Y Gododin: A Poem of the Battle of Cattraeth Part 34

{175b} That is, he was ent.i.tled 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_." (Inst.i.tutional 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 d.a.m.nata; in which case the pa.s.sage 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 ill.u.s.trious 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 t.i.tle 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 t.i.tle "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 G.o.do; a Fleidur Fflam mab G.o.do; 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," e? 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 )