Y Gododin: A Poem of the Battle of Cattraeth Part 11

x.x.xVIII.

A grievous descent was made upon his native territory, The price of mead in the hall, and the feast of wine; His blades were scattered about between the two hosts; Ill.u.s.trious was the knight in front of G.o.dodin; The furze was kindled by the ardent spirit, the bull of conflict. {138a}

x.x.xIX.

A grievous descent was made in front of the extended riches, {138b} But the army turned aside, with trailing {138c} shields, And those shields were shivered before the herd of the roaring Beli.

{138d} A dwarf from the b.l.o.o.d.y field hastened to the fence; {139a} And on our side there came a h.o.a.ry headed man, our chief counsellor, {139b} Mounted on a prancing iebald psteed, and wearing the golden chain.

The Boar {139c} proposed a compact in front of the course-the great plotter; Right worthy {139d} was the shout of our refusal, And we cried "Let heaven be our protection, Let his compact be that he should be prostrated by the spear in battle, {139e} Our warriors, in respect of their far famed fosse, {139f} Would not quarrel if a host were there to press the ground."

XL.

For the piercing {140a} of the skilful and most learned man, {140b} For the fair corpse which fell prostrate on the ground, For the cutting {140c} of his hair from his head, For Gwydien, the eagle of the air, {140d} Did Gwyddwg {141a} bring protection to the field, {141b} Resembling and honouring his master.

Morien of the blessed song, brought protection To the ruined hall, {141c} and cleft the heads Of the first in youth, in strength, and in old age.

Equal to three men, though a maid, was Bradwen; {141d} Equal to twelve was Gwenabwy, the son of Gwen. {141e}

XLI.

For the piercing of the skilful and most learned woman, Her servant bore a shield in the action, And with energy his sword fell upon the heads of the foe; In Lloegyr the churls cut their way before the chieftain. {142a} He who grasps the mane of a wolf, without a club {142b} In his hand, will have it gorgeously emblazoned on his robe. {142c} In the engagement of wrath and carnage, Bradwen perished,-she did not escape.

XLII.

Carcases {142d} of gold mailed warriors lay upon the city walls; None of the houses or cities of Christians {142e} was any longer actively engaged in war; {142f} But one feeble man, with his shouts, kept aloof The roving birds; {143a} Truly Syll of Virein {143b} reports that there were more That had chanced to come from Llwy, {143c} From around the inlet of the flood; He reports that there were more, At the hour of mattins, {143d} Than the morning breeze could well support.

XLIII.

When thou, famous conqueror!

Wast protecting the ear of corn in the uplands, Deservedly were we said to run {144a} like marked men; {144b} The entrance to Din Drei {144c} was not guarded, There was a mountain with riches {144d} for those who should approach it, And there was a city {144e} for the army that should venture to enter; But Gwynwydd's name was not heard where his person was not seen. {144f}

XLIV.

Though there be a hundred men in one house, I know the cares of war, {145a} The chief of the men must pay the contribution. {145b}

LXV.

I am not headstrong and petulant, I will not avenge myself on him who drives me on, {145c} I will not laugh in derision; This particle {145d} shall go under foot. {145e} My limbs {145f} are racked, And I am loaded, {146a} In the subterraneous house; An iron chain Pa.s.ses over my two knees; Yet of the mead and of the horn, {146b} And of the host of Cattraeth, I Aneurin will sing {146c} What is known to Taliesin, Who communicates to me his thoughts, {146d} Or a strain of G.o.dodin, Before the dawn of the bright day. {146e}

XLVI.

The chief exploit of the North {146f} did the hero accomplish, Of a gentle breast, a more liberal lord could not be seen, Earth does not support, {147a} nor has mother borne Such an ill.u.s.trious, powerful, steel clad warrior; By the force of his gleaming sword he protected me, From the cruel subterraneous prison he brought me out, From the chamber of death, from a hostile region; Such was Ceneu, son of Llywarch, energetic and bold. {147b}

XLVII.

He would not bear the reproach of a congress, {147c} Senyllt, {147d} with his vessels full of mead;- His sword rang {148a} for deeds of violence, He shouted and bounded with aid for the war, And with his arm proved a comprehensive {148b} support, {148c} Against the armies of G.o.dodin and Bryneich.

Booths for the horses were prepared in the hall, {148d} There was streaming gore, and dark brown harness, And from his hand issued a thread {148e} of gleam; {148f} Like a hunter shooting with the bow Was Gwen; {148g} and the attacking parties mutually pushed each other, Friend and foe by turns; The warriors did not cut their way to flee, {148h} But were the generous defenders of every region.

XLVIII.

To Llech Leucu, {149a} the land of Lleu, {149b} and Lleudvre, {149c} To the course of G.o.dodin, And to the course of Ragno, close at hand, Even that hand which directed the splendour of battle, With the branch of Caerwys, {149d} Before it was shattered By the season of the storm,-by the storm of the season, {149e} To form a rank against a hundred thousand men, {149f} Coming from Dindovydd, In the region of Dyvneint, {150a} Deeply did they design, {150b} Sharply did they pierce, Wholly did they chant, Even the army with the battered shields; And before the bull of conflict, The hostile van was broken.

XLIX.

The foes have in sorrow greatly trembled, Since the battle of most active tumult, At the border of Ban Carw; {150c} Round the border of Ban Carw The fingers of Brych {150d} were hurt by the shaft of a spear. {150e} In defence of Pwyll, {150f} of Disteir and Distar, In defence of Pwyll, of Rodri, and of Rhychwardd, A stout {151a} bow was spent by Rhys {151b} in Rhiwdrech; They that were not bold would not attain their purpose; None escaped that was once overtaken and pierced. {151c}

L.

Not meetly was his buckler pierced Upon the flank of his steed; {151d} Not meetly did he mount {152a} His long legged, slender, grey charger; Dark was his shaft, dark, Darker was his saddle; {152b} Thy hero {152c} is in a cell, {152d} Gnawing the shoulder of a buck, {152e} May his hand triumph, But far be the shoulder of venison. {152f}

LI.