Y Gododin: A Poem of the Battle of Cattraeth - 9

{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 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.
{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.”
{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, 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 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_.)
{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.)
{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 diachar
Yt 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 from _cy_ and _gwydd_, 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 to _bear 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 of _adjudged 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.”
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.
{176c} “Iaen,” like ice.
{177a} “Rhy,” excessively.
{177b} “Gwlad _gordd_,” “_gwrdd_ werydd.” In the Triads Eidol is called
one of the three _gyrddion_ of 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} “_Am_ grudd;” his cheeks all _around_.
{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 a
_house_, or _habitation_ in general.
{178d} Lit. the room, or chamber.
{178e} “Yt vyddei dyrllyddei;” where was, where was brewed; or, “where
it was wont to brew.”
{178f} A person of the name of “Gwres the son of Rheged,” is mentioned
in the “Dream of Rhonabwy,” in conjunction with Owain ab Urien. Gwrys
seems to have been a Venedotian chief.
{178g} The Welsh poets frequently represent a man of worth, as a _ced_,
or a gift.
{178h} As the Lloegrians have been shown before to be clearly amongst
the enemies of the British chiefs, (see line 547) the meaning of this
sentence is, that the hero under consideration was the conqueror, or the
master of the Lloegrians; and that he thus marshalled them against their
will. In like manner Einion ab Gwalchmai describes Llywelyn as,—
“Llywelyn llew glwys, Loegrwys lugyrn.”
Llywelyn the amiable lion, the torch of the Lloegrians.
{178i} “Attawr;” al. “allawr,” the altar. A metaphor borrowed from the
discipline of the church, and in keeping with the title of saints, by
which the chieftain and his followers are designated.
{179a} Lit. “the battle of sovereignty,”
{179b} “Cynnest,” Al. “cyn cywest,” “before thou art allied to the
earth,” before thou formest an acquaintance or connection with the earth
by falling thereon.
{179c} “Gorffin;” the Catrail.
{179d} We have repeatedly seen that fire was resorted to in this war,
for the purpose of annoying or destroying the adversary, or else in self
defence, with the view of keeping him at bay. On the part of the Britons
the fire department seems to have been presided over by Morien; and
indeed the title “Mynawc,” which we have here translated high-minded, and
which is elsewhere connected with the name of Morien, would induce us to
infer that the Bard, in the above stanza, is presenting us once more with
a prospect of that hero surrounded by his own blazing engines.
{179e} “Lluyddawg.” Al. “The successful (llwyddawg) bitter-handed,
high-minded chief;” who may have been Llyr lluyddawg. (Tr. xxiii.)
{180a} The contrast between his conduct in war and his domestic
character is here noticed.
{180b} I.e. the enemy.
{180c} Or, “we are called to the sea and the borders, (or to the
harbours “cynnwr,” from cyn-dwfr) to engage in the conflict.”
{180d} Lit. “Sharpened iron.”
{180e} “Llavn.”
{180f} “Sychyn,” a small ploughshare. Doubtless a weapon resembling it,
and bearing the same name. Al. “Syrthyn,” “They fell headlong with a
clang.”
{180g} We have adopted this as a proper name from its similarity to
Fflewddur Fflam, the name of one of the three sovereigns of Arthur’s
court, who preferred remaining with him as knights, although they had
territories and dominions of their own.
“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.”
{181a} “Dinus;” from “din,” a fort, and “ysu,” to consume.
{181b} “Gwych.” Al. “the angry.”
{181c} Or, “the honourable.”
{181d} “Echadaf,” i.e. “ech,” εχ ex, and “adav,” a hand.
{181e} A person of this name is ranked in the Triads as one of the three
“trwyddedawg hanvodawg,” or free guests of the court of Arthur. (Myv.
Arch. ii. 73 )
{181f} Or, “the sovereign of the impregnable strand, or extremity of
Gododin,” traeth y annor (an nhor.)
{182a} “Am rann, (i.e. amrant.) See line 40.
{182b} The city of Mynyddawg, from whence he was called Mynyddawg
Eiddyn.
{182c} Or, “The raging flame turns not from Eiddyn.”
{182d} Or, “at the entrance or gate.”
{182e} “Trusi;” al. “trin;” “he placed a thick cover in front of the
battle.”
{182f} The effects of his toil in battle.
{182g} Al. “O goledd,” by arrangement, being actuated by the same motive
as that which induced Gwrgan the Freckled long before to “enact a law
that no one should bear a shield, but only a sword and bow;” hence it is
said, “his countrymen became very heroic.” (Iolo MSS. p. 351.)
{183a} Lit. “the strand supported.” Traeth means also the extremity of
a district, and may accordingly be applied here to the boundary line
between Gododin and the British dominions.
{183b} “Periglawr;” one who has to do with what is extreme, or
dangerous; one who administers extreme unction; a parish priest.
{183c} Al. “penifeddawr,” giddy-headed. Al. “penufuddawr” having an
obedient head—rein-obeying.
{183d} Al. “The mounted spearman.”
{183e} Another reading gives “Odren” but the one adopted above suits the
rhyme better.
{183f} There is a reference here to some pagan ceremonies to which the
Saxons had recourse, for the purpose either of propitiating their gods,
or of receiving omens at their altars.
{184a} A body of British soldiers under the command of Nwython son of
Gildas, and nephew of Aneurin, seem to have taken advantage of the
peculiar position of the enemy, who were now probably unarmed, and to
have attacked them, which caused the latter, as usual, to seek refuge by
flight in one of the neighbouring forts. That we are right in adopting
Nwython as a proper name would appear, moreover, from two different
passages in the fragments of the Gododin subjoined to Gorchan Maelderw,
where “the son of Nwython,” is distinctly mentioned as one of the heroes
that fell at Cattraeth.
{184b} Donald Brec, or as he is called in Latin, Dovenal Varius, king of
the Scots, who was slain by Owain, king of the Strathclyde Britons in the
battle of Vraithe Cairvin, otherwise Calatros, which in sound somewhat
resembles Galltraeth, or Cattraeth. It is true that the Scottish
chronicles assign a much later date to that event, than the era of the
Gododin, nevertheless as they themselves are very inconsistent with one
another on that point, giving the different dates of 629, 642, 678 and
686, it is clear that no implicit deference is due to their chronological
authority, and that we may, therefore, reasonably acquiesce in the view
which identifies Dyvnwal Vrych, with Donald Brec, seeing the striking
similarity which one name bears to the other.
{184c} Supposing the person who killed Donald to be the same with Owain,
son of Urien, there may be here an allusion to his men as well as to the
birds of prey. See line 18 note one.
{184d} Lit. “The bone;” even as it is popularly said at this day that a
man who gives great support to another is his back bone.
“Caletach wrth elyn nog asgwrn.”
Harder to an enemy than a bone. (Elegy on Cunedda.)
{185a} Or, “whilst the foes range the sea.”
{185b} Lit. “It was his characteristic or property.”
{185c} “Naw rhiallu;” the literal amount of this force would be 900,000;
“naw,” however, may have here the meaning of “nawv,” _floating_; “naw
rhiallu,” a fleet.
{185d} “Gorddinau;” from “gorddin,” what impels or drives forward; or
the word may mean _tribes_, from “cordd”; and then the passage would be:
“In the face of blood, of the country, and of the tribes.”
{185e} Cynddilig was introduced to our notice before, (line 645) as a
person who loved the world in company with the melody-seeking Eidol.
{186a} Or, “as the alternative.”
{186b} That this is a proper name, appears from the following passage in
Taliesin’s “Canu y Cwrw;”—
“Ev cyrch cerddorion
Se syberw Seon
Neu’r dierveis i rin
Ymordei Uffin
Ymhoroedd Gododin.”
{186c} Or, “who caused the stream of blood.”
{186d} Gwenddoleu ap Ceidiaw is recorded in the Triads as the head of
one of the three “teulu diwair,” or faithful tribes of the Isle of
Britain, because his men maintained the war for six weeks after he was
slain in the battle of Arderydd, A.D. 577. He is also joined with Cynvar
and Urien, under the title of the three “tarw cad” or bulls of battle, on
account of their impetuosity in rushing upon the enemy.
{187a} “Pen o draed;” from head to foot. Not, as Davies translates it,
“from the highest to the lowest,” as is evident from a similar phrase in
Cynddelw, (Myv. Arch. vol. i. p. 220.)
“Yd kwytynt pennawr penn o draed;”
where the word “pennawr” refers to one particular rank, if not to an
individual.
{187b} See line 344.
{187c} See line 324.
{187d} See line 335.
{187e} Lit. “after their conflict.”
{188a} “Tra;” “whilst the gory pool continued to fill.”
{188b} “Erchyn;” al. “echyn,” “and slew them like a hero; they were not
saved.”
{188c} Or, “he darted with the spear,” or, “they were prostrated with
the spear.”
{188d} “A medd,” with the mead. He abandoned the social banquet, or a
life of luxury, at the call of public duty.
{188e} Al. “Is there a place where the people do not relate the
greatness of his counsel?”
{188f} “Bwylliadau,” (i.e. bwyelliadau) the strokes of his battle-axe.
Another version gives “bwyll yaddeu,” which may be rendered, “Pwyll
assaulted.”
“With a rush Pwyll made the assault.”
{188g} “Lliveit handit;” which were sharpened.
{188h} Al. “Where his founding blade was seen.”
{189a} Or, “maintenance for.”
{189b} There were two persons who bore this name in the sixth century,
the one was Pryderi the son of Dolor, chief of the people of Deivyr and
Bryneich, and was distinguished with Tinwaed and Rhineri, under the
epithet of the three strong cripples of the isle of Britain:
“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.)
{190a} “Pryderaf,” I am anxious about; a word suggested by the name of
the chief.
{190b} A result brought about by the arrival of Pryderi’s troops.
{190c} “Have I been afflicted.”
{190d} “Celaig;” from _cel_, the root also of Celtiaid and Celyddon.
{190e} There were two territories of this name, Argoed Derwennydd,
(Derwent wood apparently) and Argoed Calchvynydd, “between the river Tren
and the river Tain, that is the river of London.” (Iolo MSS. p. 476.)
One of them, the former probably, was the patrimony of Llywarch Hen.
“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!
{191a} “Gwal.” “The Cymmry appropriated this name to regions that were
cultivated and had fixed inhabitancy, as opposed to the wilds, or the
unsettled residences of the Celtiaid, Celyddon, Gwyddyl, Gwyddelod,
Ysgotiaid, and Ysgodogion; which are terms descriptive of such tribes as
lived by hunting and tending their flocks.” (Dr. Pughe, sub. voce.)
Both descriptions of persons are thus included in the Bard’s affectionate
regret. Al. “accustomed at the rampart.”
{191b} “Pwys;” pressure or weight. Or perhaps “arlwydd pwys” means “the
legitimate lord,” in opposition to usurpers, just as a wedded wife is
styled “gwraig bwys,” as distinguished from a concubine.
{191c} “Dilyvn;” or perhaps “dylyvn,” smooth.
{191d} Al. “rekindled.”
{191e} “Gosgroyw,” rather fresh.
{191f} Geraint, the son of Erbin, was prince of Dyvnaint, (Devon) and
one of the three owners of fleets of the Isle of Britain, each fleet
consisting of 120 ships, and each ship being manned by 120 persons.
“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.
{192a} “Llwch gwyn,” probably “Vanduara,” _Gwyn Dwr_, or White Water,
which seems to have been one of the old designations of a river in
Renfrewshire. (See _Caledonia Romana_, p. 143.) Adar y y llwch gwyn,
the birds of the white lake, is a mythological epithet for vultures.
Their history is recorded in the Iolo MSS. p. 600.
{192b} Al. “There was a white badge on his shield.”
{192c} Lit. “his anchor.”
{192d} “Cyman,” “cydvan,” (i.e. cyd man) the place of gathering. Al.
“his broken anchor.”
{192e} It is not improbable that the eagle was charged on Geraint’s
standard, for it is also frequently alluded to in Llywarch Hen’s
Elegy—e.g.
“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.
{193a} “Lledvegin,” an animal partly reared in a domestic way. We have
chosen the lamb as being one of the animals most commonly reared in this
manner. Nevertheless, a previous wildness, with reference to the
military aspect of his character, might be intended to be conveyed in
this epithet.
“_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.)
{193b} “Rhan,” see lines 40 and 732.
{193c} Or, “He presided over the feast, pouring from the horn the
splendid mead.” So Cynddelw,—
“Baran lew llew lloegyr oual
Lleduegin gwin gwyrt uual.” (Myv. Arch. v. i. p. 225.)
{193d} As the natural consequence of military operations.
{193e} “Llawr llaned,” ground of smooth surface. Al. “llanwed,” every
region was filled with slaughter.
{193f} “Hual amhaval,” like a fetter. “Avneued” from “avn,” courage.
{194a} The sound of the name, in connection with the word “hual,” in a
former line, makes it very probable that the hero mentioned was of the
tribe of Caswallon Law Hir, celebrated as one of the “hualogion deulu” of
the Isle of Britain, called so because the men bound themselves together
with the
“hualau,” or fetters of their horses, to sustain the attack of Serigi
Wyddel, whom Caswallon slew with his own hand, when he drove the Irish
out of Anglesey.
“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.
{194b} A hundred in the middle part of North Wales, so called from
Rhuvon son of Cunedda Wledig, whose inheritance it was.
{194c} Probably the enemy.
{194d} Or, “the shout was raised.”
{194e} Cadvorion, i.e. cad-vawrion; or, it may be, more literally,
cad-vorion, “martial ants,” in reference to their activity.
{194f} Lit. “warning.”
{195a} Lit. “prepared.”
{195b} The popular air “Nos Galan” is supposed to have been a relic of
the musical entertainments of this season.
{195c} A chieftain of Mona, the land that enjoyed “the valour of Ervei;”
see his Elegy by Taliesin apud Myv. Arch. v. i. p. 70. Ervei was also
engaged in the battle of Cattraeth;—
“Red speared was Urvei before the lord of Eiddin.” (Gorch. Mael.)
{195d} That is, in domestic life he was as refined as a lady, modest as
a virgin, whilst in war he was brave and high minded.
{195e} The word “teyrn” reminds us of a line which countenances the
theory we suggested relative to the expression “edyrn diedyrn,” in stanza
xv. but which we omitted to mention in its proper place. It occurs in
the “Elegy on Cunedda.” (Myv. Arch. i. p. 71) as follows;—
“Rhag mab _edern_ cyn _edyrn_ anaelew.”
“Before the son of Edeyrn ere his kingdom became fearful.”
{196a} This warrior was probably of the family of Urien Rheged, for a
grandson of his, the celebrated Kentigern, was called Cyndeyrn Garthwys.
Arthwys son of Ceneu ab Coel was too early for the battle of Cattraeth.
{196b} Tinogad was the son of Cynan Garwyn, and was celebrated for his
swift steed, named Cethin.
“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