Y Gododin: A Poem of the Battle of Cattraeth - 10

aruidiawt ac aglot a gauas yr hynny hyd hediw.” (Triad 11, second
series.)
{196c} The possession of slaves, whether of native origin, or derived
from the custom of the Romans, prevailed to some extent among the Britons
of the fifth and sixth century, and seems to have denoted a certain
degree of power on the part of the owners. Taliesin the Druid boasts
that he had received “a host of slaves,” (torof keith) from his royal
patron Cunedda Wledig. (Myv. Arch. v. i. p. 71.)
{197a} “Bar,” al. “ban,” on the heights.
{197b} Or, the chief, the best.
{197c} Many places in Wales bear the name of this animal, where it
appears to have been common in ancient times, such as “Bryn yr iwrch,”
“Ffynon yr iwrch,” and the like. Hunting the roebuck is recognised in
the Welsh Laws; and is called one of the three cry hunts (helva ddolev.)
“Mi adaen iwrch er nas daliwyv.” (Adage.)
I know a roebuck, though I may not catch him.
{197d} “Derwenydd;” Derventio, the river Derwent in Cumberland.
{197e} “Llewyn a llwyvein.” It is difficult to ascertain the particular
animals which these terms respectively represent. The former might
denote a young lion, a white lion, or any beast in general to whose
eating faculties the word _llewa_ would be applicable. The latter might
signify any animal whose haunts were the elm forests, or whose property
was to _llyvu_ or to lick, as does a dog. The fox being named llwynog
from _llwyn_ a forest, and the forests in the North being chiefly of elm,
it is not unlikely but that the said animal was frequently called
_llwyvain_ in that part of the country when the Bard wrote, though it is
not known now by that name. It is remarkable that both terms also
signify certain kinds of wood. The former the herb orach, the latter the
elm.
{197f} Al. “None would escape.”
{198a} “Angcyvrwng;” lit. “were he to place me without an intervening
space,” that is, were he to straiten me on every side.
{198b} When any thing is taken away or used, or when any thing is done,
the owner not knowing it, or without asking his leave, it is called
_Anghyvarch_. “Anghyvarchwyr,” extortioners. W. Salesbury, 1 Cor. v.
{198c} Lit. “There would not come, there would not be to me, one more
formidable.”
{198d} The head of the river Clyde in Scotland.
{198e} “Veruarch.” Morach Morvran is often mentioned by the poets on
account of his celebrated banquet.
“Cygleu yn Maelawr gawr vawr vuan,
A garw ddisgyr gwyr a gwyth erwan;
Ac ymgynnull, am drull, am dramwyan,
Mal y bu yn Mangor am ongyr dan;
Pan wnaeth dau deyrn uch cyrn cyvrdan,
Pan vu gyveddach Morach Morvran.”
In Maelor the great, the hastening shout was heard,
And the dreadful shrieks of men with gashing wounds in pain;
And together thronging to seek a cure, round and round they strayed,
As it was in Bangor for the fire of the brunt of spears;
When over horns two princes caused discord,
While in the banquet of Morach Morvran. (Owain Cyveiliog.)
{199a} This stanza evidently refers to the same transaction as that
which is recorded in the lxxxth, though the details are somewhat
differently described.
{199b} One of these, we may presume, was Dyvnwal Vrych.
{199c} The whole line may be thus translated;
“I saw the men, who with the dawn, dug the deep pit.” Al. “I saw at
dawn a great breach made in the wall at Adoen.”
{199d} See stanza lii.
{199e} “Yngwydd.”
{199f} “Yr enwyd.”
{200a} Gwarthan the son of Dunawd by Dwywe his wife, “who was slain by
the pagan Saxons in their wars in the north.” (Iolo MSS. p. 556.)
{200b} Or, “let it be forcibly seized in one entire region.”
{200c} An allusion to his incarceration, see lines 440, 445.
{200d} Gardith; i.e. garw deith (or teithi.)
{200e} Tithragon; i.e. teith-dragon.
{200f} A pitched battle.
“Gwr yn gware a Lloegyrwys.” (Cynddelw.)
A man playing with the Lloegrians.
{200g} Or, “did he bring and supply.”
{200h} “Tymyr;” native place.
{201a} “Dyvnuyt;” see also stanza, xlviii.
{201b} One of the officers appointed to the command of Geraint’s fleet.
{201c} This stanza, with the exception of a few words, is the same with
the lxxxix.
{201d} Or “valiantly.”
{201e} “Gwelydeint,” from “gwelyd,” a wound; or “gwelyddeint,” they took
repose in the grave.
{201f} Al. “with the gory trappings,” as in the other stanza.
{202a} Al. “a dau,” the two sons, and two haughty boars.
{202b} Al. “riein,” a lady.
{202c} Cilydd was the son of Celyddon Wledig, and father of Cilhwch who
is the hero of an ancient dramatic tale of a singular character.
{202d} In a former stanza he is called Garthwys Hir.
{202e} “Nod;” is a conspicuous mark.
{203a} See stanza xl.
{203b} “Dyli,” condition or impulse.
{203c} “Vracden;” from “brag,” a sprouting out, and “ten,” stretched.
{203d} The Irish.
{203e} The inhabitants of Scotland.
“Hon a oresgyn
Holl Loegr a Phrydyn.” (Taliesin.)
She will conquer
All England and Scotland.
{203f} “Giniaw,” from “cyni,” affliction.
{204a} “Cemp,” i.e. “camp,” a feat, surpassingly.
{204b} Or, “at his side.”
{204c} Al. “Arreith;” i.e. “a rhaith;” “the sentence of the law was that
they should search;” or “the jury searched.” Al. “in various directions
they searched.”
{204d} Probably the Cantii or people of Kent.
{204e} If the stanza, however, is not properly completed here, we may
assign the sigh to Gwenabwy himself, in reference probably to his father,
as in the preceding stanza.