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 Llwyvain Bu llawer celain." (Myv. Arch. vol. i. p. 53.)

Al. "When we were deprived of our sharpened weapons."

{116b} Thus in Gorchan Maelderw,—

"There trod not, in Gododin, on the surface of the fosse, When deprived of his sharpened weapon, none more destitute."

{116c} One reading has "the weapon of death," another, "the death-formed weapon, is broken and motionless."

{116d} If we give an affirmative meaning to the words "angkynnull agkymandull agkysgoget," the couplet might be thus rendered,—

"They assembled in arms, and in complete array they moved along, And rolled through the mighty horde."

It is observable that Carnhuanawc adopted this affirmative form in a similar passage with which "Gorchan Tudvwlch" opens, thus:

"Arv ynghynnull, Yn nghymandull, Twrv yn agwedd; Y rhag meiwedd, Y rhag mawredd, Y rhag madiedd."

They assemble in arms, The forces are marshalled, Tumult approaches: In the van are the warlike, In the van are the noble, In the van are the good.

And he moreover traces a similarity between this style and that of Tacitus, wherein the latter describes the effects of Galgacus's address upon his British followers;—

"Jamque agmina, et armorum fulgores, audentissimi, cujusque procursu, simul instruebantur acies." (See Hanes Cymru, p. 96.)

{117a} Al. "llawr," "and prostrate the horde of the Lloegrians."

{117b} The Lloegrians were the second "social tribe" that settled in Britain. Their province was that of Lloegyr, by which the Welsh still designate England, (Triads v. ii. first series) though there is reason to believe that it was originally of much smaller extent. The Lloegrians for the most part coalesced with the Saxons, (Triad vii. third series) and grievously harassed the Cymry in the sixth century.

"Cynddylan, cae di y rhiw, Er yddaw Lloegyrwys heddiw; Amgeledd am un nid gwiw!" (Llywarch Hen.)

Cynddylan, guard thou the cliff, Against any Lloegrians that may come this day; Concern for one should not avail.

{117c} "Ygcynuor," i.e. "yn cynvor." Al. "cynnor," the entrance. Al. "ynghynwr," in the turmoil.

{117d} This probably refers to the enemy, who, being pagans, burnt their dead. The fact might have been suggested to the poet's mind, by the name of his hero "Graid," which signifies heat.

{117e} Viz. that of Graid.

{117f} The rhyme determines this form, which occurs in 1. In Gorchan Maelderw, we have, instead of Graid the son of Hoewgi, "Braint the son of Bleiddgi."

{118a} "Orwydan," from Gorwydd. Another way of translating these lines would be—

"There was the hero of the two shielded wings, The one with the variegated front; the other of like quality with Prydwen;

which was the name of Arthur's shield;—

"Tarian a gymmerai Arthur ar ei Ysgwydd, yr hon a elwid Prydwen."

A shield did Arthur take upon his shoulder, which was called Prydwen. (Gr. ab Arthur.)

The supposition that Arthur's shield had already acquired a notable renown is indirectly corroborated by an alleged contemporary poem, "Preiddiau Annwn." (Myv. Arch. vol. i. p. 45) in which his ship of the same name is clearly invested with a similarly extravagant character,—

"Tri lloneid Prydwen ydd aetham ni ar for."

{118b} Al. "in the midst of arms."

{118c} Perhaps scintillations from the clash of arms.

{118d} Occasioned by the brightness of the arms. Al. "Clouded was the dawn, and the sun," Al. "there was misery."

{118e} "Bud e vran," an allusion to the name of 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 MSS. pp. 259, 664.)

{126a} The other reading "ceiniad" would mean a minstrel, which, on the supposition that the chieftain of the present is the same with that of the preceding stanza, would further support the textual construction which we have given there to "car cyrdd," viz. the friend of song.

{126b} Al. "gowan," gashing.

{126c} Al. "Crwydyr," perambulated.

{126d} "Cystudd daear," buried; "cystudd haiarn," killed. See line 128.

{126e} Caradawg Vreichvras, chief elder (pen hynaiv) of Gelliwig in Cornwall. (Triad lxiv. first series.) According to the Triads he was one of the battle knights of the Isle of Britain, and in the Englyn attributed to Arthur he is styled "Pillar of Cymru."

"Tri chadvarchawg Teyrn ynys Prydain: Caradawc Vreiehvras, a Llyr Lluyddawg, a Mael ab Menwaed o Arllechwedd; ac Arthur a gant iddynt hynn o Englyn,

Sev ynt vy nhri chadvarchawg Mael hir a Llyr Lluyddawg, A cholovn Cymru Caradawg." (Triad 29.)

Caradawg's horse Lluagor is recorded as one of the three battle horses of the Island. (Trioedd y Meirch, Myv. Arch. vol. ii. p. 20.)

{127a} This simile has evidently some connection with the story told of Caradawg, that owing to his well founded confidence in his wife's virtue, he was able to carve a certain Boar's head, an adventure in which his compeers failed. It is remarkable also that the Boar's head, in some form or other, appears as the armorial bearing of all of his name. See the "Dream of Rhonabwy."—Note. Al. "red boar."

{127b} This statement may have two meanings, the one real, as indicative of what did actually take place, namely, that the dogs came out of the neighbouring woods to feed upon the corpses which had fallen by the band of Caradawg; the other allegorical, as referring to himself in his character of a boar or a bull, the wild dogs being his enemies, who thus hunted and baited him.

{127c} We may infer from this admission that the Bard's statements, though poetically adorned, are, as to the main facts, framed with a strict regard to truth. Thus no less than four vouchers for the correctness of his description of Caradawg's valour are presented to our notice by name.

{127d} Gwriad was the son of Gwrien, one of the three princes of vassal origin. (See line 56: notes.) Gwynn might have been either Gwyn Godyvron or Gwyn ab Nudd; both alluded to in the Mabinogi of Kilhwch and Olwen.

{127e} Lit. its mangling or hewing.

{127f} We should have been tempted to construe the line thus,—

"From the broken hill of encounter,"

Making "kynn caffat" into one word "cynghaffad," had we not been precluded by the peculiar metre which version third presents throughout, and which accordingly requires "cyn" in this place to rhyme with "fryn."—

"O fryn } caffad." Hydwn cyn }

Possibly "Hydwn" may be identified with Hdddinam or Hadingtoun, in the province of Valentia.

{128a} Al. "vron," the presence. Caradawg's father was Llyr Merini, a prince of Cornwall.

{128b} Al. "eurawc," covered with gold.

{128c} Caradawg Vreichvras, just mentioned.

{128d} These two were doubtless sons of Llywarch 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 word].

{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.)