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You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: Y Gododin + +Author: Aneurin + +Release Date: February, 2006 [EBook #9842] +[This file was first posted on October 23, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: US-ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, Y GODODIN *** + + + + +Transcribed by David Price, email ccx074@coventry.ac.uk + + + + +Y GODODIN + + + + +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 mediaeval 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. Gyda 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 +D. Ellis ... 2 +Ditto ... 3 +D. Thomas ... 4 +E. Evans ... 5 +P. Panton ... 6 +E. Davies ... 7 +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 quae 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 difiwys 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 Novantae; {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 Gwen, {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 mediaeval 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," [Greek text]. + +{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 Novantae 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 LIwyvain +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 BUDvan. + +{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 Gwen: 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 Gwen goreu o naddu," &c. + +Four and twenty sons I have had, +Wearing the golden chain, leaders of armies; +Gwen 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 M.S. 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 Hen, 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 Hen. 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 praetorium. 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 mediaeval 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 a 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;" [Greek text]. + +{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 LEUCOpibia. + +{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. CARBANtium 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 ar 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 Selgovae, 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. tan 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 prosopopaeia, 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, +(mal, 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 "HUDwg," a racket for ball +playing? + +{164a} "Ystryng;" from YS and TRYNG or TRENGU. + +{164b} "Adan;" that is A 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," [Greek text] 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 gddn10.txt or gddn10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, gddn11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, gddn10a.txt + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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