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diff --git a/9842-0.txt b/9842-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b95fce8 --- /dev/null +++ b/9842-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7695 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook of Y Gododin, by Aneurin, Translated by John +Williams + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Y Gododin + A Poem on the Battle of Cattraeth + + +Author: Aneurin + + + +Release Date: March 30, 2009 [eBook #9842] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK Y GODODIN*** + + +Transcribed from the 1852 William Rees edition by David Price, email +ccx074@pglaf.org + + + + + + Y GODODIN + + + * * * * * + + A Poem + ON + THE BATTLE OF CATTRAETH, + BY + ANEURIN, + A WELSH BARD OF THE SIXTH CENTURY, + WITH AN + English Translation, + AND NUMEROUS HISTORICAL AND CRITICAL ANNOTATIONS; + + * * * * * + + BY + THE REV. JOHN WILLIAMS AB ITHEL, M.A. + RECTOR OF LLANYMOWDDWY, MERIONETHSHIRE. + + * * * * * + + LLANDOVERY: + PUBLISHED BY WILLIAM REES; LONDON, + LONGMAN, AND CO. + + * * * * * + + MDCCCLII. + + * * * * * + + WILLIAM REES, PRINTER, LLANDOVERY. + + + + +PREFACE + + +Aneurin, the author of this poem, was the son of Caw, lord of Cwm +Cawlwyd, or Cowllwg, a region in the North, which, as we learn from a +Life of Gildas in the monastery of Fleury published by Johannes a Bosco, +comprehended Arecluta or Strath Clyde. {0a} Several of his brothers seem +to have emigrated from Prydyn in company with their father before the +battle of Cattraeth, and, under the royal protection of Maelgwn Gwynedd, +to have settled in Wales, where they professed religious lives, and +became founders of churches. He himself, however, remained behind, and +having been initiated into the mysteries of Bardism, formed an intimate +acquaintance with Owen, Cian, Llywarch Hen, and Taliesin, all likewise +disciples of the Awen. By the rules of his order a Bard was not +permitted ordinarily to bear arms, {0b} and though the exceptional case, +in which he might act differently, may be said to have arisen from “the +lawlessness and depredation” {0c} of the Saxons, Aneurin does not appear +to have been present at Cattraeth in any other capacity than that of a +herald Bard. Besides the absence of any intimation to the contrary, we +think the passages where he compares Owen to himself, and where he makes +proposals at the conference, and above all where he attributes his safety +to his “gwenwawd,” conclusive on the subject. His heraldic character +would be recognised by all nations, according to the universal law of +warfare, whereas it is very improbable that any poetic effusion which he +might have delivered, could have influence upon a people whose language +differed so materially from his own. + +The Gododin was evidently composed when the various occurrences that it +records were as yet fresh in the author’s mind and recollection. It is +divided into stanzas, which, though they now amount to only ninety-seven, +are supposed to have originally corresponded in point of number with the +chieftains that went to Cattraeth. This is strongly intimated in the +declaration subjoined to Gorchan Cynvelyn, and cited in the notes at page +86, and thence would we infer that the Gorchanau themselves are portions +of the Gododin, having for their object the commemoration of the persons +whose names they bear. Of course all of them, with the exception of the +short one of Adebon, contain passages that have been transposed from +other stanzas, which may account for their disproportionate lengths. +This is especially the case with Gorchan Maelderw, the latter, and by far +the greater portion whereof, is in the Carnhuanawc MS. detached from the +former, and separately entitled “Fragments of the Gododin and other +pieces of the sixth century.” That they were “incantations,” cannot be +admitted; and if the word “gorchan,” or “gwarchan” mean here anything +except simply “a canon, or fundamental part of song,” we should be +inclined to consider it as synonymous with “gwarthan,” and to suppose +that the poems in question referred to the camps of Adebon, Maelderw, and +Cynvelyn:— + + “Gwarchan Cynvelyn ar Ododin.” {0d} + +According to the tenor of the Cynvelyn statement, every stanza would +bring before us a fresh hero. This principle we have not overlooked in +the discrimination and arrangements of proper names, though owing to +evident omissions and interpolations, an irregularity in this respect +occasionally and of necessity occurs. + +Aneurin, like a true poet of nature, abstains from all artful +introduction or invocation, and launches at once into his subject. His +eye follows the gorgeously and distinctively armed chiefs, as they move +at the head of their respective companies, and perform deeds of valour on +the bloody field. He delights to enhance by contrast their domestic and +warlike habits, and frequently recurs to the pang of sorrow, which the +absence of the warriors must have caused to their friends and relatives +at home, and reflects with much genuine feeling upon the disastrous +consequences, that the loss of the battle would entail upon these and +their dear native land. And though he sets forth his subject in the +ornamental language of poetry, yet he is careful not to transgress the +bounds of truth. This is strikingly instanced in the manner in which he +names no less than four witnesses as vouchers for the correctness of his +description of Caradawg. Herein he produces one of the “three agreements +that ought to be in a song,” viz. an agreement “between truth and the +marvellous.” {0e} + +He also gives “relish to his song,” {0f} by adopting “a diversity of +structure in the metre;” for the lyric comes in occasionally to relieve +the solemnity of the heroic, whilst at the same time the latter is +frequently capable of being divided into a shorter verse, a plan which +has been observed in one of the MSS. used on the present occasion; e. g. +the twelfth stanza is thus arranged,— + + Gwyr a aeth Gattraeth gan ddydd + Neus goreu } gywilydd + O gadeu } + Wy gwnaethant } gelorwydd + Yn geugant } + A llafn aur llawn anawdd ym bedydd + Goreu yw hyn cyn cystlwn carennydd + Ennaint creu } oe henydd + Ac angeu } + Rhag byddin } pan fu ddydd + Wawdodyn } + Neus goreu dan bwylliad neirthiad gwychydd. + +But though Aneurin survived the battle of Cattraeth to celebrate the +memory of his less fortunate countrymen in this noble composition, he +also ultimately met with a violent death. The Triads relate that he was +killed by the blow of an axe, inflicted upon his head by Eiddin son of +Einigan, which event was in consequence branded as one of “the three +accursed deeds of the Isle of Britain.” {0g} + +His memory, however, lived in the Gododin, and the estimation in which +the poem was held by his successors has earned for him the title of +“medeyrn beirdd,” the king of Bards. Davydd Benvras 1190–1240, prays for +that genius which would enable him + + “To sing praises as Aneurin of yore, + The day he sang the Gododin.” {0h} + +Risserdyn 1290–1340 in an Ode to Hywel ab Gruffydd speaks of + + “A tongue with the eloquence of Aneurin of splendid song.” {0i} + +And Sevnyn 1320–1378 asserts that + + “The praise of Aneurin is proclaimed by thousands.” {0j} + +Such is the language in which the mediæval Bards were accustomed to talk +of the author of the Gododin. + +The basis of the present translation is a MS. on vellum apparently of +about the year 1200. In that MS. the lines are all written out to the +margin, without any regard to the measure. Capital letters are never +introduced but at the beginning of paragraphs, where they are ornamented +and coloured alternately red and green. At page 20 Gwilym Tew and Rhys +Nanmor {0k} are mentioned as the owners of the Book, but the names are +written in a hand, and with letters more modern than the MS. It at one +time belonged to Mr. Jones the Historian of Brecknockshire, and came +latterly into the possession of the late Rev. T. Price, with whose +Executrix, Mrs. E. Powell of Abergavenny, it now remains. The author of +the Celtic Researches took a transcript of it, which he communicated to +the Rev. W. J. Rees, of Cascob, who had previously copied the said +transcript by the permission of the Rev. E. Davies. Mr. Rees’s copy was +afterwards collated by Dr. Meyer with Mr. Davies’s transcript, and the +only inaccuracy which had crept in was by him carefully corrected. Dr. +Meyer again transcribed Mr. Rees’s copy for the use of the present work, +and that version in its turn has been collated by Mr. Rees, during the +progress of the work through the press, with the transcript in his +possession. To these two gentlemen the translator is under deep +obligations. + +Also to Mr. Owen Williams of Waunfawr, for the loan of three other +manuscript copies of the Gododin. Two of them occur in the same book, +which purports to have been a transcript made by the Rev. David Ellis, +the first part, A.D. 1775 of an old book, the second part, June 7, 1777, +of a book supposed to have been written by Sion Brwynog about the year +1550. In these versions the stanzas are not divided. The third version +appears in a book containing a variety of poems and articles in prose, of +which, however, the writer or copyist is not known, though one “Davydd +Thomas” is mentioned in a poor modern hand as being the owner. Our poem +is therein headed “Y Gododin. Aneurin ae cant. Gydâ nodau y Parchedig +Evan Evans.” These “nodau” are marginal notes, and evidently the +different readings of another version. + +The different copies or versions used are distinguished as follow;— + +Myvyrian 1 E. Evans 5 +D. Ellis 2 P. Panton 6 +Ditto 3 E. Davies 7 +D. Thomas 4 Dr. Meyer 8 + +Nos 1 and 6 are those which are printed in the Archaiology of Wales, vol. +i. All words that differ in form or meaning, though not in orthography, +from those of No. 7, are duly arranged at the foot of the page {0l}, from +which it will be seen that 1, 2, 3, 5, generally agree one with the +other, whilst 4 and 6 also for the most part go together. + +It is to be observed, moreover, that though we have taken No. 7 as our +text, we have not servilely confined ourself to it, but that wherever any +of the other versions have been considered preferable, we have +unhesitatingly adopted them. The different meanings, however, are +generally inserted in the notes. + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +The country situate between the Humber and the Clyde in North Britain +was, for the most part, originally occupied by the Cymry, who here, as +well as in the west, displayed no mean valour in opposition to the Roman +arms. The latter certainly prevailed; nevertheless it is to be noticed +that they did not finally destroy, nor indeed to any material extent +alter the national features of Prydyn. This is evident from the manner +in which the conquerors thought fit to incorporate into their own +geographical vocabulary many of the local names, which they found already +in use; and above all from the purely ancestral character which the +native chieftains exhibited on emerging from the Roman ruins in the fifth +century. Indeed to permit the defeated princes, under certain +restrictions, to enjoy their former rights and jurisdictions, was +perfectly in accordance with the usual policy of the Romans, as we may +learn from the testimony of Tacitus, who remarks, in reference to the +British king Cogidunus, that they granted to him certain states according +to ancient custom, and the reason assigned is that they might have even +kings as instruments of slavery. {1a} The homage of the subjugated +provinces seems to have consisted principally in the payment of a tribute +of money, and the furnishing of soldiers for foreign service. + +Such, no doubt, was the position of Cunedda Wledig, who “began to reign +about A.D. 328, and died in 389”; {1b} and who, according to the Historia +Britonum attributed to Nennius, “venerat de parte sinistrali, id est, de +regione quæ vocatur Manau Guotodin,” {1c} the heights of Gododin, and the +same apparently with the territory of the Ottadeni. + +In the Myvyrian Archaiology, v. 1, p. 71, is printed an Elegy on Cunedda, +the work of one who had actually partaken of his royal munificence, who +had received from him “milch cows, horses, wine, oil, and a host of +slaves.” The writer with respect to the martial prowess of his patron, +observes, + + “Trembling with fear of Cunedda, + Will be Caer Weir and Caer Liwelydd.” + +And again, + + “A hundred times ere his shield was shattered in battle, + Bryneich obeyed his commands in the conflict.” + +The modern names of the localities, mentioned in these extracts, are +respectively Warwick, Carlisle {2a} and Bernicia. The two latter are in +the immediate vicinity of the Ottadeni; the former, being further +removed, would indicate the direction and extent of his arms. + +From other sources we learn that Cunedda was the son of Edeyrn ab Padarn +Peisrudd, by Gwawl, daughter of Coel Godebog, and that he was entitled, +in right of his mother, to certain territories in Wales. When these were +invaded by the Gwyddyl, his sons, twelve in number, left their northern +home for the purpose of recovering the same, in which they were +successful, though the enemy was not finally extirpated until the battle +at Cerrig y Gwyddyl, in the succeeding generation. It is asserted by +some that Cunedda accompanied his sons in this expedition, and that it +was undertaken as much through inability to retain possession of their +more immediate dominions, as from the desire of acquiring or regaining +other lands. However, though the sons settled in Wales and on its +borders, it is more accordant with the drift of the Poem, already cited, +to suppose that Cunedda himself died in the North. Nevertheless, it is +undoubted that the native chieftains began to suffer in that part of the +island from barbarian incursions even before the departure of the Romans. +Thus Ammianus Marcellinus, with reference to the year 364, bears +testimony, that “the Picts and Saxons and Scots and Attacots harassed the +Britons with continual oppressions.” {2b} + +The final abandonment of the island by the Romans occurred, according to +Zosimus, about A.D. 408 or 409, at which time the native princes arose to +the full enjoyment of feudal dignity and power. In the North, among +others, we find Pabo Post Prydain, a descendant of Coel Godebog in the +4th degree, and Cynvarch Oer, a member of another branch of the same +family; both of whom, however, were compelled by the inroads of the +predatory hordes, to leave their territories and seek refuge in Wales, +though it would appear that Urien, son of the latter, succeeded +subsequently in recovering his paternal dominion. + +The struggle continued, and the enemies had gradually extended themselves +along the coasts, when in 547 they received an important reinforcement by +the arrival of Ida with forty ships. Gododin, Deivyr, and Bryneich, +being situated on the eastern shore, would be especially exposed to the +ravages of these marauders. Indeed it does not appear that Gododin ever +recovered its pristine independence after the death of Cunedda, at least +we do not hear that any of his sons subsequently asserted their claims to +it, or had anything to do with the administration of its government: they +all seem to have ended their days in their western dominions. Deivyr and +Bryneich, however, were more fortunate, for we find that they were ruled +as late as the 6th century by British monarchs, among whom are named +Gall, Diffedell, and Disgyrnin, the sons of Disgyvyndawd; {3a} though +there is reason to believe that at that time they were in treacherous +alliance with the Saxons. A Triad positively affirms, that “there were +none of the Lloegrwys who did not coalesce with the Saxons, save such as +were found in Cornwall, and in the Commot of Carnoban in Deivyr and +Bryneich.” {3b} And it is a remarkable fact, as corroborative of this +statement, that the Cymry ever after, as may be seen in the works of the +Bards, applied the term Bryneich to such of their kindred as joined with +the enemies of their country. + +Certain it is, that, at the period of our Poem, the people of the three +provinces in question were open enemies of the Cymry, as appears from +stanzas iii, v, and ix. When we see there how the Bard commends one hero +for not yielding to the army of Gododin, and celebrates the praise of +another who committed an immense slaughter amongst the men of Deivyr and +Bryneich, and threatens, in the case of a third party, that if they were +suspected of leaning to the Bernician interest, he would himself raise +his hand against them, we can come to no other conclusion than that those +countries were arrayed against the Cymry when the battle of Cattraeth +took place. + +Ida had to encounter a powerful opponent in the person of Urien, king of +Rheged, a district in or near which Cattraeth lay, as we infer from two +poems of Taliesin. Thus, one entitled “Gwaith Gwenystrad,” commences +with the words, + + “Extol the men of Cattraeth, who, with the dawn, + Went with their victorious leader + Urien, a renowned elder.” {3c} + +In the other, called “Yspail Taliesin,” Urien is styled “Glyw Cattraeth,” +the ruler of Cattraeth. {4a} At the same time he is generally spoken of +under the title of Rheged’s chief. + +The leader of the hostile forces in the battle of Gwenystrad is not +named, but in the battle of Argoed Llwyvein we find him to be Flamddwyn +or the Torch bearer, a name by which the Britons delighted to designate +the formidable Ida. Flamddwyn’s army on this occasion consisted of four +legions, which reached from Argoed to Arvynydd, and against them were +arrayed the men of Goddeu and Rheged, under the command of Ceneu ab Coel, +and Owain, and “Urien the prince.” + +Argoed, bordering on Deivyr and Bryneich, was ruled by Llywarch Hen, who +after his abdication and flight into Powys, pathetically records the +loyal attachment of his former subjects,— + + “The men of Argoed have ever supported me.” {4b} + +The Historia Britonum enumerates three other kings, who with Urien fought +against the Saxons in the North, viz., Rhydderch, Gwallawg, and Morgant, +though the latter, under the impulse of envy, procured the assassination +of Urien, in the Isle of Lindisfarne. + +After the Saxons had finally established themselves on the eastern coast, +in the forementioned countries, an immense rampart, extending nearly from +the Solway to the Frith of Forth, was erected, either with the view of +checking their further progress westward, or else by mutual consent of +the two nations, as a mere line of demarcation between their respective +dominions. This wall cannot have an earlier date, for it runs through +the middle of the country originally occupied by the Gadeni, and could +not of course have been constructed as a boundary by them; nor can it be +referred to a more recent period, as there could be no reason for forming +such a fence after the Saxons had intruded upon the whole country which +it divides. This was the famous CATRAIL, which we presume to be +identical with CATTRAETH, where the disastrous battle of that name, as +sung by Aneurin, was fought. + +Catrail means literally “the war fence” (cad-rhail), but on the +supposition that it is synonymous with Cattraeth, the rhyme in the +Gododin would determine the latter to be the correct term, or that by +which Aneurin distinguished the line. The meaning of Cattraeth would be +either “the war tract” (cad-traeth), or “the legal war fence” +(cad-rhaith); the latter of which would give some countenance to the idea +that it was formed by mutual agreement. + +The whole course of the Catrail, which may be traced from the vicinity of +Galashiels to Peel-fell, is upwards of forty five miles. The most entire +parts of it show that it was originally a broad and deep fosse; having on +each side a rampart, which was formed of the natural soil, that was +thrown from the ditch, intermixed with some stones. Its dimensions vary +in different places, which may be owing to its remains being more or less +perfect. In those parts where it is pretty entire, the fosse is twenty +seven, twenty six, and twenty five feet broad. But in those places where +the rampart has been most demolished the fosse only measures twenty two +and a half feet, twenty and eighteen, and in one place only sixteen feet +wide. As the ramparts sloped on the inside, it is obvious that in +proportion as they were demolished, the width of the fosse within would +be diminished. In some of the most entire parts the ramparts are from +six to seven, and even nine or ten feet high, and from eight to ten and +twelve feet thick. They are, no doubt, less now than they were +originally, owing to the effects of time and tillage. {5a} + +Such is the Catrail, and were it identical with Cattraeth, we should +naturally expect to meet with some allusions to a work of that +description in the body of the Poem. Nor are we herein disappointed, for +the expressions “ffosawd,” {5b} “clawdd,” {5c} “ffin,” {5d} “cladd +clodvawr,” {5e} “goglawdd,” {5f} “clawdd gwernin,” {5g} and “gorffin +Gododin,” {5h} are undoubtedly such allusions, though we readily admit +that some of them may, and probably do, refer to the ordinary circular +forts of the Britons, of whom there are several along the line. It may +be added here that Taliesin in his description of the battle of +Gwenystrad, where the men of Cattraeth fought under Urien, speaks of a +“govwr” or an intrenchment, that was “assailed by the laborious toil of +warriors.” + +Having thus satisfied ourselves as to the nature and locality of +Cattraeth; the general subject of the Poem becomes apparent. It was a +battle fought at the barrier in question between the Cymry and the +Saxons, the most extended in its design and operations on the part of the +former, as it proved to them the most disastrous in its results, of all +that had hitherto taken place between the two people in that part of the +island. + +The details of this bloody encounter, as we gather them from the Poem, +were as follow: At the call of Mynyddawg, lord of Eiddin, whose dominions +lay peculiarly exposed, both by sea and land, to the attack of the enemy, +the native chieftains of Prydyn, aided by many of their relatives and +friends from Gwynedd and Cernyw, entered into a mutual alliance in behalf +of their common country. {6a} In one place the daughter of Eudav {6b} is +joined with Mynyddawg, as one upon whose errand the expedition was +undertaken, but whether she was his wife, or ruled over a territory +adjacent to, or equally threatened with his own, does not appear. The +troops under their respective leaders arrived at Eiddin, where they were +sumptuously entertained by Mynyddawg, {6c} and where they established +their head quarters. The generals named in the Poem amount in number to +about ninety, but this was not the third part of the whole, which +consisted of “three hundred and sixty three chieftains wearing the golden +torques.” {6d} The aggregate number of men that followed these +illustrious leaders is not told, but if an average may be formed from +what we know respecting a few cases, it will appear to have been immense. +Mynyddawg’s retinue consisted of “three hundred;” {6e} there were “five +battalions of five hundred men each,” “three levies of three hundred +each;” “three bold knights” had each “three hundred of equal quality;” +{6f} thus averaging about four hundred for each commander, which, +multiplied by three hundred and sixty three, would exhibit an +overwhelming army of a hundred and forty five thousand, and two hundred +men! Yet the Poet describes the numerical advantages possessed by the +enemy as greatly superior. + +These forces, being all placed on the western side of the dyke, would +approach the land of their enemies as they marched to the field of +battle, hence the reason why Aneurin uses the expressions “Gwyr a aeth +Gattraeth,” and “Gwyr a aeth Gododin,” as synonymous. + +The enemies, as before observed, were the Saxons, aided on this occasion +by many of the Lloegrians, namely, such of the natives as had submitted +to their sway in the provinces they had already conquered. They +concentrated their forces in Gododin, and marched westward in the +direction of the great fence, where the Britons were awaiting them. +Aneurin has not thought fit to record the names of any of their generals, +with the single exception of Dyvnwal Vrych, {7a} who, to entitle him to +that distinction, must have figured prominently on the field of battle. + +The engagement commenced on a Tuesday, and continued for a whole week, +the last four days being the most bloody. {7b} For some time both +parties fought gallantly, and with almost equal success; fortune perhaps +upon the whole appearing to favour the Cymry, who not only slew a vast +number of their adversaries, but partially succeeded in recovering their +lost dominions. {7c} At this critical juncture a dwarfish herald arrived +at the fence, proposing on the part of the Saxons a truce or compact, +which, however, was indignantly rejected by the natives, and the action +renewed. {7d} The scales now rapidly turned. In one part of the field +such a terrible carnage ensued, that there was but one man left to scare +away the birds of prey, which hovered over the carcases of the slain. +{7e} In another, where our Bard was stationed, a portion of the allied +army, owing to the absence of its general, became panic stricken. {7f} +Aneurin was taken prisoner, hurried off to a cave or dungeon, and loaded +with chains. {7g} At length a conference was submitted to, which was +held at a place called Llanveithin, at which Aneurin, who had been +forcibly liberated by one of the sons of Llywarch Hen, insisted upon the +restoration of part of Gododin, or the alternative of continuing the +fight. The Saxon herald met the proposal by killing the British Bard +Owain, who was of course unarmed. {7h} Such a violation of privilege +excited then the whole energies of the Cymry, who rose as one man, and +gave the entire scene a more bloody character than it had yet presented. + +Victory, however, at length proclaimed in favour of the usurpers, and so +decisively, that out of the three hundred and sixty three chieftains that +went to the field of Cattraeth, three only returned alive, Cynon, and +Cadreith, and Cadlew of Cadnant, besides Aneurin himself. {7i} The +number of common soldiers that fell must be conjectured. + +We have said that the battle commenced on a Tuesday; it would appear from +two passages, namely, where the meeting of reapers in the hall of Eiddin, +{7j} and the employment of Gwynwydd in protecting the corn on the +highlands, {8a} are spoken of, that the time of year in which it occurred +was the harvest. + +It is not, however, so easy to determine the exact year when all this +happened. Neither Arthur nor Urien are mentioned as being present, and +though the stanzas containing their names may have been lost, it must be +admitted that in the case of such distinguished warriors reason will not +warrant the supposition: the fair inference would be that they were dead +at the time. This view is, moreover, supported by readings of the +Gododin, where certain heroes are compared to the said chiefs +respectively, “of Arthur,” “un Urien,” which would hardly have been done +had these latter been alive. The death of Arthur is placed in the year +542; Owain, who died at Cattraeth, slew Ida, A.D. 560, and Urien is said +to have been assassinated about 567; the battle under consideration must +have happened subsequently, probably about the year usually assigned it, +viz., 570. This was in the reign of Rhun, a descendant in the 4th degree +of Cunedda Wledig, King of Gododin! + +The vulgar opinion is that the Britons lost the battle in consequence of +having marched to the field in a state of intoxication; and it must be +admitted that there are many passages in the Poem, which, simply +considered, would seem to favour that view. Nevertheless, granting that +the 363 chieftains had indulged too freely in their favourite beverage, +it is hardly credible that the bulk of the army, on which mainly depended +the destiny of the battle, had the same opportunity of rendering +themselves equally incapacitated, or, if we suppose that all had become +so, that they did not recover their sobriety in seven days! The fact +appears to be, that Aneurin in the instances alluded to, intends merely +to contrast the social and festive habits of his countrymen at home with +their lives of toil and privation in war, after a practise common to the +Bards, not only of that age, but subsequently. Or it may be that the +banquet, at which the British leaders were undoubtedly entertained in the +hall of Eiddin, was looked upon as the sure prelude to war, and that in +that sense the mead and wine were to them as poison. + + + + +Y GODODIN + + +I. + + +Gredyf gwr oed gwas +Gwrhyt am dias +Meirch mwth myngvras +A dan vordwyt megyrwas +Ysgwyt ysgauyn lledan +Ar bedrein mein vuan +Kledyuawr glas glan +Ethy eur aphan +Ny bi ef a vi +Cas e rof a thi +Gwell gwneif a thi +Ar wawt dy uoli +Kynt y waet elawr +Nogyt y neithyawr +Kynt y vwyt y vrein +Noc y argyurein +Ku kyueillt ewein +Kwl y uot a dan vrein +Marth ym pa vro +Llad un mab marro + + + +II. + + +Kayawc kynhorawc men y delhei +Diffun ymlaen bun med a dalhei +Twll tal y rodawr ene klywei +Awr ny rodei nawd meint dilynei +Ni chilyei o gamhawn eny verei +Waet mal brwyn gomynei gwyr nyt echei +Nys adrawd gododin ar llawr mordei +Rac pebyll madawc pan atcoryei +Namen un gwr o gant eny delhei + + + +III. + + +Kaeawc kynnivyat kywlat erwyt +Ruthyr eryr en ebyr pan llithywyt +E arnot a vu not a gatwyt +Grwell a wnaeth e aruaeth ny gilywyt +Rac bedin ododin odechwyt +Hyder gymhell ar vreithel vanawyt +Ny nodi nac ysgeth w nac ysgwyt +Ny ellir anet ry vaethpwyt +Rac ergyt catvannan catwyt + + + +IV. + + +Kaeawc kynhorawc bleid e maran +Gwevrawr godrwawr torchawr am rann +Bu gwevrawr gwerthvawr gwerth gwin vann +Ef gwrthodes gwrys gwyar disgrein +Ket dyffei wyned a gogled e rann +O gussyl mab ysgyrran +Ysgwydawr angkyuan + + + +V. + + +Kaeawc kynhorawc aruawc eg gawr +Kyn no diw e gwr gwrd eg gwyawr +Kynran en racwan rac bydinawr +Kwydei pym pymwnt rac y lafnawr +O wyr deivyr a brennych dychiawr +Ugein cant eu diuant en un awr +Kynt y gic e vleid nogyt e neithyawr +Kynt e vud e vran nogyt e allawr +Kyn noe argyurein e waet e lawr +Gwerth med eg kynted gan lliwedawr +Hyueid hir ermygir tra vo kerdawr + + + +VI. + + +Gwyr a aeth Ododin chwerthin ognaw +Chwerw en trin a llain en emdullyaw +Byrr vlyned en hed yd ynt endaw +Mab botgat gwnaeth gwynnyeith gwreith e law +Ket elwynt e lanneu e benydyaw +A hen a yeueing a hydyr a llaw +Dadyl diheu angheu y eu treidaw + + + +VII. + + +Gwyr a aeth Ododin chwerthin wanar +Disgynnyeis em bedin trin diachar +Wy lledi a llavnawr heb vawr drydar +Colovyn glyw reithuyw rodi arwar + + + +VIII. + + +Gwyr a aeth gatraeth oed fraeth eu llu +Glasved eu hancwyn a gwenwyn vu +Trychant trwy beiryant en cattau +A gwedy elwch tawelwch vu +Ket elwynt e lanneu e benydu +Dadyl dieu angheu y eu treidu + + + +IX. + + +Gwyr a aeth gatraeth veduaeth uedwn +Fyryf frwythlawn oed cam nas kymhwyllwn +E am lavnawr coch gorvawr gwrmwn +Dwys dengyn ed emledyn aergwn +Ar deulu brenneych beych barnasswn +Dilyw dyn en vyw nys adawsswn +Kyueillt a golleis diffleis vedwn +Rugyl en emwrthryn rynn riadwn +Ny mennws gwrawl gwadawl chwegrwn +Maban y gian o vaen gwynngwn + + + +X. + + +Gwyr a aeth gatraeth gan wawr +Trauodynt en hed eu hovnawr +Milcant a thrychant a emdaflawr +Gwyarllyt gwynnodynt waewawr +Ef gorsaf yng gwryaf eg gwryawr +Rac gosgord mynydawc mwynvawr + + + +XI. + + +Gwyr a aeth gatraeth gan wawr +Dygymyrrws eu hoet eu hanyanawr +Med evynt melyn melys maglawr +Blwydyn bu llewyn llawer kerdawr +Coch eu cledyuawr na phurawr +Eu llain gwyngalch a phedryollt bennawr +Rac gosgord mynydawc mwynvawr + + + +XII. + + +Gwyr a aeth gatraeth gan dyd +Neus goreu o gadeu gewilid +Wy gwnaethant en geugant gelorwyd +A llavnawr llawn annawd em bedyd +Goreu yw hwn kyn kystlwn kerennyd +Enneint creu ac angeu oe hennyd +Rac bedin Ododin pan vudyd +Neus goreu deu bwyllyat neirthyat gwychyd + + + +XIII. + + +Gwr a aeth gatraeth gan dyd +Ne llewes ef vedgwyn veinoethyd +Bu truan gyuatcan gyvluyd +E neges ef or drachwres drenghidyd +Ny chryssiws gatraeth +Mawr mor ehelaeth + E aruaeth uch arwyt +Ny bu mor gyffor +O eidyn ysgor + A esgarei oswyd +Tutuwlch hir ech e dir ae dreuyd +Ef lladei Saesson seithuet dyd +Perheit y wrhyt en wrvyd +Ae govein gan e gein gyweithyd +Pan dyvu dutvwch dut nerthyd +Oed gwaetlan gwyaluan vab Kilyd + + + +XIV. + + +Gwr a aeth gatraeth gan wawr +Wyneb udyn ysgorva ysgwydawr +Crei kyrchynt kynnullynt reiawr +En gynnan mal taran twryf aessawr +Gwr gorvynt gwr etvynt gwr llawr +Ef rwygei a chethrei a chethrawr +Od uch lled lladei a llavnawr +En gystud heyrn dur arbennawr +E mordei ystyngei a dyledawr +Rac erthgi erthychei vydinawr + + + +XV. + + +O vreithyell gatraeth pan adrodir +Maon dychiorant eu hoet bu hir +Edyrn diedyrn amygyn dir +A meibyon godebawc gwerin enwir +Dyforthynt lynwyssawr gelorawr hir +Bu tru a dynghetven anghen gywir +A dyngwt y dutvwlch a chyvwlch hir +Ket yvein ved gloyw wrth leu babir +Ket vei da e vlas y gas bu hir + + + +XVI. + + +Blaen echeching gaer glaer ewgei +Gwyr gweiryd gwanar ae dilynei +Blaen ar e bludue dygollouit vual +Ene vwynvawr vordei +Blaen gwirawt vragawt ef dybydei +Blaen eur a phorphor kein as mygei +Blaen edystrawr pasc ae gwaredei +Gwrthlef, ac euo bryt ae derllydei +Blaen erwyre gawr buduawr drei +Arth en llwrw byth hwyr e techei + + + +XVII. + + +Anawr gynhoruan +Huan arwyran +Grwledic gwd gyffgein +Nef enys brydein +Garw ryt rac rynn +Aes elwrw budyn +Bual oed arwynn +Eg kynted eidyn +Erchyd ryodres +E ved medwawt +Yuei win gwirawt +Oed eruit uedel +Yuei win gouel +Aerueid en arued +Aer gennin vedel +Aer adan glaer +Kenyn keuit aer +Aer seirchyawc +Aer edenawc +Nyt oed diryf y ysgwyt +Gan waywawr plymnwyt +Kwydyn gyuoedyon +Eg cat blymnwyt +Diessic e dias +Divevyl as talas +Hudid e wyllyas +Kyn bu clawr glas +Bed gwruelling vreisc + + + +XVIII. + + +Teithi etmygant +Tri llwry novant +Pymwnt a phymcant +Trychwn a thrychant +Tri si chatvarchawc +Eidyn euruchawc +Tri llu llurugawc +Tri eur deyrn dorchawc +Tri marchawc dywal +Tri chat gyhaual +Tri chysneit kysnar +Chwerw vysgynt esgar +Tri en drin en drwm +Llew lledynt blwm +Eur e gat gyngrwn +Tri theyrn maon +A dyvu o vrython +Kynri a Chenon +Kynrein o aeron +Gogyuerchi yn hon +Deivyr diuerogyon +A dyvu o vrython +Wr well no Chynon +Sarph seri alon + + + +XIX. + + +Eveis y win a med e mordei + Mawr meint e vehyr + Yg kyuaruot gwyr +Bwyt e eryr erysmygei +Pan gryssyei gydywal kyfdwyreei +Awr gan wyrd wawr kyui dodei +Aessawr dellt ambellt a adawei +Pareu rynn rwygyat dygymmynei +E gat blaen bragat briwei +Mab syvno sywedyd ae gwydyei + A werthws e eneit + Er wyneb grybwyllyeit +A llavyn lliveit lladei +Lledessit ac a thrwys ac affrei +Er amot aruot arauethei + Ermygei galaned + O wyr gwychyr gwned +Em blaen gwyned gwanei + + + +XX. + + +Eveis y win a med e mordei +Can yueis disgynneis rann fin fawd ut +Nyt didrachywed colwed drut +Pan disgynnei bawb ti disgynnot +Ys deupo gwaeanat gwerth na phechut +Pressent i drawd oed vreichyawr drut + + + +XXI. + + +Gwyr a aeth gatraeth buant enwawc +Gwin a med o eur vu eu gwirawt +Blwydyn en erbyn urdyn deuawt +Trywyr a thri ugeiut a thrychant eurdorchawc +Or sawl yt gryssyassant uch gormant wirawt +Ny diengis namyn tri o wrhydri fossawt +Deu gatki aeron a chenon dayrawt +A minheu om gwaetfreu gwerth vy gwennwawt + + + +XXII. + + +Uyg car yng wirwar nyn gogyffrawt +O neb o ny bei o gwyn dragon ducawt +Ni didolit yng kynted o ved gwirawt +Ef gwnaei ar beithing perthyng aruodyawc +Ef disgrein eg cat disgrein en aelawt +Neus adrawd gododin gwedy fossawt +Pan vei no llwyeu llymach nebawt + + + +XXIII. + + +Aryf angkynnull agkyman dull agkysgoget +Tra chywed vawr treiglessyd llawr lloegrwys giwet +Heessit eis ygkynnor eis yg cat uereu +Goruc wyr lludw +A gwraged gwydw + Kynnoe angheu +Greit vab hoewgir +Ac ysberi + Y beri creu + + + +XXIV. + + +Arwr y dwy ysgwyt adan +E dalvrith ac eil tith orwydan +Bu trydar en aerure bu tan +Bu ehut e waewawr bu huan +Bu bwyt brein bu bud e vran +A chyn edewit en rydon +Gran wlith eryr tith tiryon +Ac o du gwasgar gwanec tu bronn +Beird byt barnant wyr o gallon +Diebyrth e gerth e gynghyr +Diua oed e gynrein gan wyr +A chynn e olo a dan eleirch +Vre ytoed wryt ene arch +Gorgolches e greu y seirch +Budvan vab bleidvan dihavarch + + + +XXV. + + +Cam e adaw heb gof camb ehelaeth +Nyt adawei adwy yr adwriaeth +Nyt edewes e lys les kerdoryon prydein +Diw calan yonawr ene aruaeth +Nyt erdit e dir kevei diffeith +Drachas anias dreic ehelaeth +Dragon yg gwyar gwedy gwinvaeth +Gwenabwy vab gwenn gynhen gatraeth + + + +XXVI. + + +Bu gwir mal y meud e gatlew +Ny deliis meirch neb marchlew +Heessit waywawr y glyw +Y ar llemenic llwybyr dew +Keny vaket am vyrn am borth +Dywal y gledyual emborth +Heessyt onn o bedryollt y law +Y ar veinnyell vygedorth +Yt rannei rygu e rywin +Yt ladei a llauyn vreith o eithin +Val pan vel medel ar vreithin +E gwnaei varchlew waetlin + + + +XXVII. + + +Issac anuonawc o barth deheu +Tebic mor lliant y deuodeu + O wyled a llaryed + A chein yuet med +Men yth glawd e offer e bwyth madeu +Ny bu hyll dihyll na heu diheu +Seinnyessyt e gledyf ym penn mameu +Murgreit oed moleit ef mab gwydneu + + + +XXVIII. + + +Keredic caradwy e glot +Achubei gwarchatwei not +Lletvegin is tawel kyn dyuot +E dyd gowychyd y wybot +Ys deupo car kyrd kyvnot +Y wlat nef adef atnabot + + + +XXIX. + + +Keredic karadwy gynran +Keimyat yg cat gouaran +Ysgwyt eur crwydyr cadlan +Gwaewawr uswyd agkyuan +Kledyual dywal diwan +Mal gwr catwei wyaluan +Kynn kysdud daear hynn affan +O daffar diffynnei e vann +Ys deupo kynnwys yg kyman +Can drindawt en undawt gyuan + + + +XXX. + + +Pan gryssyei garadawc y gat +Mal baed coet trychwn trychyat +Tarw bedin en trin gormynyat +Ef llithyei wydgwn oe anghat +Ys vyn tyst ewein vab eulat +A gwryen a gwynn a gwryat +O gatraeth o gymynat +O vrynn hydwn kynn caffat +Gwedy med gloew ar anghat +Ny weles vrun e dat + + + +XXXI. + + +Gwyr a gryssyasant buant gytneit +Hoedyl vyrryon medwon uch med hidleit +Gosgord mynydawc enwawc en reit +Gwerth eu gwled e ved vu eu heneit +Caradawc a madawc pyll ac yeuan +Gwgawn a gwiawn gwynn a chynvan +Peredur arveu dur gwawr-dur ac aedan +Achubyat eng gawr ysgwydawr angkyman +A chet lledessynt wy lladassan +Neb y eu tymhyr nyt atcorsan + + + +XXXII. + + +Gwyr a gryssyassant buant gytvaeth +Blwydyn od uch med mawr eu haruaeth +Mor dru eu hadrawd wy angawr hiraeth +Gwenwyn eu hadlam nyt mab mam ae maeth +Mor hir eu hetlit ac eu hetgyllaeth +En ol gwyr pebyr temyr gwinvaeth +Gwlyget gododin en erbyn fraeth +Ancwyn mynydawc enwawc e gwnaeth +A phrit er prynu breithyell gatraeth + + + +XXXIII. + + +Gwyr a aeth gatraeth yg cat yg gawr +Nerth meirch a gwrymseirch ac ysgwydawr +Peleidyr ar gychwyn a llym waewawr +A llurugeu claer a chledyuawr +Ragorei tyllei trwy vydinawr +Kwydei bym pymwnt rac y lavnawr +Ruuawn hir ef rodei eur e allawr +A chet a choelvein kein y gerdawr + + + +XXXIV. + + +Ny wnaethpwyt neuad mor orchynnan +Mor vawr mor oruawr gyvlavan +Dyrllydut medut moryen tan +Ny thraethei na wnelei kenon kelein +Un seirchyawc saphwyawc son edlydan +Seinnyessit e gledyf empenn garthan +Noc ac esgyc canec vurvawr y chyhadvan +Ny mwy gysgogit wit uab peithan + + + +XXXV. + + +Ny wnaethpwyt neuad mor anvonawc +Ony bei voryen eil caradawc +Ny diengis en trwm elwrw mynawc +Dywal dywalach no mab ferawc +Fer y law faglei fowys varchawc +Glew dias dinas e lu ovnawc +Rac bedin ododin bu gwasgarawc +Y gylchwy dan y gymwy bu adenawc +Yn dyd gwyth bu ystwyth neu bwyth atveillyawc +Dyrllydei vedgyrn eillt mynydawc + + + +XXXVI. + + +Ny wnaethpwyt neuad mor diessic +No Chynon lary vronn geinnyon Wledic +Nyt ef eistedei en tal lleithic +E neb a wanei nyt adwenit +Raclym e waewawr +Calch drei tyllei vydinawr +Rac vuan y veirch rac rygiawr +En dyd gwyth atwyth oed e lavnawr +Pan gryssyei gynon gan wyrd wawr + + + +XXXVII. + + +Disgynsit en trwm yg kessevin +Ef diodes gormes ef dodes fin +Ergyr gwayw rieu ryvel chwerthin +Hut effyt y wrhyt elwry elfin +Eithinyn uoleit mur greit tarw trin + + + +XXXVIII. + + +Disgynsit en trwm yg kesseuin +Gwerth med yg kynted a gwirawt win +Heyessyt y lavnawr rwg dwy vydin +Arderchawc varchawc rac gododin +Eithinyn uoleit mur greit tarw trin + + + +XXXIX. + + +Disgynsit en trwm rac alauoed wyrein +Wyre llu llaes ysgwydawr +Ysgwyt vriw rac biw beli bloedvawr +Nar od uch gwyar fin festinyawr +An deliit kynllwyt y ar gynghorawr +Gorwyd gwareurffrith rin ych eurdorchawr +Twrch goruc amot emlaen ystre ystrywawr +Teilingdeith gwrthyat gawr +An gelwit e nef bit athledhawr +Emyt ef krennit e gat waewawr +Catvannan er aclut clotvawr +No chynhennit na bei llu idaw llawr + + + +XL. + + +Am drynni drylaw drylenn +Am lwys am difíwys dywarchen +Am gwydaw gwallt e ar benn +Y am wyr eryr gwydyen +Gwyduc neus amuc ac wayw +Ardullyat diwyllyat e berchen +Amuc moryen gwenwawt +Murdyn a chyvrannv penn +Prif eg weryt ac an nerth ac am hen +Trywyr yr bod bun bratwen +Deudec gwenabwy vab gwen + + + +XLI. + + +Am drynni drylaw drylenn +Gweinydyawr ysgwydawr yg gweithyen +En aryal cledyual am benn +En lloegyr drychyon rac trychant unben +A dalwy mwng bleid heb prenn +En e law gnawt gwychnawt eny lenn +O gyurang gwyth ac asgen +Trenghis ny diengis bratwen + + + +XLII. + + +Eurar vur caer krysgrwydyat +Aer cret ty na thaer aer vlodyat +Un ara ae leissyar argatwyt +Adar brwydryat +Syll o virein neus adrawd a vo mwy +O damweinnyeit llwy +Od amluch lliuanat +Neus adrawd a vo mwy +Enawr blygeint +Na bei kynhawel kynheilweing + + + +XLIII. + + +Pan vuost di kynnivyn clot +En amwyn tywyssen gordirot +O haedot en gelwit redyrch gwyr not +Oed dor diachor diachor din drei +Oed mynut wrth olut ae kyrchei +Oed dinas e vedin ae cretei +Ny elwit gwinwit men na bei + + + +XLIV. + + +Ket bei cann wr en vn ty +Atwen ovalon keny +Pen gwyr tal being a dely + + + +XLV. + + +Nyt wyf vynawc blin +Ny dialaf vy ordin +Ny chwardaf y chwerthin +A dan droet ronin +Ystynnawc vyg glin +A bundat y +En ty deyeryn +Cadwyn heyernyn +Am ben vyn deulin +O ved o vuelin +O gatraeth werin +Mi na vi aneurin +Ys gwyr talyessin +Oveg kywrenhin +Neu cheing e ododin +Kynn gwawr dyd dilin + + + +XLVI. + + +Goroled gogled gwr ae goruc +Llary vronn haeladon ny essyllut +Nyt emda daear nyt emduc +Mam mor eiryan gadarn haearn gaduc +O nerth e cledyf claer e hamuc +O garchar amwar daear em duc +O gyvle angheu o anghar dut +Keneu vab llywarch dihauareh drut + + + +XLVII. + + +Nyt ef borthi gwarth gorsed +Senyllt ae lestri llawn med +Godolei gledyf e gared +Godolei lemein e ryuel +Dyfforthsei lynwyssawr oe vreych +Rac bedin ododin a brennych +Gnawt ene neuad vyth meirch +Gwyar a gwrymseirch +Keingyell hiryell oe law +Ac en elyd bryssyaw +Gwen ac ymhyrdwen hyrdbleit +Disserch a serch ar tro +Gwyr nyt oedyn drych draet fo +Heilyn achubyat pob bro + + + +XLVIII. + + +Llech leutu tut leu leudvre + Gododin ystre +Ystre ragno ar y anghat +Angat gynghor e leuuer cat + Cangen gaerwys + Keui drillywys +Tymor dymhestyl tymhestyl dymor +E beri restyr rac riallu +O dindywyt yn dyvu + Wyt yn dy wovu +Dwys yd wodyn +Llym yt wenyn +Llwyr genyn llu +Ysgwyt rugyn +Rac tarw trin + Y dal vriw vu + + + +XLIX. + + +Erkryn e alon ar af (ar) +Er y brwydrin trin trachuar +Kwr e vankeirw +Am gwr e vanncarw +Byssed brych briwant barr +Am bwyll am disteir am distar +Am bwyll am rodic am rychward +Ys bro ys brys treullyawt rys en riwdrec +Ny hu wy ny gaffo e neges +Nyt anghwy a wanwy odiwes + + + +L. + + +Ny mat wanpwyt ysgwyt +Ar gynwal carnwyt +Ny mat dodes y vordwyt +Ar vreichir mein-llwyt +Gell e baladyr gell +Gellach e obell +Y mae dy wr ene gell +Yn cnoi anghell +Bwch bud oe law idaw +Poet ymbell angell + + + +LI. + + +Da y doeth adonwy at wen +Ym adawssut wenn heli bratwen +Gwnelut lladut llosgut +No moryen ny waeth wnelut +Ny delyeist nac eithaf na chynhor +Ysgwn drem dibennor +Ny weleist e morchwyd mawr marchogyon +Wynedin my rodin nawd y Saesson + + + +LII. + + +Gododin gomynaf dy blegyt +Tynoeu dra thrumein drum essyth +Gwas chwant y aryant heb emwyt +O gussyl mab dwywei dy wrhyt +Nyt oed gynghorwann +Wael y rac tan veithin +O lychwr y lychwr lluch bin +Lluchdor y borfor beryerin +Llad gwaws gwan maws mur trin +Anysgarat ac vu y nat ac aneurin + + + +LIII. + + +Kywyrein ketwyr kywrennin +E gatraeth gwerin fraeth fysgyolin +Gwerth med yg kynted a gwirawt win +Heyessit e lavnawr rwng dwy vedin +Arderchauc varchawc rac gododin +Eithinyn voleit murgreit tarw trin + + + +LIV. + + +Kywyrein ketwyr kywrenhin +Gwlat atvel gochlywer a eu dilin +Dygoglawd ton bevyr beryerin +Men yd ynt eilyassaf elein +O brei vrych ny welych weyelin +Ny chemyd haed ud a gordin +Ny phyrth mevyl moryal eu dilin +Llavyn durawt barawt e waetlin + + + +LV. + + +Kywyrein ketwyr kywrenhin +Gwlat atvel gochlywer eu dilin +Ef lladawd a chymawn a llain +A charnedawr tra gogyhwc gwyr trin + + + +LVI. + + +Kywyrein ketwyr hyuaruuant +Y gyt en un vryt yt gyrchassant +Byrr eu hoedyl hir eu hoet ar eu carant +Seith gymeint o loegrwys a ladassant +O gyvryssed gwraged gwyth a wnaethant +Llawer mam ae deigyr ar y hamrant + + + +LVII. + + +Ny wnaethpwyt neuad mor dianaf +Lew mor hael baran llew llwybyr vwyhaf +A chynon laryvronn adon deccaf +Dinas y dias ar llet eithaf +Dor angor bedin bud eilyassaf +Or sawl a weleis ac a welav +Ymyt en emdwyn aryf gryt gwryt gwryaf +Ef lladei oswyd a llavyn llymaf +Mal brwyn yt gwydynt rac y adaf +Mab klytno clot hir canaf +Yty or clot heb or heb eithaf + + + +LVIII. + + +O winveith a medweith +Dygodolyn gwnlleith +Mam hwrreith + Eidol enyal +Ermygei rac vre +Rac bronn budugre +Breein dwyre + Wybyr ysgynnyal +Kynrein en kwydaw +Val glas heit arnaw + Heb giliaw gyhaual +Synnwyr ystwyr ystemel +Y ar weillyon gwebyl + Ac ardemyl gledyual +Blaen ancwyn anhun +Hediw an dihun + Mam reidun rwyf trydar + + + +LIX. + + +O winveith a medweith yd aethant +E genhyn llurugogyon +Nys gwn lleith lletkynt +Cyn llwyded eu lleas dydaruu +Rac catraeth oed fraeth eu llu +O osgord vynydawc wawr dru +O drychant namen un gwr ny dyvu + + + +LX. + + +O winveith a medveith yt gryssyassant +Gwyr en reit moleit eneit dichwant +Gloew dull y am drull yt gytvaethant +Gwin a med amall a amucsant +O osgord vynydawc am dwyf atveillyawc +A rwyf a golleis om gwir garant +O drychan riallu yt gryssyassant +Gatraeth tru namen vn gwr nyt atcorsant + + + +LXI. + + +Hv bydei yg kywyrein pressent mal pel +Ar y e hu bydei ene uei atre + Hut amuc ododin + O win a med en dieding +Yng ystryng ystre +Ac adan gatvannan cochre, +Veirch marchawc godrud e more + + + +LXII. + + +Angor dewr daen +Sarph seri raen +Sengi wrymgaen + Emlaen bedin +Arth i arwynawl drussyawr dreissyawr +Sengi waewawr +En dyd cadyawr + Yg clawd gwernin +Eil nedic nar +Neus duc drwy var +Gwled y adar + O drydar drin +Kywir yth elwir oth enwir weithret +Ractaf ruyuyadur mur catuilet +Merin a madyein mat yth, anet + + + +LXIII. + + +Ardyledawc canu kyman caffat +Ketwyr am gatraeth a wnaeth brithret +Brithwy a wyar sathar sanget +Sengi wit gwned bual am dal med +A chalaned kyuurynged +Nyt adrawd kibno wede kyffro +Ket bei kymun keui dayret + + + +LXIV. + + +Ardyledawc canu kyman ovri +Twrf tan a tharan a ryuerthi +Gwrhyt arderchawc varchawc mysgi +Ruduedel ryuel a eiduni +Gwr gwned divudyawc dimyngyei +Y gat or meint gwlat yd y klywi +Ae ysgwyt ar y ysgwyd hut arolli +Wayw mal gwin gloew o wydyr lestri +Aryant am yued eur dylyi +Gwinvaeth oed waetnerth vab llywri + + + +LXV. + + +Ardyledawc canu claer orchyrdon +A gwedy dyrreith dyleinw aeron +Dimcones lovlen benn eryron +Llwyt ef gorevvwyt y ysgylvyon +Or a aeth gatraeth o eur dorchogyon +Ar neges mynydawc mynawc maon +Ny doeth en diwarth o barth vrython +Ododin wr bell well no Chynon + + + +LXVI. + + +Ardyledawc canu kenian kywreint +Llawen llogell byt bu didichwant +Hu mynnei engkylch byt eidol anant +Yr eur a meirch mawr a med medweint +Namen ene delei o vyt hoffeint +Kyndilic aeron wyr enouant + + + +LXVII. + + +Ardyledawc canu claer orchyrdon +Ar neges mynydawc mynawc maon +A merch eudaf hir dreis gwananhon +Oed porfor gwisgyadur dir amdrychyon + + + +LXVIII. + + +Dyfforthes meiwyr molut nyuet +Baran tan teryd ban gynneuet +Duw mawrth gwisgyssant eu gwrym dudet +Diw merchyr peri deint eu calch doet +Divyeu bu diheu eu diuoet +Diw gwener calaned amdyget +Diw sadwrn bu divwrn eu kytweithret +Diw sul eu llavneu rud amdyget +Diw llun hyt benn clun gwaetlun gwelet +Neus adrawd gododin gwedy lludet +Rac pebyll madawc pan atcoryet +Namen un gwr o gant ene delhet + + + +LXIX. + + +Mochdwyreawc y more +Kynnif aber rac ystre +Bu bwlch bu twlch tande +Mal twrch y tywysseist vre +Bu golut mynut bu lle +Bu gwyar gweilch gwrymde + + + +LXX. + + +Moch dwyreawc y meitin +O gynnu aber rac fin +O dywys yn tywys yn dylin +Rac cant ef gwant gesseuin +Oed garw y gwnaewch chwi waetlin +Mal yuet med drwy chwerthin +Oed llew y lladewch chwi dynin +Cledyual dywal fysgyolin +Oed mor diachor yt ladei +Esgar gwr haual en y a bei + + + +LXXI. + + +Disgynnwys en affwys dra phenn +Ny deliit kywyt kywrennin benn +Disgiawr breint vu e lad ar gangen +Kynnedyf y ewein esgynnv ar ystre +Ystwng kyn gorot goreu gangen +Dilud dyleyn cathleu dilen +Llywy llyvroded rwych ac asgen +Anglas asswydeu lovlen +Dyphorthes ae law luric wehyn +Dymgwallaw gwledic dal +Oe brid brennyal + + + +LXXII. + + +Eidol adoer crei grannawr gwynn +Dysgiawr pan vei bun barn benn +Perchen meirch a gwrymseirch +Ac ysgwydawr yaen +Gyuoet a gyuergyr esgyn disgyn + + + +LXXIII. + + +Aer dywys ry dywys ryvel +Gwlat gord garei gwrd uedel +Gwrdweryt gwaet am iroed +Seirchyawr am y rud yt ued +Seingyat am seirch seirch seingyat +Ar delw lleith dygiawr lludet +Peleidyr en eis en dechreu cat +Hynt am oleu bu godeu beleidryal + + + +LXXIV. + + +Keint amnat am dina dy gell +Ac ystauell yt uydei dyrllydei +Med melys maglawr +Gwrys aergynlys gan wawr +Ket lwys lloegrwys lliwedawr +Ry benyt ar hyt yd allawr +Eillt wyned klywere arderched +Gwananhon byt ved +Savwy cadavwy gwyned +Tarw bedin treis trin teyrned +Kyn kywesc daear kyn gorwed +But orfun gododin bed + + + +LXXV. + + +Bedin ordyvnat en agerw +Mynawc lluydawc llaw chwerw +Bu doeth a choeth a syberw +Nyt oed ef wrth gyued gochwerw +Mudyn geinnyon ar y helw +Nyt oed ar lles bro pob delw + + + +LXXVI. + + +An gelwir mor a chynnwr ym plymnwyt +Yn tryvrwyt peleidyr peleidyr gogymwyt +Goglyssur heyrn lliveit llawr en assed +Sychyn yg gorun en trydar +Gwr frwythlawn flamdur rac esgar + + + +LXXVII. + + +Dyfforthes cat veirch a chatseirch +Greulet ar gatraeth cochre +Mae blaenwyd bedin dinus +Aergi gwyth gwarth vre +An gelwir ny faw glaer fwyre +Echadaf heidyn haearnde + + + +LXXVIII. + + +Mynawc gododin traeth e annor +Mynawc am rann kwynhyator +Rac eidyn aryal flam nyt atcor +Ef dodes e dilis yg kynhor +Ef dodes rac trin tewdor +En aryal ar dywal disgynnwys +Can llewes porthes mawrbwys +O osgord vynydawc ny diangwys +Namen vn aryf amdiffryf amdiffwys + + + +LXXIX. + + +O gollet moryet ny bu aessawr +Dyfforthyn traeth y ennyn llawr +Ry duc oe lovlen glas lavnawr +Peleidyr pwys preiglyn benn periglawr +Y ar orwyd erchlas penn wedawr +Trindygwyd trwch trach y lavnawr +Pan orvyd oe gat ny bu foawr +An dyrllys molet med melys maglawr + + + +LXXX. + + +Gweleis y dull o benn tir adoun +Aberth am goelkerth a disgynnyn +Gweleis oed kenevin ar dref redegein +A gwyr nwythyon ry gollessyn +Gweleis gwyr dullyawr gan awr adevyn +A phenn dyvynwal a breych brein ae cnoyn + + + +LXXXI. + + +Mat vydic ysgavynwyn asgwrn aduaon +Aelussawc tebedawc tra mordwy alon +Gwrawl amdyvrwys goruawr y lu +Gwryt vronn gwrvan gwanan arnaw +Y gynnedyf disgynnu rac naw riallu +Yg gwyd gwaed a gwlat a gordiynaw +Caraf vy vudic lleithic a vu anaw +Kyndilic aeron kenhan lew + + + +LXXXII. + + +Carasswn disgynnu yg catraeth gessevin +Gwert med yg kynted a gwirawt win +Carasswn neu chablwys ar llain +Kyn bu e leas oe las uffin +Carasswn eil clot dyfforthes gwaetlin +Ef dodes e gledyf yg goethin +Neus adrawd gwrhyt rac gododyn +Na bei mab keidyaw clot un gwr trin + + + +LXXXIII. + + +Truan yw gennyf vy gwedy lludet +Grodef gloes angheu trwy angkyffret +Ac eil trwm truan gennyf vy gwelet +Dygwydaw an gwyr ny penn o draet +Ac ucheneit hir ac eilywet +En ol gwyr pebyr temyr tudwet +Ruvawn a gwgawn gwiawn a gwlyget +Gwyr gorsaf gwryaf gwrd yg calet +Ys deupo eu heneit wy wedy trinet +Kynnwys yg wlat nef adef avneuet + + + +LXXXIV. + + +Ef gwrthodes tres tra gwyar llyn +Ef lladei val dewrdull nyt echyn +Tavloyw ac ysgeth tavlet wydrin +A med rac teyrned tavlei vedin +Menit y gynghor men na lleveri +Lliaws ac vei anwaws nyt odewyt +Rac ruthyr bwyllyadeu a chledyvawr +Lliveit handit gwelir llavar lleir + + + +LXXXV. + + +Porthloed vedin +Porthloed lain +A llu racwed +En ragyrwed +En dyd gwned +Yg kyvryssed +Buant gwychawc +Gwede meddawt +A med yuet +Ny bu waret +An gorwylam +Enyd frwythlam +Pan adroder torret ergyr +O veirch a gwyr tyngir tynget + + + +LXXXVI. + + + Pan ym dyvyd lliaws pryder + Pryderaf fun + Fun en ardec + Aryal redec + Ar hynt wylaw + Ku kystudywn + Ku carasswn + Kelleic faw + Ac argoedwys + Guae gordyvnwys + Y emdullyaw +Ef dadodes arlluyd pwys ar lles rieu + Ar dilyvyn goet + Ar diliw hoet + Yr kyvedeu +Kyvedwogant ef an dyduc ar dan adloyw + Ac ar groen gwynn goscroyw + + + +LXXXVII. + + +Gereint rac deheu gawr a dodet +Lluch gwynn gwynn dwll ar ysgwyt +Yor yspar llary yor +Molut mynut mor +Gogwneif heissyllut gwgynei gereint +Hael mynawc oedut + + + +LXXXVIII. + + +Diannot e glot e glutvan +Diachor angor ygkyman +Diechyr eryr gwyr govaran +Trin odef eidef oed eiryan +Ragorei veirch racvuan +En trin lletvegin gwin o bann +Kyn glasved a glassu eu rann +Bu gwr gwled od uch med mygyr o bann + + + +LXXXIX. + + +Dienhyt y bob llawr llanwet +E hual amhaual afneuet +Twll tall e rodawr +Cas o hir gwythawc +Rywonyawc diffreidyeit +Eil gweith gelwideint a mallet +Yg catveirch a seirch greulet +Bedin agkysgoget yt vyd cat voryon +Cochro llann bann ry godhet +Trwm en trin a llavyn yt lladei +Garw rybud o gat dydygei +Cann calan a darmeithei +Ef gwenit adan vab ervei +Ef gwenit adan dwrch trahawc +Un riein a morwyn a mynawc +A phan oed mab teyrn teithyawc +Yng gwyndyt gwaed glyt gwaredawc +Kyn golo gweryt ar rud +Llary hael etvynt digythrud +O glot a chet echyawc +Neut bed garthwys hir o dir rywonyawc + + + +XC. + + +Peis dinogat e vreith vreith +O grwyn balaot ban wreith +Chwit chwit chwidogeith +Gochanwn gochenyn wyth geith +Pan elei dy dat ty e helya +Llath ar y ysgwyd llory eny llaw +Ef gelwi gwn gogyhwch +Giff gaff dhaly dhaly dhwc dhwc +Ef lledi bysc yng corwc +Mal ban llad llew llywywc +Pan elei dy dat ty e vynyd +Dydygei ef penn ywrch pen gwythwch penn hyd +Penn grugyar vreith o venyd +Penn pysc o rayadyr derwennyd +Or sawl yt gyrhaedei dy dat ty ae gicwein +O wythwch a llewyn a llwyuein +Nyt anghei oll ny uei oradein + + + +XCI. + + +Peum dodyw angkyvrwng o angkyuarc +Nym daw nym dyvyd a uo trymach +Ny magwyt yn neuad a vei lewach +Noc ef nac yng cat a vei wastadach +Ac ar ryt benclwyt pennawt oed e veirch +Pellynic e glot pellws e galch +A chyn golo gweir hir a dan dywarch +Dyrllydei vedgyrn un mab feruarch + + + +XCII. + + +Gueleys y dull o bentir a doyn +Aberthach coelcerth a emdygyn +Gueleys y deu oc eu tre re ry gwydyn +O eir nwython ry godessyn +Gueleys y wyr tylluawr gan waur a doyn +A phen dyuynwal vrych brein ae knoyn + + + +XCIII. + + +Gododin gomynnaf oth blegyt +Yg gwyd cant en aryal en emwyt +A guarchan mab dwywei da wrhyt +Poet yno en vn tyno treissyt +Er pan want maws mor trin +Er pan aeth daear ar aneirin +Mi neut ysgaras nat a gododin + + + +XCIV. + + +Llech llefdir aryf gardith tith ragon +Tec ware rac gododin ystre anhon +Ry duc diwyll o win bebyll ar lles tymyr +Tymor tymestyl tra merin llestyr +Tra merin llu llu meithlyon +Kein gadrawt rwyd rac riallu +O dindywyt en dyuuwyt yn dyvuu +Ysgwyt rugyn rac doleu trin tal vriw vu + + + +XCV. + + +Dihenyd y bop llaur llanwet +Y haual amhal afneuet +Twll tal y rodauc +Cas o hir gwychauc +Rywynyauc diffret +Eil with gwelydeint amallet +Y gat veirch ae seirch greulet +Bit en anysgoget bit get +Uoron gwychyrolyon pan ry godet +Trwm en trin a llain yt ladei +Gwaro rybud o gat dydygei +Gant can yg calan darmerthei +Ef gwenit a dan vab uruei +Ef gwenit a dan dwrch trahauc +Un riein a morwyn a menauc +A chan oed mab brenhin teithiaug +Ud gwyndyt gwaet kilyd gwaredawc +Kyn golo gweryt ar grud hael etvynt +Doeth dygyrchet y get ae glot ae echiauc +Uot bed gorthyn hir o orthir rywynauc + + + +XCVI. + + +Am drynnv drylav drylen +Am lwys am diffwys dywarchen +Trihuc baruaut dreis dili plec hen +Atguuc emorem ae guiau hem +Hancai ureuer uragdenn +At gwyr a gwydyl a phrydein +At gu kelein rein rud guen +Deheuec gwenauwy mab gwen + + + +XCVII. + + +Am giniav drylav drylen +Trym dwys tra diffwys dywarchen +Kemp e lumen arwr baruawt asgell +Vreith edrych eidyn a breithell +Goruchyd y lav loften +Ar gynt a gwydyl a phryden +A chynhyo mwng bleid heb pren +Eny law gnavt gwychlaut ene lenn +Prytwyf ny bei marw morem +Deheuec gwenabwy mab gwen + + + + +THE GODODIN. + + +I. + + +He was a man in mind, in years a youth, {79a} +And gallant in the din of war; +Fleet, thick-maned chargers {79b} +Were ridden {79c} by the illustrious hero; +A shield, light and broad, +Hung on the flank of his swift and slender steed; +His sword was blue and gleaming, +His spurs were of gold, {80a} his raiment was woollen. {80b} +It will not be my part +To speak of thee reproachfully, +A more choice act of mine will be +To celebrate thy praise in song; +Thou hast gone to a bloody bier, +Sooner than to a nuptial feast; {80c} +Thou hast become a meal for ravens, +Ere thou didst reach the front of conflict. {80d} +Alas, Owain! my beloved friend; +It is not meet that he should be devoured by ravens! {81a} +There is swelling sorrow {82a} in the plain, +Where fell in death the only son of Marro. + + + +II. + + +Adorned with his wreath, leader of rustic warriors, {82b} whenever he +came +By his troop unattended, {83a} before maidens would he serve the mead; +But the front of his shield would be pierced, {83b} if ever he heard +The shout of war; no quarter would he give to those whom he pursued; +Nor would he retreat from the combat until blood flowed; +And he cut down like rushes {83c} the men who would not yield. +The Gododin relates, that on the coast of Mordei, {84a} +Before the tents of Madog, when he returned, +But one man in a hundred with him came. {84b} + + + +III. + + +Adorned with his wreath, the chief of toil, his country’s rod {84c} of +power, +Darted like an eagle {84d} to our harbours, {84e} when allured +To the compact {85a} that had been formed; his ensign was beloved, {85b} +More nobly was his emblazoned resolution {85c} performed, for he +retreated not, +With a shrinking mind, {85d} before the host of Gododin. +Manawyd, {85e} with confidence and strength thou pressest upon the +tumultuous fight, +Nor dost thou regard {86a} either spear or shield; +No habitation rich in dainties can be found, +That has been kept out of the reach of thy warriors’ charge. {86b} + + + +IV. + + +Adorned with a wreath was the leader, {87a} the wolf {87b} of the holme, +Amber beads {87c} in ringlets encircled his temples; {87d} +Precious was the amber, worth a banquet of wine. {87e} +He repelled the violence of men, as they glided along; +For Venedotia and the North would have come to his share, +By the advice of the son of Ysgyran, {88a} +The hero of the broken shield. {88b} + + + +V. + + +Adorned with his wreath was the leader, and armed in the noisy conflict; +Chief object of observation {88c} was the hero, and powerful in the gory +field, +Chief fighter {88d} in the advanced division, in front of the hosts; +Five battalions {89a} fell before his blades; +Even of the men of Deivyr and Bryneich, {89b} uttering groans, +Twenty hundred perished in one short hour; +Sooner did he feed the wolf {90a} with his carcase, than go to the +nuptial feast; {90b} +He sooner became the raven’s prey, than approached the altar; {90c} +He had not raised the spear ere his blood streamed to the ground; {90d} +This was the price of mead in the hall, amidst the throng; +Hyveidd Hir {90e} shall be celebrated whilst there remains a minstrel. + + + +VI. + + +The heroes marched to Gododin, and Gognaw laughed, {91a} +But bitter were they in the battle, {91b} when they stood arranged +according to their several banners; +Few were the years of peace which they had enjoyed; +The son of Botgad caused a throbbing by the energy of his hand; +They should have gone to churches to do penance, +The old and the young, the bold and the mighty; {91c} +The inevitable strife of death was about to pierce them. + + + +VII. + + +The heroes marched to Gododin, Gwanar {92a} laughed, +As his jewelled army {92b} went down {92c} to the terrific toil. +Thou slayest them with blades, when there is not much chattering; +Thou, powerful supporter of the living law, producest the silence of +death. {92d} + + + +VIII. + + +The heroes marched to Cattraeth, loquacious was the host; +Blue {93a} mead was their liquor, and it proved their poison; {93b} +In marshalled array they cut through the engines of war; {93c} +And after the joyful cry, silence {93d} ensued! +They should have gone to churches to perform penance; +The inevitable strife of death was about to pierce them. + + + +IX. + + +The heroes marched to Cattraeth, filled with mead and drunk, +Compact and vigorous; {94a} I should wrong them were I to neglect their +fame; +Around the mighty, red, and murky blades, +Obstinately and fiercely the dogs of war {94b} would fight; +If I had judged you to be of the tribe of Bryneich, {94c} +Not the phantom of a man would I have left alive. {94d} +I lost a friend, myself being unhurt, +As he openly withstood the terror of the parental chief; +Magnanimously did he refuse the dowry of his father-in-law; {94e} +Such was the son of Cian {95a} from the stone of Gwyngwn. + + + +X. + + +The heroes marched to Cattraeth with the dawn; +Their peace was disturbed by those who feared them; +A hundred thousand with three hundred {95b} engaged in mutual overthrow; +Drenched in gore, they marked the fall of the lances; {96a} +The post of war {96b} was most manfully and with gallantry maintained, +Before the retinue of Mynyddawg the Courteous. {96c} + + + +XI. + + +The heroes marched to Cattraeth with the dawn; +Feelingly did their relatives {96d} regret their absence; +Mead they drank, yellow, sweet, ensnaring; +That year is the point to which many {96e} a minstrel turns; +Redder were their swords than their plumes, {97a} +Their blades were white as lime, {97b} and into four parts were their +helmets cloven, {97c} +Even those of {97d} the retinue of Mynyddawg the Courteous. + + + +XII. + + +The heroes marched to Cattraeth with the day; +Was not the most celebrated of battles disgraced? {97e} +They put to death {98a} Gelorwydd +With blades. The gem of Baptism {98b}was thus widely taunted;— +“Better that you should, ere you join your kindred, +Have a gory unction {98c} and death far from your native homes, +At the hand of the host of Gododin, when the day arrives.” +Is not a hero’s power best when tempered with discretion? + + + +XIII. + + +The hero {98d} marched to Cattraeth with the day; +Truly {99a} he quaffed the white mead on serene nights; {99b} +Miserable, though success had been predicted, {99c} +Proved his mission, which he undertook through soaring ambition; {99d} +There hastened not to Cattraeth +A chief, with such a magnificent design of enterprize +Blazoned on his standard; +Never was there such a host +From the fort of Eiddin, {99e} +That would scatter abroad the mounted ravagers. +Tudvwlch Hir, {100a} deprived of {100b} his land and towns, +Slaughtered the Saxons for seven days; {100c} +His valour should have protected him in freedom; {100d} +His memory is cherished by his fair {100e} associates; +When Tudvwlch arrived, the supporter of the land, {100f} +The post of the son of Kilydd {100g} became a plain of blood. + + + +XIV. + + +The heroes {100h} marched to Cattraeth with the dawn, +But none of them received protection from their shields, +To blood they resorted, being assembled in gleaming armour; {101a} +In the van was, loud as thunder, the din of targets. {101b} +The envious, the fickle, and the base, +Would he tear and pierce with halberts; +From an elevated position {101c} he slew, with a blade, +In iron affliction, {101d} their steel-clad commander; {101e} +He subdued the Mordei that owed him homage; {101f} +Before Erthai {102a} even an army groaned. {102b} + + + +XV. + + +When the tale shall be told of the battle of Cattraeth, +The people will utter sighs; {102c} long has been their grief on account +of the warriors’ absence; +There will be a dominion without a sovereign, {102d} and a smoking land. +The sons of Godebog, an upright clan, +Bore the furrower {102e} on a long bier. +Miserable {103a} was the fate, though just the necessity, +Decreed for Tudvwlch and Cyvwlch the Tall; {103b} +Together they drank the bright mead by the light {103c} of torches, +{103d} +Though pleasant to the taste, it proved a lasting foe. {103e} + + + +XVI. + + +Before, above the splendid fort of Eching {103f} he shewed a frowning +aspect; {103g} +Whilst young and forward men composed his retinue; +Before, on the Bludwe, {104a} would the horn cheer his heart, {104b} +Making all the Mordei full of joy; {104c} +Before, his beverage would be braggett; +Before, he displayed the grandeur of gold and rich purple; +Before, pampered steeds would bear him safe away, +Even Gwarthlev, who deserved a comely name; {104d} +Before, the victorious chief would turn aside the ebbing tide; +His command was ever to go forward, {105a} loth was he to skulk. + + + +XVII. + + +And now the early leader, +The sun, is about to ascend, +Sovereign of the revolving {105b} lights, {105c} +In the heaven of Britain’s isle. {105d} +Direful was the flight before the shaking +Of the shield of the pursuing victor; {105e} +Bright {105f} was the horn +In the hall of Eiddin; {105g} +With pomp was he bidden {105h} +To the feast of intoxicating mead; +He drank the beverage of wine, +At the meeting of reapers; {106a} +He drank transparent wine, +With a battle-daring purpose. {106b} +The reapers sang of war, +War with the shining wing; {106c} +The minstrels sang of war, +Of harnessed {106d} war, +Of winged war. +No shield was unexpanded {107a} +In the conflict of spears; +Of equal age they fell {107b} +In the struggle of battle. +Unshaken in the tumult, +Without dishonour {107c} did he retaliate on the foe; +Buried {107d} was whoever he willed, +Ere the grave of the gigantic {107e} Gwrveling +Itself became a green sward. + + + +XVIII. + + +The complement {107f} of the surrounding country {107g} +Were, three forward chiefs of the Novantæ; {107h} +Five battalions of five hundred men each; {108a} +Three levies {108b} of three hundred each; +Three hundred knights of battle {108c} +From Eiddin, arrayed in golden armour; +Three loricated hosts, +With three kings wearing the golden torques; {108d} +Three bold knights, +With three hundred of equal quality; +Three of the same order, mutually jealous, +Bitterly would they chase the foe, +Three dreadful in the toil; +They would kill a lion flat as lead. {108e} +There was in the war a collection of gold. {108f} +Three sovereigns of the people +Came from amongst the Brython, {109a} +Cynrig and Cynon {109b} +And Cynrain {109c} from Aeron, {109d} +To greet {110a} the ashen lances {110b} +Of the men who dropped from Deivyr. {110c} +Came there from the Brython, +A better man than Cynon, +Who proved a serpent to his sullen foes? + + + +XIX. + + +I drank of the wine and the mead of the Mordei; +Great was the quantity of spears, +In the assembly of the warriors; +He {110d} was solemnising a banquet for the eagle. +When Cydywal {110e} hurried forth to battle, he raised +The shout with the green dawn, and dealt out tribulation, {110f} +And splintered shields about the ground he left, +And darts of awful tearing did he hew down; +In the battle, the foremost in the van he wounded. +The son of Syvno, {111a} the astronomer, knew, +That he who sold his life, +In the face of warning, +With sharpened blades would slaughter, +But would himself be slain by spears and crosses. {111b} +According to the compact, {111c} he meditated a convenient attack, +And would boast {111d} of a pile of carcases +Of gallant men of toil, +Whom in the upper part of Gwynedd {111e} he pierced. + + + +XX. + + +I drank of the wine and the mead of the Mordei, +And because I drank, I fell by the edge of a gleaming sword, {112a} +Not without desiring a hero’s prowess; {112b} +And when all fell, thou didst also fall. {112c} +Thus when the issue comes, it were well not to have sinned. +Present, in his thrusting course, showed a bold and mighty arm. {112d} + + + +XXI. + + +The heroes who marched to Cattraeth were renowned, +Wine and mead out of golden goblets was their beverage, +That year was to them one of exalted solemnity, +Three hundred and sixty-three chieftains, wearing the golden torques; +{113a} +Of those who hurried forth after the excess of revelling, +But three escaped by valour from the funeral fosse, {113b} +The two war-dogs {114a} of Aeron, and Cynon the dauntless, {114b} +And myself, from the spilling of blood, the reward of my candid song. +{114c} + + + +XXII. + + +My friend in real distress, we should have been by none disturbed, +Had not the white-bannered commander {115a} led forth his army; +We should not {115b} have been separated in the hall from the banquet of +mead, +Had he not laid waste our convenient groves; {115c} +He crept into the martial field, he crept into our families. {115d} +The Gododin relates how that, after the fight in the fosse, +When we had no dwellings, {116a} none were more destitute. {116b} + + + +XXIII. + + +Scattered, broken, motionless is the weapon, {116c} +That used to penetrate through the great horde, {116d} the numerous +{117a} horde of the Lloegrians. {117b} +Shields were strewn on the sea coast, {117c} shields in the battle of +lances; +Men were reduced to ashes, {117d} +And women rendered widows, +Before his death. {117e} +O Graid, son of Hoewgi, {117f} +With thy spears +Didst thou cause an effusion of blood. + + + +XXIV. + + +There was the hero, with both his shoulders covered, {118a} +By a variegated shield, and possessing the swiftness of a warlike steed; +There was a noise in the mount of slaughter, {118b} there was fire, +{118c} +Impetuous were the lances, there was a sunny gleam, {118d} +There was food for ravens, the raven there did triumph, {118e} +And before he would let them go free, +With the morning dew, like the eagle in his glad course, +He scattered them on either side, and like a billow overwhelmed them in +front. +The Bards of the world judge those to be men of valour, +Whose counsels are not divulged to slaves. {119a} +The spears in the hands of the warriors were causing devastation; +And ere was interred under {119b} the swan-white steed, {119c} +One who had been energetic in his commands, +His gore had thoroughly washed his armour: {119d} +Such was Buddvan, {119e} the son of Bleiddvan the Bold. + + + +XXV. + + +It were wrong not to record his magnificent feat; +He would not leave an open gap, through cowardice; {120a} +The benefit of Britain’s minstrels never quitted his court +Upon the calends of January; {120b} according to his design, {120c} +His land should not be ploughed, though it might become wild; +He was a mighty dragon of indignant disposition; +A commander in the bloody field, {120d} after the feast of wine, +Was Gwenabwy {121a} the son of Gwên, {121b} in the strife of Cattraeth. + + + +XXVI. + + +True it was, as the songs relate, {121c} +No one’s steeds {121d} overtook Marchleu; +The lances {121e} hurled by the commanding earl, +In his prancing career, {121f} strewed a thick path; +As he had been reared for slaughter by the aid of my mother, {121g} +Furious was the stroke of his sword whilst lending support to others; +{121h} +Ashen shafts were scattered from the grasp of his hand, {122a} +Above the narrow summit {122b} of the solemn pile, {122c} +The place where one caused the smoke to ascend; {122d} +He would slaughter with the blade, whilst his arms were full of furze; +{122e} +As when a reaping comes in the interval of fine weather, {122f} +Would Marchleu {123a} make the blood to flow. + + + +XXVII. + + +Lower down {123b} was sent from the southern region, {123c} +One whose conduct {123d} resembled the flowing sea; {123e} +He was full of modesty and gentleness, +When allowed to quaff the mead: +But along the rampart to Offer, {123f} even to the point of Maddeu, +{123g} +Enraged, he was glutted with carnage, and scattering, with desolation; +{124a} +His sword resounded on the heads of mothers; +He was an ardent spirit, {124b} praise be to him, the son of Gwyddneu. +{124c} + + + +XXVIII. + + +Caredig, {124d} lovely is his fame; +He would protect and guard his ensign, +Gentle, {125a} lowly, calm, before the day arrived +When he the pomp of war should learn; +When comes the appointed time of the friend of song, {125b} +May he recognise his home in the heavenly region. + + + +XXIX. + + +Ceredig, {125c} amiable leader, +A wrestler {126a} in the impetuous {126b} fight; +His golden shield dazzled {126c} the field of battle, +His lances, when darted, were shivered into splinters, +And the stroke of his sword was fierce and penetrating; +Like a hero would he maintain his post. +Before he received the affliction of earth, {126d} before the fatal blow, +He had fulfilled his duty in guarding his station. +May he find a complete reception +With the Trinity in perfect Unity. + + + +XXX. + + +When Caradawg {126e} rushed into battle, +It was like the tearing onset of the woodland boar; {127a} +Bull of the army in the mangling fight, +He allured the wild dogs by the action of his hand; {127b} +My witnesses {127c} are Owain the son of Eulat, +And Gwrien, and Gwynn, and Gwriad; {127d} +But from Cattraeth, and its work of carnage, {127e} +From the hill of Hydwn, ere it was gained, {127f} +After the clear mead was put into his hand, +He saw no more the hill {128a} of his father. + + + +XXXI. + + +The warriors marched with speed, together they bounded onward; +Short lived were they,—they had become drunk over the distilled mead. +The retinue of Mynyddawg, renowned {128b} in the hour of need; +Their life was the price of their banquet of mead. +Caradawg, {128c} and Madawg, {128d} Pyll, and Ieuan, +Gwgawn, {129a} and Gwiawn, Gwynn {129b} and Cynvan, +Peredur {129c} with steel arms, Gwawrddur, {129d} and Aeddan; {129e} +A defence were they in the tumult, though with shattered shields; {130a} +When they were slain, they also slaughtered; +Not one to his native home returned. + + + +XXXII. + + +The heroes marched with speed, together were they regaled +That year over mead, and mighty was their design; +How sad to mention them, {130b} how doleful their commemoration! {130c} +Poison is the home to which they have returned, they are not as sons by +mothers nursed; {130d} +How long our vexation, how long our regret, +For the brave warriors, whose native place was the feast of wine! {130e} +Gwlyget {131a} of Gododin, having partaken of the speech inspiring +Banquet of Mynyddawg, performed illustrious deeds, {131b} +And paid a price {131c} for the purchase of the battle of Cattraeth. + + + +XXXIII. + + +The heroes went to Cattraeth in marshalled array, and with shout of war, +{131d} +With powerful steeds, {131e} and dark brown harness, and with shields, +With uplifted {131f} javelins, and piercing lances, +With glittering mail, and with swords. +He excelled, and penetrated through the host, +Five battalions fell before his blade; +Rhuvawn Hir, {132a}—he gave gold {132b} to the altar, +And gifts and precious stones {132c} to the minstrel. + + + +XXXIV. + + +No hall {132d} was ever made so eminently perfect, +So great, so magnificent for the slaughter; {133a} +Morien {133b} procured {133c} and spread the fire, +And would not say but that Cynon {133d} should see {133e} the corpse +Of one harnessed, armed with a pike, and of a wide spread fame; {133f} +His sword resounded on the summit occupied by the camp, {133g} +Nor was he moved {134a} aside in his course by a ponderous stone from the +wall of the fort, {134b} +And never again will the son of Peithan {134c} be moved. + + + +XXXV. + + +No hall was ever made so impregnable; {134d} +Had not Morien been like Caradawg, {134e} +The forward Mynawg, {134f} with his heavy armour, {134g} would not have +escaped; +Enraged, he was fiercer than the son of Pherawg, {135a} +Stout his hand, and, mounted on his steed, {135b} he dealt out flames +upon the retreating foe. +Terrible in the city was the cry of the timid multitude, +The van of the army of Gododin was scattered; +His buckler {135c} was winged with fire for the slaughter; +In the day of his wrath {135d} he was nimble—a destructive retaliator; +The dependants of Mynyddawg deserved their horns of mead. + + + +XXXVI. + + +No hall was ever made so immoveable +As that of Cynon with the gentle breast, sovereign of the saints; {135e} +He sat no longer on his elevated throne, {136a} +Whom he pierced were not pierced again, {136b} +Keen was the point of his lance, +It perforated the enamelled armour, it penetrated through the troops; +Swift in the van were his horses, in front they tore along; +In the day of his anger {136c} blasting was his blade, +When Cynon rushed into battle with the green dawn. + + + +XXXVII. + + +A grievous descent was made upon his native territory; +He {136d} suffered an encroachment—he fixed a limit; +His spear forcibly pushed the laughing chiefs of war; +Even as far as Ephyd {137a} reached the valour of the forward Elphin: +The furze was kindled by the ardent spirit, the bull of conflict. + + + +XXXVIII. + + +A grievous descent was made upon his native territory, +The price of mead in the hall, and the feast of wine; +His blades were scattered about between the two hosts; +Illustrious was the knight in front of Gododin; +The furze was kindled by the ardent spirit, the bull of conflict. {138a} + + + +XXXIX. + + +A grievous descent was made in front of the extended riches, {138b} +But the army turned aside, with trailing {138c} shields, +And those shields were shivered before the herd of the roaring Beli. +{138d} +A dwarf from the bloody field hastened to the fence; {139a} +And on our side there came a hoary headed man, our chief counsellor, +{139b} +Mounted on a prancing iebald psteed, and wearing the golden chain. +The Boar {139c} proposed a compact in front of the course—the great +plotter; +Right worthy {139d} was the shout of our refusal, +And we cried “Let heaven be our protection, +Let his compact be that he should be prostrated by the spear in battle, +{139e} +Our warriors, in respect of their far famed fosse, {139f} +Would not quarrel if a host were there to press the ground.” + + + +XL. + + +For the piercing {140a} of the skilful and most learned man, {140b} +For the fair corpse which fell prostrate on the ground, +For the cutting {140c} of his hair from his head, +For Gwydien, the eagle of the air, {140d} +Did Gwyddwg {141a} bring protection to the field, {141b} +Resembling and honouring his master. +Morien of the blessed song, brought protection +To the ruined hall, {141c} and cleft the heads +Of the first in youth, in strength, and in old age. +Equal to three men, though a maid, was Bradwen; {141d} +Equal to twelve was Gwenabwy, the son of Gwen. {141e} + + + +XLI. + + +For the piercing of the skilful and most learned woman, +Her servant bore a shield in the action, +And with energy his sword fell upon the heads of the foe; +In Lloegyr the churls cut their way before the chieftain. {142a} +He who grasps the mane of a wolf, without a club {142b} +In his hand, will have it gorgeously emblazoned on his robe. {142c} +In the engagement of wrath and carnage, +Bradwen perished,—she did not escape. + + + +XLII. + + +Carcases {142d} of gold mailed warriors lay upon the city walls; +None of the houses or cities of Christians {142e} was any longer actively +engaged in war; {142f} +But one feeble man, with his shouts, kept aloof +The roving birds; {143a} +Truly Syll of Virein {143b} reports that there were more +That had chanced to come from Llwy, {143c} +From around the inlet of the flood; +He reports that there were more, +At the hour of mattins, {143d} +Than the morning breeze could well support. + + + +XLIII. + + +When thou, famous conqueror! +Wast protecting the ear of corn in the uplands, +Deservedly were we said to run {144a} like marked men; {144b} +The entrance to Din Drei {144c} was not guarded, +There was a mountain with riches {144d} for those who should approach it, +And there was a city {144e} for the army that should venture to enter; +But Gwynwydd’s name was not heard where his person was not seen. {144f} + + + +XLIV. + + +Though there be a hundred men in one house, +I know the cares of war, {145a} +The chief of the men must pay the contribution. {145b} + + + +LXV. + + +I am not headstrong and petulant, +I will not avenge myself on him who drives me on, {145c} +I will not laugh in derision; +This particle {145d} shall go under foot. {145e} +My limbs {145f} are racked, +And I am loaded, {146a} +In the subterraneous house; +An iron chain +Passes over my two knees; +Yet of the mead and of the horn, {146b} +And of the host of Cattraeth, +I Aneurin will sing {146c} +What is known to Taliesin, +Who communicates to me his thoughts, {146d} +Or a strain of Gododin, +Before the dawn of the bright day. {146e} + + + +XLVI. + + +The chief exploit of the North {146f} did the hero accomplish, +Of a gentle breast, a more liberal lord could not be seen, +Earth does not support, {147a} nor has mother borne +Such an illustrious, powerful, steel clad warrior; +By the force of his gleaming sword he protected me, +From the cruel subterraneous prison he brought me out, +From the chamber of death, from a hostile region; +Such was Ceneu, son of Llywarch, energetic and bold. {147b} + + + +XLVII. + + +He would not bear the reproach of a congress, {147c} +Senyllt, {147d} with his vessels full of mead;— +His sword rang {148a} for deeds of violence, +He shouted and bounded with aid for the war, +And with his arm proved a comprehensive {148b} support, {148c} +Against the armies of Gododin and Bryneich. +Booths for the horses were prepared in the hall, {148d} +There was streaming gore, and dark brown harness, +And from his hand issued a thread {148e} of gleam; {148f} +Like a hunter shooting with the bow +Was Gwen; {148g} and the attacking parties mutually pushed each other, +Friend and foe by turns; +The warriors did not cut their way to flee, {148h} +But were the generous defenders of every region. + + + +XLVIII. + + +To Llech Leucu, {149a} the land of Lleu, {149b} and Lleudvre, {149c} +To the course of Gododin, +And to the course of Ragno, close at hand, +Even that hand which directed the splendour of battle, +With the branch of Caerwys, {149d} +Before it was shattered +By the season of the storm,—by the storm of the season, {149e} +To form a rank against a hundred thousand men, {149f} +Coming from Dindovydd, +In the region of Dyvneint, {150a} +Deeply did they design, {150b} +Sharply did they pierce, +Wholly did they chant, +Even the army with the battered shields; +And before the bull of conflict, +The hostile van was broken. + + + +XLIX. + + +The foes have in sorrow greatly trembled, +Since the battle of most active tumult, +At the border of Ban Carw; {150c} +Round the border of Ban Carw +The fingers of Brych {150d} were hurt by the shaft of a spear. {150e} +In defence of Pwyll, {150f} of Disteir and Distar, +In defence of Pwyll, of Rodri, and of Rhychwardd, +A stout {151a} bow was spent by Rhys {151b} in Rhiwdrech; +They that were not bold would not attain their purpose; +None escaped that was once overtaken and pierced. {151c} + + + +L. + + +Not meetly was his buckler pierced +Upon the flank of his steed; {151d} +Not meetly did he mount {152a} +His long legged, slender, grey charger; +Dark was his shaft, dark, +Darker was his saddle; {152b} +Thy hero {152c} is in a cell, {152d} +Gnawing the shoulder of a buck, {152e} +May his hand triumph, +But far be the shoulder of venison. {152f} + + + +LI. + + +It is well that Adonwy came to the support of Gwen; {153a} +Bradwen {153b} abandoned the foaming brine, +And fought, slaughtered, and burned, though Morien +She did not surpass in martial deeds. +Thou didst not regard the rear or the van +Of the towering, unhelmetted {153c} presence; +Thou didst not observe the great swelling sea of knights, +That would mangle, and grant no shelter to the Saxons. {153d} + + + +LII. + + +Gododin! in respect of thee will I demand {154a} +The dales beyond the ridge of Drum Essyd; {154b} +The slave, {154c} greedy of wealth, cannot control himself; +By the counsel of thy son, {154d} let thy valour shine forth. +The place appointed for the conference +Was not mean, {154e} in front of Llanveithin; {154f} +From twilight to twilight he revelled; {154g} +Splendid and full was the purple of the pilgrim; {154h} +He killed the defenceless, {154i} the delight of the bulwark of toil, +{154j} +His inseparable companion, whose voice was like that of Aneurin. {155a} + + + +LIII. + + +Together arise the foremost fighting warriors, {155b} +And in a body march to Cattraeth, with noise and eager speed; +The effects {155c} of the mead in the hall, and of the beverage of wine. +Blades were scattered between the two armies +By an illustrious knight, in front of Gododin. +Furze was set on fire by the ardent spirit, the bull of battle. {155d} + + + +LIV. + + +Together arise the expert warriors, +And the stranger, {155e} the man with the crimson robe, pursue; +The encampment is broken down by the gorgeous pilgrim, {156a} +Where the young deer were in full melody. {156b} +Amongst the spears of Brych {156c} thou couldst see no rods; {156d} +With the base the worthy can have no concord; {156e} +Morial {156f} in pursuit will not countenance their dishonourable deeds, +With his steel blade ready for the effusion of blood. + + + +LV. + + +Together arise the associated {156g} warriors, +Strangers to the country, their deeds shall be proclaimed; +There was slaughtering with axes and blades, {157a} +And there was raising large cairns over the heroes of toil. + + + +LVI. + + +The experienced {157b} warriors met together, +And all with one accord sallied forth; {157c} +Short were their lives, long is the grief of those who loved them; +Seven times their number of Lloegrians had they slain; +After the conflict their wives {157d} raised a scream; {157e} +And many a mother has the tear on her eyelash. + + + +LVII. + + +No hall was ever made so faultless; +Nor was there a lion so generous, a majestic lion on the path, so kind +{158a} +As Cynon of the gentle breast, the most comely lord. +The fame {158b} of the city extends to the remotest parts; +It was the staying {158c} shelter of the army, the benefit of flowing +melody. {158d} +Of those whom I have seen, or shall hereafter see +On earth, engaged in arms, the battle cry, and war, {159a} the most +heroic was he, +Who slew the mounted ravagers with the keenest blade; +Like rushes did they fall before his hand. +O son of Clydno, {159b} of lasting {159c} fame! I will sing to thee +A song of praise, without beginning, {159d} without end. + + + +LVIII. + + +After the feast of wine and the banquet of mead, +Enriched with the first fruits of slaughter, +The mother of Spoliation, {159e} +Was the energetic Eidol; {159f} +He honoured the mount of the van, {160a} +In the presence of Victory. +The hovering ravens, +Ascend in the sky; {160b} +The foremost spearmen around him thicken, {160c} +Like a crop of green barley, {160d} +Without the semblance of a retreat. +Warriors in wonder shake their javelins, +With pouting and pallid lips, +Caused by the keenness of the destructive sword; +From the front of the banquet, deprived of sleep +They vigorously spring forth, {161a} upon the awaking +Of the mother {161b} of the Lance, the leader of the din. + + + +LIX. + + +From the feast of wine and the banquet of mead, they marched +To the strife of mail-clad warriors; {161c} +I know no tale of slaughter which records +So complete a destruction. +Before Cattraeth loquacious was the host; +But of the retinue of Mynyddawg, greatly to be deplored, {162a} +Out of three hundred {162b} men, only one returned. + + + +LX. + + +From the feast of wine and the banquet of mead, with speed they marched, +Men renowned in difficulty, prodigal of their lives; +In fairest order {162c} round the viands they together feasted; +Wine and mead and tribute {162d} they enjoyed. +From the retinue of Mynyddawg ruin has come to me; {163a} +And I have lost my general {163b} and {163c} my true friends. +Of the regal army of three hundred men that hastened to Cattraeth, +Alas! none have returned, save one alone. + + + +LXI. + + +Impetuous as a ball, {163d} in the combat of spears, was Present, +And on his horse would he be found, when not at home; +Yet illusive {163e} was the aid which he brought against Gododin; +For though apart from the wine and mead he was unrestrained, +He perished {164a} on the course; +And red stained warriors ride {164b} +The steeds of the knight, who had been in the morning bold. + + + +LXII. + + +Angor, {164c} thou who scatterest the brave, +And piercest {164d} the sullen like a serpent; +Thou tramplest upon those who in strong mail are clad, +In front of the army; {164e} +Like an enraged bear, guarding and assaulting, {164f} +Thou tramplest upon the furious, {165a} +In the day of capture, +In the dank entrenchment; {165b} +Like the mangling dwarf, {165c} +Who in his fury prepared +A banquet for the birds, +In the tumultuous fight. +Cywir {165d} art thou named from thy righteous (_enwir_) deed; +Leader, director, and bulwark (_mur_) of the course of battle {165e} +Is Merin; {165f} and fortunately (_mad_) wert thou, Madien, born. + + + +LXIII. + + +It is incumbent to sing of the complete acquisition +Of the warriors, who at Cattraeth made a tumultuous rout, +With confusion and blood, and treading and trampling; +Men of toil {166a} were trampled because of the contribution of mead in +the horn; {166b} +But the carnage of the combatants {166c} +Cannot be described even by the cup of bounty, {166d} +After the excitement of the battle is over, +Notwithstanding so much splendid eloquence. + + + +LXIV. + + +It is incumbent to sing of so much renown, +The tumult of fire, of thunder, and tempest, +The glorious gallantry of the knight of conflict. {167a} +The ruddy reapers of war are thy desire, {167b} +Thou man of toil, {167c} but the worthless thou beheadest; {167d} +The whole length of the land shall hear of thee in battle; +With thy shield upon thy shoulder, thou dost incessantly cleave +With thy blade, {167e} until blood flows {167f} like bright wine out of +glass vessels; {167g} +As the contribution {168a} for mead thou claimest gold; +Wine nourished was Gwaednerth, {168b} the son of Llywri. + + + +LXV. + + +It is incumbent to sing of the gay and illustrious tribes, {168c} +That, after the fatal fight, {168d} filled the river Aeron; {168e} +Their grasp satisfied the hunger {168f} of the eagles of Clwyd, {168g} +And prepared food for the birds of prey. +Of those who went to Cattraeth, wearers of the golden chain, +Upon the message of Mynyddawg, sovereign of the people, +There came not honourably {169a} in behalf {169b} of the Brython, +To Gododin, a hero from afar who was better than Cynon. + + + +LXVI. + + +It is incumbent to sing of so many men of skill, {169c} +Who in their halls {169d} once led a merry life: {169e} +Ambitious {169f} and bold, all round the world would Eidol {169g} seek +for melody; +But notwithstanding gold, and fine steeds, and intoxicating mead, +Only one man of these, who loved the world, returned, +Cynddilig of Aeron, one of the Novantian heroes. {169h} + + + +LXVII. + + +It is incumbent to sing of the gay and illustrious tribes, +That went upon the message of Mynyddawg, sovereign of the people, +And the daughter {170a} of Eudav the Tall, of a faultless gait, {170b} +Apparelled in her purple robes, thoroughly and truly splendid. + + + +LXVIII. + + +The soldiers {171a} celebrated the praise of the Holy One, +And in their {171b} presence was kindled a fire that raged on high. +On Tuesday they put on their dark-brown garments; {171c} +On Wednesday they purified their enamelled armour; +On Thursday their destruction was certain; +On Friday was brought carnage all around; +On Saturday their joint labour was useless; +On Sunday their blades assumed a ruddy hue; +On Monday was seen a pool knee deep of blood. {171d} +The Gododin relates that after the toil, +Before the tents of Madog, when he returned, +Only one man in a hundred with him came. {172a} + + + +LXIX. + + +At the early dawn of morn, {172b} +There was a battle at the fall of the river, {172c} in front of the +course; {172d} +The pass and the knoll were pervaded with fire; {172e} +Like a boar didst thou {172f} lead to the mount; +The wealth {172g} of the hill, and the place, +And the dark brown hawks {173a} were stained with gore. {173b} + + + +LXX. + + +Quickly rising, in a moment of time, {173c} +After kindling a fire at the confluence, {173d} in front of the fence, +{173e} +After leading his men in close array, +In front of a hundred he pierces the foremost. {173f} +Sad it was that you should have made a pool of blood, +As if you but drank mead in the midst of laughter; {174a} +But it was brave of you to slay the little man, {174b} +With the fierce and impetuous stroke of the sword; +For like the unrestrained ocean {174c} had the foe {174d} put to death +A man, who would otherwise have been in rank his equal. + + + +LXXI. + + +He fell headlong down the precipice, {174e} +And the bushes {174f} supported not his noble {174g} head; +It was a violation of privilege to kill him on the breach, {175a} +It was a primary law that Owain should ascend upon the course, {175b} +And extend before the onset the branch of peace, {175c} +And that he should pursue the study of meet {175d} and learned strains. +Excellent man, the assuager of tumult and battle, +Whose very grasp dreaded a sword, {175e} +And who bore in his hand an empty corslet. {175f} +O sovereign, dispense rewards +Out of his earthly shrine. {176a} + + + +LXXII. + + +Eidol, with frigid blood and pale complexion, +Spreading carnage, when the maid was supreme in judgment; {176b} +Owner of horses and strong trappings, +And transparent {176c} shields, +Instantaneously makes an onset,—ascending and descending. + + + +LXXIII. + + +The leader of war with eagerness {177a} conducts the battle, +Mallet of the land, {177b} he loved the mighty reapers; {177c} +Stout youth, the freshness of his form was stained with blood, +His accoutrements resounded, his chargers made a clang; {177d} +His cheeks {177e} are covered with armour, +And thus, image of death, he scatters desolation in the toil; +In the first onset his lances penetrate the targets, {177f} +And a track of surrounding light is made by the aim of the darting of his +spears. + + + +LXXIV. + + +The saints {178a} exert their courage, {178b} for the destruction of thy +retreat, {178c} +And the cellar, {178d} which contained, and where was brewed {178e} +The mead, that sweet ensnarer. +With the dawn does Gwrys {178f} make the battle clash; +Fair gift, {178g}—marshal of the Lloegrian tribes; {178h} +Penance he inflicts until repentance ensues; {178i} +May the dependants of Gwynedd hear of his renown; +With his ashen shaft he pierces to the grave; +Pike of the conflict of Gwynedd, +Bull of the host, oppressor of the battle of princes; {179a} +Though thou hast kindled the land {179b} before thy fall, +At the extreme boundary {179c} of Gododin will be thy grave. + + + +LXXV. + + +Involved in vapours was the man {179d} accustomed to armies, +High minded, bitter handed leader of the forces; {179e} +He was expert, and ardent, and stately, +Though at the social banquet he was not harsh. {180a} +They {180b} removed and possessed his valuable treasures, +And not the image of a thing for the benefit of the region was left. + + + +LXXVI. + + +We are called! The sea and the borders are in conflict; {180c} +Spears are mutually darting, spears all equally destructive; +Impelled are sharp weapons of iron, {180d} gashing is the blade, {180e} +And with a clang the sock {180f} descends upon the pate; +A successful warrior was Fflamddwr {180g} against the enemy. + + + +LXXVII. + + +He supported martial steeds and harness of war; +Drenched with gore, on the red-stained field of Cattraeth, +The foremost shaft in the host is held by the consumer of forts, {181a} +The brave {181b} dog of battle, upon the towering hill. +We are called to the gleaming {181c} post of assault, +By the beckoning hand {181d} of Heiddyn, {181e} the ironclad chief. + + + +LXXVIII. + + +The sovereign, who is celebrated in the Gododin, {181f} +The sovereign, for whom our eye-lids {182a} weep, +From the raging flame of Eiddyn {182b} turned not aside; {182c} +He stationed men of firmness in command, {182d} +And the thick covering guard {182e} he placed in the van, +And vigorously he descended upon the scattered foe; +In that he had revelled, he likewise sustained the main weight; +Of the retinue of Mynyddawg, none escaped, +Save one man by slow steps, thoroughly weakened, and tottering every way. +{182f} + + + +LXXIX. + + +Having sustained a loss, {182g} Moried bore no shield, +But traversed the strand {183a} to set the ground on fire; +Firmly he grasped in his hand a blue blade, +And a shaft ponderous as the chief priest’s {183b} crozier; +He rode a grey stately {183c} headed charger, +And beneath his blade there was a dreadful fall of slaughter; +When overpowered {183d} he fled not from the battle,— +Even he who poured out to us the famous mead, that sweet ensnarer. + + + +LXXX. + + +I beheld the array from the highland of Adowyn, {183e} +And the sacrifice brought down to the omen fire; {183f} +I saw what was usual, a continual running towards the town, {184a} +And the men of Nwython inflicting sharp wounds; +I saw warriors in complete order approaching with a shout, +And the head of Dyvnwal Vrych {184b} by ravens {184c} devoured. + + + +LXXXI. + + +Blessed Conqueror, of temper mild, the strength {184d} of his people, +With his blue streamers displayed towards the sea-roving foes. {185a} +Brave is he on the waters, most numerous his host; +Manly his bosom, loud his shout in the charge of arms. +Usual was it for him {185b} to make a descent before nine armaments, +{185c} +With propulsive strokes, {185d} in the face of blood and of the country. +I love thy victorious throne, which teemed with harmonious strains. +O Cynddilig of Aeron, {185e} thou lion’s whelp. + + + +LXXXII. + + +I could wish to have been the first to shed my blood in Cattraeth, +As the price {186a} of the mead and beverage of wine in the hall; +I could wish to have been hurt by the blade of the sword, +Ere he was slain on the green plain of Uphin. {186b} +I loved the son of renown, who sustained the bloody fight, {186c} +And made his sword descend upon the violent. +Can a tale of valour be related before Gododin, +In which the son of Ceidiaw {186d} has not his fame as a man of war? + + + +LXXXIII. + + +Sad it is for me, after all our toil, +To suffer the pang of death through indiscretion; +And doubly grievous and sad for me to see +Our men falling headlong to the ground, {187a} +Breathing the lengthened sigh, and covered with reproaches. +After the strenuous warriors have extended their country’s bounds, +Rhuvawn {187b} and Gwgawn, {187c} Gwiawn and Gwlyged, {187d} +Men at their post most gallant, valiant in difficulties, +May their souls, now that their conflict is ended, {187e} +Be received into the heavenly region, the abode of tranquillity. + + + +LXXXIV. + + +Tres repelled the foe through {188a} a pool of gore, +And slaughtered like a hero such as asked no quarter, {188b} +With a sling and a spear; {188c}—he flung off his glass goblet +Containing the mead, {188d} and in defence of his sovereignty overthrew +an army; +His counsel always prevailed, and the multitude would not speak before +him, {188e} +Whilst those that were cowards were not left alive, +Before the onset of his battle-axes, {188f} and his sharpened sword, +{188g} +And where his blue banner was seen to wave. {188h} + + + +LXXXV. + + +There was a reinforcement of {189a} troops, +A supply of penetrating weapons, +And a host of men in the vanguard, +Presenting a menacing front; +In the days of strenuous exertion, +In the eager conflict, +They displayed their valour. +After the intoxication, +When they drank the mead, +Not one was spared. +Though Gorwylam +Was awhile successful, +When the retort was made, it broke the charge +Of the horses and men, by fate decreed. + + + +LXXXVI. + + +When the host of Pryder {189b} arrives, +I anxiously count {190a} the bands, +Eleven complete battalions; +There is now a precipitate flight {190b} +Along the road of lamentation. +Affectionately have I deplored, {190c} +Dearly have I loved, +The illustrious dweller of the wood, {190d} +And the men of Argoed, {190e} +Accustomed, in the open plain, {191a} +To marshal their troops. +For the benefit of the chiefs, the lord of the war {191b} +Laid upon rough {191c} boards, +Midst a deluge of grief, +The viands for the banquet, +Where they caroused together;—he conducted us to a bright {191d} fire, +And to a carpet of white and fresh {191e} hide. + + + +LXXXVII. + + +Geraint, {191f} from the South, did raise a shout, +And on the white water {192a} was his buckler pierced. {192b} +Lord of the spear, a gentle lord! +The praise of mountain and sea +Will he render our youth, even thou, Geraint, wilt render them, +Who hast been a generous commander. + + + +LXXXVIII. + + +Instantaneously is his fame wafted on high; +His anchors {192c} from the scene of action {192d} cannot be restrained. +Unflinching eagle {192e} of the forward heroes, +He bore the toil, and brilliant was his zeal; +The fleetest coursers he outstripped in war, +But was quite a lamb {193a} when the wine from the goblet flowed. +Ere he reached the grassy tomb, and his cheeks became pale in death, +{193b} +He presided over the banquet of mead, and honoured it with the generous +horn. {193c} + + + +LXXXIX. + + +Ruin {193d} he brought upon every fair region, {193e} +And a fettering valour he displayed; {193f} +The front of his shield was pierced. +Caso Hir, {194a} when roused to anger, +Defended Rhuvoniawg. {194b} +A second time they {194c} challenged, {194d} and were crushed +By the warlike steeds with gory trappings. +His martial nobles {194e} formed a firm array, +And the field was reddened, when he was greatly affronted; +Severe in the conflict, with blades he slaughtered, +And sad news {194f} from the war he brought, +Which he wove {195a} into a song for the calends of January. {195b} +Adan, {195c} the son of Ervai, there did pierce, +Adan pierced the haughty boar; +Even he, who was like a dame, a virgin, and a hero. {195d} +And when the youth thus possessed the properties of a king, {195e} +He, stained with blood, brought deliverance to Gwynedd, +Ere the turf was laid upon the gentle face +Of the generous dead; but now undisturbed +In regard to fame and gain, he reposes in the grave, +Namely, Garthwys Hir, {196a} from the land of Rhuvoniawg. + + + +XC. + + +The garment of Tinogad, {196b} which was of divers colours, +Made of the speckled skins of young wolves, +His jerks and starts and juggling motion, +I fain would lampoon, they were lampooned by his eight slaves. {196c} +When thy father went out to hunt, +With his pole upon his shoulder, and his provisions in his hand, +He would call to his dogs that were of equal size, +Catch it, catch it—seize it, seize it—bring it, bring it; +He would kill a fish in his coracle, +Even as a princely lion in his fury {197a} kills his prey; +When thy father climbed up the mountain, +He brought back the head {197b} of a roebuck, {197c} the head of a wild +boar, the head of a stag, +The head of a grey moor hen from the hill, +The head of a fish from the falls of the Derwent; {197d} +As many as thy father could reach with his flesh piercer, +Of wild boars, lions, and foxes, {197e} +It was certain death to them all, {197f} unless they proved too nimble. + + + +XCI. + + +Were he to narrow {198a} my dominions through extortion, {198b} +The arrival of no enemy would prove to me more formidable. {198c} +The man has not been nursed who could be more festive in the hall +Than he, or steadier in the field of battle. +On the ford of Penclwyd {198d} Pennant were his steeds; +Far spread was his fame, compact was his armour; +And ere the long grass covered him beneath the sod, +He, the only son of Morarch, {198e} poured out the horns of mead. + + + +XCII. + + +I saw the array from the highland of Adoen, +Carrying the sacrifice to the omen fire; {199a} +I saw the two, {199b} who from their station quickly and heavily fell; +By the commands of Nwython, greatly were they afflicted. +I saw the warriors, who had made the great breach, approaching with the +dawn, {199c} +And the head of Dyvnwal Vrych by ravens devoured. + + + +XCIII. + + +Gododin, in respect of thee will I demand, {199d} +In the presence {199e} of a hundred that are named {199f} with deeds of +valour, +And of Gwarthan the son of Dwywau, {200a} of gallant bravery, +Let Tre Essyd be ours in one entire dale. {200b} +Since the stabbing of the delight of the bulwark of battle, +Since Aneurin was under ground, {200c} +My voice has not been divorced from Gododin. + + + +XCIV. + + +Echo speaks of the formidable {200d} and dragon-like {200e} weapons, +And of the fair game, {200f} which was played in front of the unclaimed +course of Gododin. +Profusely did he bring a supply {200g} of wine into the tents, for the +benefit of the natives, {200h} +In the season of the storm, as long as it trickled from the vessels, +And the army, a well nourished host, continued to drop in. +A splendid troop of warriors, successful against a hundred men, +Is led from Dindovydd in Dyvneint. {201a} +Before Doleu {201b} in battle, worn out were the shields, and battered +the helmets. + + + +XCV. + + +He brought ruin upon every fair region, {201c} +And a fettering valour he displayed; +The front of his shield was pierced; +Caso Hir, arrayed in pomp, {201d} +Protected Rhuvoniawg. +A second time were they wounded, {201e} and crushed +By his warlike steeds, and gore-stained were their coffins. {201f} +Always immoveable, always liberal of aid, +Would be his gallant nobles, when roused to anger. +Severe in the conflict, with blades he slaughtered; +And agonising news from the war he brought, +Which he wove into a hundred songs for the calends of January. +Adan {202a} the son of Urvei there did pierce, +Adan pierced the haughty boar, +Even he who was like Urien, {202b} a maid, and a hero. +And as the youth was thus endowed with the properties of a king, +Lord of Gwynedd, and of the blood of Cilydd, {202c} he proved our +deliverer; +Ere the turf was laid upon the face of the generous dead, +Wisely did he seek the field, with praise and high sounding fame: +The grave of Gorthyn Hir {202d} is seen {202e} from the highlands of +Rhuvoniawg. + + + +XCVI. + + +On account of the piercing of the skilful and most learned man, {203a} +On account of the fair corpse, which fell prostrate upon the ground, +Thrice six officers judged the atrocious deed {203b} at the hour of +mattins, +And Morien lifted up again his ancient lance, +And, roaring, stretched out {203c} death +Towards the warriors, the Gwyddyl, {203d} and the Prydyn; {203e} +Whilst towards the lovely, slender, blood-stained body of Gwen, +Sighed Gwenabwy, the only son of Gwen. + + + +XCVII. + + +On account of the afflicting {203f} of the skilful and most learned man +Grievously and deeply, when he fell prostrate upon the ground, +The banner was pompously {204a} unfurled, and borne by a man in the +flank; {204b} +A tumultuous scene was beheld {204c} in Eiddin, and on the battle field. +The grasp of his hand performed deeds of valour +Upon the Cynt, {204d} the Gwyddyl, and the Prydyn. +He who meddles with the mane of a wolf, without a club +In his hand, will have it gorgeously emblazoned on his robe. +Fain would I sing,—“would that Morien had not died.” +I sigh for Gwenabwy, the son of Gwen. {204e} + + + + +Footnotes: + + +{0a} Perhaps Cawlwyd is a compound of Caw Clwyd, that is, the Clyde of +Caw. + +{0b} Institutional Triads. + +{0c} Ibid. + +{0d} Myvyrian Archaiology, vol. i. page 60. + +{0e} Bardic Triads. + +{0f} Bardic Triads. + +{0g} Triad 48, third series. + +{0h} Myv. Arch. vol. i. p. 308. + +{0i} Ib. p. 403. + +{0j} Ib. p. 504. + +{0k} Gwilym Tew flourished A.D. 1340–1470, and Rhys Nanmor, A.D. +1440–1480. + +{0l} In this eText the extensive alternate readings, mentioned in this +passage, are not given. There are so many that it becomes impossible to +read the Welsh text because of the continual footnotes. + +{1a} Tacit. Julii Agric. vita, cap. xiv. + +{1b} Cambrian Biography, sub voce. + +{1c} Stevenson’s Nennius, p. 52. + +{2a} It is stated in the Iolo MSS. that Cunedda Wledig held his court in +Carlisle. + +{2b} Am. Marcel. 1. 20. + +{3a} Triad 39, third series. + +{3b} Triad 7. + +{3c} Myv. Arch. v. i. p. 52. + +{4a} Myv. Arch. v. i. p 57. + +{4b} Elegy on Old Age. + +{5a} Chalmers’s Caledonia, v. i. pp. 239, &c. + +{5b} 1. 231. + +{5c} 1. 289. + +{5d} 1. 386. + +{5e} 1. 393. + +{5f} 1. 534. + +{5g} 1. 607. + +{5h} 1. 713. + +{6a} 1. 32 + +{6b} 1. 648. + +{6c} Stanzas xvii. xxxii lxxxvi. + +{6d} 1. 229. + +{6e} 1. 86, 584. + +{6f} Stanza xviii. + +{7a} 1. 753, 884. + +{7b} Stanza lxviii. + +{7c} Stanza xiv. + +{7d} Stanza xxxix. + +{7e} Stanza xlii. + +{7f} Stanza xliii. + +{7g} Stanza lxv. + +{7h} Stanza lii. + +{7i} Stanza xxi. + +{7j} Stanza xvii. + +{8a} Stanza xliii. + +{79a} Or, “The youth was endowed with a manly disposition,” the word +_oed_ being taken as a verb (oedd) rather than as a substantive; though +it ought to be remarked, as indicative of the sense in which it was +regarded by the copyist, that MS. No. 3, which has generally supplied the +_dd_ where it was considered necessary, has it not in the present +instance. + +{79b} Al. charger, in the singular number. The favourite steed of our +hero, supposing him to be the son of Urien Rheged, is, in the Triads, +called “Carnavlawg” (cloven-hoofed) and is said to have been “one of the +three horses of depredation of the Isle of Britain,” (Myv. Arch. vol. ii. +page 20.) Taliesin in his Elegy on Owain son of Urien, describes him as + + “Gwr gwiw uch ei amliw seirch + A roddei feirch + I eirchiaid.” + + A worthy hero seated on variegated trappings, + Who would give steeds to those that asked him.—Myv. Arch. vol. i. p. + 59. + +_Thick mane_ was regarded as one of the good points of a horse; thus +Taliesin,— + + “Atuyn march myngvras mangre.” + + Beautiful in a tangle is a thick-maned horse.—Ib. p, 28. + +{79c} Lit. “Were under the thigh of;” an expression frequently employed +by the early bards to denote the act of riding. See “Elegy upon Geraint +ab Erbin,” by Llywarch Hen. + +{80a} One of the sons of Llywarch Hen is similarly represented as a +youth,— + + “That wore the golden spurs,”—Owen’s Ll. Hen, p. 131. + +In the days of chivalry, of which the era of the Gododin may fairly be +considered as the commencement, the privilege of decorating arms, and the +accoutrements of horses with gold, was exclusively confined to knights, +and their families; squires being only permitted the use of silver for +the purpose. (St. Palaye, 1. 247, 284.) + +{80b} “Pan,” pannus—down, fur, ermine, or fulled cloth. + +{80c} This is not literally true of Owain ab Urien, for he was married +to a daughter of Culvynawyd Prydain. + +{80d} “Argyvrein,” might perhaps come from _argyvrau_, paraphernalia; a +portion or dowry. +“Ymogel ddwyn gwraig atat yn enw ei _hargyvrau_.” + + Beware of taking to thyself a wife for the sake of her portion. + (Cato Gymraeg.) + +In that case, the passage should be rendered,— + + Ere thou didst obtain thy nuptial dowry; + +which reading would be supported by the allusion to the nuptial feast in +the preceding passage. Nevertheless the term “argynrein,” occurring in +three other copies, would certainly point to the signification given in +the text; “argyvrein” being capable of the same meaning, whilst +“argynrein” has no reference whatever to the nuptial dowry. + +{81a} The manner in which the person here commemorated is associated +with the ravens, leads us to suspect that he was none other than Owain ab +Urien, who is traditionally reported to have had an army of ravens in his +service, by which, however, we are probably to understand an army of men +with those birds emblazoned on their standard, even as his descendants +still bear them in their coats of arms. Not only do the Welsh Romances +and Bards of the middle ages allude to these ravens, but even Taliesin +and Llywarch Hen, seem pointedly to connect them with Urien or his son. +Thus the former in an Ode on the battle of Argoed Llwyvaen, (Myv. Arch. +vol. i. p. 53) in which Owain commanded the Cumbrian forces, under his +father against Ida, says,— + + “A rhag gwaith Argoed Llwyfain + Bu llawer celain + Rhuddei frain rhag rhyfel gwyr.” + + Because of the battle of Argoed Llwyvain, + There happened many a dead carcase, + And the ravens were coloured with the war of men. + +And Llywarch Hen in his “Elegy on Urien Rheged” has the following +expressions;— + + “Pen a borthav ar vy nhu; Pen Urien, + Llary, llyw ei lu; + Ac ar ei vron wen vran ddu. + + Pen a borthav mywn vy nghrys; pen Urien, + Llary llywiai lys: + Ac ar ei vron wen vran ai hys.” + + I bear by my side a head; the head of Urien, + The mild leader of his army; + And on his white bosom the sable raven is perched. + + I bear in my shirt a head; the head of Urien, + That governed a court with mildness; + And on his white bosom the sable raven doth glut. (Owen’s Ll. Hen. + p. 24.) + +This supposition would considerably enhance the point and beauty of the +passage in the text; for a sad or unbecoming thing, indeed, (“cwl,” _a +fault_) would it be that one who fought by the aid of ravens should +himself be eventually devoured by them. + +Moreover, a tradition prevails, that Owain the son of Urien was actually +engaged in the battle of Cattraeth. Thus Lewis Glyn Cothi, a poet of the +fifteenth century, observes;— + + “Bwriodd Owain ab Urien + Y tri thwr yn Nghattraeth hen. + Ovnodd Arthur val goddaith + Owain, ei vrain a’i fon vraith.” (I. 140.) + + Owain son of Urien overthrew + The three towers of Cattraeth of old; + Arthur dreaded, as the flames, + Owain, his ravens, and his parti-coloured staff. + +But to the view which would identify our hero with the son of Urien there +is this objection, that the poem describes the former as the son of Marro +or Marco; nor can the difficulty be got over, without supposing that this +was another name of Urien. Or if that be inadmissible, the line, in +which Owain’s name occurs, may be translated,— + + Alas, the beloved friend of Owain; + +an alteration, which will do no great violence to the allusion about the +ravens. + +{82a} Al. “March,” as if addressing the horse of the slain;— + + O steed, in what spot + Was slaughtered, &c. + +{82b} “Cynhaiawc,” (cyn-taiawg.) Adopting this version for the sake of +variety, and under the impression that all the different readings of this +poem are not the mere result of orthographical accident, but that the +forms of obscure or illegible words were sometimes determined by +tradition, we must believe that the _taiogion_, who composed the army of +Madog, were simply his own tenants or dependants. + +{83a} “Diffun,” (di-ffun.) _Ffun_ is any thing united together, and is +used at line 803 for a band of men. Some read “diffyn,” (protection or +defence) and in that case the sense of the passage would seem to be, + +He brought protection to women, and mead he distributed. + +The former reading is preferred, inasmuch as it exhibits in a more +natural and consistent manner the twofold character of Madog, as a +soldier and a courtier, which appears to be the object of the Bard to +delineate. Our inference on this point is moreover supported by more +obvious passages of that description, which occur again in the Poem, such +as,— + + “Ragorei veirch racvuan + En trin lletvegin gwin o bann.” + + He surpassed the fleetest steeds + In war, but was a tame animal when he poured the wine from the + goblet. + +The epithet “cynhaiawc,” assuming it to be the proper term, would also, +by reason of its contrasting effect, considerably enhance the value of +our hero’s domestic and social courtesy. + +{83b} “Twll tal y rodawr.” Dr. Owen Pughe translates this “the front +opening of his chariot;” “twll ar ysgwyd,” however, in the lxxxvii +stanza, evidently refers to a shield, and this sense is, moreover, +supported by “tyllant tal ysgwydawr,” in Taliesin’s Ode on Gwallawg, as +well as “rac twll y gylchwy,” used by Cynddelw. The meaning therefore +appears to be that wherever the battle raged, there would the chief be +found, so boldly and _directly_ fighting as to have the very boss of his +shield perforated by the spears of his enemy. + +{83c} “Brwyn.” From the practice which the Welsh Bards commonly had of +adapting their descriptive similes to the names, armorial bearings, or +some other peculiarities of their heroes, we may infer that the +chieftain, who is celebrated in this stanza, is none other than Madog ab +Brwyn. Indeed one copy reads “mab brwyn,” the son of Brwyn, rather than +_mal_ brwyn, as above. He is distinguished in the Triads with Ceugant +Beilliog and Rhuvon, under the appellation of the “three golden corpses,” +because their weight in gold was given by their families to have their +bodies delivered up by the enemy. (Myv. Arch. vol. ii. p. 69.) Madog ab +Brwyn was the grandson of Cunedda Wledig, lord of Gododin. + +{84a} A maritime region in the north, as we infer, not only from the +works of Aneurin, but also from those of Taliesin and Merddin. + +{84b} The rest having been slain. + +{84c} “Erwyt” (erwyd) a pole, or a staff to mete with, and, like the +_gwialen_, an emblem of authority. “I will—mete out the valley of +Succoth.” (Psalm lx. 6.) A similar expression occurs in Llywarch Hen’s +Poems with reference to Urien Rheged, viz. + + “Oedd cledyr cywlad rhwydd.” + +which W. Owen has translated,— + + “That was the prompt defender of his neighbourhood.” + +{84d} Llywarch Hen says in like manner of his own son Gwen,— + + “Rhythr eryr yn ebyr oeddyd.” + + In the assault like the eagle at the fall of rivers thou wert. + +The eagle was probably the armorial badge of the hero of this stanza. + +{84e} Al. “y lyr,” to our shore. We have here an instance of the +kindred signification of some of the different readings found in the +Poem. Both words are used in juxtaposition in the following extracts;— + + “Gwelais ar vorwyn— + Lliw golau tonau taenverw gwenyg + Llanw _ebyr_ ar _llyr_, lle ni mawr-drig.” (Cynddelw.) + + I beheld on a maiden + The bright hue of the spreading ebullition of the breakers of the + waves, + Of the flood of the effluxes of rivers, on the strand, where it + tarries not long. + + “Oedd ei var— + Megys twrv _ebyr_ yn _llyr_ llawn.” (Cynddelw.) + + His rage + Was like the tumult of the mouths of rivers with a full margin. + + “Calan hyddvrev, tymp dydd yn edwi, + Cynhwrv yn _ebyr_, _llyr_ yn llenwi.” (Ll P. Moch.) + + The beginning of October, the period of the falling off of day, + There is tumult in the mouths of rivers, filling up the shore. + +{85a} “I ammod.” This was probably a confederation entered into by the +different princes, for the purpose of uniting their forces against the +common enemy; a supposition corroborated by the word “cywlad,” just used. +The poet might, however, have intended a play upon the word “ammod,” +because of its great resemblance in sound to “ammwyd,” a _bait_, to which +the eagle was allured, “llithywyt” (llithiwyd) a strictly sporting term. + +{85b} “A garwyd,” al. “a gatwyt” “was preserved, or protected.” + +{85c} The connection between “arvaeth,” and the bannerial device is very +obvious at lines 110, 111. + + “Mor ehelaeth + E aruaeth uch arwyt.” + + With such a magnificent + Design of enterprize blazoned on his standard. + +{85d} “O dechwyt,” i.e. _tech wyd_. + +{85e} We have adopted “Manawyd” as a proper name, under the impression +that the different stanzas of the Gododin, albeit regular links of the +same general subject, are nevertheless in a manner each complete in +itself, and therefore that it would be more natural, where the drift of +the paragraph allowed, or seemed to have that tendency, to look out for +the names of the chiefs, who may be thus distinctly introduced; according +to the tenor of the following declaration which is appended to “Gorchan +Cynvelyn.” (Myv. Arch. vol. i. page 61.) + + “Canu un Canuauc a dal pob Awdyl o’r Gododin heruyd breint yngcerd + amrysson. Tri chanu a thriugeint a thrychant a dal pob un or + Gorchaneu . . . Achaws yu am goffau yn y Gorchaneu rivedi Guyr a + aethant y Gatraeth nog y dyle gur vyned i ymlad heb arveu; Ny dyle + Bard myned i amrysson heb y gerd honno.” + + Every Ode of the Gododin is equivalent to a single song, according to + the privilege of poetical competition. Each of the incantations is + equal to three hundred and sixty-three songs, because the number of + the men who went to Cattraeth is commemorated in the Incantations, + and as no man should go to battle without arms, so no Bard ought to + contend without that Poem. + +It is true that in the Vellum MS. as transcribed by Davies, this does not +form a distinct stanza, but is a continuation of the preceding one. +Nevertheless in other copies a detached position is given to it, which +seems required also by the opening sentence, and particularly by the +rhyme. + +We find, moreover, that Manawyd was anciently used as a proper name, for +not to mention Manawydan and Culvynawyd, we have Manawyd in one of +Taliesin’s Poems as undoubtedly the name of a person. + + “Ys gwyr Manawyd a Phryderi.” (Myv. Arch. vol. i. p. 67.) + +The name of Pryderi occurs further on in our Poem. + +Manawyd is mentioned likewise in the Dialogue between Arthur, Cai, and +Glewlwyd,— + + “Neus duc Manavid eis tull o Trywrid” (Myv. Arch. vol. i. p. 167.) + +Dr. O. Pughe translates the line in the Gododin thus— + + “There was a confident impelling forward of the shaft of the + variegated standard.” + +{86a} “Ny nodi,” (ni nodi) _thou dost not mark_, thou art blind to the +arms of the enemy both defensive and offensive. “Nodi,” may also have +reference to “nod” in the third line of the stanza. + +{86b} Al. “Protected against the assault of the battle of Manau;” i.e. +Mannau Gododin, or according to others, Mannau in which A.D. 582 Aidan +mac Gavran was victorious. (See Ritson’s Annals of Caledonia, Vol. ii. +p. 35.) + +{87a} One reason for not regarding “Caeawc” as a proper name, may be +discovered in the manner in which the expression “cawawc cynhorawc” is +used in an anonymous poem of an early date, apud Myv. Arch. vol. i. page +180. The author, though he evidently borrowed it from the Gododin, as +indeed his allusion to Cattraeth a few lines before would likewise imply, +employs it merely as an epithet. + +{87b} An allusion probably to his armorial bearings. Another reading +gives “bled e maran,” on the open strand. + +{87c} “This singular fact of the ancient Britons wearing amber beads, is +confirmed by many beads of amber having been found in the barrows on +Salisbury plain, which have been recently dug. I understand that in +several of these graves, pieces of amber like beads have been met with; +and in one as many beads were found as would have made a wreath.” (S. +Turner’s Vind. 208, 209.) + +{87d} “Am ran.” “Tri argau gwaed: gwaed hyd _ran_, a gwaed hyd gwll, a +gwaed hyd lawr; sev yw hynny, gwaed hyd _wyneb_, gwaed hyd ddillad, a +gwaed a reto hyd lawr.” (Law Triads, Myv. Arch, vol. iii. p. 342.) +Hence “amrant,” the eyelid. + +{87e} Lit. “the place of wine,” otherwise “a horn of wine,” + + “Ef a’m rhoddes medd a gwin o wydrin _ban_. + + He gave me mead and wine from the transparent horn. (Taliesin.) + +Al. “gwrnvann,” the place of the urn. In that case the line might be +thus translated,— + + Precious was the amber, but its price was the grave. + +{88a} The hero of this stanza we take to be the “son of Ysgyran” +himself. He disdained the eager advance of the enemy; for such was his +will, that he had only to declare it, to make Venedotia and the North +acknowledge his power, and submit to his jurisdiction; or, it may be, to +march unanimously to his side. Supposing “gwyar,” however, to be the +correct reading, we might render the line thus,— + + He repelled violence, and gore trickled to the ground. + +Perhaps the identity of the person commemorated with the son of Ysgyran +would become more evident by the addition of a comma after “gyssul,” +thus,— + + “Ket dyffei wyned a gogled e rann + O gussyl,—mah Ysgyrran.” + +Who Ysgyran, or Cyran (the _ys_ being a mere prefix) was, we have no +means of knowing, as the name does not occur any where in history. + +{88b} Al. “The maimed shield-bearer,” (ysgwydwr.) + +{88c} “Cyn-nod,” the principal mark or butt; the most conspicuous, owing +to his being in advance of his men, and perhaps on account of his stature +also, if “eg gawr,” or “yggawr” mean _giantlike_. + +{88d} “Cyn-ran;” the foremost share, or participation of an action. + +{89a} “Pymwnt,” (i.e. pum mwnt; “deg myrdd yn y mwnt,”) five hundred +thousand, which, multiplied by five, would give us 2,500,000 as the +number of men who composed the above battalions. + +{89b} Deivyr and Bryneich, (_Deira and Bernicia_) are situated on the +eastern coast of the island, the river Humber, as we learn from the +Triads, (Myv. Arch. vol. ii. p. 68) flowing through a portion thereof. +In a document which has been published in the Iolo MSS. Argoed +Derwennydd, (Derwent wood probably) and the river Trenn or Trent, are +mentioned as the extreme boundaries of the region. The triads moreover +speak of the three sons of Dysgyvedawg, (or Dysgyvyndawd) viz. Gall, +Difedel, and Ysgavnell, under the appellation of the “three monarchs of +Deivyr and Bryneich,” (Ibid. p. 64) about the period, as it would appear, +of our Poem. + +It is clear from the above passage in the Gododin, as well as from those +lines, (78, 79.) + + “Ar deulu brenneych beych barnasswn + Dilyw dyn en vyw nys adawsswn.” + + If I had judged you to be of the tribe of Bryneich, + Not the phantom of a man would I have left alive; + +that the people of those countries were not at the time in question on +friendly terms with the neighbouring Britons; which circumstance is +further apparent from the contemporary testimony of Llywarch Hen, who +speaks of Urien as having conquered the land of Bryneich; + + “Neus gorug o dir Brynaich.” + +This, it is true, might have a reference to the Saxon tribes, who had +succeeded at an early period, in establishing themselves along the coast +in that part of the island, yet the disparaging manner in which the grave +of Disgyrnin Disgyfedawt, evidently the father of the “three monarchs,” +is spoken of in the Englynion y Beddau, inclines us strongly to the +belief that it was the Aborigines themselves who were thus guilty of +treason to the common weal. + + “Cigleu don drom dra thywawd, + Am vedd Dysgyrnyn Dysgyveddawd, + Aches trwm angwres pechawd.” + + Hear the sullen wave beyond the strand, + Round the grave of Dysgyrnyn Dysgyveddawd, + Heavy the burning impulse raised by sin. + + (Myv. Arch. vol. i. p. 78.) + +{90a} An allusion to the name of our hero’s father, (Bleiddan) and +probably to his own standard. + +{90b} “Neithyawr.” Al. “than go to the altar.” + +{90c} Al. “elawr” a _bier_, “than obtained a bier.” He was devoured by +the birds of prey ere he could be removed for interment. + +{90d} Or, “Ere he received his nuptial dowry, his blood streamed down.” + +{90e} Hyveidd Hir was the son of Bleiddan Sant, of Glamorgan, (the +celebrated Lupus.) According to the Triads he was one of the three alien +kings, upon whom dominion was conferred for their mighty deeds, and for +their praiseworthy and gracious qualities. + + “Tri eilldeyrn ynys Prydain: Gwrgai vab Gwrien yn y Gogledd, a + Chadavael vab Cynvedw yng Ngwynedd, a Hyveidd Hir vab Bleiddan Sant + ym Morganwg: sev y rhodded Teyrnedd iddynt am eu campau a’u + cynneddvau clodvorion a rhadvorion.” (Triad, 26, third series.) + +Taliesin, in his Ode to Urien, speaks of Hyveidd in conjunction with +Gododin;— + + “Hyveidd a Gododin a lleu towys.” (Myv. Arch. vol. i. p. 57.) + +His name also occurs in another poem, by the same Bard, “to Gwallawg ap +Lleenawg;”— + + “Haearnddur a Hyfeidd a Gwallawg + Ac Owein Mon Maelgynig ddefawd + A wnaw peithwyr gorweiddiawg.” + + Haearnddur and Hyveidd and Gwallawg, + And Owain of Mon, of Maelgynian manner, + Would prostrate the ravagers. (Myv. Arch. vol. i. p. 64.) + +The epithet “Hir,” (_long_ or _tall_) applied to Hyveidd, countenances +the view of his being conspicuous on account of his size. + +{91a} Gognaw must have been the son of Botgad. The name, as well as +that of the preceding hero, occurs in an Ode which Taliesin addressed to +Gwallawg ab Lleenawg. + + “Gognaw ei brawd digones.” + +If, however, it be not a proper name in this stanza, it may be rendered +either “with laughter and sprightliness,” or “they were a laughing +energy.” + +{91b} Al. “As with blades they dealt mutual blows.” + +{91c} “A llaw,” _a hand_; metaphorically _power_. Al. “a allaw,” _who +is able_. + +{92a} The same consideration which induced us to regard “Manawyd” as a +proper name in a former stanza, has caused us to leave “Gwanar” +untranslated in this place. It is not improbable, however, from the +shortness of this sonnet, that the line containing the name of its hero +may have been lost. In that case we should translate “chwerthin wanar,” +“their leader laughed.” That Gwanar was occasionally used as a proper +name by the ancient Britons, appears from Triad xl. (first series) where +we find one of the sons of Lliaws ab Nwyvre so called. He flourished +however before the date of the Gododin, and cannot on that account be +identified with the Gwanar of the text. Taliesin uses the word in his +“Mic Dinbych,” apparently as a proper name;— + + “Clod wasgar a Gwanar ydd ymddullyn.” + +{92b} Or “gem of a regiment;” his choice regiment. + +{92c} Al. “digynny,” _went up_. + +{92d} The Bard in the two last lines seems to be addressing Death, or +Fate, which he designates as “the strong pillar of the living law,” or +the law of nature, just as the Latins called it “dura necessitas,” +“mortis dura lex,” “fatalis Parcarum lex,” &c. The expressions “heb vawr +drydar,” and “arwar,” indicative of the effects of death, are introduced +by way of contrast to the noisy mirth which characterised the warriors’ +march to the field of battle. “Arwar” signifies literally a _quiescent +state_, or _state of general rest_; _pacification_; and as such is a very +proper term to denote the character of death. + + “O _arwar_ daiar down i gyd dyddbrawd.” (Ll. P. Moch.) + + From the silent state of earth we shall all come at the judgment day. + +{93a} As the word “glas,” though primarily signifying _blue_, has also a +very general sense, and may mean merely _pale_ or _fresh_, yet as we find +decided colours attributed to mead elsewhere in the poem, such as +“melyn,” (yellow) and “gwyn” (white) we have thought proper to retain the +literal acceptation in this place, as a poetical variety, however +inapplicable to the beverage in question it may seem. + +{93b} “Impia sub dulci melle venena latent.” + +{93c} The name of the chieftain, who commanded this particular troop, is +not mentioned, unless (which is not very probable) we take “Trychant” in +the third line as a proper name, and translate thus,— + + “Trychant marshals his men, armed with the weapons of war.” + +Or, are we to understand by “trwy beiryant,” that he marshalled his men +by means of some instrument or machinery? + +{93d} I.e. the silence of death. + +{94a} “Fyryf frwythlawn,” i.e. “_fyrv_ frwythlawn;” the sense of “_furv_ +frwythlawn” would seem to be “in vigorous order.” + +{94b} The followers of the son of Cian (_a little dog_) are evidently +called “aergwn,” (_dogs of war_) in allusion to his patronymic, as well +as to the name of his residence, “maen gwyngwn,” (_the stone of the white +dogs_.) Probably also the figure of a dog was charged on their banner. + +{94c} The Bernicians, as we have already noticed, were at this time +opposed to the British patriots. The Cymry carried a traditional hatred +of that people with them into Wales, and applied the term _Bryneich_ to +such of their kindred as allied themselves to the enemies of their +country, as is abundantly manifest in the works of the mediæval +Bards.—See STEPHEN’S Literature of the Kymry, p. 265.) + +{94d} Or, “Like a deluge, I would not have left a man alive.” + +{94e} It is very probable that the son of Cian had married a daughter of +one of the chiefs of Bryneich, which would thus account for the Bard’s +lurking apprehension at first, that he might be induced to barter his +allegiance for the dowry to be expected with his wife. His fears however +were groundless; for such were the purity and patriotism of our youthful +hero, that he even refused the dowry when it was offered to him, and +braved his father-in-law’s anger withal. + +{95a} In Gorchan Maelderw we read of— + + “The only son of Cian from Trabannawg.” + +Cian was a Bard, and is mentioned as such by Nennius in the following +passage,— + + “Item Talhaern Talanguen in Poemate claruit, et Nuevin et Taliessin, + et Bluchbar, et Cian qui vocatur Gueinchguant (_Cian who is called + Gwyngwn_) simul uno tempore in poemate Britannico claruerunt.” + +Taliesin likewise represents him in that character in a Poem entitled, +“Angar Cyvyndawd.” (Myv. Arch. vol. i. p. 34.) + + “Cian pan ddarvu + Lliaws gyvolu.” + + When Cian sang the praise of many. + +The circumstance of his being thus a poet, and classed with Aneurin +(Nuevin) would account for the intimacy which subsisted between the +latter and his son. + +Cian is said to have been the servant of Peris, and to them conjointly is +Llangian in Caernarvonshire dedicated. Cian is commemorated on the 11th +of December.—See Rees’s Welsh Saints, p. 302. + +{95b} It is probable that _three hundred_ was the number which composed +the retinue of Mynyddawg, and that a _hundred thousand_, a large round +figure, is chosen to denote the preponderance of the enemy’s forces that +were arrayed in opposition. This view seems more in unison with reason, +as well as with the grammatical construction of the passage, (“emdaflawr” +being a middle verb) than the supposition that the “milcant a thrychant” +formed the total of the army of the Cymry. + +{96a} Or, “They served as butts for the falling lances.” + +{96b} “Gorsaf;” “Gorsav arv,” _a magazine of arms_. “Brwydr orsavawl,” +a pitched battle. + +{96c} “Mynyddawg Mwynvawr.” The Triads call him “Mynyddawg Eiddin,” +_Edin_, hence _Edinburgh_, which probably corresponds with his original +place of residence, or at any rate may be considered as being situate +within the limits of his ancient dominions. “The retinue of Mynyddawg +Eiddin at Cattraeth” is represented as one of “the three honourable +retinues of the Isle of Britain,” because the men who composed it had +joined their chieftain’s standard of their own accord, and marched at +their own expense, claiming neither pay nor reward for their service, +from king or country. + + “Tair gosgordd addwyn Ynys Prydain; Gosgordd Belyn vab Cynvelyn yng + nghadvel Caradawg ab Bran; a gosgordd Mynyddawg Eiddin yng + Nghattraeth; a Gosgordd Drywon ab Nudd Hael yn Rhodwydd Arderydd yn y + Gogledd; sev ydd elai bawb yn y rhai hynny ar eu traul eu hunain heb + aros govyn, ac heb erchi na thal nag anrheg y gan wlad na chan Deyrn; + ac achaws hynny au gelwid hwy y tair gosgordd addwyn.” (Triad 79, + third series.) + +{96d} “Hanyanawr,” their natural relatives; “hangenawr,” those who stood +in need of them, their families and friends. The line may likewise be +rendered,— + + “Esteemed for their age and disposition.” + +{96e} Al. “llawen,” _merry_; “the merry minstrel.” + +{97a} These plumes must accordingly have been themselves red. That +military men at this period did wear feathers of particular colours as +distinctive badges, is further evident from the testimony of Llywarch +Hen, who describes himself as having worn “yellow plumes.” + + “Gwedy meirch hywedd, a chochwedd ddillad, + A phluawr melyn, + Main vy nghoes, nid oes ym dremyn!” (Elegy on Cynddylan.) + + After the sleek tractable steeds, and garments of ruddy hue, + And the waving yellow plumes, + Slender is my leg, my piercing look is gone.” + +In some copies we read “phurawr” (purawr) _what purifies_. + +{97b} Their weapons were red and white from the effects of _blood_ and +_gore_. + +{97c} Mr. Davies and Dr. Pughe seem to have preferred the expression +“_pedryolet_ bennawr,” which they construed into _four pointed helmets_: +“pedryollt,” _split into four parts_, would appear, however, to be much +more accordant with the descriptive tenor of the passage. + +{97d} As in the two preceding lines is contained a compliment to +military valour, the evident drift of the poem requires that it should be +applied to the British party; hence “rac” in this place must be +understood to mean that the toiling warriors were _from_ or _of_ the +retinue of Mynyddawg rather than from those who confronted him. + +{97e} Disgraced by the blasphemous taunts and treachery of the enemy. + +{98a} “Ceugant yw angeu,” (adage.) The line might be rendered,— + + “Without end they multiplied the wooden biers;” + +An expression similar to that made use of by Llywarch Hen, in reference +to the battle of Llongborth:— + + “Ac elorawr mwy no maint. + And biers innumerable. (Elegy upon Geraint ab Erbin.) + +“Ceugant,” translated _without end_, is properly a Druidic term, +signifying the circle of eternity. + + “Cylch y ceugant, ac nis gall namyn Duw eu dreiglaw.” + + The circle of infinitude, none but God can pervade it. (Barddas.) + + “Tri phren rhydd yn forest y brenhin; pren crib eglwys; a phren + peleidyr a elont yn rhaid y brenhin; a _phren elawr_.” (Welsh Laws.) + +{98b} He is described as of “Baptism” in contradistinction to the +infidel Saxons. + +{98c} A reference to the last unction. See St. James, v. 14. + +{98d} I.e. Tudvwlch Hir, the hero of this particular stanza. + +{99a} “Ne.” The statement at line 138 would determine the affirmative +character of this word. + +{99b} “Veinoethyd,” (_meinoethydd_;) not “in the celebration of May +Eve,” which is Davies’s rendering, as we clearly infer from the +conjunction of the word with “meinddydd,” (confessedly a _serene day_) in +Kadeir Taliesin and Gwawd y Lludd Mawr. (See Myv. Arch. v. i. pp. 37, +74.) + +{99c} “Gynatcan.” Al. “gyvatcan,” (_cyvadgan_) a proverb. “Though his +success was proverbial.” + +{99d} Or, “Through ambition he was a soarer.” The person here +commemorated was of an ambitious turn of mind, and bore armorial ensigns +of a corresponding character, which were looked upon, in a manner, as +prophetic of his successful career as a warrior, but the result of this +battle miserably belied such a promise. + + “Prenial yw i bawb ei drachwres.” + + The path of glory leads but to the grave.—(Taliesin.) + +{99e} Where Edinburgh now stands; and which was probably the head +quarters of Mynyddawg, (see line 89 note.) In a poem printed in Davies’s +Mythology of the Druids, p. 574, and supposed to have been written by +Aneurin, Tudvwlch and Cyvwlch are represented as feasting with Mynyddawg. + + “Gan Vynydawc + Bu adveiliawc + Eu gwirodau.” + + Destructive were their wassails with Mynyddawg. + +{100a} In the Poem alluded to, Tudvwlch Hir is described as a _man of +dignity_, “breein,” and as having in conjunction with Cyvwlch made +breaches in the bastions of forts,— + + “A oreu vwlch ar vann caerau.” + +The Gorchan Maelderw in like manner speaks of him as,— + + “Tudvwlch the oppressor of war, the destroyer of forts.” + +{100b} “Ech,” εχ. + +{100c} Lit. “until the seventh day;”—an expression intended probably to +denote the space of a week. The operations of each day are specified +further on in the Poem. In like manner we are presented in “Gwawd Lludd +y Mawr,” (Myv. Arch. vol. i. p. 74) with an enumeration of certain +martial deeds that were performed on each day during an entire week. + +{100d} Lit. “Should have made him a free man,” or “should have continued +him,” &c. + +{100e} Al. “ugain,” _a score_, + +{100f} Al. the powerful supporter—“drut nerthyd.” + +{100g} Kilydd is mentioned in the Mabinogi of “Kilhwch and Olwen,” where +he is represented as the son of Prince Kelyddon. + +{100h} “Gwyr;” al. the hero, “gwr.” + +{101a} Lit. “the gleamers assembled.” The 1, 2, 3, and 6, versions, +“cyn hynt treiawr,” might be translated “ere the return of the ebbing +tide,” and the meaning of the whole would seem to be, that the men, +having marched to the field of battle at dawn, experienced a bloody +engagement before the evening; the space of time between tide and tide +being equal to the length of a day. + +{101b} “Like the thunder of heaven was the clashing of the +shields.”—(Gorch. Mael.) + +{101c} “Od uch lle.” Al. “Od uch lled,” _above the plain_. + +{101d} Mark the antithesis “gwr llawr”—“arbennawr,” and +“cethrawr”—“llavnawr.” + +{101e} “En gystud heyrn;” an allusion to the instrument which caused his +death. “Ferreus somnus.” + +{101f} It is clear from this statement that Erthai was the lawful lord +of the Mordei. He had been deprived of his dominions for a time, +probably through the usurpation of the “steel-clad commander,” but at +length succeeded in recovering them. Who Erthai was we know not; +Llywarch Hen had a son, whose name bore some resemblance to the word: he +is mentioned in the following triplet;— + + “The best three men in their country, + For protecting their habitation, + Eithyr and _Erthyr_ and Argad.” (Elegy on Old Age.) + +{102a} Al. “Erthgi,” which is obviously the same as “Arthgi,” a +_bear-dog_. The rhythmical run of the line seems, however, to point to +the other as the proper word. + +{102b} “Erthychei;” there is here evidently an allusion to the name of +the hero, (that is, supposing the name adopted in the translation to be +the right one) which consideration induces us to prefer it to the other +reading, viz. “erthrychei.” “With the latter word, however, we should +translate the passage as follows;— + + “In the front Erthai would mangle an army.” + +{102c} Al. “dychurant,” _will be afflicted_. + +{102d} Probably Edeyrn may have been the hero of this stanza, and that a +play upon the word is intended in the expression “edyrn diedyrn.” Edyrn +the kingdom will remain, but Edyrn the king is gone. + +{102e} “Gowyssawr,” the furrower of battle: the designation of a +warrior. + + “Wyr i Vleddyn arv leiddiad + A oedd draw yn _cwysaw cad_.” (Hywel Cilan.) + + A grandson of Bleddyn with the weapon of slaughter, + Was yonder furrowing the battle. + +Al. “lynwyssawr,” “the plague;” or “the pool maker,” in reference to the +effusion of blood which he caused on the field of battle. + +As just observed, this individual may have been Edeyrn, the son of Nudd +ab Beli ab Rhun ab Maelgwn ab Caswallon Lawhir ab Einiawn Yrth ab Cunedda +ab Edeyrn ab Padarn Beisrudd by Gwawl daughter of COEL GODEBOG, who would +be removed from the field of battle by his own clan. + +{103a} “Bu truan,” just as in line 107. + +{103b} The names of both these persons, as we have already seen, occur +together in a Poem attributed to Aneurin, and printed in Davies’s +Mythology of the Druids. The latter, moreover, appears in the Tale of +“Kilhwch and Olwen,” where a daughter of his is likewise mentioned by the +name of Eheubryd. Cyvwlch is there stated to have been one of the three +grandsons of Cleddyv Divwlch, the other two being Bwlch and Sevwich. +“Their three shields are three gleaming glitterers. Their three spears +are three pointed piercers. Their three swords are three griding +gashers, Glas, Glesig, and Clersag.” (page 291.) + +{103c} “Leu,” the root of “goleu,” “lleuad,” &c. The other reading +“liw,” is equally proper, even as we still say “liw dydd,” “liw nos,” &c. + +{103d} Lit. “rush-light.” + +{103e} Lit. “its enmity lasted long.” The latter portion of this +stanza, which refers to Tudvwlch and Cyvwlch, seems to have been +misplaced. + +{103f} Qu. “Icenorum arx?” + +{103g} “Ewgei,” _e wgei_ from “gwg,” _a frown_. Al. “negei,” _he shewed +resistance_, from “nag,” a _denial_. So in “Englynion y Beddau;”— + + “Y Beddau hir yn Ngwanas + Ni chavas ae dioes + Pwy vynt hwy, pwy eu _neges_.” + +i.e. “who will own, or who will deny them.” + +{104a} Can this mean _blood_ or _bloody field_? It is certain that +Meigant (600–630) uses the word in that sense;— + + “_Plwde_ y danav hyd ymhen vy nghlun.” (Myv. Arch. vol. i. p. 160) + + Under me was blood to the top of my knee. + +{104b} “Digalonnit,” the other reading “dygollovit,” (dygoll ovid) would +signify that the horn _banished his sorrow_. + +{104c} Al. “Even on the foam-bordered Mordei.” + +{104d} Which “Gwarthlev,” ( the voice of reproach) was not. Davies +makes “eno bryt,” into a proper name, and construes the sentence thus;— + +“Whilst Gwarthlev and Enovryd were pouring forth the liquor.” + +{105a} “Arch.” Al. “arth en llwrw.” “He was an impetuous bear.” There +may be here a faint allusion to the name Gwarthlev, nor is it unlikely +that his ensign bore the figure of a bear. + +{105b} “Gwd,” (gwdd) _that turns round_. + +{105c} “Gyfgein,” (cyvgein) _co-light_. + +{105d} A peculiarity observable in Welsh documents is, that they +frequently consign general circumstances to the island of Britain in +particular. This may be exemplified by the account which is given of the +deluge in Triad 13. (Third Series;)— + + “The three awful events of the _Isle of Britain_; first, the bursting + of the lake of waters, and the overwhelming of the face of all lands; + so that all mankind were drowned, excepting Dwyvan and Dwyvach, who + escaped in a naked vessel, and of them the Isle of Britain was + repeopled,” &c. + +{105e} Gwrveling. + +{105f} Al. “ungentle.” + +{105g} Vide supra, lines 89, 113. + +{105h} As there is nothing to rhyme with “ryodres,” probably there is a +line left out here. + +{106a} It would appear from this that the feast was given in celebration +of the time of harvest. That the Britons, like the Jews, exhibited signs +of great joy at that season, may be inferred from the following Triads of +Dyvnwal Moelmud. (Myv. Arch. vol. iii. p. 283.) + + “Tair clud udcorn sydd; dygynnull gwlad gan riaint a phencenedloedd, + _corn cynhauav_, a chorn cad a rhyvel rhag gormes gorwlad ac estron.” + + There are three trumpet progressions; the assembly of a country + according to heads of families and chiefs of tribes, the horn of + harvest, and the horn of war and of battle against the oppression of + neighbours and aliens. + + “Tair clud addwyn y sydd; beirdd yn darogan heddwch, _cyrch + cynhauav_, a phriodas.” + + There are three happy progressions; bards announcing peace, a meeting + in harvest time, and a marriage. + + “Tri corn cynghlud y sydd; _corn cynhauav_, corn dadlau, a chorn + goly-chwyd.” + + There are three horns for mutual progression; the horn of harvest, + the horn of contention, and the horn for religious adoration. + +{106b} “Arvel,” which is required on account of the rhyme. + +{106c} Bright shields, which are here likened to wings. + + “Y gylchwy dan y gymwy bu adenawc.” Line 361 + + His round shield was with fire winged for slaughter. + +{106d} An allusion to the trappings of the horses. + +{107a} “Diryf.” “Rhyv;” that enlarges or swells out; “diryv,” without +enlargement. A descriptive reference to the expanding or bulging effects +of spears when hurled against a shield. + +{107b} Al. “with equal step they thickly assembled,” “cnydyn” from +_cnydiaw_, to yield a crop. And “cynfedion” from _cyd_ together, and +_pedion_, feet. + +{107c} Al. “unprofitably.” + +{107d} “Hudid” (huddid) covered over. + +{107e} Query, “vras” to rhyme with “glas”? + +{107f} “Teithi;” _the character_, i.e. of the military preparations. + +{107g} “Amgant;” al. “etmygant;” in which case the passage might be +rendered,— + + “Famous were the characteristics + Of, &c.” + +{107h} The Novantæ comprised the present districts of Galloway, Carrick, +Kyle, and Cunningham. + +{108a} If we have interpreted “pumcant” aright, as giving the number of +men in each battalion, it would appear that “mwnt,” though primarily +standing for one hundred thousand, has also a general sense. This view +of it might in like manner apply to the statement made at line 49. + +{108b} “Trychwn,” i.e. tri cwn (a head) a regiment commanded by one +head. + +{108c} Al. “Thrice six,” &c. Al. “Three noisy,” &c. That as many as +300 commanders should issue from Eiddin, can only be explained on the +supposition that, because of its proximity to Cattraeth, it formed the +principal station of the allied forces. + +{108d} Lit. “golden kings wearing chains.” The manner in which the +greater and lesser numbers are placed in juxtaposition (lines 184–187) +makes it very probable that the latter designate the commanders of the +troops there mentioned. And we may well suppose that the statement from +line 188 to line 191 is a mere continuation of the character of the +“three bold knights.” + +{108e} _Lead_, being heavy, answers to “trwm” in the preceding line. + +{108f} A reference to the armour of the soldiers. + +{109a} Or “who were Brython.” The Brython were the third “social tribe +of the Isle of Britain,” who “came from the land of Llydaw, and were +descended from the primitive tribe of the Cymry,” (Triad 5, third +series.) Being the third principal tribe that settled in Britain, it is +probable that their original inheritance was Alban, one of the “three +principal provinces of the Isle of Britain,” (See Triad 2) which they +must have occupied prior to the time of Prydain the son of Aedd Mawr. +Dunbarton is Dun Bretton, i.e. Dinas y Brython. + +{109b} Cynon was the son of Clydno Eiddin, and one of the three +counselling warriors of Arthur. + + “Tri chyngoriad varchawg llys Arthur; Cynon ab Clydno Eiddin, Arawn + ab Cynvarch, a Llywarch Hen ab Elidyr Lydanwyn.” (Triad 86, first + series.) + +He was also one of the “three ardent lovers,” on account of his passion +for Morvydd, daughter of Urien Rheged. + + “Tri serchawg Ynys Prydain; Caswallawn mab Beli am Flur merch Fugnach + Gorr, a Thrystan mab Tallwch am Essyllt gwreig March Meirchiawn ei + ewythr, a Chynon ab Clydno Eiddun am Forwydd verch Urien.” (Tr. 53.) + +Cynon ab Clydno Eiddin was educated at the college of Llancarvan, and is +said to have answered one of the seven questions proposed by Cattwg +Ddoeth, the President, as follows,— + + “Pa gamp decav ar ddyn? + Atteb. Cyweirdeb.” (Cynan ab Clydno Eiddin ai dywawd.) + + What is man’s fairest quality? + Answer. Sincerity. + +His grave is recorded in the Englynion y Beddau. (Myv. Arch. vol i. p. +79.) + +{109c} We adopt this as a proper name, because it makes up the number +three. A person of that name is mentioned in the following stanza;— + + “A glywaist ti chwedl Cynrain, + Pen cyngor Ynys Prydain, + Gwell ydyw cadw nag olrhain.” + + Hast thou heard the saying of Cynrain, + The chief counsellor of the Island of Britain? + Better to keep than to pursue. (Iolo MSS. pp. 251, 651.) + +The word has however been construed “chief spearmen,” and “of the stock +of.” + +{109d} There is a place so called in Cardiganshire. + +{110a} Al. “gogyverth,” to oppose. + +{110b} “Yn hon,” from _on_ an ash, and by metonymy, a spear. Or, as +“hon” means what is present to the sight, we may construe the passage +thus,— + + “To greet openly,” &c. + +{110c} “Deivyr diverogion,” the droppers of Deivyr; not “the men who +dropped _into_ Deira,” as Davies has it. Deivyr and Bryneich were now +opposed to the British patriots. See lines 50, 78. + +{110d} Namely Cydywal, a chieftain of Gwynedd, now stationed in the +region of Mordei; considering the disaster that ensued, it appeared +whilst he presided over the banquet in his own camp, as if he were merely +preparing a feast for the birds of prey. + +{110e} His history is unknown. + +{110f} “Cyn y,” i.e. _cyni_. + +{111a} Nothing is known of this diviner. + +{111b} The “croes” was probably a kind of cross bow. Taliesin in +“Gwaith Gwenystrad” says of the slain warriors,— + + “Llaw ynghroes”— + +Which has been translated by Ieuan Vardd, + + “Their hands were on the crucifix [cross.]” (Myv. Arch. vol. i. p. + 52.) + +Al. “Athrwys,” (ath-rhwys) “very vigorously.” + +{111c} This appears to have been the compact entered into by the +different tribes of the Britons, for the purpose of withstanding the +usurpation of the common foe. See line 32. + +{111d} “Ermygei,” which might also, and perhaps more literally, be +rendered _he paid respect to_. The other reading “dirmygei,” would mean +_he spurned_, or _dishonoured_. + +{111e} “Blaen Gwynedd,” the borders of North Wales, whither the Saxon +encroachment had already extended. + +{112a} “Fawd ut,” i.e. ffawddyd, from ffawdd, radiation, splendour. We +may also render the sentence as follows,— + + “I fell by the radiant rampart, (ffin)” + +the epithet _radiant_ having a reference to the arms of the soldiers. + +{112b} Or, as a moral reflection,— + + “A hero’s prowess is not without ambition.” + +There are various readings of the word which is here translated +_prowess_, e.g. cobnet, colwed, eofned, but all of them are capable of +that construction, thus “cobnet” comes from _cobiaw_, to thump, “colwed,” +from _col_ a sting, or a prop, whilst “eofned” literally means +fearlessness. + +{112c} In Maelderw’s stanzas thus,— + + “When all went up, thou didst go down.” + +In another place,— + + “When all were extended, thou didst also fall.” + +{112d} The line in Gorchan Maelderw, Myv. Arch. vol. i. p. 62, has been +translated by Dr. W. O. Pughe, + + “Present, ere he spoke, was carried with the arms.” (Dict. _Voce_ + Breichiawl.) + +That in the other Gorchan of Maelderw, page 85, may be rendered, + + Present narrates that he was carried with the arms. + +{113a} Lit. “Three heroes and three score and three hundred, wearing the +golden torques.” + +{113b} If “ffosawd” ever bears the meaning assigned to it by Dr. Pughe, +it must have derived it from the practise of fighting in the _fosse_ of a +camp, (which would be peculiarly _gashing_) for on his own showing the +word has no other etymon than that of “ffos,” a _ditch_, a _trench_. +From the same root Merddin gives it the sense of burial—defossio. + + “A hyt vraut yth goffaaf + Dy _ffossaut_ trallaut trymmaf.” (Myv. Arch. vol. i. p. 149.) + + Until doom will I remember + Thy interment, which was a most heavy affliction. + +Likewise Taliesin;— + + “Hyd ydd aeth ef + Ercwlf mur _ffosawd_ + As arnut tywawd.” (Myv. Arch. i. p. 69.) + + Until he, Ercwlf, + Descended into the fosse of the rampart, + And was covered with sand. + +{114a} Their names are given in “Gwarchan Cynvelyn.” (Myv. Arch. vol. +i. page 60. Davies’s Mythology, page 622.) + + Three warriors and three score and three hundred, + To the conflict of Cattraeth went forth; + Of those who hastened from the mead of the cup-bearers, + Three only returned, + Cynon and Cadreith, and Cadlew of Cadnant, + And I myself from the shedding of blood.— + +{114b} The grave of Cynon is thus recorded;— + + “Bet gur gwaud urtin + In uchel titin in isel gwelitin + Bet Cynon mab Clytno Idin.” + + The grave of a warrior of high renown + Is in a lofty region—but a lowly bed; + The grave of Cynon the son of Clydno Eiddin. + +And in another stanza; + + “Piau y bet y dann y brin + Bet gur gwrt yng Kiuiscin + Bet Kinon mab Clytno Idin.” + + Whose is the grave beneath the hill? + It is the grave of a warrior valiant in the conflict,— + The grave of Cynon the son of Clydno Eiddin. (Myv. Arch. vol. i. p. + 79.) + +A saying of Cadreith has been preserved in the Englynion y Clywed. + + “A glyweisti a gant Cadreith + Fab Porthawr filwr areith + Ni char Dofydd diobeith.” (Myv. Arch. i. 175.) + + Hast thou heard what Cadreith sang, + The son of Porthawr, with the warlike speech? + God loves not the despairer. + +{114c} “Gwenwawd.” It might be translated “flattering song,” but +_candid_ or _sacred_ seems more consonant with the character of a Bard, +whose motto was “Y gwir yn erbyn y byd.” We may presume that Aneurin on +this occasion displayed his heraldic badge, which, according to the law +of nations, would immediately cause a cessation of hostilities. + + “Tair braint Beirdd ynys Prydain; Trwyddedogaeth lle’r elont; nas + dycer arv noeth yn eu herbyn: a gair eu gair hwy ar bawb.” + + The three primary privileges of the Bards of the Isle of Britain; + maintenance wherever they go; that no naked weapon be borne in their + presence; and their word be preferred to that of all others. + (Institutional Triads. See also Myv. Arch. vol. iii. Laws of + Dyvnwal Moelmud.) + + “Sed me per hostes Mercurius celer + Denso paventem sustulit aere. (Horace Carm. lib. ii. Ode 7.) + +{115a} “Gwyn dragon;” probably Hengist, who bore, as his arms, a _white +prancing horse_ upon a red field. There is here accordingly an allusion +to the first arrival of the Saxons, which was the cause to the Britons of +all their national calamities for many a long year after. + +Al. “Had it not been for the two hundred (al. ten hundred) men of the +white-bannered commander.” + +{115b} Or, “we were not—until.” &c. + +{115c} Lit. “thorn bushes.” For an illustration of the advantage which +the natives would derive from their woods and thickets in times of war, +the reader is referred to a story told of Caradoc in the Iolo MSS. pp. +185, 597. which on account of its length we cannot transfer into our +pages. + +{115d} Or more sententiously, as Davies has it, + + “Base is he in the field, who is base to his own relatives.” + +The construction adopted in the text, might allude to the marriage of +Rowena with Vortigern. + +{116a} “Llwyeu,” from “llwyv,” a _frame_, a _platform_, a _loft_. Or it +may be “llwyv,” an _elm tree_, in reference to the devastation of the +groves just mentioned. The elm was very common in the island at the +period under consideration. Taliesin celebrates a battle entitled +“Gwaith Argoed Llwyvein,” which means “the battle of the forest of elms.” + + “A rhag gwaith Argoed Llwyvain + Bu llawer celain.” (Myv. Arch. vol. i. p. 53.) + +Al. “When we were deprived of our sharpened weapons.” + +{116b} Thus in Gorchan Maelderw,— + + “There trod not, in Gododin, on the surface of the fosse, + When deprived of his sharpened weapon, none more destitute.” + +{116c} One reading has “the weapon of death,” another, “the death-formed +weapon, is broken and motionless.” + +{116d} If we give an affirmative meaning to the words “angkynnull +agkymandull agkysgoget,” the couplet might be thus rendered,— + + “They assembled in arms, and in complete array they moved along, + And rolled through the mighty horde.” + +It is observable that Carnhuanawc adopted this affirmative form in a +similar passage with which “Gorchan Tudvwlch” opens, thus: + + “Arv ynghynnull, + Yn nghymandull, + Twrv yn agwedd; + Y rhag meiwedd, + Y rhag mawredd, + Y rhag madiedd.” + + They assemble in arms, + The forces are marshalled, + Tumult approaches: + In the van are the warlike, + In the van are the noble, + In the van are the good. + +And he moreover traces a similarity between this style and that of +Tacitus, wherein the latter describes the effects of Galgacus’s address +upon his British followers;— + + “Jamque agmina, et armorum fulgores, audentissimi, cujusque procursu, + simul instruebantur acies.” (See Hanes Cymru, p. 96.) + +{117a} Al. “llawr,” “and _prostrate_ the horde of the Lloegrians.” + +{117b} The Lloegrians were the second “social tribe” that settled in +Britain. Their province was that of Lloegyr, by which the Welsh still +designate England, (Triads v. ii. first series) though there is reason to +believe that it was originally of much smaller extent. The Lloegrians +for the most part coalesced with the Saxons, (Triad vii. third series) +and grievously harassed the Cymry in the sixth century. + + “Cynddylan, cae di y rhiw, + Er yddaw Lloegyrwys heddiw; + Amgeledd am un nid gwiw!” (Llywarch Hen.) + + Cynddylan, guard thou the cliff, + Against any Lloegrians that may come this day; + Concern for one should not avail. + +{117c} “Ygcynuor,” i.e. “yn cynvor.” Al. “cynnor,” _the entrance_. Al. +“ynghynwr,” _in the turmoil_. + +{117d} This probably refers to the enemy, who, being pagans, burnt their +dead. The fact might have been suggested to the poet’s mind, by the name +of his hero “Graid,” which signifies _heat_. + +{117e} Viz. that of Graid. + +{117f} The rhyme determines this form, which occurs in 1. In Gorchan +Maelderw, we have, instead of Graid the son of Hoewgi, “Braint the son of +Bleiddgi.” + +{118a} “Orwydan,” from Gorwydd. Another way of translating these lines +would be— + + “There was the hero of the two shielded wings, + The one with the variegated front; the other of like quality with + Prydwen; + +which was the name of Arthur’s shield;— + + “Tarian a gymmerai Arthur ar ei Ysgwydd, yr hon a elwid Prydwen.” + + A shield did Arthur take upon his shoulder, which was called Prydwen. + (Gr. ab Arthur.) + +The supposition that Arthur’s shield had already acquired a notable +renown is indirectly corroborated by an alleged contemporary poem, +“Preiddiau Annwn.” (Myv. Arch. vol. i. p. 45) in which his ship of the +same name is clearly invested with a similarly extravagant character,— + + “Tri lloneid Prydwen ydd aetham ni ar for.” + +{118b} Al. “in the midst of arms.” + +{118c} Perhaps scintillations from the clash of arms. + +{118d} Occasioned by the brightness of the arms. Al. “Clouded was the +dawn, and the sun,” Al. “there was misery.” + +{118e} “_Bud_ e vran,” an allusion to the name of _Bud_van. + +{119a} An old Adage says,— + + “Nac addev dy rin i was.” + + Reveal not thy secrets to a servant. + +{119b} Perhaps buried on the field of battle, where the horses would +trample on his grave; or the expression might allude to the mode of his +being conveyed by horses to his last resting place. + +{119c} “Eleirch,” lit. _swans_, but the expression “meirch eilw +eleirch,” (horses of the colour of swans) in the Maelderw version, seems +to favour the translation we have given above. + +{119d} Or, “the trappings” of his charger. + +{119e} His history is not known. + +{120a} That is, he would not cowardly desert his post, and thus leave an +opening in the rank. + +{120b} During the Christmas festivities, which lasted for twelve days: + + “Llon ceiliog a thwylluan + Au _deuddeng-nydd_ yn hoean”—Engl. y Misoedd. + +On those occasions Bards and minstrels were frequent guests at the halls +of the nobility, and their company contributed not a little to the +general entertainment. The air “Nos Galan,” we may fairly presume, was a +favourite at those festivities. + +{120c} The word “arvaeth” in this poem seems to have a reference +throughout to “arwydd,” or _ensign_. Thus we may suppose that Gwenabwy +bore the _Dragon_ for his arms, which device conveyed the idea of +devastation, rather than that of cultivation. + +{120d} The Bard, according to his general custom, is here contrasting +the two aspects of his hero’s character, the domestic and the martial. + +{121a} A person of the name of Gwenabwy is mentioned in the Hoiannau of +Merddin.—Myv. Arch. v. i. p. 137. + +{121b} Llywarch Hen had a son of the name of Gwên: see his Elegy on Old +Age, where he speaks in rapturous terms of the youth’s valour. + + “Pedwar meib ar ugaint a’m bu, + Eurdorchawg, tywysawg llu; + Oedd Gwên goreu o naddu,” &c. + + Four and twenty sons I have had, + Wearing the golden chain, leaders of armies; + Gwên was the best of them. + +{121c} “Mai y _mead y gathleu_.” There seems to be a playful allusion +in these words to _mewian_ and _cath_, the mewing of a cat. + +{121d} “Meirch,” suggested by the name “Marchleu.” + +{121e} Al. “Maenor,” stones. + +{121f} Or “by the commander on his prancing charger.” “Llemenig,” might +be a proper name, for we find that one of “the three free guests of the +court of Arthur,” was so called. Nevertheless, as it would in that +character appear somewhat out of place here, we have chosen the +etymological sense in preference. + +{121g} “Vym am,” i.e. vy mam, as it occurs, though with the addition of +am vyrn, in 6. + +{121h} The Bard would here pay an indirect compliment to his own +gallantry. + +{122a} “Bedryolet.” Al. “Spears of quartered ash were scattered from +his hand.” + +{122b} “Veinnyell.” Al. “veingel,” qu. narrow shelter? + +{122c} Mygedorth is mentioned by Llywarch Hen,— + + “Yn Llongborth gwelais i vygedorth + A gwyr yn godde ammorth + A gorvod gwedi gorborth.” + + In Llongborth I beheld a solemn pile, + And men suffering privation, + And in a state of subjection after excess of fruition + +It is likewise alluded to in the Triads,— + + “Cornan, march meibion Elifer Gosgorddfawr, a ddwg arnaw Gwrgi, + Peredur, Dunawd Fyr, a Chynfelyn Drwsgl, i edrych ar fygedorth + Gwenddoleu yn Arderydd.” + + Cornan, the horse of the sons of Elifer with the great retinue, + carried Gwrgi, Peredur, Dunawd Fyr, and Cynfelyn the stumbler, to see + the funeral pile of Gwenddoleu in Arderydd. + + “Falsely was it said by Tudlew, + That no one’s steeds would be overtaken by Marchleu; + As he was reared to bring support to all around, + Powerful was the stroke of his sword upon the adversary; + Eagerly ascended the ashen spear from the grasp of his hand, + From the narrow summit of the awful pile.” _Gorch. Mael_. + +{122d} “Vygu,” or “the place where he would suffocate some one.” + +{122e} Or, “he would cut (lladd, mow) with a blade armfuls of furze.” +The furze was for the purpose of supplying the pile. + +{122f} When the weather is unsettled in harvest time, the reapers +display greater energy and activity during the intervals of sunshine; +hence the point of the simile. + +{123a} Nothing more is known of this chieftain. + +{123b} Or “Isaac,” as a proper name. + +{123c} “O barth deheu.” “Deheu,” literally means _the right_, and as +the mid-day sun is to the right of a person looking eastward, the word is +also taken to signify the south; hence we say “deheudir” for South Wales. +The “parth deheu” in this place must accordingly mean some district south +of the scene of action, such as Wales, where Gwyddno and his family +resided, would be. + +{123d} “Devodeu,” manners, customs. + +{123e} That is, the ebb and influx of the tide represented the contrary +aspects of his character, the mild and the impetuous, which are +respectively described in the succeeding lines. + +{123f} Al. “_from_ the point of Maddeu.” + +{123g} If we take this “clawdd” to be the Catrail, we must look for +Offer and Maddeu towards the extremity most remote from head quarters, +i.e. the fort of Eiddin, (Edinburgh) and it is rather remarkable that, +whilst the Catrail is generally supposed to terminate southward at the +Peel-fell, some eminent antiquaries have fixed its furthest point at +Castle _Over_, where there is a British fort, and others have thought +that they could trace it in the _Maiden-way_ near the Roman wall, though +it must be confessed that these supposed continuations are by a third +party regarded as Roman roads. The similarity between the words Offer +and Over is very obvious. Baxter identifies _Over_ with _Oliclavis_, +which is naught else but _ol y clawdd_ the extremity of the rampart. + +{124a} Al. “There was no young offspring that he cut not to pieces, no +aged man that he did not scatter about.” + +{124b} “Murgreit.” The title is ascribed by Taliesin to the Deity. + + “Trindawd tragywydd + A oreu elvydd, + A gwedi elvydd, + Addav yn gelvydd; + A gwedi Adda, + Y goreu Eva; + Yr Israel bendigaid + A oreu _Murgraia_.” + + The eternal Trinity + Made the elements; + And after the elements + Adam wonderfully; + And after Adam + He made Eve; + The blessed Israel + The _mighty Spirit_ made. (Gwawd Gwyr Israel.) + +{124c} Gwyddneu or Gwyddno Garanhir, lord of Cantrev y Gwaelod, A.D. +460–520. Three poems attributed to him are preserved in the Myvyrian +Archaiology. A character mentioned in the Mabinogion, goes by the name +of Gwyddneu ab Llwydau. + +{124d} Mr. Davies thinks that this warrior was the son of Cunedda, who +gave his name to Ceredigion. As Cunedda, however, flourished in the +early part of the fifth century, the martial age of his son Ceredig would +not well coincide with the date of this poem. There was another Caredig, +who succeeded Maelgwn Gwynedd as king of the Britons, about A.D. 590. + +{125a} “Lletvegin;” lit. a _domestic animal_. We have another example +here of the Bard’s favourite practice of contrasting the different +qualities of the person whom he celebrates. + +{125b} Or “When the appointed time of his departure is at hand,” q.d., +“gar cyrdd,” from “cerdd” a _walk_. The adopted reading, however, is +very strongly corroborated by passages in other poems, where “cyrdd” is +unmistakeably used as the plural of “cerdd,” a _song_, e.g.— + + “Cyrdd a cherddorion + A chathleu englynion.” + + Songs and minstrels, + And Angel’s melodies. (Taliesin.) + + “Ys cad ffyrdd, ys _car cyrdd_ cyflef.” + + “He is the roads of battle, he is the friend of harmonious songs.” + (Cynddelw.) + + “Llary deyrn cedyrn yn cadw gwesti _cyrdd_, + _Cerddorion_ gyflochi.” + + A mild prince of mighty men keeping festivals of songs, + And equally protecting the minstrels. (Llygad Gwr.) + + “Arddelw cain ffyrdd _cyrdd cyflef_, + Urddedig wledig wlad nef.” + + Claim the splendid paths of harmonious songs, + Consecrated governor of the kingdom of heaven. (Bleddyn Vardd.) + +{125c} A favourite saying of a person of that name has been preserved in +the following triplet; + + “A glywaist ti chwedl Ceredig + Brenin doeth detholedig? + Pawb a’i droed ar syrthiedig.” + + Hast thou heard the saying of Ceredig, + A wise and select king? + Every one has his foot on the fallen. (Iolo MSS. pp. 259, 664.) + +{126a} The other reading “ceiniad” would mean a _minstrel_, which, on +the supposition that the chieftain of the present is the same with that +of the preceding stanza, would further support the textual construction +which we have given there to “car cyrdd,” viz. _the friend of song_. + +{126b} Al. “gowan,” gashing. + +{126c} Al. “Crwydyr,” perambulated. + +{126d} “Cystudd daear,” _buried_; “cystudd haiarn,” _killed_. See line +128. + +{126e} Caradawg Vreichvras, chief elder (pen hynaiv) of Gelliwig in +Cornwall. (Triad lxiv. first series.) According to the Triads he was +one of the battle knights of the Isle of Britain, and in the Englyn +attributed to Arthur he is styled “Pillar of Cymru.” + + “Tri chadvarchawg Teyrn ynys Prydain: Caradawc Vreiehvras, a Llyr + Lluyddawg, a Mael ab Menwaed o Arllechwedd; ac Arthur a gant iddynt + hynn o Englyn, + + Sev ynt vy nhri chadvarchawg + Mael hir a Llyr Lluyddawg, + A cholovn Cymru Caradawg.” (Triad 29.) + +Caradawg’s horse Lluagor is recorded as one of the three battle horses of +the Island. (Trioedd y Meirch, Myv. Arch. vol. ii. p. 20.) + +{127a} This simile has evidently some connection with the story told of +Caradawg, that owing to his well founded confidence in his wife’s virtue, +he was able to carve a certain Boar’s head, an adventure in which his +compeers failed. It is remarkable also that the Boar’s head, in some +form or other, appears as the armorial bearing of all of his name. See +the “Dream of Rhonabwy.”—Note. Al. “red boar.” + +{127b} This statement may have two meanings, the one real, as indicative +of what did actually take place, namely, that the dogs came out of the +neighbouring woods to feed upon the corpses which had fallen by the band +of Caradawg; the other allegorical, as referring to himself in his +character of a boar or a bull, the wild dogs being his enemies, who thus +hunted and baited him. + +{127c} We may infer from this admission that the Bard’s statements, +though poetically adorned, are, as to the main facts, framed with a +strict regard to truth. Thus no less than four vouchers for the +correctness of his description of Caradawg’s valour are presented to our +notice by name. + +{127d} Gwriad was the son of Gwrien, one of the three princes of vassal +origin. (See line 56: notes.) Gwynn might have been either Gwyn +Godyvron or Gwyn ab Nudd; both alluded to in the Mabinogi of Kilhwch and +Olwen. + +{127e} Lit. its _mangling_ or _hewing_. + +{127f} We should have been tempted to construe the line thus,— + + “From the broken hill of _encounter_,” + +Making “kynn caffat” into one word “cynghaffad,” had we not been +precluded by the peculiar metre which version third presents throughout, +and which accordingly requires “cyn” in this place to rhyme with “fryn.”— + + “O fryn } caffad.” + Hydwn cyn } + +Possibly “Hydwn” may be identified with _Hdddinam_ or _Hadingtoun_, in +the province of Valentia. + +{128a} Al. “vron,” the presence. Caradawg’s father was Llyr Merini, a +prince of Cornwall. + +{128b} Al. “eurawc,” covered with gold. + +{128c} Caradawg Vreichvras, just mentioned. + +{128d} These two were doubtless sons of Llywarch Hên, mentioned together +in the following stanza;— + + “Na Phyll, na Madawg, ni byddynt hiroedlawg, + Or ddevawd y gelwynt; + ‘Rhoddyn!’—‘na roddyn!’—cyngrair byth nis erchynt!” + + Nor Pyll, nor Madawg, would be long lived, + If according to custom there was a calling— + “Surrender!” “They would not surrender!” quarters they ever scorned. + (Elegy on Old Age, &c.) + +{129a} Two persons named Gwgan and Gwion occur together in a Triad, as +having been sentinels in the battle of Bangor, A.D. 603. As that event, +however, happened subsequently to the battle of Cattraeth, where the +heroes of the stanza were killed, the parties could not be the same. +There was another Gwgawn, designated Llawgadarn, who is ranked with +Gwrnerth and Eidiol in a Triad of the three strong men of Britain. + + “Tri gyrddion ynys Prydain: Gwrnerth Ergydlym, a laddes yr arth mwyav + ac a welwyd erioed a saeth wellten; a Gwgawn Llawgadarn, a dreiglis + maen maenarch o’r glynn i benn y mynydd, ac nid oedd llai na thrugain + ych ai tynnai; ac Eidiol Gadarn, a laddes o’r Saeson ym mrad + Caersallawg chwechant a thrigain a chogail gerdin o fachlud haul hyd + yn nhywyll.” (Triad lx. third series.) + +Favourite expressions of both Gwgan and Gwiawn are recorded in Chwedlau’r +Doethion. (Iolo MSS. pp. 251, 651.) + + “A glywaist ti chwedl Gwgan, + Gwedi dianc o’r ffwdan? + Addaw mawr a rhodd fechan.” + + Hast thou heard the saying of Gwgan, + After escaping from the turmoil? + Great promise and a small gift. + + “A glywaist ti chwedl Gwiawn, + Dremynwr, golwg uniawn? + Duw cadarn a farn pob iawn.” + + Hast thou heard the saying of Gwiawn, + The observer of accurate sight? + The mighty God will determine every right. + +{129b} See proceeding stanza. Gwion and Gwyn are mentioned together as +the sons of Cyndrwyn by Llywarch Hên. See his Elegy on Cynddylan. + +{129c} The son of Evrog, and one of the knights of the court of Arthur, +who found the Greal.— + + “Tri marchawg llys Arthur a gawsant y Greal. Galath vab Llawnselot + dy Lak, a Pheredur mab Evrawc Iarll, a Bort mab brenin Bort. Y ddau + gyntav oeddynt wery o gorph, a’r trydydd oedd ddiweir am na wnaeth + pechawd cnawdol ond unwaith a hynny drwy brovedigaeth yn yr amser yr + ennillawdd ev * * o verch Brangor yr hon a vu ymerodres yn + Constinobl, or honn y doeth y genhedlaeth vwyav o’r byd, ac o + genhedlaeth Joseph o Arimathea y hanoeddyn ell tri, ac o lin Davydd + brophwyd mal y tystiolaetha Ystoria y Greal.”—(Triad lxi. first + series.) + +{129d} This name occurs in the Tale of Twrch Trwyth, page 259. + +{129e} Probably Aeddon the son of Ervei: see line 845. + +{130a} Or affirmatively, “a shield in the battle.” + +{130b} Or “how sad their award.” + +{130c} “How grievous is the longing for them.” + +{130d} This line is full of poetical beauty, and forcibly exhibits how +the baneful effects of the banquet, or the engagement to which it was the +prelude, prevented the return of the warriors home, which their friends +so ardently desired. + +{130e} This figure is similar to that in the fourth line of the stanza. + +{131a} His name occurs again in the poem. The “horn of Gwlgawd Gododin” +is mentioned in the Tale of “Kilhwch and Olwen,” p. 283. + +{131b} Or in reference to the banquet itself,—“notable were its effects, +and it was the price which bought the battle of Cattraeth,” i.e. bought, +or brought about its disastrous consequences. + +{131c} That is, contributed his life towards a victory. + +{131d} Or _giantlike_; a reference to his stature, implied in the title +“Hir,” (tall) which was attached to his name. See stanza V. note. + +{131e} Lit. “With the strength of steeds.” + +{131f} “Ar gychwyn,” poised, ready to fly. + +{132a} Rhuvawn is celebrated in a Triad as one of the three blessed +kings of the Isle of Britain. + + “Tri gwyndeyrn ynys Prydain; Rhun ab Maelgwn, Owain ab Urien, a + Rhuawn Bevr ab Dewrath Wledig.” (Triad xxv. third series.) + +In another Triad he is recorded as one of the three imperious ones of the +island. + + “Tri trahawc ynys Prydein; Gwibei drahawc a Sawyl ben uchel a Ruuawn + Peuyr drahawc.” (Triad xxxiv. second series.) + +Other versions, however, of the same Triad, give Rhun mab Einiawn in the +room of Rhuvawn Pebyr. + +He is also styled one of the three golden corpses of the Isle of Britain, +because, when he was slain, his body was redeemed for its weight in gold. + + “Tri eurgelein ynys Prydain: Madawc mab Brwyn; Ceugant Beilliawc; a + Rhuawn Bevr, ab Gwyddnaw Garanhir; sev yu gelwid felly achaws rhoddi + eu pwys yn aur am danynt o ddwylaw au lladdes.” (Tr. lxxvii. third + series.) + +His grave is alluded to by Hywel the son of Owain Gwynedd, about A.D. +1160, in these lines;— + + “Tonn wenn orewyn a orwlych bet + Gwytua ruuawn bebyr ben teyrnet.” (Myv. Arch v. i. p. 277.) + + The white wave, mantled with foam, bedews the grave, + The resting place of Rhuvawn Pebyr, chief of kings. + +{132b} There may be some slight allusion here to the circumstance +mentioned in the last Triad. + +{132c} Coelvain; the stones of omen, an honorary reward. In this stanza +Rhuvawn is celebrated as pious, valiant, and hospitable. + +{132d} The hall (neuadd) might have been the camp itself, or it might +have been the general’s tent, answering to the Roman prætorium. Along +the extent of the Catrail there are several forts of the British people, +which were built either on the contiguous hills, or on the neighbouring +heights. A field in the neighbourhood of Dolgelley, which exhibits clear +vestiges of an ancient encampment, goes by the name of “_Neuadd Goch_.” + + “Neuadd pob diddos.” + + Every shelter is a hall. (Adage.) + +{133a} Or, “so great, so immense was the slaughter.” Another reading; +“So great, a sea of radiance was the slaughter,” “mor o wawr,” in +reference to the brightness of the weapons. + +{133b} Morien Manawc is mentioned in the “Dream of Rhonabwy”, as one of +the counsellors of Arthur, (p. 416.) His grave is pointed out in the +following lines;—(Myv. Arch. vol. i. page 79.) + + “E Beteu ae cut gwitwal + Ny llesseint heb ymtial + Gwrien Morien a Morial. + + The graves that have their mounds together, + Are theirs, who fell not unavenged, + Gwrien, Morien, and Morial. + +His memory was much cherished by the mediæval Bards, who not unfrequently +compare their patrons to him. Thus Risserdyn (1290, 1340) says that +Hywel ap Gruffydd had “vreich Moryen,” the arm of Morien; and his +contemporary Madawg Dwygraig eulogises Gruffydd ap Madawg as being “ail +Morien,” a second Morien. + +{133c} “Medut,” from “meddu,” to possess, or it may signify “_drunk_,” +from “meddw.” The kindling of the fire seems to have been for the +purpose of annoying the enemy. Perhaps the allusion to fires, which +occurs so frequently in the Poem, may, in some measure, explain the burnt +and calcined features of many of our old camps. + +{133d} Cynon was probably the general of this camp, under whom Morien +fought. + +{133e} “Welei.” Al. _make_. + +{133f} Meaning _himself_. Another reading of the latter part of the +line would be “with his brass armour shattered.” + +{133g} I.e. the camp occupied by the enemy, as the next line clearly +indicates. + +{134a} “Noc ac escyc,” from “ysgog,” to stir. Al. “Noe ac Eseye,” as if +they were the names of some Saxon officers, who hurled the stone. In +this case we should render it, + + “Noe and Eseye hurled a massive stone from the wall of the fort, + And never,” &c. + +as if he were crushed beneath it. Adopting the former reading, however, +we must observe the point of the words “ysgyg” and “ysgogit,” the one +indicative of his undaunted courage, the other of his motionless state in +death. + + “Marw yw— + Nid ysgyg er meddyg mwy.”—Dr. S. Cent. + + He is dead; he will stir no more for all the doctor’s art. + +{134b} Cyhadvan, cyd advan, a co-retreat. + +{134c} Al. Teithan. + +{134d} Or “tumultuous,” annovawc, from _an_ not and _dov_, tame, gentle, +Al. “anvonawc,” sent, ordered. + +{134e} See a description of his warlike character in the thirtieth +stanza. + +{134f} That is, Morien himself, who bore the epithet Mynawg or Manawg, +(_high-minded_.) See preceding stanza, note two. + +{134g} “Yn trwm,” as a person “seirchiawc saphwyawc—(and perhaps) +elydnan,” would necessarily be. The bundles of combustible materials, +which he also carried, would add to the weight of his armour, and tend to +retard his movements. Or, “yn trwm” may refer to the battle, as being a +_pressure_, or a _sad_ affair. + +{135a} Qu. Pedrawg, whose son Bedwyr was one of the three crowned chiefs +of battle? + +{135b} “Varchawc” may be coupled with “fowys,” indicating that the enemy +fled on horseback. + +{135c} “Cylchwy,” means a circular inclosure as well as a shield, and in +that sense it can be taken here, as showing that Morien surrounded the +camp with fire. + +{135d} “Gwyth;” another reading gives “gwych,” which would have the same +meaning as “gowychydd,” line 296. + +{135e} Whether we read “ceinion” or “gleinion,” we should have the same +meaning, viz.—“of the saints,” the Britons being thus distinguished from +the pagan Saxons. Thus Llywarch Hen says of Geraint that he was + + “Gelyn i Sais, car i saint.” + + The Saxon’s foe, the friend of Saints. + +{136a} “Lleithig,” a _throne_, or _the dais of the hall_; in the latter +sense it would have reference to a banquet, and perhaps “tal” would mean +the front or principal seat where Cynon sat. When, however, the battle +commenced, the chieftain quitted the convivial board, and displayed the +valour of a distinguished soldier. + +{136b} His first thrust being so effectual. Al. “were not recognised,” +having been so greatly mutilated. + +{136c} Al. “in the day of gallantry.” + +{136d} I.e. Elphin son of Gwyddno ab Gorvynion ab Dyvnwal Hen king of +Gwent. In the early part of his life he was the patron of Taliesin, whom +he found when an infant in a leathern bag, exposed on a stake of his +father’s wear. “When Elphin was afterwards imprisoned in the castle of +Dyganwy by Maelgwn Gwynedd, Taliesin by the influence of his song +procured his release. There is a poem in the Myvyrian Archaiology, +entitled the “Consolation of Elphin,” said to have been written by the +chief of Bards. + +Or, more likely, because of his connection with the North, he was one of +the sons of Urien Rheged, mentioned by Llywarch Hen in the following +triplet,— + + “Pwylrai Wallawg, marchawg trin, + Er echwydd gwneuthur dyvin, + Yn erbyn cyvrysedd Elphin.” + + Gwallawg, the knight of tumult, would violently rave, + With a mind determined to try the sharpest edge, + Against the conflict of Elphin. + +{137a} Probably the Epidii, in Cantyre and Argyleshire. Al. “Hud a +phyd,” “The valour of the forward Elphin had recourse to wiles and +stratagems.” + +{138a} Morien is probably alluded to here again, whose especial +department seems to have been the superintendence of the martial fire. +“Mur greit,” to which we have given the same meaning as to “Murgreit,” +(line 292) might, however, in connection with the rest of the verse be +differently translated; thus “The furze was kindled on the rampart by the +ardent bull of conflict,” or “The furze was kindled by the ardent +bulwark, the bull of conflict.” The latter construction seems to be +favoured by a stanza in “Cyvoesi Merddin,” (Myvyrian Archaiology, vol. i. +p. 148) where Morien is styled “mur trin,” “the bulwark of conflict.” + + “Marw Morgeneu marw kyvrennin + Marw Moryen mur trin + Trymmav oed am dy adoed di Vyrdin.” + + Morgeneu dead, Kyvrenin dead, + Morien the bulwark of conflict dead; + Most sad the lingering that thou art left, O Merddin. + +{138b} The meaning seems to be, that the enemies directed their attack +to the part which abounded most with riches, or where the treasures were +collected, or it may refer to the banquet; “alavvedd,” signifying the +_flowing mead_. + +{138c} “Llaes;” al. “lliaws,” _numerous_. + +{138d} Beli son of Benlli, a famous warrior in North Wales. Allusion is +made to his burying place in Englynion y Beddau;— + + “Pieu y bedd yn y maes mawr, + Balch ei law ar ei lavnawr? + Bedd Beli vab Benlli gawr.” + + Who owns the grave in the great plain, + Proud his hand upon his spear? + The grave of Beli son of Benlli Gawr. (Myv. Arch. v. i. p. 82.) + +Or Beli son of Rhun, a sovereign of North Wales. + +{139a} “Ffin;” i.e. the Catrail. + +{139b} The contrast between the appearances of the two heralds is +remarkable. + +{139c} I.e. the “Nar,” the puny messenger of the Saxons, compared here +to a “twrch,” a _boar_, or a _mole_. + +{139d} “Of a worthy character.” + +{139e} Or, “the battle spear.” + +{139f} “A clat,” cladd, a trench. “In those parts where it (the +Catrail) is pretty entire,—the fosse is twenty-six and twenty-five feet +broad; and in one place which was measured by Dr. Douglas, the fosse was +twenty-seven and a half feet broad. But in those parts where the rampart +has been most demolished, the fosse only measures twenty-two and a half +feet, twenty, and eighteen; and in one place only sixteen feet wide.” +Chalmers’s Caledonia, vol. i. Al. “aclut,” i.e. Alclud, (Dunbarton.) +“The warriors upon the far-famed Alclyde.” + +{140a} Or, “in behalf of the power.” + +{140b} Being skilled in the knowledge of the stars. + +{140c} Lit. “For the falling.” To pull one’s hair was looked upon in +the light of a great insult, as we may well infer from the kindred one of +handling the beard, which was punishable by law. Thus e.g. a man might +legally beat his wife “am ddymuno mevl ar varv ei gwr”—for wishing +disgrace on the beard of her husband. Such a treatment appears to have +been offered to Gwydion, which made his attendant determined upon +avenging his cause. + +{140d} “Awyr eryr,” a title given to him in reference to the sublime +character of his profession. Gwydien, or Gwydion, was one of the three +blessed astronomers of the Isle of Britain, + + “Tri gwyn Seronyddion ynys Prydain. Idris Gawr, a Gwydion mab Don, a + Gwyn ab Nudd; a chan vaint eu gwybodau am y ser a’u hanianau a’i + hansoddau y darogenynt a chwenychid ei wybod hyd yn nydd brawd.” + (Triad lxxxix. third series.) + +Two stanzas entitled “Cad Goddau,” published in the Myv. Arch. vol. i. p. +167, are ascribed to him. He is reported to have been buried in Morva +Dinllev. See Englynion y Beddau, (Myv. Arch. vol. i. p. 78.) + +{141a} Gwyddwg seems to have been in the service of Gwydien. + +{141b} Al. “protect him with his spear,” (wayw.) The other reading +(waen) is preferred on account of the rhyme. + +{141c} “Murdyn;” it may be “mur dyn,” (_the bulwark of men_) as +descriptive of the character of Morien, who is elsewhere styled “mur +trin,” see line 382, note. + +{141d} We meet in British history with several instances of female +heroism; the following Triad records the names of three viragos in +particular;— + + “Tri gwrvorwyn ynys Prydain; Llewei verch Seithwedd Saidi; a Mederai + Badellvawr, a Rhorei vawr verch Usber Galed.” (Triad 96, third + series.) + +The Englynion Beddau y Milwyr point out the graves of others,— + + “Y beteu yn y morva ys bychan ae haelwy + Y mae Sanant Syberv vun y mae Run ryvel achwy + Y mae Carwen verch Kennin y mae lledin a llywy.” (Myv. Arch. i. 82.) + + The graves on the shore, on which but little generosity has been + bestowed, + Are those of Sanant the courteous maid, of Rhun foremost in the war, + Of Carwen daughter of Cennyn, of Lledyn and Llywy. + +{141e} His character has been described before in stanza xxv. + +{142a} The servant in question, for “unben” does not exclusively mean a +monarch, but it is applied also as a complimentary appellation like the +modern Sir, “Ha unben! Duw a’ch noddo.” “O Sir! God protect you.” +(Kilhwch and Olwen.) + +{142b} Al. “heb benn,” a headless wolf. + +{142c} It would appear as if the servant retaliated in kind upon the +slayer of his mistress, who was either a wolf in disposition, or bore it +as a badge; and that such a deed entitled him to bear a coat charged with +figures emblematic thereof. + +{142d} “Ysgrwydiat.” Al. “Gold mailed warriors slept in death, +(cysgrwyddiad) on the city walls.” + +{142e} “Cred,” of faith, as distinguished from the unbelieving Saxons. + +{142f} “Aerflawdd,” nimble for slaughter. “There was a tribute of +carnage, nor were they long engaged in the tumult of battle.” + + _Gorch Mael_. + +{143a} Another version gives “the birds of battle;” but both doubtless +refer to the birds of prey which roved to the scene of battle, prepared +to perch upon the carcases of the dead. There is something extremely +natural and affecting in the conduct of the “feeble man,” as here +described. + +{143b} Or, “of fair observation:” probably the very individual who +warded off the birds. The Gorchan Maelderw would indicate that Syll was +an incorrect transcript of _pelloid_ or _pellwyd_, which word would +supply the blank after _brwydryat_, and make the line rhyme with the +preceding. The passage would then be, “and drove away the roving birds. +Truly, Mirain,” &c. + +{143c} A river so called, which cannot now be identified, as there are +several in the South of Scotland, which would admit of this Welsh form; +such as, the Leith, the Lugar, &c. Perhaps it is the same with Aber +Lleu, where Urien Rheged was assassinated, and Aber Llyw mentioned in the +“Elegy on Old Age” by Llywarch Hen. + +{143d} “In the day of conflict.” _Gorch. Mael_. + +{144a} Al. “look.” + +{144b} “Gwyr nod;” this expression has two significations, it means both +“men of note” and “slaves.” The lines that follow seem to restrict it +here to the latter sense. + +{144c} The word Din indicates it to have been a camp or a fort. + +{144d} “We may suppose this to refer to the property that was collected +within the camp on the summit of the hill. + +{144e} “Dinas,” a fortified town. In these lines we have a graphic +picture of the panic stricken state of that portion of the army in which +Aneurin happened to be at this particular time; and it is a fitting +prelude to the account of his incarceration which he gives in the +succeeding stanza but one. But whilst the bard exposes his own +incapacity, he pays an indirect compliment to the skill and courage of +Gwynwydd; such a state of affairs, he seems to say, was owing to the +absence of that hero on the heights. + +{144f} Meaning, perhaps, that had he himself been present, this +cowardice would not have been manifested. We may, however, render the +line thus,—“Vines are not named when they are not found,” and regard it +as a proverb intended to illustrate the truth of the foregoing +statements, viz. that no mention would have been made of such things had +they not really existed. Truth was a necessary element of Welsh Poetry. + +{145a} “Ceny,” i.e. cyni. Llywarch Hen has introduced a stanza into his +“Elegy on Old Age,” very similar in some of its expressions; + + “Adwen leverydd cyni + Vran; pan disgynai yn nghyvyrdy + Pen gwr, pan gwin a ddyly.” + +{145b} “Talben,” a fixed charge, or a tax. A very natural reflection +from the head of a family! + +{145c} “Gorddin;” what impels or drives forward; what is posterior, +ultimate, or following; the rear. (Dr. Pughe’s Dict.) It would appear +from this that the captive was pushed along towards his prison by some +person from behind. + +{145d} I.e. this treatment I despise, it is beneath my notice, I will +regard it as a particle of dust under my feet. There was a maxim in +reference to a really felt trouble which said;— + + “Nid â gwaew yn ronyn.” + + Pain will not become a particle. + +{145e} How true to nature this disclaimer of any peevish and revengeful +feelings when the power of fully exercising them was taken away! And yet +his conduct, as implied in “gorddin,” at the same time belied such a +declaration. + +{145f} Lit. “my knee.” The prisoner here very naturally gives vent to +his feelings in reference to the racking pain which was inflicted upon +him. + +{146a} “_Bundat_,” from _pwn_. In the original the line is imperfect, +the particular part of his person that was thus pained being left +unmentioned. + +{146b} He here summons back his courage, and bursts into expressions of +defiance as to the irresistible freedom of his _awen_, declaring that he +would still in his dismal prison celebrate the praise of his countrymen, +to the disparagement of his enemies at the battle of Cattraeth. + +{146c} Lit. “make,” “compose;” ποιεω. + +{146d} Perhaps this may mean no more than that Taliesin’s mind was akin +to his own. + +{146e} The dawn of the following morning; or, it may, be the day of +liberty. + +{146f} Or we may put “goroledd gogledd” in apposition with “gwr,” and +construe it thus,— + + “The hero, the joy of the North, effected it,” + +i.e. my deliverance. Llywarch Hen and his sons came from the North. + +{147a} Lit. “There does not walk upon the earth.” + +{147b} “Dihafarch drud,” the same epithets are applied to Llywarch in +the following Englyn y Clywed.— + + “A glyweisti a gant Llywarch, + Oedd henwr drud dihavarch; + Onid cyvarwydd cyvarch.” + + Didst thou hear what Llywarch sang, + The intrepid and bold old man? + Greet kindly though there be no acquaintance. + +{147c} He would not submit to arbitration, which would imply an +inability to assert their rights by force of arms. + +{147d} Senyllt was the son of Cedig ab Dyvnwal Hen, and father of Nudd +Hael. The word means seneschal, and perhaps Senyllt acted in that +character, and had derived his name from thence. The term in the +etymological sense would be applied to Gwen. + +{148a} Al. “He bestowed his sword upon the,” &c. + +{148b} Al. “lynwyssawr;” “he was a plague;” or “with his arm he made +pools of blood.” + +{148c} “Seil,” lit. “foundation.” + +{148d} This seems to countenance the idea suggested in the note to line +346, that the _Neuadd_ was none other than the camp itself. + +{148e} “Keingyell,” ceingel; a hank of thread. + +{148f} This was probably his sword which flashed. + +{148g} Llywarch Hen’s son, see note to line 272. He was slain “ar ryd +vorlas,” on the ford of Morlas, which, as far as its etymology is +concerned, would very well answer to the scene of the battle of +Cattraeth. + +{148h} There is much poetic force in this line. + +{149a} Perhaps _Luce_ Bay, near _Leuco_pibia. + +{149b} Llywarch Hen, in his Elegy on Urien Rheged, speaks thus,— + + “Yn Aber _Lleu_ lladd Urien.” + + In Aber _Lleu_ Urien was slain. + +{149c} Probably on the river _Lid_, or Liddel, on the northern borders +of Cumberland. + +{149d} It is not unlikely that the “cangen Caerwys,” formed a part of +the great fleet of Geraint, who is styled in Brut Tysilio, “Geraint +Caerwys.” + +{149e} A poetical definition of a storm in winter. + +{149f} “Rhiallu” means also the power of a sovereign, but as it is not +likely that Aneurin would acknowledge the regal claims of the enemy, we +have thought it more consistent with the general design of the poem to +adopt a construction, which shows the advantages possessed by the enemy +over the natives in point of numerical strength. + + “Deg myrdd yn y rhiallu, deg rhiallu yn y vynta, a deg mynta yn y + gatyrva.” + + Ten myriads in the riallu ten times the riallu, in the mynta, ten + mynta in the catyrva. + +{150a} “Dyvu wyt,” dyvnwydd; or according to Gorch. Mael. dyvwn, i.e. +Devon, the country of Geraint ab Erbin,—“Gwr dewr o goettir Dyvnaint.” +(Llywarch Hen.) + +{150b} “Yd wodyn,” from _gwoddew_, purpose or design. Al. “foddyn,” did +they drown. + +{150c} Qu. _Carban_tium in the province of Valentia? + +{150d} Dyvynawl Vrych, or Donald Brec, who is said in the Scotch +Chronicles to have been slain in the battle of Vraithe Cairvin, (qu. Carw +van?) by Owain king of the Britons. He is introduced to our notice again +in the Gododin. + +{150e} Or, _a bolt_. + +{150f} Pwyll in some of the pedigrees of Gwynvardd Dyved is said to be +the son of Argoel, or Aircol Law Hir, son of Pyr y Dwyrain; but Mr. +Davies in the “Rites and Mythology of the Druids,” states that he was the +son of Meirig, son of Aircol, son of Pyr, which is rather confirmed by +some other MS. Pedigrees. In Taliesin’s “Preiddeu Annwn,” he is +mentioned, with his son Pryderi, as having joined Arthur in some perilous +expeditions. + + “Bu cywair carchar Gwair ynghaer Sidi + Trwy ebostol Pwyll a Phryderi.” &c. + + Arranged was the prison of Gwair in Caer Sidi + By the ministration of Pwyll and Pryderi. &c. (Myv. Arch. i. 45.) + +Pwyll is the hero of one of the Mabinogion. + +{151a} Brwys; “of fine growth,” “large.” + +{151b} Llywarch Hen speaks of a person of this name. + + “Tywarchen Ercal ar âr dywal + Wyr, o edwedd Morial; + A gwedy Rhys mae rhysonial.” (Elegy on Cynddylan.) + + The sod of Ercal is on the ashes of fierce + Men, of the progeny of Morial; + And after Rhys there is great murmuring of woe. + +{151c} Al. “from the place where he was once overtaken.” + +{151d} This stanza evidently contains a reproof to one of the British +chiefs, who turned coward on the field of battle. The circumstances +mentioned in the two first lines, that his shield was pierced behind him, +“ar grymal carnwyd,” (on the crupper of his horse) would indicate that he +was then in the act of fleeing, holding his shield in such a position, as +best to protect his back from the darts of his pursuers. Of this the +Bard remarks “ni mad,” it was not honourable, “non bene.” + +{152a} Lit. “placed his thigh on.” Llywarch Hen gives quite a different +account of his own son Pyll;— + + “Mad ddodes ei vorddwyd dros obell + Ei orwydd, o wng ac o bell.” (On Old Age.) + + Gracefully he placed his thigh over the saddle + Of his steed, on the near and farther side. + +{152b} We may suppose that the Bard looks upon the dark hue of his +accoutrements as ominous of a mournful and dishonourable result. + +{152c} A sarcastic irony addressed to the coward himself, who probably +had boasted of some heroic deeds that he would perform. Where are they? +And where is this brave warrior? Not distinguishing himself on the field +of battle; not entering cities in triumph; but in a cell gnawing the +shoulder of a buck. + +{152d} “Gell.” This word has a reference to “gell,” _dark_, and it may +be that Aneurin regarded the one as typical of the other; that he thought +the man who appeared in dark armour would eventually be found in a dark +cellar. It is not clear whether this person secreted himself, or whether +he was placed by his enemies in the “cell” here mentioned. If the +former, we may regard his eating the venison as a further proof of his +unwarlike character; if the latter, “cnoi angell bwch” may be considered +as something tantamount to living upon bread and water in our days. + +{152e} Al. “hwch,” a sow. + +{152f} Al. “May triumph be far from his hand.” + +{153a} See line 468. It may be inferred from this place that the person +just spoken of had abandoned Gwen, which shows his character in still +blacker colours. + +{153b} See line 404. O shame upon the nameless knight, to flee where a +woman fought! + +{153c} “Dibennor;” this word may signify either the rabble who were not +invested with military accoutrements, or such as had no regular +commander, or the infantry as distinguished from the cavalry mentioned in +the succeeding line. Though so many were ready to attack the Saxons, the +circumstance could not inspire our hero(!) with any corresponding amount +of patriotic feelings. + +{153d} “It is well that Adonwy came, that Adonwy came to the defence of +those that were left; +Bradwen fought, slaughtered, and burned; +Thou didst not guard either the extremity or the entrance +Of the towering town; thy helmet did I not behold from the sea, +From the rampart of the sea, O thou knight worse than a slave.” + + _Gorch. Mael_. + +{154a} This stanza refers to a conference, to which the Cymry were at +length fain to submit. + +{154b} _Trimuntium_, belonging to the Selgovæ, in Valentia. Al. “The +dales beyond the ridges that were cultivated.” + +{154c} “Gwas,” which means also youth. It is probable that the +messenger or herald of the Saxons is here meant, who being of an +avaricious mind made exorbitant demands, was “heb ymwyd,” could not keep +his “gwyd,” his inclinations or desires, within his own breast. Nor was +Aneurin on the other hand willing that his countrymen should make +concessions; rather than that, he calls upon them to put forth their +strength once more, and assert their rights on the field of battle. + +{154d} Aneurin, addressing his country. + +{154e} Al. “Plentiful.” + +{154f} Llancarvan in Glamorganshire was anciently called by this name. +Al. “tan veithin;” qu. tân eithin, gorze fire? + +{154g} “Luthvin,” (glwth vin.) Al. “the edge of his sword gleamed.” + +{154h} The Saxon herald. + +{154i} “Gnaws gwan,” him, who was necessarily in a weak or defenceless +state, namely the British herald. + +{154j} By the “bulwark of toil” is probably understood Morien. + +{155a} Being like him a Bard. + +{155b} “Cynrennin.” Al. “expert.” The conference having been so +egregiously violated by the assassination of the British herald, is +immediately broken up, and the advice of Aneurin eagerly followed. + +{155c} Their loquacity and haste had been greatly excited by liquor. + +{155d} See Notes to stanza xxxviii. + +{155e} The treacherous herald before mentioned. + +{156a} Another way of construing these two lines would be,— + + “Strangers to the country, their deeds shall be heard of; + The bright wave murmured along on its pilgrimage;” + +in reference to the British heroes. + +{156b} According to version 4,— + + “Where they had collected together the most melodious deer.” + +The deer were collected within the encampment for the purpose of +supplying the army with food, or so as to be out of the reach of the +enemy. The locality was probably that of Ban Carw, the Deer Bank. + +{156c} Dyvynawl Brych. + +{156d} I.e. no pacific insignia. + +{156e} A moral reflection suggested by the perfidy of the Saxons at the +conference of Llanveithin. + +{156f} Morial is recorded in one of the Englynion y Beddau, (see line +348, note 2) as one who fell not unavenged. His name occurs in one of +Llywarch Hen’s poems, (see line 495. note 2.) Meugant gives an account +of the expedition of one Morial to Caer Lwydgoed (Lincoln) from whence he +brought a booty of 1500 bullocks. + +{156g} Or, “mutually sharing” the toils of war. + +{157a} These two lines may be translated in reference to the Saxon +herald; + + “The stranger with the crimson robe pursued, + And slaughtered with axes and blades.” + +{157b} “Cywrein.” Al. “The warriors arose, met together, and with one +accord,” &c. + +{157c} Or, “made the assault.” + +{157d} Or, simply, “women.” + +{157e} “Gwich,” a shriek; Al. “acted bravely.” Al. “were greatly +exasperated;” or perhaps for “gwyth” we should read _gweddw_, “their +wives they made widows.” Gruffydd ap yr Ynad Coch in his Elegy upon +Llywelyn, (Myv. Arch. i. 396) makes use of similar sentiments, in the +following lines,— + + Llawer deigr hylithr yn hwylaw ar rudd + Llawer ystlys rhudd a rhwyg arnaw + Llawer gwaed am draed wedi ymdreiddiaw + Llawer gweddw a gwaedd y amdanaw + Llawer meddwl trwm yn tomrwyaw. + Llawer mam heb dad gwedi ei adaw + Llawer hendref fraith gwedi llwybrgodaith + A llawer diffaith drwy anrhaith draw + Llawer llef druan fal ban fu’r Gamlan. + + Many a slippery tear sails down the cheek, + Many a wounded side is red with gore, + Many a foot is bathed in blood, + Many a widow raises the mournful shriek, + Many a mind is heavily troubled, + Many a son is left without a father, + Many an old grey town is deserted, + Many are ruined by yonder deed of war, + Many a cry of misery arises as erst on Camlan field. + +{158a} Al. “Nor was there a hero (lew from glew)” &c. Al. “Nor was +there a lion so generous, in the presence of a lion of the greatest +course;” the latter description referring to some other chief of renown. + +{158b} Or the _cry_, “dias;” being either the shout of battle, or the +voice of distress. + +{158c} “Angor,” from _ang_ and _gor_; lit. a _staying round_, which +indicates the city in question to have been of a circular form. Probably +it was one of the forts which are so commonly seen on our hills. + +{158d} That is, either the place where Bards were entertained, or where +the deer were protected. See line 535. + +{159a} “Gwryd,” _manliness_, as displayed in war. + +{159b} I.e. Cynon. + +{159c} Or, “wide.” + +{159d} A similar expression has been used before (line 512) “nac eithaf +na chynor.” A “clod heb or heb eithaf,” simply means immortal praise. + +{159e} The distinguishing feature of this stanza is its prosopopæia, or +its change of things into persons, as in the case of Hwrreith, Buddugre, +and Rheiddyn, which are translated respectively Spoliation, Victory, and +the Lance. + +{159f} Eidol or Eidiol Gadarn is recorded as one of the three strong men +of Britain, having, at the meeting on Salisbury plain, slain 660 Saxons +with a billet of wood. + + “Tri Gyrddion Ynys Prydain; Gwrnerth Ergydlym, a laddes yr arth mwyaf + ac a welwyd erioed a saeth wellten; a Gwgawn Lawgadarn, a dreiglis + maen Maenarch or glynn i ben y mynydd, ac nid oedd llai na thrugain + ych ai tynnai; ac Eidiol Gadarn, a laddes o’r Saeson ym mrad + Caersallawg chwechant a thrugain a chogail gerdin o fachlud haul yd + yn nhywyll.” (Triad 60. third series.) + +The time here specified “from sunset until dark,” will not be found to +tally at all with the commencement of the fight at Cattraeth, which is +said to have been “with the day,” and “with the dawn;” this circumstance +is fatal to Davies’s theory. + +The first lines of this stanza may be translated in divers ways, such +as,— + + “With a feast of wine and a banquet of mead, endowed + By Cynlaith, mother of Hwrraith, was the energetic Eidol.” + +Also,— + + “With a feast of wine and a banquet of mead, + Did his brave (_hwrraith_ from _hwrdd_) mother + Cynlaith, enrich + The energetic Eidol.” + +Again,— + + “With a feast of wine and a banquet of mead, + Did his mother Hwrraith + At the first fall of the dew (_cyn llaith_) enrich + The energetic Eidol.” + +{160a} The hill on which the vanguard was stationed. + +{160b} Waiting their prey. + +{160c} “Cynydaw” (cnydiaw) to yield a crop. Cynydaw means also to rise; +and we may thus construe the passage,— + + “The foremost spearmen spring up around him.” + +Another reading gives “cwydaw” to fall, in allusion to the slaughter of +the men; adopting this expression, it would seem that “arnaw” was more +applicable to “racvre,” the mount of the van. + +{160d} “Glas heid,” (glas haidd) green barley. It is rather singular +that the words, without the slightest alteration, will admit of another +simile equally beautiful and appropriate, viz.—_glas haid_, a blue swarm +of flies. The word _glas_ may be indicative of the prevailing colour of +the dress or armour of the men, + + “As from the rocky cliff the shepherd sees + Clustering in heaps on heaps the driving bees, + Rolling, and blackening, swarms succeeding swarms, + With deeper murmurs and more hoarse alarms; + Dusky they spread, a close embodied crowd, + And o’er the vale descends the living cloud.” (Pope’s Homer, b. ii. + l. 111.) + +{161a} “Hedin;” this word seems of kindred nature with haidd (barley) +and is here translated accordingly; (hedeg, to shoot out, or to ear, as +corn.) Another version gives “hediw,” (_heddyw_, today.) + +{161b} It is still very common in Wales to call the cause or origin of +any thing by the name of mam: thus, for instance, we say “mam y drwg” of +the chief instigator of mischief. What we are to understand by the +“mother of the lance” it is not very easy to determine; it might have +been courage or the sense of wrong, or quarrel, or any other cause which +excited the Britons to fight. + +{161c} Al. “They marched and chanted, clad in coat of mail.” + +{162a} “Vawr dru,” &c. Al. “miserable hero.” + +{162b} This confirms the view we have taken of the “milcant a thrychant” +at line 86. + +{162c} “Gloew dull;” in bright array. It may refer also to the viands. + +{162d} “Mai;” Taliesin, in like manner, says of Urien, that he was,— + + “Un yn darwedd + Gwin a mal a medd.” + + One who was generous of wine, and bounty, and mead. + +“Mal,” properly speaking, seems to have been a certain tribute, as above. +Thus we read in Welsh legends;— + + “He gave his domain of Clynog to God and to Beuno for ever, without + either contribution or tax (heb na mal nac ardreth.”) (Buch. Beuno.) + +Again,— + + “There is neither contribution nor tax, (na mal na threth) which we + ought to pay.” (H. Car. Mag. Mabinogion.) + +The word in the text may signify gifts or presents; or it may mean +_meal_, (mâl, what is ground) in allusion to the more substantial portion +of the feast. + +{163a} Lit. “I am being ruined.” + +{163b} Mynyddawg himself. + +{163c} Al. “From amongst.” + +{163d} That is, free and precipitate in his course, as a ball flies +through the air. This simile seems to have been borrowed from a popular +game among the Britons called _pelre_, which consisted in the beating of +a ball backwards and forwards, and is alluded to by Taliesin in the +following lines; + + “Ceiniadon moch clywid eu govalon: + Marchawglu mor daer am Gaer Llion; + A dial Idwal ar Aranwynion + A gware pelre a phen Saeson.” (Myv. Arch. i. p. 73.) + + Songsters, soon would their cares be heard; + An army of horsemen so harassing round Caer Llion; + And the revenge of Idwal on the Aranwynians; + And the playing of ball-buffetting with Saxon heads. + +Al. “mab Pel;” Present the son of Pel. + +{163e} “Hud:” has this word any reference to “_hud_wg,” a racket for +ball playing? + +{164a} “Ystryng;” from _ys_ and _tryng_ or _trengu_. + +{164b} “Adan;” that is _â dan_, will go under. Lit. “under the +red-stained warriors go the steeds,” &c. “Ymdan march,” is a well known +phrase for mounting a horse. + +{164c} The same, it may be, with Angar, one of the sons of Caw of Cwm +Cawlwyd, and brother of Aneurin. A saying of his occurs in the +Chwedlau’r Doethion. (Iolo MSS. pp. 256, 554.) + + “A glyweist ti chwedl Angar + Mab Caw, Catfilwr clodgar? + Bid tonn calon gan alar.” + + Hast thou heard the saying of Angar, + Son of Caw the celebrated warrior? + The heart will break with grief. + +{164d} “Raen,” from _rha_, which is also the root of _rhain_, spears. + +{164e} This passage, in another form, occurs three times in the Maelderw +version and may be translated as follows; + + “Angor, thou scatterer of the brave, + Serpent, piercing pike, + And immovable stone in the front of the army.” + +{164f} Al. “Oppressor, dressed in thy shining white robes.” + +{165a} “Gwaenawr.” Al. “The spears.” Al. “The stones.” + +{165b} That is, the fosse of the Catrail, or that which surrounded one +of the camps. + +{165c} See lines 386, 524, 534. Al. “like ploughing the furrow.” + +{165d} The Bard in this stanza evidently plays upon the names of three +of the British heroes, showing how appropriately they represented their +respective characters; _Cywir_, _enwir_; _Merin_, _mur_; _Madien_, _mad_. +Perhaps it would be better to transpose the two first, and read the line +as it occurs in one stanza of the Gorchan Maelderw; + + “Enwir ith elwir oth gywir weithred.” + Enwir art thou named from thy righteous deed; + +for in “Kilhwch and Olwen” we meet with a person bearing the name of +Gweir Gwrhyd _Ennwir_, who is said to have been an uncle of Arthur, his +mother’s brother. + +{165e} “Bulwark of every tribe.” Al. “of every language.” _Gorch. +Maelderw_. + +{165f} Merin the son of Merini ab Seithenyn, king of the plain of +Gwyddno, whose land was overflowed by the sea. He is said to have been +the founder of the church of Llanverin, or Llanvetherin, Monmouthshire. +In the Gorchan Maelderw Merin is called the son of Madieith. + +{166a} Al. “Gwynedd.” + +{166b} I.e. the drinking horn. “Dial;” _Gorch. Mael_. “to take +vengeance for the contribution of mead.” Owain Cyveiliog alludes to this +circumstance in his Poem on the Hirlas Horn;— + + “Kigleu am dal met myned dreig Kattraeth.” (Myv. Arch. i. 266.) + +That this author was acquainted with the Gododin appears further from the +following, + + “Nid ym hyn dihyll nam hen deheu;” + +where he evidently refers to line 290 of our Poem. + +{166c} “Cyvyringet,” those who met together between the two armies; from +cyvrwng, cyd-rhwng. + +{166d} “Cibno ced,” seems to have been the cup of drink presented to +bards and minstrels by their entertainers. (See line 345.) Not even the +speech inspiring influence of this cup, could elicit an adequate +description of the slaughter which ensued at Cattraeth. + +{167a} Or, “the gallantry of the glorious knight of conflict.” + +{167b} Lit. “Ruddy reaping.” Al. “Ruddy reaper, thou pantest for war.” + +{167c} Al. “Thou man of Gwynedd.” + +{167d} Lit. “Thou unmanest;” di-mwng. + +{167e} “Llain.” Al. “lance.” + +{167f} The expression “until blood flows” is not in the original. + +{167g} That glass vessels were used by the Britons in the sixth century +is further proved by the testimony of Llywarch Hen, who speaks of + + “Gwyr ni giliynt rhag ovn gwayw, + Ac yved gwin o wydr gloyw.” (Elegy upon Geraint) + + Men who would not flinch from the dread of the spear, + And the quaffing of wine out of the bright glass. + +{168a} “Ariant,” money contributed towards any thing; thus “ariant +cwynos,” supper money, was paid by the gentry and freeholders towards the +maintenance of the officers of the court; “ariant gwastrodion,” money of +the equerries, was paid by the king’s tenants in villainage once a year, +to furnish provender for his horses; “ariant am y vedd” would likewise be +a contribution paid towards a banquet of mead. Gwaednerth made his +enemies, as it were, pay him this tribute with the gold of their armour. + +{168b} His history is unknown. + +{168c} Or, “retinue.” + +{168d} “Dyrraith;” law of fate; death, + +{168e} Probably Ayr in Scotland, rather than Aeron in Wales. + +{168f} Lit. “the head.” + +{168g} I.e. the Clyde. Al. “The brown eagles.” Llywarch Hen speaks of +“the brown eagles” (eryron llwyd) and of “the eagle with the brown beak,” +(eryr pengarn llwyd.) + +{169a} Lit. “Without reproach.” + +{169b} Or, “From the region.” + +{169c} Al. “Men of privilege.” + +{169d} “Llogell;” a receptacle, a depository, a closet. It might here +refer more particularly to the room which contained the viands. +“Llogail” would be a wattled room. + +{169e} The frequent repetition of the word “byd” in this stanza is +remarkable. + +{169f} Lit. “not without ambition.” + +{169g} Eidol is specified by name as being the most indefatigable in his +pursuit after mirth. A person of that name and character is mentioned in +a poem attributed to Cuhelyn. See Myv. Arch. i. 164. + +{169h} Or, “the grandson of Enovant.” Al. “One out of a hundred,” +Cynddilig might have been the son of Cor Cnud, whose grave is recorded in +the Englynion y Beddau. (Myv. Arch. i. 11.) + + “Kian a ud diffaith cnud. + Draw o tuch pen bet alltud + Bet Cindilic mab Corknud.” + +Or the son of Nwython, mentioned in the Bruts, (Myv. Arch. ii. 321) and +Genealogy of the Saints. (Iolo MSS. 137.) Or else he might have been +the son of Llywarch Hen,— + + “Och Cynddilig, na buost wraig!” + Oh, Cynddilig, why wert thou not a woman! + + (Elegy on Old Age.) + +The mention made of Aeron in the foregoing stanza naturally led the Bard +to speak in this of a chieftain connected therewith. + +{170a} Were it not for the anachronism we should be induced to regard +this lady as none other than Elen the daughter of Eudav, prince of Erging +and Euas, and wife of Macsen Wledig; heroine also of a Romance entitled +“The Dream of Macsen Wledig.” As Macsen, however, is known to have been +put to death as early as the year 388, Elen’s life could not possibly +have been so protracted as to enable her to take a part in the battle of +Cattraeth. + +{170b} “Dieis.” Al. “her thrusts were penetrating.” + +{171a} “Meiwyr,” men of the field. Al. “Meinir,” the slender maid, +which might refer to the daughter of Eudav. + +{171b} The Gorchan Maelderw clearly indicates that the fire was kindled +in the presence of the army, and not for religious purposes before the +Deity. + +{171c} This stanza explains the expression used in line 116. Seven +days, then, we may suppose, formed the whole space of time during which +the events related in the Gododin occurred. The action of Homer’s Iliad +occupied nearly fifty days. + +{171d} The daily operations are somewhat differently stated in the +fragments of the Gododin, which are appended to “Gorchan Maelderw.” +There they are as follows,— + + “On Tuesday they put on their splendid robes; + On Wednesday bitter was their assembly; + On Thursday messengers formed contracts; + On Friday there was slaughter; + On Saturday they dealt mutual blows; + On Sunday they were pierced by ruddy weapons; + On Monday a pool of blood knee deep was seen.” + +{172a} See lines 27, &c. It would appear as if the three lines at the +end of the stanza were appended to it by some compiler, merely on account +of their uniformity of rhyme. + +{172b} Lit, “At the early arising morn,” or “quickly rising in the +morning.” + +{172c} “Aber;” the junction of rivers; the fall of a lesser river into a +greater, or into the sea. By metaphor, a port or harbour. + +{172d} Or more definitely,—“Occurred the battle of Aber in front of the +course.” + +{172e} Or “a breach was made, and the knoll was pervaded with fire.” + +{172f} The stanza is imperfect, which accounts for the omission of the +hero’s name. From the Gorchan Maelderw we would infer that he was Gwair +one of the three “taleithiawg cad,” or coronetted chiefs of battle. +(Myv. Arch. ii. 12.) + +{172g} Probably, the valuables collected within the encampment on the +hill. + +{173a} This word may be taken either in its literal sense, as alluding +to the birds of prey that devoured the dead bodies, or else +metaphorically as denoting the warriors themselves. In the latter sense +Casnodyn uses it in the following passage; + + “Cynan— + Eryr tymyr gwyr, gweilch disaesneg.” + +Cynan, the eagle of the land of men, who are heroes with no English. + +In this sense “gwrwnde” would necessarily allude to the colour of the +men’s habiliments. + +{173b} The stanza is thus varied in Gorchan Maelderw, + + “At the early dawn of morn they marched + To conflict, headed by the king in front of the course; + Gwair was greeted by the fluid gore + In the van of the battle; + He was a beloved friend. + In the day of distress + The wealth of the mountain, the place, + And the forward beam of war, wore a murky hue.” (_Gorch. Mael_.) + +{173c} “Eilin;” in a second; another reading has “meitin,” a word of +similar import, signifying a space of time. + +{173d} “Aber;” ut supra. + +{173e} The Catrail, or else the vallum of our hero’s camp. + +{173f} That is, single handed he faces a hundred men of the enemy. + +{174a} That you should have committed such a slaughter with the same +coolness and indifference, as if you were merely revelling over your +mead. + +{174b} “Dynin,” the dwarf, who had killed the British herald, contrary +to the law of war. Al, “ * * * with the edge and stroke of the sword, +the fierce warrior.” + + “It was such a thrust to the little man.” (Gorch. Mael.) + +{174c} “Mor ddiachor;” it may be also translated “how unrestrainedly.” +The Gorchan Maelderw has it “mor diachar,” _how unamiably_, which seems +to be required by the rhythmical run of the passage; + + “Oed mor diachar + Yt wanei escar.” + +{174d} It is not quite clear whether this person be the same with the +one mentioned in stanza lli. or whether another event, of a similar +character with that described therein, be not here introduced. We are +inclined, however, to consider both passages as referring to the same act +of treachery. + +{174e} Probably from the top of the rampart. + +{174f} “Cynyt,” (cynnud) fire wood. The bushes growing out of the sides +of the vallum checked not his fall. Al. “Cywydd,” his song; though this +word derived from _cy_ and _gwydd_, may likewise have the same meaning as +the former. + +{174g} “Cywrenhin,” (cywreinin) accurate, elaborate; well formed, +handsome. If it may be taken actively, the meaning in this place would +be skilful or talented, which epithet would apply well to him as a bard. + +{175a} It will be recollected that the “gorgeous pilgrim,” (line 534) +broke down the encampment; on the supposition, then, that he was +identical with the “foe” mentioned in the last stanza, we may imagine him +encountering Owain with his badge of truce at the very breach he was +making, and that he then and there put him to death. It is not +impossible, however, but that Owain was another herald who renewed the +offer of peace, after the death of the “delight of the bulwark of toil,” +and that both were dishonourably slain by the same perfidious messenger. + +{175b} That is, he was entitled in right of his office, as herald, to +every protection and safety, whilst engaged in proposing terms of peace. + +{175c} Lit. “The best branch.” “The wand denotes privilege.” See Iolo +MSS. p. 634. + +{175d} Lit. “due.” + +{175e} “Three things are forbidden to a bard; immorality, to satirize, +and to _bear arms_.” (Institutional Triads.) + +{175f} Quasi dicat, “did not wear one.” + +{176a} That is, avenge his death. There is a reference here to the +custom of distributing gifts out of a coffer, suggested by the similarity +between the expressions “pridd prenial,” the earthly shrine or coffin, +and “prid prenial,” the price chest. + +{176b} “Barn ben” might have the sense of _adjudged to lose her head_, +capitis damnata; in which case the passage would be translated as +follows:— + + “It was a violation of privilege to sentence a woman to death.” + +The other construction is, however, more especially countenanced by a +similar expression in “Gwasgargerdd Vyrddin” where the meaning is +obvious. + + “Pan dyvo y brych cadarn + Hyt yn Rhyt Pengarn + Lliwaut gwyr treuliaut Karn + Pendevic Prydein yno _pen Barn_;” (Myv. Arch. i. 132.) + +And on that account is preferred here. There is reason to think that the +Lady in question is the daughter of Eudav, already mentioned, upon whose +message, as well as that of Mynyddawg, “the gay and the illustrious +tribes,” proceeded to Cattraeth. It is observable, as confirmatory of +this view, that Eidol was introduced into our notice before in the stanza +immediately preceding that in which she is celebrated. + +{176c} “Iaen,” like ice. + +{177a} “Rhy,” excessively. + +{177b} “Gwlad _gordd_,” “_gwrdd_ werydd.” In the Triads Eidol is called +one of the three _gyrddion_ of the Isle of Britain. (Triad, 60.) + +{177c} The agricultural character of the usual employments of the early +Britons in times of peace, is clearly inferred from the frequent use of +the word “medel,” in reference to their soldiery. + +{177d} Or, “He sounded for steeds, he sounded for harness.” + +{177e} “_Am_ grudd;” his cheeks all _around_. + +{177f} Or, “the ribs.” + +{178a} The Cymry were thus styled to distinguish them from the Saxons, +who were pagans. See supra, line 365. + +{178b} “Amnant,” from “avn,” boldness, courage. + +{178c} “Cell;” a cell, a closet, a grove. Perhaps it here means a +_house_, or _habitation_ in general. + +{178d} Lit. the room, or chamber. + +{178e} “Yt vyddei dyrllyddei;” where was, where was brewed; or, “where +it was wont to brew.” + +{178f} A person of the name of “Gwres the son of Rheged,” is mentioned +in the “Dream of Rhonabwy,” in conjunction with Owain ab Urien. Gwrys +seems to have been a Venedotian chief. + +{178g} The Welsh poets frequently represent a man of worth, as a _ced_, +or a gift. + +{178h} As the Lloegrians have been shown before to be clearly amongst +the enemies of the British chiefs, (see line 547) the meaning of this +sentence is, that the hero under consideration was the conqueror, or the +master of the Lloegrians; and that he thus marshalled them against their +will. In like manner Einion ab Gwalchmai describes Llywelyn as,— + + “Llywelyn llew glwys, Loegrwys lugyrn.” + + Llywelyn the amiable lion, the torch of the Lloegrians. + +{178i} “Attawr;” al. “allawr,” the altar. A metaphor borrowed from the +discipline of the church, and in keeping with the title of saints, by +which the chieftain and his followers are designated. + +{179a} Lit. “the battle of sovereignty,” + +{179b} “Cynnest,” Al. “cyn cywest,” “before thou art allied to the +earth,” before thou formest an acquaintance or connection with the earth +by falling thereon. + +{179c} “Gorffin;” the Catrail. + +{179d} We have repeatedly seen that fire was resorted to in this war, +for the purpose of annoying or destroying the adversary, or else in self +defence, with the view of keeping him at bay. On the part of the Britons +the fire department seems to have been presided over by Morien; and +indeed the title “Mynawc,” which we have here translated high-minded, and +which is elsewhere connected with the name of Morien, would induce us to +infer that the Bard, in the above stanza, is presenting us once more with +a prospect of that hero surrounded by his own blazing engines. + +{179e} “Lluyddawg.” Al. “The successful (llwyddawg) bitter-handed, +high-minded chief;” who may have been Llyr lluyddawg. (Tr. xxiii.) + +{180a} The contrast between his conduct in war and his domestic +character is here noticed. + +{180b} I.e. the enemy. + +{180c} Or, “we are called to the sea and the borders, (or to the +harbours “cynnwr,” from cyn-dwfr) to engage in the conflict.” + +{180d} Lit. “Sharpened iron.” + +{180e} “Llavn.” + +{180f} “Sychyn,” a small ploughshare. Doubtless a weapon resembling it, +and bearing the same name. Al. “Syrthyn,” “They fell headlong with a +clang.” + +{180g} We have adopted this as a proper name from its similarity to +Fflewddur Fflam, the name of one of the three sovereigns of Arthur’s +court, who preferred remaining with him as knights, although they had +territories and dominions of their own. + + “Tri unben Llys Arthur; Goronwy ab Echel Forddwydtwll, a Chadraith ab + Porthor Godo; a Fleidur Fflam mab Godo; sef oeddent yn Dywysogion yn + Berchennogion Gwlad a Chyfoeth, a gwell oedd ganddynt no hynny aros + yn Farchogion yn Llys Arthur, gan y bernid hynny yn bennaf ar bob + anrhydedd a bonheddigeiddrwydd, a ellid wrth ygair y Tri Chyfiawn + Farchawg.” (Triad, 114, third series.) + +If, however, it be not a proper name, the line might be rendered,— + + “A successful warrior, flaming in steel, before the enemy.” + +{181a} “Dinus;” from “din,” a fort, and “ysu,” to consume. + +{181b} “Gwych.” Al. “the angry.” + +{181c} Or, “the honourable.” + +{181d} “Echadaf,” i.e. “ech,” εχ ex, and “adav,” a hand. + +{181e} A person of this name is ranked in the Triads as one of the three +“trwyddedawg hanvodawg,” or free guests of the court of Arthur. (Myv. +Arch. ii. 73 ) + +{181f} Or, “the sovereign of the impregnable strand, or extremity of +Gododin,” traeth y annor (an nhor.) + +{182a} “Am rann, (i.e. amrant.) See line 40. + +{182b} The city of Mynyddawg, from whence he was called Mynyddawg +Eiddyn. + +{182c} Or, “The raging flame turns not from Eiddyn.” + +{182d} Or, “at the entrance or gate.” + +{182e} “Trusi;” al. “trin;” “he placed a thick cover in front of the +battle.” + +{182f} The effects of his toil in battle. + +{182g} Al. “O goledd,” by arrangement, being actuated by the same motive +as that which induced Gwrgan the Freckled long before to “enact a law +that no one should bear a shield, but only a sword and bow;” hence it is +said, “his countrymen became very heroic.” (Iolo MSS. p. 351.) + +{183a} Lit. “the strand supported.” Traeth means also the extremity of +a district, and may accordingly be applied here to the boundary line +between Gododin and the British dominions. + +{183b} “Periglawr;” one who has to do with what is extreme, or +dangerous; one who administers extreme unction; a parish priest. + +{183c} Al. “penifeddawr,” giddy-headed. Al. “penufuddawr” having an +obedient head—rein-obeying. + +{183d} Al. “The mounted spearman.” + +{183e} Another reading gives “Odren” but the one adopted above suits the +rhyme better. + +{183f} There is a reference here to some pagan ceremonies to which the +Saxons had recourse, for the purpose either of propitiating their gods, +or of receiving omens at their altars. + +{184a} A body of British soldiers under the command of Nwython son of +Gildas, and nephew of Aneurin, seem to have taken advantage of the +peculiar position of the enemy, who were now probably unarmed, and to +have attacked them, which caused the latter, as usual, to seek refuge by +flight in one of the neighbouring forts. That we are right in adopting +Nwython as a proper name would appear, moreover, from two different +passages in the fragments of the Gododin subjoined to Gorchan Maelderw, +where “the son of Nwython,” is distinctly mentioned as one of the heroes +that fell at Cattraeth. + +{184b} Donald Brec, or as he is called in Latin, Dovenal Varius, king of +the Scots, who was slain by Owain, king of the Strathclyde Britons in the +battle of Vraithe Cairvin, otherwise Calatros, which in sound somewhat +resembles Galltraeth, or Cattraeth. It is true that the Scottish +chronicles assign a much later date to that event, than the era of the +Gododin, nevertheless as they themselves are very inconsistent with one +another on that point, giving the different dates of 629, 642, 678 and +686, it is clear that no implicit deference is due to their chronological +authority, and that we may, therefore, reasonably acquiesce in the view +which identifies Dyvnwal Vrych, with Donald Brec, seeing the striking +similarity which one name bears to the other. + +{184c} Supposing the person who killed Donald to be the same with Owain, +son of Urien, there may be here an allusion to his men as well as to the +birds of prey. See line 18 note one. + +{184d} Lit. “The bone;” even as it is popularly said at this day that a +man who gives great support to another is his back bone. + + “Caletach wrth elyn nog asgwrn.” + + Harder to an enemy than a bone. (Elegy on Cunedda.) + +{185a} Or, “whilst the foes range the sea.” + +{185b} Lit. “It was his characteristic or property.” + +{185c} “Naw rhiallu;” the literal amount of this force would be 900,000; +“naw,” however, may have here the meaning of “nawv,” _floating_; “naw +rhiallu,” a fleet. + +{185d} “Gorddinau;” from “gorddin,” what impels or drives forward; or +the word may mean _tribes_, from “cordd”; and then the passage would be: + + “In the face of blood, of the country, and of the tribes.” + +{185e} Cynddilig was introduced to our notice before, (line 645) as a +person who loved the world in company with the melody-seeking Eidol. + +{186a} Or, “as the alternative.” + +{186b} That this is a proper name, appears from the following passage in +Taliesin’s “Canu y Cwrw;”— + + “Ev cyrch cerddorion + Se syberw Seon + Neu’r dierveis i rin + Ymordei Uffin + Ymhoroedd Gododin.” + +{186c} Or, “who caused the stream of blood.” + +{186d} Gwenddoleu ap Ceidiaw is recorded in the Triads as the head of +one of the three “teulu diwair,” or faithful tribes of the Isle of +Britain, because his men maintained the war for six weeks after he was +slain in the battle of Arderydd, A.D. 577. He is also joined with Cynvar +and Urien, under the title of the three “tarw cad” or bulls of battle, on +account of their impetuosity in rushing upon the enemy. + +{187a} “Pen o draed;” from head to foot. Not, as Davies translates it, +“from the highest to the lowest,” as is evident from a similar phrase in +Cynddelw, (Myv. Arch. vol. i. p. 220.) + + “Yd kwytynt pennawr penn o draed;” + +where the word “pennawr” refers to one particular rank, if not to an +individual. + +{187b} See line 344. + +{187c} See line 324. + +{187d} See line 335. + +{187e} Lit. “after their conflict.” + +{188a} “Tra;” “whilst the gory pool continued to fill.” + +{188b} “Erchyn;” al. “echyn,” “and slew them like a hero; they were not +saved.” + +{188c} Or, “he darted with the spear,” or, “they were prostrated with +the spear.” + +{188d} “A medd,” with the mead. He abandoned the social banquet, or a +life of luxury, at the call of public duty. + +{188e} Al. “Is there a place where the people do not relate the +greatness of his counsel?” + +{188f} “Bwylliadau,” (i.e. bwyelliadau) the strokes of his battle-axe. +Another version gives “bwyll yaddeu,” which may be rendered, “Pwyll +assaulted.” + + “With a rush Pwyll made the assault.” + +{188g} “Lliveit handit;” which were sharpened. + +{188h} Al. “Where his founding blade was seen.” + +{189a} Or, “maintenance for.” + +{189b} There were two persons who bore this name in the sixth century, +the one was Pryderi the son of Dolor, chief of the people of Deivyr and +Bryneich, and was distinguished with Tinwaed and Rhineri, under the +epithet of the three strong cripples of the isle of Britain: + + “Tri Gwrddvaglawg ynys Prydain; Rhineri mab Tangwn; a Thinwaed + Vaglawg; a Phryderi mab Doler Deivr a Bryneich.” (Triad, 75.) + +The other was Pryderi, the son of Pwyll Pen Annwn, a chieftain of Dyved, +which country is by Lewis Glyn Cothi called “Gwlad Pryderi;” and by +Davydd ab Gwilym, “Pryderi dir.” He is styled one of the three strong +swineherds of Britain, having tended the swine of Pendaran his foster +father, during the absence of his father in the unknown world. + + “Tri Gwrddveichiad ynys Prydain; cyntav vu Pryderi vab Pwyll Pendaran + Dyved, a getwis voch ei dad tra yttoedd yn Annwn; ac yng nglyn Cwch + yn Emlyn y cetwis eve wynt.” &c. (Triad, 101.) + +In the Tale of Math Mathonwy, he is said to have been buried at Maen +Tyriawg, near Ffestiniog. We may therefore presume that the Englynion y +Beddau refer to the other in the following passage; + + “Yn Abergenoli y mae Bet Pryderi + Yn y terau tormeu tir.” + + In Abergenoli is the grave of Pryderi, + Where the waves beat against the shore. + +A saying of Pryderi has been thus recorded;— + + “Hast thou heard the saying of Pryderi, + The wisest person in counselling? + There is no wisdom like silence.” (Iolo MSS. p. 661.) + +{190a} “Pryderaf,” I am anxious about; a word suggested by the name of +the chief. + +{190b} A result brought about by the arrival of Pryderi’s troops. + +{190c} “Have I been afflicted.” + +{190d} “Celaig;” from _cel_, the root also of Celtiaid and Celyddon. + +{190e} There were two territories of this name, Argoed Derwennydd, +(Derwent wood apparently) and Argoed Calchvynydd, “between the river Tren +and the river Tain, that is the river of London.” (Iolo MSS. p. 476.) +One of them, the former probably, was the patrimony of Llywarch Hen. + + “Cyn bum cain vaglawg, bum cyfes eiriawg, + Ceinvygir ni eres; + Gwyr Argoed eirioed a’m porthes.” (Elegy on Old Age.) + + Before I appeared with crutches, I was eloquent in my complaint, + It will be extolled, what is not wonderful— + The men of Argoed have ever supported me! + +{191a} “Gwal.” “The Cymmry appropriated this name to regions that were +cultivated and had fixed inhabitancy, as opposed to the wilds, or the +unsettled residences of the Celtiaid, Celyddon, Gwyddyl, Gwyddelod, +Ysgotiaid, and Ysgodogion; which are terms descriptive of such tribes as +lived by hunting and tending their flocks.” (Dr. Pughe, sub. voce.) +Both descriptions of persons are thus included in the Bard’s affectionate +regret. Al. “accustomed at the rampart.” + +{191b} “Pwys;” pressure or weight. Or perhaps “arlwydd pwys” means “the +legitimate lord,” in opposition to usurpers, just as a wedded wife is +styled “gwraig bwys,” as distinguished from a concubine. + +{191c} “Dilyvn;” or perhaps “dylyvn,” smooth. + +{191d} Al. “rekindled.” + +{191e} “Gosgroyw,” rather fresh. + +{191f} Geraint, the son of Erbin, was prince of Dyvnaint, (Devon) and +one of the three owners of fleets of the Isle of Britain, each fleet +consisting of 120 ships, and each ship being manned by 120 persons. + + “Tri Llynghesawg ynys Prydain; Geraint mab Erbin; Gwenwynwyn mab Nav; + a March mab Meirchion; a chweugain llong gan bob un o’r + Llynghesogion, a chweugain llongwyr ymhob llong.” (Triad 68, Third + series.) + +Llywarch Hen wrote an Elegy upon Geraint, in which the place of his death +is thus mentioned;— + + “Yn Llongborth y llas Geraint, + Gwr dewr o goettir Dyvnaint, + Wyntwy yn lladd gyd a’s lleddaint.” + + At Llongborth was Geraint slain, + A strenuous warrior from the woodland of Dyvnaint, + Slaughtering his foes as he fell. + +Geraint ab Erbin was the grandfather of Aneurin, but as he died in king +Arthur’s time, A.D. 530, we can hardly identify him with the Geraint of +the text, who probably was a son, or some other relation, that had +inherited his fleet. + +{192a} “Llwch gwyn,” probably “Vanduara,” _Gwyn Dwr_, or White Water, +which seems to have been one of the old designations of a river in +Renfrewshire. (See _Caledonia Romana_, p. 143.) Adar y y llwch gwyn, +the birds of the white lake, is a mythological epithet for vultures. +Their history is recorded in the Iolo MSS. p. 600. + +{192b} Al. “There was a white badge on his shield.” + +{192c} Lit. “his anchor.” + +{192d} “Cyman,” “cydvan,” (i.e. cyd man) the place of gathering. Al. +“his broken anchor.” + +{192e} It is not improbable that the eagle was charged on Geraint’s +standard, for it is also frequently alluded to in Llywarch Hen’s +Elegy—e.g. + + “Oedd re redaint dan vorddwyd Geraint, + Garhirion, grawn odew, + Rhuddion, rhuthr eryron glew.” + + Under the thigh of Geraint were fleet runners, + With long hams, fattened with corn; + They were red ones; their assault was like the bold eagles. + +{193a} “Lledvegin,” an animal partly reared in a domestic way. We have +chosen the lamb as being one of the animals most commonly reared in this +manner. Nevertheless, a previous wildness, with reference to the +military aspect of his character, might be intended to be conveyed in +this epithet. + + “_Lledvegyn_ is a kine, or what shall be tamed in a house; namely, + such as a fawn, or a fox, or a wild beast similar to those.” (Welsh + Laws.) + +{193b} “Rhan,” see lines 40 and 732. + +{193c} Or, “He presided over the feast, pouring from the horn the +splendid mead.” So Cynddelw,— + + “Baran lew llew lloegyr oual + Lleduegin gwin gwyrt uual.” (Myv. Arch. v. i. p. 225.) + +{193d} As the natural consequence of military operations. + +{193e} “Llawr llaned,” ground of smooth surface. Al. “llanwed,” every +region was filled with slaughter. + +{193f} “Hual amhaval,” like a fetter. “Avneued” from “avn,” courage. + +{194a} The sound of the name, in connection with the word “hual,” in a +former line, makes it very probable that the hero mentioned was of the +tribe of Caswallon Law Hir, celebrated as one of the “hualogion deulu” of +the Isle of Britain, called so because the men bound themselves together +with the +“hualau,” or fetters of their horses, to sustain the attack of Serigi +Wyddel, whom Caswallon slew with his own hand, when he drove the Irish +out of Anglesey. + + “Tri hualogion teulu Y. P. Teulu Caswallon Llawhir a ddodasant hualeu + eu Meirch ar eu traed pob deu o naddynt wrth ymladd a Serigi Wyddel + yng Cerrig y Gwyddyl y Mon, a theulu Rhiwallon mab Uryen yn ymladd ar + Saeson, a theulu Belyn o Leyn yn ymladd ag Etwyn ym mryn Ceneu yn + Rhos.” (Triad 49, first series.) + +Caswallon Law Hir was the son of Einion Yrth ab Cunedda Wledig, king of +Gododin. He succeeded to the sovereignty of North Wales, A.D. 443, and +is said to have died in 517. There was a Cas son of Seidi, who was one +of the heroes of Arthur’s Court. + +{194b} A hundred in the middle part of North Wales, so called from +Rhuvon son of Cunedda Wledig, whose inheritance it was. + +{194c} Probably the enemy. + +{194d} Or, “the shout was raised.” + +{194e} Cadvorion, i.e. cad-vawrion; or, it may be, more literally, +cad-vorion, “martial ants,” in reference to their activity. + +{194f} Lit. “warning.” + +{195a} Lit. “prepared.” + +{195b} The popular air “Nos Galan” is supposed to have been a relic of +the musical entertainments of this season. + +{195c} A chieftain of Mona, the land that enjoyed “the valour of Ervei;” +see his Elegy by Taliesin apud Myv. Arch. v. i. p. 70. Ervei was also +engaged in the battle of Cattraeth;— + + “Red speared was Urvei before the lord of Eiddin.” (Gorch. Mael.) + +{195d} That is, in domestic life he was as refined as a lady, modest as +a virgin, whilst in war he was brave and high minded. + +{195e} The word “teyrn” reminds us of a line which countenances the +theory we suggested relative to the expression “edyrn diedyrn,” in stanza +xv. but which we omitted to mention in its proper place. It occurs in +the “Elegy on Cunedda.” (Myv. Arch. i. p. 71) as follows;— + + “Rhag mab _edern_ cyn _edyrn_ anaelew.” + + “Before the son of Edeyrn ere his kingdom became fearful.” + +{196a} This warrior was probably of the family of Urien Rheged, for a +grandson of his, the celebrated Kentigern, was called Cyndeyrn Garthwys. +Arthwys son of Ceneu ab Coel was too early for the battle of Cattraeth. + +{196b} Tinogad was the son of Cynan Garwyn, and was celebrated for his +swift steed, named Cethin. + + “Tri marchlwyth ynys Prydain—ar ail marchlwyth aduc Cornann March + meibion Eliffer gosgortuawr, a duc Gwrgi a Pheredur arnaw, ac nys + gordiuedawd neb namyn Dinogat vab Kynan Garwyn yar y Kethin kyvlym ac + aruidiawt ac aglot a gauas yr hynny hyd hediw.” (Triad 11, second + series.) + +{196c} The possession of slaves, whether of native origin, or derived +from the custom of the Romans, prevailed to some extent among the Britons +of the fifth and sixth century, and seems to have denoted a certain +degree of power on the part of the owners. Taliesin the Druid boasts +that he had received “a host of slaves,” (torof keith) from his royal +patron Cunedda Wledig. (Myv. Arch. v. i. p. 71.) + +{197a} “Bar,” al. “ban,” on the heights. + +{197b} Or, the chief, the best. + +{197c} Many places in Wales bear the name of this animal, where it +appears to have been common in ancient times, such as “Bryn yr iwrch,” +“Ffynon yr iwrch,” and the like. Hunting the roebuck is recognised in +the Welsh Laws; and is called one of the three cry hunts (helva ddolev.) + + “Mi adaen iwrch er nas daliwyv.” (Adage.) + I know a roebuck, though I may not catch him. + +{197d} “Derwenydd;” Derventio, the river Derwent in Cumberland. + +{197e} “Llewyn a llwyvein.” It is difficult to ascertain the particular +animals which these terms respectively represent. The former might +denote a young lion, a white lion, or any beast in general to whose +eating faculties the word _llewa_ would be applicable. The latter might +signify any animal whose haunts were the elm forests, or whose property +was to _llyvu_ or to lick, as does a dog. The fox being named llwynog +from _llwyn_ a forest, and the forests in the North being chiefly of elm, +it is not unlikely but that the said animal was frequently called +_llwyvain_ in that part of the country when the Bard wrote, though it is +not known now by that name. It is remarkable that both terms also +signify certain kinds of wood. The former the herb orach, the latter the +elm. + +{197f} Al. “None would escape.” + +{198a} “Angcyvrwng;” lit. “were he to place me without an intervening +space,” that is, were he to straiten me on every side. + +{198b} When any thing is taken away or used, or when any thing is done, +the owner not knowing it, or without asking his leave, it is called +_Anghyvarch_. “Anghyvarchwyr,” extortioners. W. Salesbury, 1 Cor. v. + +{198c} Lit. “There would not come, there would not be to me, one more +formidable.” + +{198d} The head of the river Clyde in Scotland. + +{198e} “Veruarch.” Morach Morvran is often mentioned by the poets on +account of his celebrated banquet. + + “Cygleu yn Maelawr gawr vawr vuan, + A garw ddisgyr gwyr a gwyth erwan; + Ac ymgynnull, am drull, am dramwyan, + Mal y bu yn Mangor am ongyr dan; + Pan wnaeth dau deyrn uch cyrn cyvrdan, + Pan vu gyveddach Morach Morvran.” + + In Maelor the great, the hastening shout was heard, + And the dreadful shrieks of men with gashing wounds in pain; + And together thronging to seek a cure, round and round they strayed, + As it was in Bangor for the fire of the brunt of spears; + When over horns two princes caused discord, + While in the banquet of Morach Morvran. (Owain Cyveiliog.) + +{199a} This stanza evidently refers to the same transaction as that +which is recorded in the lxxxth, though the details are somewhat +differently described. + +{199b} One of these, we may presume, was Dyvnwal Vrych. + +{199c} The whole line may be thus translated; + + “I saw the men, who with the dawn, dug the deep pit.” Al. “I saw at + dawn a great breach made in the wall at Adoen.” + +{199d} See stanza lii. + +{199e} “Yngwydd.” + +{199f} “Yr enwyd.” + +{200a} Gwarthan the son of Dunawd by Dwywe his wife, “who was slain by +the pagan Saxons in their wars in the north.” (Iolo MSS. p. 556.) + +{200b} Or, “let it be forcibly seized in one entire region.” + +{200c} An allusion to his incarceration, see lines 440, 445. + +{200d} Gardith; i.e. garw deith (or teithi.) + +{200e} Tithragon; i.e. teith-dragon. + +{200f} A pitched battle. + + “Gwr yn gware a Lloegyrwys.” (Cynddelw.) + A man playing with the Lloegrians. + +{200g} Or, “did he bring and supply.” + +{200h} “Tymyr;” native place. + +{201a} “Dyvnuyt;” see also stanza, xlviii. + +{201b} One of the officers appointed to the command of Geraint’s fleet. + +{201c} This stanza, with the exception of a few words, is the same with +the lxxxix. + +{201d} Or “valiantly.” + +{201e} “Gwelydeint,” from “gwelyd,” a wound; or “gwelyddeint,” they took +repose in the grave. + +{201f} Al. “with the gory trappings,” as in the other stanza. + +{202a} Al. “a dau,” the two sons, and two haughty boars. + +{202b} Al. “riein,” a lady. + +{202c} Cilydd was the son of Celyddon Wledig, and father of Cilhwch who +is the hero of an ancient dramatic tale of a singular character. + +{202d} In a former stanza he is called Garthwys Hir. + +{202e} “Nod;” is a conspicuous mark. + +{203a} See stanza xl. + +{203b} “Dyli,” condition or impulse. + +{203c} “Vracden;” from “brag,” a sprouting out, and “ten,” stretched. + +{203d} The Irish. + +{203e} The inhabitants of Scotland. + + “Hon a oresgyn + Holl Loegr a Phrydyn.” (Taliesin.) + + She will conquer + All England and Scotland. + +{203f} “Giniaw,” from “cyni,” affliction. + +{204a} “Cemp,” i.e. “camp,” a feat, surpassingly. + +{204b} Or, “at his side.” + +{204c} Al. “Arreith;” i.e. “a rhaith;” “the sentence of the law was that +they should search;” or “the jury searched.” Al. “in various directions +they searched.” + +{204d} Probably the Cantii or people of Kent. + +{204e} If the stanza, however, is not properly completed here, we may +assign the sigh to Gwenabwy himself, in reference probably to his father, +as in the preceding stanza. + + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK Y GODODIN*** + + +******* This file should be named 9842-0.txt or 9842-0.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/9/8/4/9842 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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