The Poetry of Wales Part 22

{75a} The battle of Maelor, fought with the English in the 12th century, by Owen Cyveiliog, prince of Powys, who composed the admired poem called Hirlas, or the Drinking Horn, on the victory he obtained.

{75b} The battle of the Britons and Saxons at Bangor Is Coed, in the 7th century.

{75c} "Before the prince himself there was vast confusion, havoc, conflict, horrible consternation, and upon Tal Moelvre, a thousand banners."--Panegyric on Owain Gwynedd. Evans's Specimens of the Welsh Bards, p. 26.

{76} The captive Welsh n.o.bles, either hostages or prisoners of war, who were detained in the Tower of London, obtained permission that their libraries should be sent them from Wales, to amuse them in their solitude and confinement. This was a frequent practice, so that in process of time the Tower became the princ.i.p.al repository of Welsh literature. The present poverty of ancient Welsh ma.n.u.scripts may be dated from the time when the history and poetry of our country received a fatal blow in the loss of those collected at London, by the villainy of one Scolan, who burned them.

{77} The poet, and author of the elegy written in a country churchyard.

{81} Snowdon.

{86} This prophecy of Taliesin relating to the Ancient Britons is still extant, and has been strikingly verified:--

"Their G.o.d they'll adore, Their language they'll keep, Their country they'll lose, Except wild Wales."

{87a} _Ynys Cedeirn_, or Isle of the Mighty, an ancient name given to Britain.

{87b} Uthyr Pendragon, King of Britain, supposed to have been the father of Arthur.

{87c} The bard of the palace, under the ancient Welsh princes, always accompanied the army when it marched into an enemy's country; and while it was preparing for battle or dividing the spoils he performed an ancient song, called "Unbennaeth Prydain," the Monarchy of Britain. It has been conjectured that this poem referred to the tradition of the Welsh, that the whole island had been possessed by their ancestors, who were driven into a corner of it by their Saxon invaders. When the prince had received his share of the spoils, the bard, for the performance of this song, was rewarded with the most valuable beast that remained.--See JONES'S _Historical Account of the Welsh Bards_.

{88} Ynys Prydain, the ancient name of Britain, signifies the Fair, or Beautiful Island.

{91} This lady was born near the beautiful Breidden hills in Montgomerys.h.i.+re.

{92} The bards.

{94a} King of Britain, and of Bretagne in France, celebrated for his prowess. He and his famous Knights of the Round Table are the themes of much romance.

{94b} A great battle was fought at Gamlan, between the Welsh and Saxons in 512, where King Arthur was slain.

{96} The death of Rhun overwhelmed his father (Owain Gwynedd) with grief, from which he was only roused by the ravages of the English, then in possession of Mold Castle; he levelled it with the ground, and, it is said, forgot his sorrow in his triumph.

{97} Flower Aspect, vide the Mabinogion.

{141} "Hafren," the river Severn.

{142} These words "doublet," "jacket," &c., are English words applied sportively by the poet.

JOHN PRYSE, PRINTER, LLANIDLOES.