Y Gododin: A Poem of the Battle of Cattraeth - 7

Total number of words is 4438
Total number of unique words is 1614
22.7 of words are in the 2000 most common words
40.5 of words are in the 5000 most common words
56.3 of words are in the 8000 most common words
Each bar represents the percentage of words per 1000 most common words.
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 _Bud_van.
{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 Gwên: 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 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.
{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 Hên, 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 Hên. 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 prætorium. 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 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.
{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
You have read 1 text from Welsh literature.
Next - Y Gododin: A Poem of the Battle of Cattraeth - 8
  • Parts
  • Y Gododin: A Poem of the Battle of Cattraeth - 1
    Total number of words is 4563
    Total number of unique words is 1455
    18.7 of words are in the 2000 most common words
    36.1 of words are in the 5000 most common words
    51.4 of words are in the 8000 most common words
    Each bar represents the percentage of words per 1000 most common words.
  • Y Gododin: A Poem of the Battle of Cattraeth - 2
    Total number of words is 4274
    Total number of unique words is 2087
    12.8 of words are in the 2000 most common words
    21.0 of words are in the 5000 most common words
    29.4 of words are in the 8000 most common words
    Each bar represents the percentage of words per 1000 most common words.
  • Y Gododin: A Poem of the Battle of Cattraeth - 3
    Total number of words is 4618
    Total number of unique words is 1586
    16.9 of words are in the 2000 most common words
    34.2 of words are in the 5000 most common words
    51.5 of words are in the 8000 most common words
    Each bar represents the percentage of words per 1000 most common words.
  • Y Gododin: A Poem of the Battle of Cattraeth - 4
    Total number of words is 4636
    Total number of unique words is 1371
    14.2 of words are in the 2000 most common words
    32.4 of words are in the 5000 most common words
    50.0 of words are in the 8000 most common words
    Each bar represents the percentage of words per 1000 most common words.
  • Y Gododin: A Poem of the Battle of Cattraeth - 5
    Total number of words is 4498
    Total number of unique words is 1535
    22.4 of words are in the 2000 most common words
    40.4 of words are in the 5000 most common words
    55.7 of words are in the 8000 most common words
    Each bar represents the percentage of words per 1000 most common words.
  • Y Gododin: A Poem of the Battle of Cattraeth - 6
    Total number of words is 4328
    Total number of unique words is 1577
    23.8 of words are in the 2000 most common words
    40.1 of words are in the 5000 most common words
    55.3 of words are in the 8000 most common words
    Each bar represents the percentage of words per 1000 most common words.
  • Y Gododin: A Poem of the Battle of Cattraeth - 7
    Total number of words is 4438
    Total number of unique words is 1614
    22.7 of words are in the 2000 most common words
    40.5 of words are in the 5000 most common words
    56.3 of words are in the 8000 most common words
    Each bar represents the percentage of words per 1000 most common words.
  • Y Gododin: A Poem of the Battle of Cattraeth - 8
    Total number of words is 4508
    Total number of unique words is 1613
    22.1 of words are in the 2000 most common words
    41.0 of words are in the 5000 most common words
    54.8 of words are in the 8000 most common words
    Each bar represents the percentage of words per 1000 most common words.
  • Y Gododin: A Poem of the Battle of Cattraeth - 9
    Total number of words is 4463
    Total number of unique words is 1573
    21.7 of words are in the 2000 most common words
    39.0 of words are in the 5000 most common words
    52.9 of words are in the 8000 most common words
    Each bar represents the percentage of words per 1000 most common words.
  • Y Gododin: A Poem of the Battle of Cattraeth - 10
    Total number of words is 919
    Total number of unique words is 469
    34.6 of words are in the 2000 most common words
    51.9 of words are in the 5000 most common words
    64.7 of words are in the 8000 most common words
    Each bar represents the percentage of words per 1000 most common words.