Footnotes:

Ibid.

1. 32

“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.

“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.)

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.

“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.

O steed, in what spot Was slaughtered, &c.

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.

“Oedd cledyr cywlad rhwydd.”

which W. Owen has translated,—

“That was the prompt defender of his neighbourhood.”

“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.

“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.

“Mor ehelaeth E aruaeth uch arwyt.”

With such a magnificent Design of enterprize blazoned on his standard.

“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.”

“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.

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.

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.)

“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.

“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.”

“Clod wasgar a Gwanar ydd ymddullyn.”

“O arwar daiar down i gyd dyddbrawd.” (Ll. P. Moch.)

From the silent state of earth we shall all come at the judgment day.

“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?

“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.

“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.)

“Esteemed for their age and disposition.”

“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.

“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.)

“Prenial yw i bawb ei drachwres.”

The path of glory leads but to the grave.—(Taliesin.)

“Gan Vynydawc Bu adveiliawc Eu gwirodau.”

Destructive were their wassails with Mynyddawg.

“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.”

“The best three men in their country, For protecting their habitation, Eithyr and Erthyr and Argad.” (Elegy on Old Age.)

“In the front Erthai would mangle an army.”

“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.

“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.”

“Plwde y danav hyd ymhen vy nghlun.” (Myv. Arch. vol. i. p. 160)

Under me was blood to the top of my knee.

“Whilst Gwarthlev and Enovryd were pouring forth the liquor.”

“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.

“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.

“Y gylchwy dan y gymwy bu adenawc.” Line 361

His round shield was with fire winged for slaughter.

“Famous were the characteristics Of, &c.”

“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.)

“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.”

“To greet openly,” &c.

“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.”

“I fell by the radiant rampart, (ffin)”

the epithet radiant having a reference to the arms of the soldiers.

“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.

“When all went up, thou didst go down.”

In another place,—

“When all were extended, thou didst also fall.”

“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.

“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.

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.—

“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.

“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.)

Al. “Had it not been for the two hundred (al. ten hundred) men of the white-bannered commander.”

“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.

“A rhag gwaith Argoed Llwyvain Bu llawer celain.” (Myv. Arch. vol. i. p. 53.)

Al. “When we were deprived of our sharpened weapons.”

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

“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.)

“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.

“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.”

“Nac addev dy rin i was.”

Reveal not thy secrets to a servant.

“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.

“Pedwar meib ar ugaint a’m bu, Eurdorchawg, tywysawg llu; Oedd Gwên goreu o naddu,” &c.

Four and twenty sons I have had, Wearing the golden chain, leaders of armies; Gwên was the best of them.

“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.

“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.)

“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.)

“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.)

“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.)

“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.

“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.)

“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.

“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.)

“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.

“Neuadd pob diddos.”

Every shelter is a hall. (Adage.)

“E Beteu ae cut gwitwal Ny llesseint heb ymtial Gwrien Morien a Morial.

The graves that have their mounds together, Are theirs, who fell not unavenged, Gwrien, Morien, and Morial.

His memory was much cherished by the mediæval Bards, who not unfrequently compare their patrons to him. Thus Risserdyn (1290, 1340) says that Hywel ap Gruffydd had “vreich Moryen,” the arm of Morien; and his contemporary Madawg Dwygraig eulogises Gruffydd ap Madawg as being “ail Morien,” a second Morien.

“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.

“Gelyn i Sais, car i saint.”

The Saxon’s foe, the friend of Saints.

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.

“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.

“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.

“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.)

“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.

Gorch Mael.

“Adwen leverydd cyni Vran; pan disgynai yn nghyvyrdy Pen gwr, pan gwin a ddyly.”

“Nid â gwaew yn ronyn.”

Pain will not become a particle.

“The hero, the joy of the North, effected it,”

i.e. my deliverance. Llywarch Hen and his sons came from the North.

“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.

“Yn Aber Lleu lladd Urien.”

In Aber Lleu Urien was slain.

“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.

“Bu cywair carchar Gwair ynghaer Sidi Trwy ebostol Pwyll a Phryderi.” &c.

Arranged was the prison of Gwair in Caer Sidi By the ministration of Pwyll and Pryderi. &c. (Myv. Arch. i. 45.)

Pwyll is the hero of one of the Mabinogion.

“Tywarchen Ercal ar âr dywal Wyr, o edwedd Morial; A gwedy Rhys mae rhysonial.” (Elegy on Cynddylan.)

The sod of Ercal is on the ashes of fierce Men, of the progeny of Morial; And after Rhys there is great murmuring of woe.

“Mad ddodes ei vorddwyd dros obell Ei orwydd, o wng ac o bell.” (On Old Age.)

Gracefully he placed his thigh over the saddle Of his steed, on the near and farther side.

Gorch. Mael.

“Strangers to the country, their deeds shall be heard of; The bright wave murmured along on its pilgrimage;”

in reference to the British heroes.

“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.

“The stranger with the crimson robe pursued, And slaughtered with axes and blades.”

Llawer deigr hylithr yn hwylaw ar rudd Llawer ystlys rhudd a rhwyg arnaw Llawer gwaed am draed wedi ymdreiddiaw Llawer gweddw a gwaedd y amdanaw Llawer meddwl trwm yn tomrwyaw. Llawer mam heb dad gwedi ei adaw Llawer hendref fraith gwedi llwybrgodaith A llawer diffaith drwy anrhaith draw Llawer llef druan fal ban fu’r Gamlan.

Many a slippery tear sails down the cheek, Many a wounded side is red with gore, Many a foot is bathed in blood, Many a widow raises the mournful shriek, Many a mind is heavily troubled, Many a son is left without a father, Many an old grey town is deserted, Many are ruined by yonder deed of war, Many a cry of misery arises as erst on Camlan field.

“Tri Gyrddion Ynys Prydain; Gwrnerth Ergydlym, a laddes yr arth mwyaf ac a welwyd erioed a saeth wellten; a Gwgawn Lawgadarn, a dreiglis maen Maenarch or glynn i ben y mynydd, ac nid oedd llai na thrugain ych ai tynnai; ac Eidiol Gadarn, a laddes o’r Saeson ym mrad Caersallawg chwechant a thrugain a chogail gerdin o fachlud haul yd yn nhywyll.” (Triad 60. third series.)

The time here specified “from sunset until dark,” will not be found to tally at all with the commencement of the fight at Cattraeth, which is said to have been “with the day,” and “with the dawn;” this circumstance is fatal to Davies’s theory.

The first lines of this stanza may be translated in divers ways, such as,—

“With a feast of wine and a banquet of mead, endowed By Cynlaith, mother of Hwrraith, was the energetic Eidol.”

Also,—

“With a feast of wine and a banquet of mead, Did his brave (hwrraith from hwrdd) mother Cynlaith, enrich The energetic Eidol.”

Again,—

“With a feast of wine and a banquet of mead, Did his mother Hwrraith At the first fall of the dew (cyn llaith) enrich The energetic Eidol.”

“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.

“As from the rocky cliff the shepherd sees Clustering in heaps on heaps the driving bees, Rolling, and blackening, swarms succeeding swarms, With deeper murmurs and more hoarse alarms; Dusky they spread, a close embodied crowd, And o’er the vale descends the living cloud.” (Pope’s Homer, b. ii. l. 111.)

“Un yn darwedd Gwin a mal a medd.”

One who was generous of wine, and bounty, and mead.

“Mal,” properly speaking, seems to have been a certain tribute, as above. Thus we read in Welsh legends;—

“He gave his domain of Clynog to God and to Beuno for ever, without either contribution or tax (heb na mal nac ardreth.”) (Buch. Beuno.)

Again,—

“There is neither contribution nor tax, (na mal na threth) which we ought to pay.” (H. Car. Mag. Mabinogion.)

The word in the text may signify gifts or presents; or it may mean meal, (mâl, what is ground) in allusion to the more substantial portion of the feast.

“Ceiniadon moch clywid eu govalon: Marchawglu mor daer am Gaer Llion; A dial Idwal ar Aranwynion A gware pelre a phen Saeson.” (Myv. Arch. i. p. 73.)

Songsters, soon would their cares be heard; An army of horsemen so harassing round Caer Llion; And the revenge of Idwal on the Aranwynians; And the playing of ball-buffetting with Saxon heads.

Al. “mab Pel;” Present the son of Pel.

“A glyweist ti chwedl Angar Mab Caw, Catfilwr clodgar? Bid tonn calon gan alar.”

Hast thou heard the saying of Angar, Son of Caw the celebrated warrior? The heart will break with grief.

“Angor, thou scatterer of the brave, Serpent, piercing pike, And immovable stone in the front of the army.”

“Enwir ith elwir oth gywir weithred.” Enwir art thou named from thy righteous deed;

for in “Kilhwch and Olwen” we meet with a person bearing the name of Gweir Gwrhyd Ennwir, who is said to have been an uncle of Arthur, his mother’s brother.

“Kigleu am dal met myned dreig Kattraeth.” (Myv. Arch. i. 266.)

That this author was acquainted with the Gododin appears further from the following,

“Nid ym hyn dihyll nam hen deheu;”

where he evidently refers to line 290 of our Poem.

“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.

“Kian a ud diffaith cnud. Draw o tuch pen bet alltud Bet Cindilic mab Corknud.”

Or the son of Nwython, mentioned in the Bruts, (Myv. Arch. ii. 321) and Genealogy of the Saints. (Iolo MSS. 137.) Or else he might have been the son of Llywarch Hen,—

“Och Cynddilig, na buost wraig!” Oh, Cynddilig, why wert thou not a woman!

(Elegy on Old Age.)

The mention made of Aeron in the foregoing stanza naturally led the Bard to speak in this of a chieftain connected therewith.

“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.”

“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.

“At the early dawn of morn they marched To conflict, headed by the king in front of the course; Gwair was greeted by the fluid gore In the van of the battle; He was a beloved friend. In the day of distress The wealth of the mountain, the place, And the forward beam of war, wore a murky hue.” (Gorch. Mael.)

“It was such a thrust to the little man.” (Gorch. Mael.)

“Oed mor diachar Yt wanei escar.”

“It was a violation of privilege to sentence a woman to death.”

The other construction is, however, more especially countenanced by a similar expression in “Gwasgargerdd Vyrddin” where the meaning is obvious.

“Pan dyvo y brych cadarn Hyt yn Rhyt Pengarn Lliwaut gwyr treuliaut Karn Pendevic Prydein yno pen Barn;” (Myv. Arch. i. 132.)

And on that account is preferred here. There is reason to think that the Lady in question is the daughter of Eudav, already mentioned, upon whose message, as well as that of Mynyddawg, “the gay and the illustrious tribes,” proceeded to Cattraeth. It is observable, as confirmatory of this view, that Eidol was introduced into our notice before in the stanza immediately preceding that in which she is celebrated.

“Llywelyn llew glwys, Loegrwys lugyrn.”

Llywelyn the amiable lion, the torch of the Lloegrians.

“Tri unben Llys Arthur; Goronwy ab Echel Forddwydtwll, a Chadraith ab Porthor Godo; a Fleidur Fflam mab Godo; sef oeddent yn Dywysogion yn Berchennogion Gwlad a Chyfoeth, a gwell oedd ganddynt no hynny aros yn Farchogion yn Llys Arthur, gan y bernid hynny yn bennaf ar bob anrhydedd a bonheddigeiddrwydd, a ellid wrth ygair y Tri Chyfiawn Farchawg.” (Triad, 114, third series.)

If, however, it be not a proper name, the line might be rendered,—

“A successful warrior, flaming in steel, before the enemy.”

“Caletach wrth elyn nog asgwrn.”

Harder to an enemy than a bone. (Elegy on Cunedda.)

“In the face of blood, of the country, and of the tribes.”

“Ev cyrch cerddorion Se syberw Seon Neu’r dierveis i rin Ymordei Uffin Ymhoroedd Gododin.”

“Yd kwytynt pennawr penn o draed;”

where the word “pennawr” refers to one particular rank, if not to an individual.

“With a rush Pwyll made the assault.”

“Tri Gwrddvaglawg ynys Prydain; Rhineri mab Tangwn; a Thinwaed Vaglawg; a Phryderi mab Doler Deivr a Bryneich.” (Triad, 75.)

The other was Pryderi, the son of Pwyll Pen Annwn, a chieftain of Dyved, which country is by Lewis Glyn Cothi called “Gwlad Pryderi;” and by Davydd ab Gwilym, “Pryderi dir.” He is styled one of the three strong swineherds of Britain, having tended the swine of Pendaran his foster father, during the absence of his father in the unknown world.

“Tri Gwrddveichiad ynys Prydain; cyntav vu Pryderi vab Pwyll Pendaran Dyved, a getwis voch ei dad tra yttoedd yn Annwn; ac yng nglyn Cwch yn Emlyn y cetwis eve wynt.” &c. (Triad, 101.)

In the Tale of Math Mathonwy, he is said to have been buried at Maen Tyriawg, near Ffestiniog. We may therefore presume that the Englynion y Beddau refer to the other in the following passage;

“Yn Abergenoli y mae Bet Pryderi Yn y terau tormeu tir.”

In Abergenoli is the grave of Pryderi, Where the waves beat against the shore.

A saying of Pryderi has been thus recorded;—

“Hast thou heard the saying of Pryderi, The wisest person in counselling? There is no wisdom like silence.” (Iolo MSS. p. 661.)

“Cyn bum cain vaglawg, bum cyfes eiriawg, Ceinvygir ni eres; Gwyr Argoed eirioed a’m porthes.” (Elegy on Old Age.)

Before I appeared with crutches, I was eloquent in my complaint, It will be extolled, what is not wonderful— The men of Argoed have ever supported me!

“Tri Llynghesawg ynys Prydain; Geraint mab Erbin; Gwenwynwyn mab Nav; a March mab Meirchion; a chweugain llong gan bob un o’r Llynghesogion, a chweugain llongwyr ymhob llong.” (Triad 68, Third series.)

Llywarch Hen wrote an Elegy upon Geraint, in which the place of his death is thus mentioned;—

“Yn Llongborth y llas Geraint, Gwr dewr o goettir Dyvnaint, Wyntwy yn lladd gyd a’s lleddaint.”

At Llongborth was Geraint slain, A strenuous warrior from the woodland of Dyvnaint, Slaughtering his foes as he fell.

Geraint ab Erbin was the grandfather of Aneurin, but as he died in king Arthur’s time, A.D. 530, we can hardly identify him with the Geraint of the text, who probably was a son, or some other relation, that had inherited his fleet.

“Oedd re redaint dan vorddwyd Geraint, Garhirion, grawn odew, Rhuddion, rhuthr eryron glew.”

Under the thigh of Geraint were fleet runners, With long hams, fattened with corn; They were red ones; their assault was like the bold eagles.

“Lledvegyn is a kine, or what shall be tamed in a house; namely, such as a fawn, or a fox, or a wild beast similar to those.” (Welsh Laws.)

“Baran lew llew lloegyr oual Lleduegin gwin gwyrt uual.” (Myv. Arch. v. i. p. 225.)

“Tri hualogion teulu Y. P. Teulu Caswallon Llawhir a ddodasant hualeu eu Meirch ar eu traed pob deu o naddynt wrth ymladd a Serigi Wyddel yng Cerrig y Gwyddyl y Mon, a theulu Rhiwallon mab Uryen yn ymladd ar Saeson, a theulu Belyn o Leyn yn ymladd ag Etwyn ym mryn Ceneu yn Rhos.” (Triad 49, first series.)

Caswallon Law Hir was the son of Einion Yrth ab Cunedda Wledig, king of Gododin. He succeeded to the sovereignty of North Wales, A.D. 443, and is said to have died in 517. There was a Cas son of Seidi, who was one of the heroes of Arthur’s Court.

“Red speared was Urvei before the lord of Eiddin.” (Gorch. Mael.)

“Rhag mab edern cyn edyrn anaelew.”

“Before the son of Edeyrn ere his kingdom became fearful.”

“Tri marchlwyth ynys Prydain—ar ail marchlwyth aduc Cornann March meibion Eliffer gosgortuawr, a duc Gwrgi a Pheredur arnaw, ac nys gordiuedawd neb namyn Dinogat vab Kynan Garwyn yar y Kethin kyvlym ac aruidiawt ac aglot a gauas yr hynny hyd hediw.” (Triad 11, second series.)

“Mi adaen iwrch er nas daliwyv.” (Adage.) I know a roebuck, though I may not catch him.

“Cygleu yn Maelawr gawr vawr vuan, A garw ddisgyr gwyr a gwyth erwan; Ac ymgynnull, am drull, am dramwyan, Mal y bu yn Mangor am ongyr dan; Pan wnaeth dau deyrn uch cyrn cyvrdan, Pan vu gyveddach Morach Morvran.”

In Maelor the great, the hastening shout was heard, And the dreadful shrieks of men with gashing wounds in pain; And together thronging to seek a cure, round and round they strayed, As it was in Bangor for the fire of the brunt of spears; When over horns two princes caused discord, While in the banquet of Morach Morvran. (Owain Cyveiliog.)

“I saw the men, who with the dawn, dug the deep pit.” Al. “I saw at dawn a great breach made in the wall at Adoen.”

“Gwr yn gware a Lloegyrwys.” (Cynddelw.) A man playing with the Lloegrians.

“Hon a oresgyn Holl Loegr a Phrydyn.” (Taliesin.)

She will conquer All England and Scotland.