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.)
“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 haelwyY mae Sanant Syberv vun y mae Run ryvel achwyY 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.
“Y beteu yn y morva ys bychan ae haelwyY mae Sanant Syberv vun y mae Run ryvel achwyY 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 ofpelloidorpellwyd, which word would supply the blank afterbrwydryat, 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 cyniVran; pan disgynai yn nghyvyrdyPen gwr, pan gwin a ddyly.”
“Adwen leverydd cyniVran; pan disgynai yn nghyvyrdyPen gwr, pan gwin a ddyly.”
[145b]“Talben,” a fixed charge, or a tax. A very natural reflection from the head of a family!
[145c]“Gorddin;” what impels or drives forward; what is posterior, ultimate, or following; the rear. (Dr. Pughe’s Dict.) It would appear from this that the captive was pushed along towards his prison by some person from behind.
[145d]I.e. this treatment I despise, it is beneath my notice, I will regard it as a particle of dust under my feet. There was a maxim in reference to a really felt trouble which said;—
“Nid â gwaew yn ronyn.”Pain will not become a particle.
“Nid â gwaew yn ronyn.”
Pain will not become a particle.
[145e]How true to nature this disclaimer of any peevish and revengeful feelings when the power of fully exercising them was taken away! And yet his conduct, as implied in “gorddin,” at the same time belied such a declaration.
[145f]Lit. “my knee.” The prisoner here very naturally gives vent to his feelings in reference to the racking pain which was inflicted upon him.
[146a]“Bundat,” frompwn. 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 hisawen, declaring that he would still in his dismal prison celebrate the praise of his countrymen, to the disparagement of his enemies at the battle of Cattraeth.
[146c]Lit. “make,” “compose;” ποιεω.
[146d]Perhaps this may mean no more than that Taliesin’s mind was akin to his own.
[146e]The dawn of the following morning; or, it may, be the day of liberty.
[146f]Or we may put “goroledd gogledd” in apposition with “gwr,” and construe it thus,—
“The hero, the joy of the North, effected it,”
“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.
“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 theNeuaddwas 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]PerhapsLuceBay, nearLeucopibia.
[149b]Llywarch Hen, in his Elegy on Urien Rheged, speaks thus,—
“Yn AberLleulladd Urien.”In AberLleuUrien was slain.
“Yn AberLleulladd Urien.”
In AberLleuUrien was slain.
[149c]Probably on the riverLid, 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.
“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,” fromgwoddew, 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 SidiTrwy ebostol Pwyll a Phryderi.” &c.Arranged was the prison of Gwair in Caer SidiBy the ministration of Pwyll and Pryderi. &c. (Myv. Arch. i. 45.)
“Bu cywair carchar Gwair ynghaer SidiTrwy ebostol Pwyll a Phryderi.” &c.
Arranged was the prison of Gwair in Caer SidiBy the ministration of Pwyll and Pryderi. &c. (Myv. Arch. i. 45.)
Pwyll is the hero of one of the Mabinogion.
[151a]Brwys; “of fine growth,” “large.”
[151b]Llywarch Hen speaks of a person of this name.
“Tywarchen Ercal ar âr dywalWyr, o edwedd Morial;A gwedy Rhys mae rhysonial.” (Elegy on Cynddylan.)The sod of Ercal is on the ashes of fierceMen, of the progeny of Morial;And after Rhys there is great murmuring of woe.
“Tywarchen Ercal ar âr dywalWyr, o edwedd Morial;A gwedy Rhys mae rhysonial.” (Elegy on Cynddylan.)
The sod of Ercal is on the ashes of fierceMen, of the progeny of Morial;And after Rhys there is great murmuring of woe.
[151c]Al. “from the place where he was once overtaken.”
[151d]This stanza evidently contains a reproof to one of the British chiefs, who turned coward on the field of battle. The circumstances mentioned in the two first lines, that his shield was pierced behind him, “ar grymal carnwyd,” (on the crupper of his horse) would indicate that he was then in the act of fleeing, holding his shield in such a position, as best to protect his back from the darts of his pursuers. Of this the Bard remarks “ni mad,” it was not honourable, “non bene.”
[152a]Lit. “placed his thigh on.” Llywarch Hen gives quite a different account of his own son Pyll;—
“Mad ddodes ei vorddwyd dros obellEi orwydd, o wng ac o bell.” (On Old Age.)Gracefully he placed his thigh over the saddleOf his steed, on the near and farther side.
“Mad ddodes ei vorddwyd dros obellEi orwydd, o wng ac o bell.” (On Old Age.)
Gracefully he placed his thigh over the saddleOf his steed, on the near and farther side.
[152b]We may suppose that the Bard looks upon the dark hue of his accoutrements as ominous of a mournful and dishonourable result.
[152c]A sarcastic irony addressed to the coward himself, who probably had boasted of some heroic deeds that he would perform. Where are they? And where is this brave warrior? Not distinguishing himself on the field of battle; not entering cities in triumph; but in a cell gnawing the shoulder of a buck.
[152d]“Gell.” This word has a reference to “gell,”dark, and it may be that Aneurin regarded the one as typical of the other; that he thought the man who appeared in dark armour would eventually be found in a dark cellar. It is not clear whether this person secreted himself, or whether he was placed by his enemies in the “cell” here mentioned. If the former, we may regard his eating the venison as a further proof of his unwarlike character; if the latter, “cnoi angell bwch” may be considered as something tantamount to living upon bread and water in our days.
[152e]Al. “hwch,” a sow.
[152f]Al. “May triumph be far from his hand.”
[153a]See line 468. It may be inferred from this place that the person just spoken of had abandoned Gwen, which shows his character in still blacker colours.
[153b]See line 404. O shame upon the nameless knight, to flee where a woman fought!
[153c]“Dibennor;” this word may signify either the rabble who were not invested with military accoutrements, or such as had no regular commander, or the infantry as distinguished from the cavalry mentioned in the succeeding line. Though so many were ready to attack the Saxons, the circumstance could not inspire our hero(!) with any corresponding amount of patriotic feelings.
[153d]“It is well that Adonwy came, that Adonwy came to the defence of those that were left;Bradwen fought, slaughtered, and burned;Thou didst not guard either the extremity or the entranceOf the towering town; thy helmet did I not behold from the sea,From the rampart of the sea, O thou knight worse than a slave.”
Gorch. Mael.
[154a]This stanza refers to a conference, to which the Cymry were at length fain to submit.
[154b]Trimuntium, belonging to the Selgovæ, in Valentia. Al. “The dales beyond the ridges that were cultivated.”
[154c]“Gwas,” which means also youth. It is probable that the messenger or herald of the Saxons is here meant, who being of an avaricious mind made exorbitant demands, was “heb ymwyd,” could not keep his “gwyd,” his inclinations or desires, within his own breast. Nor was Aneurin on the other hand willing that his countrymen should make concessions; rather than that, he calls upon them to put forth their strength once more, and assert their rights on the field of battle.
[154d]Aneurin, addressing his country.
[154e]Al. “Plentiful.”
[154f]Llancarvan in Glamorganshire was anciently called by this name. Al. “tan veithin;” qu. tân eithin, gorze fire?
[154g]“Luthvin,” (glwth vin.) Al. “the edge of his sword gleamed.”
[154h]The Saxon herald.
[154i]“Gnaws gwan,” him, who was necessarily in a weak or defenceless state, namely the British herald.
[154j]By the “bulwark of toil” is probably understood Morien.
[155a]Being like him a Bard.
[155b]“Cynrennin.” Al. “expert.” The conference having been so egregiously violated by the assassination of the British herald, is immediately broken up, and the advice of Aneurin eagerly followed.
[155c]Their loquacity and haste had been greatly excited by liquor.
[155d]See Notes to stanza xxxviii.
[155e]The treacherous herald before mentioned.
[156a]Another way of construing these two lines would be,—
“Strangers to the country, their deeds shall be heard of;The bright wave murmured along on its pilgrimage;”
“Strangers to the country, their deeds shall be heard of;The bright wave murmured along on its pilgrimage;”
in reference to the British heroes.
[156b]According to version 4,—
“Where they had collected together the most melodious deer.”
“Where they had collected together the most melodious deer.”
The deer were collected within the encampment for the purpose of supplying the army with food, or so as to be out of the reach of the enemy. The locality was probably that of Ban Carw, the Deer Bank.
[156c]Dyvynawl Brych.
[156d]I.e. no pacific insignia.
[156e]A moral reflection suggested by the perfidy of the Saxons at the conference of Llanveithin.
[156f]Morial is recorded in one of the Englynion y Beddau, (see line 348, note 2) as one who fell not unavenged. His name occurs in one of Llywarch Hen’s poems, (see line 495. note 2.) Meugant gives an account of the expedition of one Morial to Caer Lwydgoed (Lincoln) from whence he brought a booty of 1500 bullocks.
[156g]Or, “mutually sharing” the toils of war.
[157a]These two lines may be translated in reference to the Saxon herald;
“The stranger with the crimson robe pursued,And slaughtered with axes and blades.”
“The stranger with the crimson robe pursued,And slaughtered with axes and blades.”
[157b]“Cywrein.” Al. “The warriors arose, met together, and with one accord,” &c.
[157c]Or, “made the assault.”
[157d]Or, simply, “women.”
[157e]“Gwich,” a shriek; Al. “acted bravely.” Al. “were greatly exasperated;” or perhaps for “gwyth” we should readgweddw, “their wives they made widows.” Gruffydd ap yr Ynad Coch in his Elegy upon Llywelyn, (Myv. Arch. i. 396) makes use of similar sentiments, in the following lines,—
Llawer deigr hylithr yn hwylaw ar ruddLlawer ystlys rhudd a rhwyg arnawLlawer gwaed am draed wedi ymdreiddiawLlawer gweddw a gwaedd y amdanawLlawer meddwl trwm yn tomrwyaw.Llawer mam heb dad gwedi ei adawLlawer hendref fraith gwedi llwybrgodaithA llawer diffaith drwy anrhaith drawLlawer llef druan fal ban fu’r Gamlan.Many a slippery tear sails down the cheek,Many a wounded side is red with gore,Many a foot is bathed in blood,Many a widow raises the mournful shriek,Many a mind is heavily troubled,Many a son is left without a father,Many an old grey town is deserted,Many are ruined by yonder deed of war,Many a cry of misery arises as erst on Camlan field.
Llawer deigr hylithr yn hwylaw ar ruddLlawer ystlys rhudd a rhwyg arnawLlawer gwaed am draed wedi ymdreiddiawLlawer gweddw a gwaedd y amdanawLlawer meddwl trwm yn tomrwyaw.Llawer mam heb dad gwedi ei adawLlawer hendref fraith gwedi llwybrgodaithA llawer diffaith drwy anrhaith drawLlawer llef druan fal ban fu’r Gamlan.
Many a slippery tear sails down the cheek,Many a wounded side is red with gore,Many a foot is bathed in blood,Many a widow raises the mournful shriek,Many a mind is heavily troubled,Many a son is left without a father,Many an old grey town is deserted,Many are ruined by yonder deed of war,Many a cry of misery arises as erst on Camlan field.
[158a]Al. “Nor was there a hero (lew from glew)” &c. Al. “Nor was there a lion so generous, in the presence of a lion of the greatest course;” the latter description referring to some other chief of renown.
[158b]Or thecry, “dias;” being either the shout of battle, or the voice of distress.
[158c]“Angor,” fromangandgor; lit. astaying round, which indicates the city in question to have been of a circular form. Probably it was one of the forts which are so commonly seen on our hills.
[158d]That is, either the place where Bards were entertained, or where the deer were protected. See line 535.
[159a]“Gwryd,”manliness, as displayed in war.
[159b]I.e. Cynon.
[159c]Or, “wide.”
[159d]A similar expression has been used before (line 512) “nac eithaf na chynor.” A “clod heb or heb eithaf,” simply means immortal praise.
[159e]The distinguishing feature of this stanza is its prosopopæia, or its change of things into persons, as in the case of Hwrreith, Buddugre, and Rheiddyn, which are translated respectively Spoliation, Victory, and the Lance.
[159f]Eidol or Eidiol Gadarn is recorded as one of the three strong men of Britain, having, at the meeting on Salisbury plain, slain 660 Saxons with a billet of wood.
“Tri Gyrddion Ynys Prydain; Gwrnerth Ergydlym, a laddes yr arth mwyaf ac a welwyd erioed a saeth wellten; a Gwgawn Lawgadarn, a dreiglis maen Maenarch or glynn i ben y mynydd, ac nid oedd llai na thrugain ych ai tynnai; ac Eidiol Gadarn, a laddes o’r Saeson ym mrad Caersallawg chwechant a thrugain a chogail gerdin o fachlud haul yd yn nhywyll.” (Triad 60. third series.)
“Tri Gyrddion Ynys Prydain; Gwrnerth Ergydlym, a laddes yr arth mwyaf ac a welwyd erioed a saeth wellten; a Gwgawn Lawgadarn, a dreiglis maen Maenarch or glynn i ben y mynydd, ac nid oedd llai na thrugain ych ai tynnai; ac Eidiol Gadarn, a laddes o’r Saeson ym mrad Caersallawg chwechant a thrugain a chogail gerdin o fachlud haul yd yn nhywyll.” (Triad 60. third series.)
The time here specified “from sunset until dark,” will not be found to tally at all with the commencement of the fight at Cattraeth, which is said to have been “with the day,” and “with the dawn;” this circumstance is fatal to Davies’s theory.
The first lines of this stanza may be translated in divers ways, such as,—
“With a feast of wine and a banquet of mead, endowedBy Cynlaith, mother of Hwrraith, was the energetic Eidol.”
“With a feast of wine and a banquet of mead, endowedBy Cynlaith, mother of Hwrraith, was the energetic Eidol.”
Also,—
“With a feast of wine and a banquet of mead,Did his brave (hwrraithfromhwrdd) motherCynlaith, enrichThe energetic Eidol.”
“With a feast of wine and a banquet of mead,Did his brave (hwrraithfromhwrdd) motherCynlaith, enrichThe energetic Eidol.”
Again,—
“With a feast of wine and a banquet of mead,Did his mother HwrraithAt the first fall of the dew (cyn llaith) enrichThe energetic Eidol.”
“With a feast of wine and a banquet of mead,Did his mother HwrraithAt the first fall of the dew (cyn llaith) enrichThe energetic Eidol.”
[160a]The hill on which the vanguard was stationed.
[160b]Waiting their prey.
[160c]“Cynydaw” (cnydiaw) to yield a crop. Cynydaw means also to rise; and we may thus construe the passage,—
“The foremost spearmen spring up around him.”
“The foremost spearmen spring up around him.”
Another reading gives “cwydaw” to fall, in allusion to the slaughter of the men; adopting this expression, it would seem that “arnaw” was more applicable to “racvre,” the mount of the van.
[160d]“Glas heid,” (glas haidd) green barley. It is rather singular that the words, without the slightest alteration, will admit of another simile equally beautiful and appropriate, viz.—glas haid, a blue swarm of flies. The wordglasmay be indicative of the prevailing colour of the dress or armour of the men,
“As from the rocky cliff the shepherd seesClustering in heaps on heaps the driving bees,Rolling, and blackening, swarms succeeding swarms,With deeper murmurs and more hoarse alarms;Dusky they spread, a close embodied crowd,And o’er the vale descends the living cloud.” (Pope’s Homer, b. ii. l. 111.)
“As from the rocky cliff the shepherd seesClustering in heaps on heaps the driving bees,Rolling, and blackening, swarms succeeding swarms,With deeper murmurs and more hoarse alarms;Dusky they spread, a close embodied crowd,And o’er the vale descends the living cloud.” (Pope’s Homer, b. ii. l. 111.)
[161a]“Hedin;” this word seems of kindred nature with haidd (barley) and is here translated accordingly; (hedeg, to shoot out, or to ear, as corn.) Another version gives “hediw,” (heddyw, today.)
[161b]It is still very common in Wales to call the cause or origin of any thing by the name of mam: thus, for instance, we say “mam y drwg” of the chief instigator of mischief. What we are to understand by the “mother of the lance” it is not very easy to determine; it might have been courage or the sense of wrong, or quarrel, or any other cause which excited the Britons to fight.
[161c]Al. “They marched and chanted, clad in coat of mail.”
[162a]“Vawr dru,” &c. Al. “miserable hero.”
[162b]This confirms the view we have taken of the “milcant a thrychant” at line 86.
[162c]“Gloew dull;” in bright array. It may refer also to the viands.
[162d]“Mai;” Taliesin, in like manner, says of Urien, that he was,—
“Un yn darweddGwin a mal a medd.”One who was generous of wine, and bounty, and mead.
“Un yn darweddGwin a mal a medd.”
One who was generous of wine, and bounty, and mead.
“Mal,” properly speaking, seems to have been a certain tribute, as above. Thus we read in Welsh legends;—
“He gave his domain of Clynog to God and to Beuno for ever, without either contribution or tax (heb na mal nac ardreth.”) (Buch. Beuno.)
“He gave his domain of Clynog to God and to Beuno for ever, without either contribution or tax (heb na mal nac ardreth.”) (Buch. Beuno.)
Again,—
“There is neither contribution nor tax, (na mal na threth) which we ought to pay.” (H. Car. Mag. Mabinogion.)
“There is neither contribution nor tax, (na mal na threth) which we ought to pay.” (H. Car. Mag. Mabinogion.)
The word in the text may signify gifts or presents; or it may meanmeal, (mâl, what is ground) in allusion to the more substantial portion of the feast.
[163a]Lit. “I am being ruined.”
[163b]Mynyddawg himself.
[163c]Al. “From amongst.”
[163d]That is, free and precipitate in his course, as a ball flies through the air. This simile seems to have been borrowed from a popular game among the Britons calledpelre, which consisted in the beating of a ball backwards and forwards, and is alluded to by Taliesin in the following lines;
“Ceiniadon moch clywid eu govalon:Marchawglu mor daer am Gaer Llion;A dial Idwal ar AranwynionA gware pelre a phen Saeson.” (Myv. Arch. i. p. 73.)Songsters, soon would their cares be heard;An army of horsemen so harassing round Caer Llion;And the revenge of Idwal on the Aranwynians;And the playing of ball-buffetting with Saxon heads.
“Ceiniadon moch clywid eu govalon:Marchawglu mor daer am Gaer Llion;A dial Idwal ar AranwynionA gware pelre a phen Saeson.” (Myv. Arch. i. p. 73.)
Songsters, soon would their cares be heard;An army of horsemen so harassing round Caer Llion;And the revenge of Idwal on the Aranwynians;And the playing of ball-buffetting with Saxon heads.
Al. “mab Pel;” Present the son of Pel.
[163e]“Hud:” has this word any reference to “hudwg,” a racket for ball playing?
[164a]“Ystryng;” fromysandtryngortrengu.
[164b]“Adan;” that isâ dan, will go under. Lit. “under the red-stained warriors go the steeds,” &c. “Ymdan march,” is a well known phrase for mounting a horse.
[164c]The same, it may be, with Angar, one of the sons of Caw of Cwm Cawlwyd, and brother of Aneurin. A saying of his occurs in the Chwedlau’r Doethion. (Iolo MSS. pp. 256, 554.)
“A glyweist ti chwedl AngarMab Caw, Catfilwr clodgar?Bid tonn calon gan alar.”Hast thou heard the saying of Angar,Son of Caw the celebrated warrior?The heart will break with grief.
“A glyweist ti chwedl AngarMab Caw, Catfilwr clodgar?Bid tonn calon gan alar.”
Hast thou heard the saying of Angar,Son of Caw the celebrated warrior?The heart will break with grief.
[164d]“Raen,” fromrha, which is also the root ofrhain, spears.
[164e]This passage, in another form, occurs three times in the Maelderw version and may be translated as follows;
“Angor, thou scatterer of the brave,Serpent, piercing pike,And immovable stone in the front of the army.”
“Angor, thou scatterer of the brave,Serpent, piercing pike,And immovable stone in the front of the army.”
[164f]Al. “Oppressor, dressed in thy shining white robes.”
[165a]“Gwaenawr.” Al. “The spears.” Al. “The stones.”
[165b]That is, the fosse of the Catrail, or that which surrounded one of the camps.
[165c]See lines 386, 524, 534. Al. “like ploughing the furrow.”
[165d]The Bard in this stanza evidently plays upon the names of three of the British heroes, showing how appropriately they represented their respective characters;Cywir,enwir;Merin,mur;Madien,mad. Perhaps it would be better to transpose the two first, and read the line as it occurs in one stanza of the Gorchan Maelderw;
“Enwir ith elwir oth gywir weithred.”Enwir art thou named from thy righteous deed;
“Enwir ith elwir oth gywir weithred.”Enwir art thou named from thy righteous deed;
for in “Kilhwch and Olwen” we meet with a person bearing the name of Gweir GwrhydEnnwir, who is said to have been an uncle of Arthur, his mother’s brother.
[165e]“Bulwark of every tribe.” Al. “of every language.”Gorch. Maelderw.
[165f]Merin the son of Merini ab Seithenyn, king of the plain of Gwyddno, whose land was overflowed by the sea. He is said to have been the founder of the church of Llanverin, or Llanvetherin, Monmouthshire. In the Gorchan Maelderw Merin is called the son of Madieith.
[166a]Al. “Gwynedd.”
[166b]I.e. the drinking horn. “Dial;”Gorch. Mael. “to take vengeance for the contribution of mead.” Owain Cyveiliog alludes to this circumstance in his Poem on the Hirlas Horn;—
“Kigleu am dal met myned dreig Kattraeth.” (Myv. Arch. i. 266.)
“Kigleu am dal met myned dreig Kattraeth.” (Myv. Arch. i. 266.)
That this author was acquainted with the Gododin appears further from the following,
“Nid ym hyn dihyll nam hen deheu;”
“Nid ym hyn dihyll nam hen deheu;”
where he evidently refers to line 290 of our Poem.
[166c]“Cyvyringet,” those who met together between the two armies; from cyvrwng, cyd-rhwng.
[166d]“Cibno ced,” seems to have been the cup of drink presented to bards and minstrels by their entertainers. (See line 345.) Not even the speech inspiring influence of this cup, could elicit an adequate description of the slaughter which ensued at Cattraeth.
[167a]Or, “the gallantry of the glorious knight of conflict.”
[167b]Lit. “Ruddy reaping.” Al. “Ruddy reaper, thou pantest for war.”
[167c]Al. “Thou man of Gwynedd.”
[167d]Lit. “Thou unmanest;” di-mwng.
[167e]“Llain.” Al. “lance.”
[167f]The expression “until blood flows” is not in the original.
[167g]That glass vessels were used by the Britons in the sixth century is further proved by the testimony of Llywarch Hen, who speaks of
“Gwyr ni giliynt rhag ovn gwayw,Ac yved gwin o wydr gloyw.” (Elegy upon Geraint)Men who would not flinch from the dread of the spear,And the quaffing of wine out of the bright glass.
“Gwyr ni giliynt rhag ovn gwayw,Ac yved gwin o wydr gloyw.” (Elegy upon Geraint)
Men who would not flinch from the dread of the spear,And the quaffing of wine out of the bright glass.
[168a]“Ariant,” money contributed towards any thing; thus “ariant cwynos,” supper money, was paid by the gentry and freeholders towards the maintenance of the officers of the court; “ariant gwastrodion,” money of the equerries, was paid by the king’s tenants in villainage once a year, to furnish provender for his horses; “ariant am y vedd” would likewise be a contribution paid towards a banquet of mead. Gwaednerth made his enemies, as it were, pay him this tribute with the gold of their armour.
[168b]His history is unknown.
[168c]Or, “retinue.”
[168d]“Dyrraith;” law of fate; death,
[168e]Probably Ayr in Scotland, rather than Aeron in Wales.
[168f]Lit. “the head.”
[168g]I.e. the Clyde. Al. “The brown eagles.” Llywarch Hen speaks of “the brown eagles” (eryron llwyd) and of “the eagle with the brown beak,” (eryr pengarn llwyd.)
[169a]Lit. “Without reproach.”
[169b]Or, “From the region.”
[169c]Al. “Men of privilege.”
[169d]“Llogell;” a receptacle, a depository, a closet. It might here refer more particularly to the room which contained the viands. “Llogail” would be a wattled room.
[169e]The frequent repetition of the word “byd” in this stanza is remarkable.
[169f]Lit. “not without ambition.”
[169g]Eidol is specified by name as being the most indefatigable in his pursuit after mirth. A person of that name and character is mentioned in a poem attributed to Cuhelyn. See Myv. Arch. i. 164.
[169h]Or, “the grandson of Enovant.” Al. “One out of a hundred,” Cynddilig might have been the son of Cor Cnud, whose grave is recorded in the Englynion y Beddau. (Myv. Arch. i. 11.)
“Kian a ud diffaith cnud.Draw o tuch pen bet alltudBet Cindilic mab Corknud.”
“Kian a ud diffaith cnud.Draw o tuch pen bet alltudBet Cindilic mab Corknud.”
Or the son of Nwython, mentioned in the Bruts, (Myv. Arch. ii. 321) and Genealogy of the Saints. (Iolo MSS. 137.) Or else he might have been the son of Llywarch Hen,—
“Och Cynddilig, na buost wraig!”Oh, Cynddilig, why wert thou not a woman!(Elegy on Old Age.)
“Och Cynddilig, na buost wraig!”Oh, Cynddilig, why wert thou not a woman!
(Elegy on Old Age.)
The mention made of Aeron in the foregoing stanza naturally led the Bard to speak in this of a chieftain connected therewith.
[170a]Were it not for the anachronism we should be induced to regard this lady as none other than Elen the daughter of Eudav, prince of Erging and Euas, and wife of Macsen Wledig; heroine also of a Romance entitled “The Dream of Macsen Wledig.” As Macsen, however, is known to have been put to death as early as the year 388, Elen’s life could not possibly have been so protracted as to enable her to take a part in the battle of Cattraeth.
[170b]“Dieis.” Al. “her thrusts were penetrating.”
[171a]“Meiwyr,” men of the field. Al. “Meinir,” the slender maid, which might refer to the daughter of Eudav.
[171b]The Gorchan Maelderw clearly indicates that the fire was kindled in the presence of the army, and not for religious purposes before the Deity.
[171c]This stanza explains the expression used in line 116. Seven days, then, we may suppose, formed the whole space of time during which the events related in the Gododin occurred. The action of Homer’s Iliad occupied nearly fifty days.
[171d]The daily operations are somewhat differently stated in the fragments of the Gododin, which are appended to “Gorchan Maelderw.” There they are as follows,—
“On Tuesday they put on their splendid robes;On Wednesday bitter was their assembly;On Thursday messengers formed contracts;On Friday there was slaughter;On Saturday they dealt mutual blows;On Sunday they were pierced by ruddy weapons;On Monday a pool of blood knee deep was seen.”
“On Tuesday they put on their splendid robes;On Wednesday bitter was their assembly;On Thursday messengers formed contracts;On Friday there was slaughter;On Saturday they dealt mutual blows;On Sunday they were pierced by ruddy weapons;On Monday a pool of blood knee deep was seen.”
[172a]See lines 27, &c. It would appear as if the three lines at the end of the stanza were appended to it by some compiler, merely on account of their uniformity of rhyme.
[172b]Lit, “At the early arising morn,” or “quickly rising in the morning.”
[172c]“Aber;” the junction of rivers; the fall of a lesser river into a greater, or into the sea. By metaphor, a port or harbour.
[172d]Or more definitely,—“Occurred the battle of Aber in front of the course.”
[172e]Or “a breach was made, and the knoll was pervaded with fire.”
[172f]The stanza is imperfect, which accounts for the omission of the hero’s name. From the Gorchan Maelderw we would infer that he was Gwair one of the three “taleithiawg cad,” or coronetted chiefs of battle. (Myv. Arch. ii. 12.)
[172g]Probably, the valuables collected within the encampment on the hill.
[173a]This word may be taken either in its literal sense, as alluding to the birds of prey that devoured the dead bodies, or else metaphorically as denoting the warriors themselves. In the latter sense Casnodyn uses it in the following passage;
“Cynan—Eryr tymyr gwyr, gweilch disaesneg.”
“Cynan—Eryr tymyr gwyr, gweilch disaesneg.”
Cynan, the eagle of the land of men, who are heroes with no English.
In this sense “gwrwnde” would necessarily allude to the colour of the men’s habiliments.
[173b]The stanza is thus varied in Gorchan Maelderw,
“At the early dawn of morn they marchedTo conflict, headed by the king in front of the course;Gwair was greeted by the fluid goreIn the van of the battle;He was a beloved friend.In the day of distressThe wealth of the mountain, the place,And the forward beam of war, wore a murky hue.” (Gorch. Mael.)
“At the early dawn of morn they marchedTo conflict, headed by the king in front of the course;Gwair was greeted by the fluid goreIn the van of the battle;He was a beloved friend.In the day of distressThe wealth of the mountain, the place,And the forward beam of war, wore a murky hue.” (Gorch. Mael.)
[173c]“Eilin;” in a second; another reading has “meitin,” a word of similar import, signifying a space of time.
[173d]“Aber;” ut supra.
[173e]The Catrail, or else the vallum of our hero’s camp.
[173f]That is, single handed he faces a hundred men of the enemy.
[174a]That you should have committed such a slaughter with the same coolness and indifference, as if you were merely revelling over your mead.
[174b]“Dynin,” the dwarf, who had killed the British herald, contrary to the law of war. Al, “ * * * with the edge and stroke of the sword, the fierce warrior.”
“It was such a thrust to the little man.” (Gorch. Mael.)
“It was such a thrust to the little man.” (Gorch. Mael.)
[174c]“Mor ddiachor;” it may be also translated “how unrestrainedly.” The Gorchan Maelderw has it “mor diachar,”how unamiably, which seems to be required by the rhythmical run of the passage;
“Oed mor diacharYt wanei escar.”
“Oed mor diacharYt wanei escar.”
[174d]It is not quite clear whether this person be the same with the one mentioned in stanza lli. or whether another event, of a similar character with that described therein, be not here introduced. We are inclined, however, to consider both passages as referring to the same act of treachery.
[174e]Probably from the top of the rampart.
[174f]“Cynyt,” (cynnud) fire wood. The bushes growing out of the sides of the vallum checked not his fall. Al. “Cywydd,” his song; though this word derived fromcyandgwydd, may likewise have the same meaning as the former.
[174g]“Cywrenhin,” (cywreinin) accurate, elaborate; well formed, handsome. If it may be taken actively, the meaning in this place would be skilful or talented, which epithet would apply well to him as a bard.
[175a]It will be recollected that the “gorgeous pilgrim,” (line 534) broke down the encampment; on the supposition, then, that he was identical with the “foe” mentioned in the last stanza, we may imagine him encountering Owain with his badge of truce at the very breach he was making, and that he then and there put him to death. It is not impossible, however, but that Owain was another herald who renewed the offer of peace, after the death of the “delight of the bulwark of toil,” and that both were dishonourably slain by the same perfidious messenger.
[175b]That is, he was entitled in right of his office, as herald, to every protection and safety, whilst engaged in proposing terms of peace.
[175c]Lit. “The best branch.” “The wand denotes privilege.” See Iolo MSS. p. 634.
[175d]Lit. “due.”
[175e]“Three things are forbidden to a bard; immorality, to satirize, and tobear arms.” (Institutional Triads.)
[175f]Quasi dicat, “did not wear one.”
[176a]That is, avenge his death. There is a reference here to the custom of distributing gifts out of a coffer, suggested by the similarity between the expressions “pridd prenial,” the earthly shrine or coffin, and “prid prenial,” the price chest.
[176b]“Barn ben” might have the sense ofadjudged to lose her head, capitis damnata; in which case the passage would be translated as follows:—
“It was a violation of privilege to sentence a woman to death.”
“It was a violation of privilege to sentence a woman to death.”
The other construction is, however, more especially countenanced by a similar expression in “Gwasgargerdd Vyrddin” where the meaning is obvious.
“Pan dyvo y brych cadarnHyt yn Rhyt PengarnLliwaut gwyr treuliaut KarnPendevic Prydein ynopen Barn;” (Myv. Arch. i. 132.)
“Pan dyvo y brych cadarnHyt yn Rhyt PengarnLliwaut gwyr treuliaut KarnPendevic Prydein ynopen Barn;” (Myv. Arch. i. 132.)
And on that account is preferred here. There is reason to think that the Lady in question is the daughter of Eudav, already mentioned, upon whose message, as well as that of Mynyddawg, “the gay and the illustrious tribes,” proceeded to Cattraeth. It is observable, as confirmatory of this view, that Eidol was introduced into our notice before in the stanza immediately preceding that in which she is celebrated.
[176c]“Iaen,” like ice.
[177a]“Rhy,” excessively.
[177b]“Gwladgordd,” “gwrddwerydd.” In the Triads Eidol is called one of the threegyrddionof the Isle of Britain. (Triad, 60.)
[177c]The agricultural character of the usual employments of the early Britons in times of peace, is clearly inferred from the frequent use of the word “medel,” in reference to their soldiery.
[177d]Or, “He sounded for steeds, he sounded for harness.”
[177e]“Amgrudd;” his cheeks allaround.
[177f]Or, “the ribs.”
[178a]The Cymry were thus styled to distinguish them from the Saxons, who were pagans. See supra, line 365.
[178b]“Amnant,” from “avn,” boldness, courage.
[178c]“Cell;” a cell, a closet, a grove. Perhaps it here means ahouse, orhabitationin general.
[178d]Lit. the room, or chamber.