiploads of Prydwen’s men, we furrowed the flood.
28. namyn seith ny dyrreith ogaer rigor.	28. Except seven none returned from Caer Rigor, The Fortress of Hardness.

IV

29. Ny obrynafi lawyr llen llywyadur	29. I merit more than scholars mere scribes and clerks
30. tra chaer wydyr ny welsynt wrhyt arthur.	30. Who know not Arthur’s valor Beyond Caer Wydyr the Glass Fortress
31. Tri vgeint canhwr aseui ar y mur.	31. Six thousand men stood high upon its wall.
32. oed anhawd ymadrawd aegwylyadur	32. It was difficult to speak with their watchman.
33. tri lloneit prytwen yd aeth gan arthur.	33. Three shiploads of Prydwen’s men went with Arthur.
34. namyn seith ny dyrreith ogaer golud.	34. Except seven none returned from Caer Golud the Occult Fortress.

V

35. Ny obrynaf y lawyr llaes eu kylchwy	35. I merit more than cowards, their shields hanging limp.
36. ny wdant wy pydyd peridyd pwy.	36. They know not which day or who was created
37. py awr ymeindyd y ganet cwy.	37. or what hour Cwy was born.
38. Pwy gwnaeth arnyt aeth doleu defwy.	38. Who made him who did not go (to the) meadows of Defwy, the Court of Heaven?
39. ny wdant wy yrych brych bras y penrwy.	39. They know not the starry ox, stout-collared,
40. Seith vgein kygwng yny aerwy.	40. Seven-score links in its fastening.
41. Aphan aetham ni gan arthur auyrdwl gofwy.	41. And when we went with Arthur, a sorrowed journey,
42. namyn seith ny dyrreith o gaer vandwy.	42. Except seven none returned from Caer Vandwy, the Fortress of God’s Peak.

VI

43. Ny obrynafy lawyr llaes eu gohen.	43. I merit more than weak clerics, their wills gone slack.
44. ny wdant pydyd peridyd pen.	44. Who do not know which day our king was made,
45. Py awr ymeindyd y ganet perchen.	45. what hour he was born,
46. Py vil agatwant aryant ypen.	46. nor of the silver-headed beast they guard for him.
47. Pan aetham ni gan arthur afyrdwl gynhen.	47. When we went with Arthur, a sorrowed journey,
48. namyn seith ny dyrreith o gaer ochren.	48. Except seven none returned from Caer Achren the Fortress of Enclosedness.

VII

49. Myneich dychnut val cunin cor.	49. Monks throng together like a pack of dogs
50. o gyfranc udyd ae gwidanhor.	50. After an encounter with the wise who know
51. Ae vn hynt gwynt ae vn dwfyr mor.	51. whether the wind blows on one path? whether the sea is one mass of water?
52. Ae vn vfel tan twrwf diachor.	52. whether a single spark will tinder a fierce fire?

VIII

53. Myneych dychnut val bleidawr.	53. Monks throng together like a pack of dogs
54. o gyfranc udyd ae gwidyanhawr.	54. After an encounter with the wise who know
55. ny wdant pan yscar deweint agwawr.	55. When midnight and dawn divide
56. neu wynt pwy hynt pwy yrynnawd.	56. Where the wind wanders until its current subsides
57. py va diua py tir aplawd.	57. what sea it ravages, what land it strikes.
58. bet sant yn diuant abet allawr.	58. How many ancestors in the ground abide.
59. Golychaf y wledic pendefic mawr.	59. Hail!
60. na bwyf trist crist am gwadawl.	60. Sovereignty!